Editing latest FM 25/26 update (Classic FM fmf files)

Looking for a bit of advice and bear with me as im a slight newbie.

I've bought and downloaded the latest enhanced data update, decided to make my own custom edits  but wasnt sure which fmf file to use as there's quite a lot of them in the zip file.

Chose the most logical fmfm file “Classic FM - Changes” , spent a few hours then loaded up a game and it looks like some changes have been implemented but some have not.

Any idea why? 

I'm guessing there's some conflicts due to the ammount of fmf files which are being used but is there any way to bypass the conflicts so that the most recently modified fmf file (the one i made changes to) is the one the game takes the player attributes from.

*tried my best to explain that as best possible, basically I want to make my own amends and looking for guidnace on how to make them come up in a new game.

Thanks.

Can you give me a sense of the nature of the alterations/tweaks/changes you want to make?

On that basis, I can provide some targeted advice and - if required - explain what files that are part of the Data Update you should be appending your changes into and/or why you're seeing inconsistent results thus far.

Hi mate appreciate the swift reply.

Its purely been player attribute changes, CA / PA changes, positional amends etc, as I say I loaded up in editor the “Classic FM - Changes” fmf file as that seemed to make the most sense to edit. 

So after a while to test if the edits were working I loaded up a new game using that file I amended and all the fmf files in my orginal screenshot (none of the optional dynamic) and all my changes seemed to have worked, I then spent another hour or so (my laptop struggles with the size of the classic fm - changes fmf), I saved it again then put the laptop to one side.

Later that evening I decided to do some more editing but out of curiosity loaded the “Classic FM - Transfer Clauses” fmf in editor and my laptop didnt struggle or pause when browsing through that so I made some further attribute changes to that fmf file, saved it then decided I was satisfied with all my edits and finally start a brand new save but when it loaded I looked and it seems not all of the amends I'd made originally to the  “Classic FM - Changes” fmf were still on there.

I'm thinking maybe I should have made all my personal edits to only the one fmf file (“Classic FM - Changes”), the changes are still made to that fmf file when I load it up so im wondering if there's anything I can do to bring them to the fore shall we say when starting a new game?

Thanks

OK, thanks - that's useful context.

The basic premise is that Editor Data files are read and applied in the order that they appear in-game (in the window where you select your database version and enable which Editor Data Files you want to use). The ones at the top of the list are read and applied first.

Therefore, files further down the list will overwrite files higher up the list, in any scenario where more than one file makes changes to a particular value.

In terms of the Enhanced Data Update files, the primary file that alters CA/PA values is ‘Classic FM - Non Dynamic Data.fmf’. It should be noted, though, that in the last 24 hours the overall structure of the Data Update has been altered and so the equivalent file is now called ‘sortitoutsi.net FM24 Data Update - Player Attributes.fmf’. I'm mentioning this because if you download the latest update, you may find all the filenames are changed and be confused.

For your CA/PA changes, I'd recommend either:

1. Loading the ‘Classic FM - Non Dynamic Data.fmf’ / ‘sortitoutsi.net FM24 Data Update - Player Attributes.fmf’ in the Pre-Game Editor and appending your alterations into that file.

2. Making your alterations in a brand new file, which you save with a filename that comes later alphabetically (e.g. ‘zzMyChanges.fmf’).

The reason for doing #1 would be to allow you to lookup and see what the CA/PA value is in the Pre-Game Editor on the basis of using that file (i.e. what is the value currently, so you can decide whether you want to change it at all). The drawback is that you need to load that file, which contains a lot of changes, and so it is slower to work with.

The reason for doing #2 is that you are starting from an empty file and it'll be faster to work with in the Pre-Game Editor. The drawback is that you can't reference, in the Pre-Game Editor, what the CA/PA value is for any given player - because what you'll see is the default/vanilla values that those were in FM 24.3.

Another important, underlying reason to do #2 would be the fact that it would enable you to download (and use) the latest Data Update file at your leisure without overwriting your work. Otherwise, if you make a load of changes, you can't then grab the latest version and apply it over the top - because that would remove all of your changes.

In terms of a recommended approach for altering playing positions - the SortItOutSI Data Update doesn't alter positions of players and, therefore, things are simpler. Option #1 or #2 would be equally acceptable. I'd recommend option #2, overall - by quite some distance.

Once again really appreciate you responding and going into detail thank you.

Let me get this right in my small brain - when setting up a game and selecting data files I want to use, then any data files at the bottom of the list will take prefereance / be applied last? 

So were I to give Harry Maguire 20 pace or 20 finishing and 190 PA in the last file in the list then when I start a new game and that fmf file is selcted it will reflect those silly attribute updates.

In that case could I take the fmf file I made all my alterations to (“Classic FM - Changes”) and rename it to add a Z to the front and then it would be appled last or is it not that simple?

When you mention appending my alterations into the 'Classic FM - Non Dynamic Data.fmf’ do you mean merging them together?

(I've seen the “merge data” option but never attempted to do it)

Or do you mean just open my amended fmf in pre game editor, look at the list of changes and manually write them down in readiness to do it again on the new si.net update.

I think your reccomendation (#2) of downloading the latest fresh update and making my own file might be the easiest thing to do, because its the most up to date info plus my laptop is painfully slow when using pre game editor if im amending one of the large files like Non - dynamic or payer history fmf.

I've never made one from scratch before so not too sure how to or can I just pick one of the smaller sized fmf files in the new “sortitoutsi.net FM24 Data Update” make my amends to that and do a save as and rename it “Zmy changes.fmf” ?

Applogies for all the questions I think that the last of them (hopefully), I just want to nail this down for future referance plus its a nice learning experience for myself! haha.

Thanks.

So - firstly, yes, you have the general concept correct: the files at the bottom of the list will take preference/be applied last.

Where I refer to appending your alterations - I just mean opening an existing FMF file and then making further changes, before saving that file again. No need to use the ‘merge’ function.

Making your own file is as simple as opening the Pre-Game Editor, selecting the database (24.3) and loading it. From there, simply start to make changes. As soon as you make a database change, you'll see it shows there are Database Changes (1) (top-left section). As you make changes, that number in brackets will grow. When you're done, then save your file (File → Save Editor Data As), thus creating an FMF file. The file you've saved will contain only your changes.

Cheers mate, I've found what seems a slight workaround by experimenting.

So I downloaded the latest update from this site, then I deleted all the fmf files in the C:\Users\k13hc\OneDrive\Documents\Sports Interactive\Football Manager 2024\editor data but I put my edited fmf (“Classic FM - Changes”) onto my desktop.

Then inserted all the new files from the zip into the editor data folder, dropped my edited fmf (“Classic FM - Changes”) into there also.

Started a brand new game, selected all the fmf files APART from the new “sortitoutsi.net FM24 Data Update - Player Attributes.fmf” and when it loaded up my changes were there so fingers crossed that stays as is going forward.

Appreciate the lesson in editing, thank you.

That will work but you’re effectively making a concession not to use the Player Attributes file, which contains all the modified CA/PA values from the Data Update.

If you chose to use your own file, it would enable you to use all of the files from the Data Update and you could keep them updated.