Modifying basics question

[cbbl]

OK, so I have a support ticket out to OOTP and just need to be patient to allow them to respond, but I'm eager to get my league going!

Tell me if I'm crazy...

I have modified a number of files (names, first_names, world_default, etc.).
These modified files replace the ones that come with OOTP in the database folder.

I've also created a bunch of unique ballcaps, jerseys, logos, ballparks, and the like. To keep the folders neat and easy to find things, I've cleared out the OOTP data for any image files I don't use ... such that only my particular ballcaps, logos, schedules, etc. remain. I've done this plenty of times in the past with earlier versions.

That should all be OK, right?

Because something is telling OOTP to reset all of the files back to the out-of-the-box files, overwriting or deleting every single one of my modified files.

I'm very puzzled by this.

Any thoughts or insights?

[cbbl]

OK, while I await a reply, I'll update this thread on my experiments to discover why this is happening.

I cleared ballcaps, jerseys, and schedules, except for the modified files, the restarted the game. No problem.

I next cleared ballparks, but as I didn't yet have a modified file, the folder was now empty. OOTP ran its entire game setup sequence, not just replacing ballparks, but all of the other files too. Hypothesis #1...at least one applicable file must be in each folder.

To test, I returned to ballcaps. Removed all ballcap files, except one modified file. Left all default_ballcap files and the /cities and /nicknames subfolders. Restarted OOTP. No issue.

Returned to ballcaps folder, deleted all default_ballcap files and the subfolders, leaving only the readme.txt and my single modified ballcap file (which is a .png file). Restarted OOTP. No problem.

Removed the remaining files in ballcap folder, such that the folder was now empty. Restarted OOTP. The game initiated its game file loading sequence -- not just putting all ballcaps back, but ensuring all other out of the box files were there too. This would overwrite any modiifed files in the database folder.

To test the hypothesis of whether a useable file is required, or just the readme.txt file, I once again returned to the ballcaps folder and cleared everything except the readme.txt file. Restarted OOTP. No issue!

This strikes me as odd, as in the ballparks folder case, there is no readme file. So...instead I deleted the readme.txt file from ballcaps, and moved my single modified ballcaps file inton the folder. Restarted OOTP. Game initiated its file load procedure. Hmmm...

Repeated the process with the jerseys folder. Cleared everything but the readme.txt file. Restarted OOTP. No issue.

Returned to the ballcaps folder and removed ONLY the readme.txt file. Restarted OOTP. Game launched its file load process.

Interesting. SO...

The _readme.txt files in the image folders (ballcaps, jerseys, logos, and photos) seem to be important to the game and cannot be deleted. This also seems to be the case for the _readme.txt file in the schedule folder as well. This left me a little stumped about which files were important in the folders that did not have a _readme.txt file (like ballparks).

SO... next experiment.

In the ballparks folder, I delete all but one ballparks. I also left the /models subfolder. Restarted OOTP. Game initiated its game reload sequence. It seems odd that OOTP requires all of its ballparks files to be present...something else must be required. I might think it is the default files (default_diagram.png, etc.) even though the default files in the other folders (like ballcaps) didn't seem to matter.

So, I deleted all ballpark files, except the three default_ files (still leaving the /models subfolder). Restarted OOTP. No issues.

Deleted the /models subfolder. Restarted OOTP. No issues.

SO... for the ballparks folder, the default_ files are required and cannot be removed.

FINAL experiment...

Reset all original files. Removed all files EXCEPT the _readme.txt file from the following folders: ballcaps, jerseys, logo_templates, logos, and schedules.
Removed all files EXCEPT the three default_ files from the ballparks folder. Restarted OOTP. No issues.

So, there you have it. Further experimentation would be necessary to see if any of the other folders have their own unique "must keep" files.

[Ktulu]

Every patch will overwrite the database files. That's why there's an option to use a custom path when you start a new game. Same thing applies to all the template files for uniforms.

[micropterus58]

I install to a custom path. All patches overwrite any files that I have modified. The only files that I have modified are sound files and stadium advertising. I have a backup data folder that I have to copy back after any patches.

This can be some useful information for those that try to minimize the size of their installation. Thanks for "going in to the lab".

[cbbl]

Originally Posted by Ktulu

Every patch will overwrite the database files. That's why there's an option to use a custom path when you start a new game. Same thing applies to all the template files for uniforms.

For the record, this isn't related to patches. If you delete any of the files I identified, the game file load process will kick off upon start up each time you launch the game. So to avoid your files from being overwritten, make sure to keep the required files in the folders.