DNA question

[DPS]

I'm using an un-modded (1.04a) version of the game, but it was suggested in the technical support forum that I ask about this problem here. Basically, I have a problem with CK saved games. After a certain point in the game, any saved game refuses to load. I've looked in the save game files, though I wasn't really sure what I was looking for, and noticed some of the characters have 20-digit numbers for their DNA. I thought it was always supposed to be a 14-digit number. Could this be the source on the crash on loading problem that I'm experiencing? If so, is there a work around to fix this? I'm sure I could edit the save file to truncate any 20-digit DNA number to a 14-digit number, but A) I have no idea what the correct number should be for any given character, and B) there might be other bad information in the save file that I don't know about. At any rate, I've become convinced that this is a bug, not a technical issue, so I'm going to ask about it in the bug forum as well. I would appreciate any help or insight anyone here might have on this, though.

BTW, there was another guy in the technical support forum who reported the same problem I'm having, that saved games crash on loading. He posted a complete save game file, and I noticed that his save also had some characters with 20-digit DNA number, but Castellon edited the post and asked that noone post saved game text files.

 

[Solmyr]

I've seen the 20-digit DNAs as well. No idea if they are causing crashes though.

 

[unmerged(21937)]

Last time I heard about it, 20 digit DNA just uses 14 first of it and scraps the last 6, so I presume it's not causing crashes.

 

[unmerged(30939)]

Yeah, the 20-digit DNAs do just use the first 14, or at least when i program portrait readers and use this method it works perfectly. No idea why you sometimes get 20 but it does not cause crashes.

 

[DPS]

I've dug a little bit more into my save files, and I've found characters with 20-digit DNA in some of my old save files that will load. However, in those old saves, none of the 20-digit DNA characters have titles, while in the newer one that won't load, some of them do hold titles. Could this make a difference?

 

[unmerged(21937)]

You can try. Edit any scenario you have and make some title holder (like William the Conquerer, char id #140) to have 20 digit DNA. If the scenario refuses to load or CTDs immidately when you select the character, then it's buggy.

 

[Solmyr]

I know the scenarios load fine with title holders who have only 13 digits in their DNA (1.04a 1066 scenario has one, the countess of Vendome IIRC).

 

[Caranorn]

I also had repeated crashes with save games a few days ago, but unfortunatelly dumped my save games (and reinstalled CK from scratch). So I can't look through the files anymore. What I do recall is that the crashes occured during the very last step of loading the scenario, not sure what files are invlved at that moment.

Marc aka Caran...

 

[DPS]

Yes, this is exactly what I experienced. I also re-installed the game, and at first I was able to save and reload, but eventually the problem reappeared. How far into the game have you managed to play?

 

[DPS]

Also, does anyone else have any suggestion what I might look for in the save files that could be causing this problem. I supposed I could do a fresh install again and see what happens, but I don't want to invest a bunch of time in playing again and then have the problem come back.

 

[Caranorn]

Yes, this is exactly what I experienced. I also re-installed the game, and at first I was able to save and reload, but eventually the problem reappeared. How far into the game have you managed to play?

Mid 12th century and the save files weren't that big either (I think 15 MB). I assumed it started as a disk error and corupted CK (as the error would have happened while running CK), which is why I simply reinstalled the game and dumped all my old saves (as it was not such a good game either).

These crashed saves also were not in my longest lasting game (though possibly in the one I bred the most courtiers).

Marc aka Caran...

 

[Caranorn]

Also, does anyone else have any suggestion what I might look for in the save files that could be causing this problem. I supposed I could do a fresh install again and see what happens, but I don't want to invest a bunch of time in playing again and then have the problem come back.

I have been wondering whether CK purges dead characters without relatives. That could save space in the files. But the checks needed might be too complex. And I don't think save game file size is actually the problem.

Marc aka Caran...

 

[DPS]

No, I don't think save file size itself is the problem; I have plenty of free space. I'm thinking it's because there is some bad info in the save files, sort of like the old duplicate tag problem in EU II version 1.03 that caused crashes, but I don't know what to look for.

 

[Caranorn]

No, I don't think save file size itself is the problem; I have plenty of free space. I'm thinking it's because there is some bad info in the save files, sort of like the old duplicate tag problem in EU II version 1.03 that caused crashes, but I don't know what to look for.

Neither do I. I just got a fresh batch of such corrupted saves. This time quite early in the game (the last save is 1092 and the file size is less then 10 MB). So it's neither date nor file size. I also have 20 digit DNA in these crashing saves but I think I had the same in other saves that would load.

Marc aka Caran...

 

[Caranorn]

Okay I had another look at the corrupted save files and have found a simple way to differenciate corrupted and working files. At least this has worked for me tonight.

When I select a corrupted save in CK (not load, just select) and select the counties icon I find an empty (transparent) kingdom coat of arms with no name in the first slot. Clicking on that coat of arms I find a county of Yaroslavl (still transparent CoA and no county information (though the picture of the supposed count). Every save game that's corrupted sees to have this and every working save doesn't. This way I could exactly tell at which point the game was corrupted (a window of 7 game days and 14 real minutes (must have been pausing or reloaded the save as my games are not that slow)).

I have a screenshot of the empty county selection if anyone is interested (can't post it here).

Marc aka Caran...

P.S.: Put a note about this in the bugs folder.

 

[unmerged(30939)]

Since ive had a bit of experience dealing with save files for my programs, if you want to zip the saves and email them to me: adamsharples at gmail.com i can have a look at them, see if theres anything obvious.

 

[Caranorn]

Since ive had a bit of experience dealing with save files for my programs, if you want to zip the saves and email them to me: adamsharples at gmail.com i can have a look at them, see if theres anything obvious.

Sent.

Marc aka Caran...

[Offtopic] By the way, would it be possible to create a rename character function in your program package? I like to give my characters dynastic names but it's rather tedious to search them all out in the save file and change them individually. Maybe search for the dynasty and list all characters in a grid (like bridefinder) by name image and parent's name. Then allow the character name field to be modified. Once all changes are done save to file and reload the game in CK. (I'm no programer at best a weak scripter, so not sure how easy that would be to do).

 

[tombom]

Sent.

Marc aka Caran...

[Offtopic] By the way, would it be possible to create a rename character function in your program package? I like to give my characters dynastic names but it's rather tedious to search them all out in the save file and change them individually. Maybe search for the dynasty and list all characters in a grid (like bridefinder) by name image and parent's name. Then allow the character name field to be modified. Once all changes are done save to file and reload the game in CK. (I'm no programer at best a weak scripter, so not sure how easy that would be to do).

CrusaderEd already does this.