Map migration between versions

[hso]

How to migrate a map [mod] from an old ETS2 version to a new one?

I expect (and I think it's generally true) that every new version supports the maps from the previous version, e.g. 1.35 will load maps made for 1.34 (despite different core_map_version). It could then be saved as a new version, perhaps with minor changes.

How about greater jumps? I didn't play ETS2 for several years. At the time of ~1.13, I created a fairly extensive map. Is there a way to migrate it to a current version?

Naive try, of course, doesn't work (with an explicit refusal to load). The differences are too great. But if I maintained it over the years, one version upgrate at a time, it would presumably still work.

I can't redo the whole work again. But I'm OK with 'fixing' it as long as the general layout (roads with their basic settings, prefabs, etc.) load.

Do I have to install every single ETS2 release between the versions and step-jump the map between them? Are there perhaps known key versions which (deliberately) broke backwards compatibility, so that the path could be at least shortened? Or are there better ways?

Unfortunately, the map editor doesn't load its own 'debug' text output (saved with edit_save_text): if it did, I could try to fix the structures manually. I would rather do that than redo the map from scratch...

[Max]

yes, the editor can load old maps, generally.
but there was cut in some specific point in time (simplification of saved data) and after that you can't load the oldest maps directly - i believe that it was version 1.31 but correct me someone if i'm wrong.
you need to load map in some newer version than yours but before that cut point (try 1.30), save it (rebuild) and then it could be loaded by any newer version (1.31+).

[Reinhard]

The usual way to update a map is to open it with the latest editor version, do a recompute (F8), save it, and update the mod.

But sometimes, there are additional steps necessary. These are explained, in detail, int the modding guides: https://modding.scssoft.com/wiki/Games/ ... ing_guides

I never skipped a version update, so I have no clue what happens if you update a real old map. The last few updates were simple. I don't remember when a more serious action was necessary. But sometimes it was.

[hso]

Yes, as I discovered in the end, there was a cut point (even formally documented in the modding guides) at v1.30, as Max says. Loading v1.13 into v1.30 (which I had to download somewhere) was also a challenge, but it was mostly associated with the evolved *.sii, which is manageable.

It helps that the map editor doesn't change the tiles (sectors) that are not modified, leaving them binary identical. This allows to isolate the affected areas. Saving as text is a great helper, too. It's a pity the game doesn't load the text map though...

The game also complains about old format of prefabs, but this applies to many current add-ons, and I hope the game will still load them in the future as touching prefabs is an even bigger pain.

One moral of the story is that it would be quite helpful if older versions of the game were officially available to download. This is important for any software that doesn't strive to maintain backward compatibility...

[paokkerkir]

From steam you can officially download almost every version of ets2, in beta tabs.

[Madkine]

The game also complains about old format of prefabs, but this applies to many current add-ons, and I hope the game will still load them in the future as touching prefabs is an even bigger pain.

In theory old formats are removed at some point, so it's worth trying to update these as well. (It also reduces the error's in your game log which improves games performance.)

[Reinhard]

Old PMG file formats are in danger to be supported for a limited time only. Some game versions later, these may possibly fail to load.

But you can always use the parameter "-conversion_dump_path". Apply that, plus a directory path for the converted models. This will create all kind of models, including prefabs, showing the newest PMG format.

Then you can search for the same-named files in your mods, and replace the old with the new ones.

[Craftistu008]

Is there still a chance I can save a 1.26 by 1.53 map?

[Madkine]

Yes, but you'll probably need to migrate it through 4-5 game versions. Say 1.26 to 1.30, then 1.30 to 1.35 etc.

[Craftistu008]

i have tried but even on 1.28 i take crash, i will try more