IDIOT'S GUIDE: Custom Start Date 2019 (Last Update 02/July/2019)

ATTENTION !!!

Since we are few weeks away from Season19/20 more and more people are creating new FM19 files.
This method you see here is still up to date - nevertheless you should consider taking a look around in the forums or the Steam Workshop.
You most likely will find a better way/files to download the newest Season!

easy way to start your updated 19/20 season: https://www.fmscout.com/a-fm19-data-update-by-fmf-plus-italian-serie-d.html

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Status: Up to Date
as of: 23. April.2019
latest database: 19.3.0

approximate time: 20 minutes
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Steps:
Step 1: Set up (what do i need?)
Step 2: Downloads (what files do i have to download?)
Step 3: Editor (which file do i need to edit?)
Step 4: Start the game (which leagues do i need?)

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Step 1: Set up (what do i need?)

- Football Manager 2019
- Football Manager 2019 Editor
- Custom Date Folder (optional)

Football Manager 2019:
Its the main Game. If you dont have it, what are you doing here. Check for any Updates for the game.

Football Manager 2019 Editor:
Open Steam, go to "Library" > "Tools" and Install "Football Manager 2019 Editor"


Custom Date Folder (optional):
Open your Windows Explorer Folder and go to "Documents" > "Sports Interactive" > "Football Manager 2019" > "editor data".
Create a new Folder called "Custom Date Folder"
(If you dont know how to find your directory use WIN + R and type in "Explorer". From there on make the same way as explained above)

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Step 2: Downloads (what files do i have to download?)

- Custom Start Date
- Real Fixtures
- Data Update (optional)

Custom Start Date & Real Fixures:
Go to "Download" on this link https://sortitoutsi.net/football-manager-start-date.
This download contains a .zip File which in it self includes two .xml Files.
Copy the Files (Custom Start Date & Real Fixures) into your "editor data" Folder => "Documents" > "Sports Interactive" > "Football Manager 2019" > "editor data" > "Custom Date Folder (optional)

Data Update (optional):
Download the Data Update FIle on this link https://sortitoutsi.net/football-manager-data-update
note: Download the FM 2019 version
The Download contains a .zip File. Open it and every folder inside untill you see the "Data Uptade.xml" file.
Copy the File (Custom Start Date & Real Fixures) into your "editor data" Folder => "Documents" > "Sports Interactive" > "Football Manager 2019" > "editor data" > "Custom Date Folder" (optional)

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Step 3: Editor (which file do i need to edit?)

- Open Football Manager 2019
- Load the current Database
- Import the Custom Start Date File
- Activate "Advanced Rules"
- Set up your custom date
- Save the File
- Verify the File
- Export the File

Open Football Manager 2019 Editor:
Open Steam. Go to "Library" > "Installed" > "Football Manager 2019 EDITOR" //its probably somewhere in the buttom

Load the current Database:
After you started FM 2019 Editor a window pops up asking you if you want to load the current Database. Click on "OK"

Import the Custom Start Date File:
Inside the FM 19 Editor you go to "Files" > "Import" > search for the Location you saved your downloaded files.
("Documents" > "Sports Interactive" > "Football Manager 2019" > "editor data" > "Custom Date Folder" (optional))
Load the "sortitoutsi.net Custom Start Date" file.

Activate "Advanced Rules":
Inside the FM Editor. Go to tab "Rules" > "Convert to Advanced Rules"

Set up your Custom Date:
Go to "Advanced Rules" > "Start Date" and Create a Start Date as follows:
Type = Start of Season --- Copetition = sortitoutsi.net League --- Year offset = 0 --- Season overlaps = [ ] --- Start Date = XX/XX/2019 (your current date)

Save the File:
Save your File. Go to "File" > "Save Editor data as" (save it anywhere it doesnt matter really)

Verify the File:
Go to the tab "Rules" > "Test Rules" > "all"

Export the File:
Go to "File" > "Export" > save it in your "editor data" folder
("Documents" > "Sports Interactive" > "Football Manager 2019" > "editor data" > "Custom Date Folder" (optional))


Step 4: Start the game (which leagues do i need?)

- Start Football Manager 2019
- Start Career
- Choose your database and Advanced Setup
- Choose your Leagues and your Custom Date

Start Football Manager 2019:
Open Steam. Start your Football Manager 2019.

Start Career:
You have to start a new Career. Its on the right side "Career".

Choose your database and Advanced Setup:
On the top left you can choose your database. You most likely dont have to change anything there.
Tick your both files "Fixtures" and "Start Date"

(Keep in mind that it should be the same database version as it was shown when you opened FM 19 Editor)
------> CLICK ON ADVANCEND SETUP on the buttom right- <------

Choose your Leagues and your Custom Date:
You HAVE TO add the "sortitoutsi.net League".
Then add your other Leagues you want for your game
As for GAME START DATE: choose the "sortitoutsi.net League" and there should appear the Date you edited on the FM 19 Editor.
(note: if you cant choose any start date from "sortitoutsi.net League", try to only use european leagues + sortitoutsi.net League)


Start the Game and have fun

When I try and update it to today 23/04 the game only gives me the option to load to 22/04 any ideas?

is that a monday? if so that is a known bug you have to pick a monday start day

No the 23/04 is a Tuesday (today)

yes thats why I said it can only be a Monday mate ...the 22nd is a monday, its a bug and has been for a few years SI are aware

I download the files and extract them to the editor folder but the "custom start date" is an .fmf file. When I try to import it in the Editor it doesn't appear in the drop down box of available files (it only shows xml files).

What am I doing wrong?

OK, I d/l the latest start date file (which was an xml file), followed the instructions and all went well.

Thank you!

**Update**

Appears the playoff final fixtures were getting confused with the earlier fixtures between the teams earlier in the season. Updated the fixtures and all goo now

Hi

I followed the instructions to the letter several times, however when I load up, the Skybet Championship is all out of whack, There are about 6 teams relegated even though they are not in the relegation places and 2 teams have been crowned champions even though they aren't at the top. Using 19.3.0 database and custom start date 14 May 19.

One thing that seems to happen that isn't mentioned in your instructions, is in the editor when I save or export the editor data, the file name is saved as 'League & Data Updates', which isn't mentioned in the instructions?

Hi, yes its possible that the 2nd English Division has some problems - its not my Fixtures File - its the one sortitoutsi.net gives us.
Remember the file you "save" is unimportant how you name it or where you save it on... you dont gonna need it later on. When you "export" the File just go to the same Location you imported it and click on the file you want to overwrite. The name should change automatically to the one you choose.

Hope that helps

- edited

Will the Championship be correct if I go through this process again after the play-off final has been decided on Monday or is it better to choose a start date before any play-off games started?

Every time I try this it just tells me that my date is 21/5/2018 - I must have downloaded the zip file 6-7 times now and still no change. I am at a loss - can anyone help?

Hi,

I have the same problem.

@Footygamer any suggestions?

I am a little embarrassed but found out that if you just follow lol67366475483838923 wrote, it works. So you need to follow all steps to make it successfully work.

Is this working for anyone in new update ?

.

I managed to get this working so long as I didn't select the US league or the real fixtures.

As soon as I selected the real fixtures editor data file the option to create a game greyed out.

Help! What am I doing wrong?


Great work nonetheless (applause applause applause)

EDIT: ignore me. Trying to load 2 files to English league like an eejit!

This is a GREAT add-on, but it seems that the data update has an error. The 2019 xml file 'Reduced Player Contracts (sortitoutsi.net Data Update)', has all staff contracts set to end 30/11/32766.

Can this be fixed somehow without having to change them myself one by one? And why is it like this in the first place?

https://sortitoutsi.net/forums/topic/48428/custom-start-date-for-fm19-data-update-error?page=1#comment_477450

By the looks of it it's not just the Reduced Contracts file that doesn't play nice, went through and changed a few contracts to end 30/6/2018 as the file does and it still bumps them forwards to 30/6/2020

Not sure if this is the right place to post this, but I've downloaded the update today, at various points in May, and the real fixtures are causing an error, because the latest version has the 19/20 season fixtures which are outside of the threshold for the 18/19 year.

I've had a look at it in the editor, and the Premier League fixtures for 18/19 are only for Fulham, Cardiff and Huddersfield (the relegated sides).

Is there a way to download the real fixtures file that existed before this recent update?

i just checked it, its still working for me. Only thing that might cause some problems is the Data Update File. But even that one worked fine for me

How come when I start my save it goes to the correct date (May 2019) but has Manchester United winning the Premier League? What's going wrong here?

EDIT: A second time it has Arsenal. It seems like's it's generating the whole season randomly each time. There IS a way to have it reflect what actually happened this year...right? What am I missing?

you need to use real results too

Thank you, I figured I was missing something. Where do I find that?

https://sortitoutsi.net/downloads/view/47468/real-fixtures-and-results-2503-for-fm19

Do the results needed to be imported into the database? Every-time I try add the "real results", I get lots of errors.

load the file/s you want as normal
any issues reply in that thread for the person who made it and read the instructions that comes with it

Tried to do this. followed everything and the dates it offers me is still 2018. tried a few things. still no luck. any solutions?