Confused About DB Files, Sqaud Files, Etc

[tinpanalley]

I seem to not be understanding something...at least I can't seem to do it.
I have the moddingway mod (can't get anyone's attention over there) and I want to do the following..
- Edit one DB's squads with CM16
- Switch to another DB and edit those squads
- Run either one and have them work after saving progress in a career or tournament save
Why? So I can run a career with the newest DB and latest squads and then jump to an earlier DB for the women's tournament where the players haven't been removed.

 

[white_knight]

Do you know where your database is located?

 

[tinpanalley]

Do you know where your database is located?

No, I don't. Is it always in the same place?

 

[white_knight]

No, I don't. Is it always in the same place?

Well I guess that depends on where the same place is. I asked you that because I wanted to point you to the fact that you just need to move your edited database to the database folder (and, if necessary, rename it properly) to use it with FIFA.

 

[bangus]

There is a Moddingway thread here, the answers are probably in there. Me, I don't use Moddingway. Simplest trick always is to create two different main folders, then rename/switch off folders depending on which one you want to use. Rename the women's folder FIFA 16 - women and leave it right inside your main FIFA folder. Same with your Docs - Saves folder.

 

[bangus]

I see you asking CM questions in other threads. I find the best way to edit a lot of things is to just use DBM. You can easily transfer players to the National team that way for example. I don't know if it works as well in CM because I never use it. But fewer and fewer features in CM have worked properly the past 2-3 years because EA has gone out of their way to complicate the game's file structure. Whereas editing with DBM still works just as well as it ever did.

 

[tinpanalley]

Well I guess that depends on where the same place is. I asked you that because I wanted to point you to the fact that you just need to move your edited database to the database folder (and, if necessary, rename it properly) to use it with FIFA.

Ok, so make changes then take the folder that has the dbs and save them elsewhere in a named folder so that you can always put them back in the game when you want? Is that it?

There is a Moddingway thread here, the answers are probably in there. Me, I don't use Moddingway. Simplest trick always is to create two different main folders, then rename/switch off folders depending on which one you want to use. Rename the women's folder FIFA 16 - women and leave it right inside your main FIFA folder. Same with your Docs - Saves folder. ... I see you asking CM questions in other threads. I find the best way to edit a lot of things is to just use DBM.

The answers I'm looking for are either not in there (or the moddingway forums) or I'm a total moron and I'm asking questions that are blatantly obvious to everyone who knows these programs intimately because I can't find them when I search and nobody answers. So thank you both for replying. I don't have the knowledge of all the tools and the way mods are built that people in these forums have but I've got tons of experience modding games. But there are very few answers that speak to specific types of use of the databases that aren't the standard thing people look for.

There are all these databases in moddingway and a backup db tool though I'm not sure how well it works.
All I want is the following:
1. The latest squads and the Euro2016 and Copa America mods so I can play those tournaments and another career season with a Premier League club (after finally figuring out how to make a no transaction, no injury modification.)
2. Because moddingway killed the women's teams over time (don't know why, I'm guessing for creating other players?) I'd like the last EA update for the Women's teams because I love playing that tournament.
3. I'd like to be able to pop in and edit the different teams in the "women's" db and the current league and tournament db.
4. I have no clue how it works when you save a tournament/career. That save works in THAT db and not in another so you just bring back into the game the other db and that save you did with it will work?

Can you guys help me understand all that? I'd appreciate it.

 

[bangus]

2. Because moddingway killed the women's teams over time (don't know why, I'm guessing for creating other players?) I'd like the last EA update for the Women's teams because I love playing that tournament.
3. I'd like to be able to pop in and edit the different teams in the "women's" db and the current league and tournament db.
4. I have no clue how it works when you save a tournament/career. That save works in THAT db and not in another so you just bring back into the game the other db and that save you did with it will work?

Moddingway removed the women's teams as I understand it. So my suggestion is to do one of two things: 1. Create a second copy of your main FIFA 16 folder. Delete the Moddingway patch in that second copy so that the game uses the original DB. Then use that copy for your women's games. Or if that's too much screwing around with files, then 2. Download a second, clean copy of FIFA and use that for your women's games.

Game saves are stored in Documents/FIFA 16/0/FIFA16. Yes, when you switch up DBs, save files no longer work. The easiest thing is to a create a system using two separate Docs folders, then switch back and forth. That way you avoid having to sort out the various save files. Simply make a second copy of your Docs/FIFA 16 folder. Use one for Moddingway, and the other for your women's games, just rename them when switching them back and forth. Like so:

FIFA 16
FIFA 16 - womencopy

As for editing the DB for your women's games, if you download a second clean copy of FIFA, you will have to find a copy of the decrypted DB and install that, in order to use rinaldo's tools. I can help you with that, I just haven't looked around here for months so I don't know if anyone has uploaded the latest decrypted DB.

 

[white_knight]

Ok, so make changes then take the folder that has the dbs and save them elsewhere in a named folder so that you can always put them back in the game when you want? Is that it?

Yes, that's pretty much it. You just go on by simply overwriting the database you want to use.

The answers I'm looking for are either not in there (or the moddingway forums) or I'm a total moron and I'm asking questions that are blatantly obvious to everyone who knows these programs intimately because I can't find them when I search and nobody answers. So thank you both for replying. I don't have the knowledge of all the tools and the way mods are built that people in these forums have but I've got tons of experience modding games. But there are very few answers that speak to specific types of use of the databases that aren't the standard thing people look for.

There are all these databases in moddingway and a backup db tool though I'm not sure how well it works.
All I want is the following:
1. The latest squads and the Euro2016 and Copa America mods so I can play those tournaments and another career season with a Premier League club (after finally figuring out how to make a no transaction, no injury modification.)
2. Because moddingway killed the women's teams over time (don't know why, I'm guessing for creating other players?) I'd like the last EA update for the Women's teams because I love playing that tournament.
3. I'd like to be able to pop in and edit the different teams in the "women's" db and the current league and tournament db.
4. I have no clue how it works when you save a tournament/career. That save works in THAT db and not in another so you just bring back into the game the other db and that save you did with it will work?

Can you guys help me understand all that? I'd appreciate it.

Just know that if you don't want to face problems using CM16 on MWM you have to do this (quote by Ariel): Just edit the database and save. Once you do that copy the file data\db\fifa_ng_db.db and place anywhere. Then apply again DB X.0 with MW selector. Now copy back the fifa_ng_db.db file you have created before and replace the one in the folder.

Moddingway removed the women's teams as I understand it. So my suggestion is to do one of two things: 1. Create a second copy of your main FIFA 16 folder. Delete the Moddingway patch in that second copy so that the game uses the original DB. Then use that copy for your women's games. Or if that's too much screwing around with files, then 2. Download a second, clean copy of FIFA and use that for your women's games.

Game saves are stored in Documents/FIFA 16/0/FIFA16. Yes, when you switch up DBs, save files no longer work. The easiest thing is to a create a system using two separate Docs folders, then switch back and forth. That way you avoid having to sort out the various save files. Simply make a second copy of your Docs/FIFA 16 folder. Use one for Moddingway, and the other for your women's games, just rename them when switching them back and forth. Like so:

FIFA 16
FIFA 16 - womencopy

As for editing the DB for your women's games, if you download a second clean copy of FIFA, you will have to find a copy of the decrypted DB and install that, in order to use rinaldo's tools. I can help you with that, I just haven't looked around here for months so I don't know if anyone has uploaded the latest decrypted DB.

To get the women back one can just use the MW Selector and apply default DB or DB 2.0, no need to delete anything.

I don't understand, why would you create two different saves folders and switch them around? You should only do this with the db folders, so that when you're using Database A you load the careers you started with Database A and when you're using Database B you do the same with careers started with Database B. E.g.: should you load a career you started with Database B while using Database A, the game will tell you it's corrupted and won't load it, that's all.

 

[bangus]

To get the women back one can just use the MW Selector and apply default DB or DB 2.0, no need to delete anything.

Okay. I never use Moddingway so I have no idea about that. My advice would be to avoid Moddingway altogether, the edited Moddingway DB is a mess lol. Every Moddingway DB I have tried to edit has been corrupt and won't open in CM, and a correctly edited DB will always open in CM. I've been doing this for 5 years and so I know it was the DB that was the problem and not my editing skills.

I don't understand, why would you create two different saves folders and switch them around? You should only do this with the db folders

Of course. But this fellow appears to want the simplest way of doing this. If you just copy the main folder and make two copies, you never have to worry about opening the main folder and switching around subfolders. Just rename and switch the main folders and that's it, done.

 

[bangus]

Should mention: EA changed the saves/settings file format two years ago. Saves and settings files used to be named, making them easy to sort and delete. Now they are numbered which makes it complicated. The other problem is those numbers change every time you play the game, making it even more difficult to keep track of which files are which.

Inside the 0/FIFA16 folder, you'll see your numbered settings and saves files. Right-click/properties to see which is which. The settings file is the small file, 360 kb. The save files are all 3+ mb. I save, store and sort my settings and save files in a different subfolder, in case I ever need to reinstall any of them -- good to do when DB editing and testing.

 

[tinpanalley]

Thank you both so much for the help. I really appreciate the explanations.

So, what I'm understanding is that the two ideas are
1. install the game twice essentially, have one running the latest EA update so you don't lose the last women's teams (if EA has ever even bothered updating them from release) and the other running the MW mod version you want to run. Then when an unknown save exists and is claimed to be corrupted you just cancel out of that and load the save you want.

OR

2. have the one install but copy in and out the saves and also the db files so everything the game needs to play whichever version you're trying to play is there whenever you need it.

Is that it?
Now, furthermore, I actually have no particular allegiance to MW. I just don't know how to add what I want manually. In an ideal world I'd have
- kits, adboards, overlay graphics (scoreboard, logos etc)
- squads, but I tend to fix those myself with CM16 and I find EA does a good enough job
- the tournaments I want (I never play any seasons other than Ligue 1 or Premier League and then other tournaments like CL)
So can you just add these yourself? moddingway is easy and a one-stop solution but I always wonder whether I really need to have EVERY league in the game edited. I'm just a bit annoyed by clutter, clearly a bit OCD, and I find having things modified that I'm not gonna use sort of pointless. regularcat once told me, when I was using MW to get the Copa America last year that he could just get that one tournament and apply it to a country I wasn't using. That kind of simplicity sounds fantastic to me. Like I said, I play England and France, I don't really need the entire Italian League perfectly set up, you know? I play my seasons in career mode with an edit that I do that impedes all transactions and injuries. I don't pay attention to anything happening in other leagues and the Champions League and Europa Leagues not having perfect squads doesn't bother me.

Last question about saves... So each DB will only read the saves made under it. So when I pick, however of the two methods I choose, to use on DB, I have to put the corresponding saves back in as well. And that's that? If I don't I'll get that corrupt save error.

 

[bangus]

I use the multiple folder method because I find it easier and cleaner. I know my FIFA 16 - edited folder has my DB with modded game files, and my FIFA 16 - original folder has my DB with original game files. Simple and uncomplicated.

I was half-kidding about Moddingway, I'm sure it's a useful patch. But that part about never being able to edit the DB was true. I don't know if that's by Moddingway design or just the result of sloppy DB editing. I don't use it because FIFA to me has every team I ever need and then some. All I ever do is add my own DB and edit that as I go along, making my own changes as transfers happen... if I even do that much. I know Carlos about Euro football so I couldn't care less if rosters are up to date.

Past that, you'll have to find somebody else to explain about adding leagues, I never do that either. But things like adboards and kits (I add kits, that's about all I do other than DB editing) can be easily added to the data/sceneassets folders. Then regenerate with one of the regenerators (I use File Master).

 

[tinpanalley]

I use the multiple folder method because I find it easier and cleaner. I know my FIFA 16 - edited folder has my DB with modded game files, and my FIFA 16 - original folder has my DB with original game files. Simple and uncomplicated.

True. Makes sense. That way you know you always have ONE full stock install and one modified.

But things like adboards and kits (I add kits, that's about all I do other than DB editing) can be easily added to the data/sceneassets folders. Then regenerate with one of the regenerators (I use File Master).

So, I can just grab the graphics stuff I want for the leagues I want and regenerate? I guess all I'd want to learn how to do then is replace tournaments in the game with tournaments made by others. But there are people who literally build tournaments that aren't in the game. I'd love to learn how to do that.

 

[bangus]

So, I can just grab the graphics stuff I want for the leagues I want and regenerate?

Yes, you can use the rx3 files in Moddingway, or export them from the game using FM. And you can rename the files to switch files around, and change up adboards that way if you want. One thing I did with kits for example: I changed around some generic GK kits so that the CPU team's GK never had kit colors that looked like my team's kits. Just a bugaboo of mine when I'm wearing red and the CPU GK is dressed in red.

 

[tinpanalley]

Thanks guys, I did what you guys saidand organised myself in such a way that I don't have two copies of FIFA but I am saving different DBs in different backup folders. What I don't get is how you'd use DBM to edit squads outside of the game. It's just easier than trying to run the game in a small window and switching to my browser where I get the squads from plus the tools for editing squads in-game are annoying.
CM16 now refuses to edit the MW dbs.

 

[bangus]

What I don't get is how you'd use DBM to edit squads outside of the game. It's just easier than trying to run the game in a small window...

I'm unclear what you're asking about "outside the game," and why you are running the game in windowed mode. DBM works the same way you use CM. Once you edit the db with DBM, start the game up normally and create a new squads save, the old save won't work once you've edited the db with either tool.

 

[white_knight]

Thanks guys, I did what you guys saidand organised myself in such a way that I don't have two copies of FIFA but I am saving different DBs in different backup folders. What I don't get is how you'd use DBM to edit squads outside of the game. It's just easier than trying to run the game in a small window and switching to my browser where I get the squads from plus the tools for editing squads in-game are annoying.
CM16 now refuses to edit the MW dbs.

I'm unclear what you're asking about "outside the game," and why you are running the game in windowed mode. DBM works the same way you use CM. Once you edit the db with DBM, start the game up normally and create a new squads save, the old save won't work once you've edited the db with either tool.

He means: why do you guys bother editing lineups through spreadsheets when you can simply do that through the game UI?

@tinpanalley: the answer to that would be that a database file is handier for users to install, customize and share, but the point is it's more "universal" compared to a save file (which is where your edits through the game would go). But more importantly, a save file only loads correctly if it is created on the same database file as the user's, whereas installing a database always "loads" its lineups (in this case it's career that may get corrupted).

 

[bangus]

He means: why do you guys bother editing lineups through spreadsheets when you can simply do that through the game UI?

Really? Sounds like he's asking for help in how to use DBM:

"What I don't get is how you'd use DBM to edit squads outside of the game."

He seems he's wanting to edit the squads save file and is trying to do it with DBM, which isn't possible of course.

 

[white_knight]

Really? Sounds like he's asking for help in how to use DBM:

"What I don't get is how you'd use DBM to edit squads outside of the game."

He seems he's wanting to edit the squads save file and is trying to do it with DBM, which isn't possible of course.

Hmm not sure actually, he states "it's easier than" like he knew what it's like. If his was a question, let me just say it's a huge PITA. I would rather try to fix whatever problem CM16 is giving him.