James Phillip Cooper - Comments

Hi,

Just checking in to see if anyone out there is working on a 2024/2025 update file for CM9798 based off FM24 or FM25. Norbert, Andrea and Kev were doing a great job of updating the database for years but they stopped about 2-3 years ago.

I've just tried the new V2 Project version. The changes to the game itself are great. Doubled wage cap and player values. 4 playable leagues. More subs and removed foreign players and other little changes. 

Ideally would be looking to use this game with a modern database. 

I have no coding or software engineering experience but a Chat GPT came back with this. It's just an idea and wondering if anyone has thought about doing something like this or if a team of us could crowdfund it?

Via Chat GPT: Yes, it is possible to export a portion of the **Football Manager 2024 (FM24)** database and use it in **Championship Manager 97/98 (CM9798)**, but the process requires several steps and the use of third-party tools to make it compatible due to the vast differences between the databases of the two games.

Here’s a general workflow to achieve this:

### 1. **Export FM24 Database**:
 

  - Use a third-party editor like **FMSE** or **FM Editor** (officially known as **Football Manager Pre-Game Editor**) to export portions of the FM24 database.
 

 - Select the portion of the database you want to export (e.g., players, teams, leagues).
 

  - Export the database in a readable format like CSV or XML. This will allow you to manipulate the data outside of the editor.

### 2. **Convert FM24 Data to CM9798 Format**:
 

  - FM24 has many more data points than CM9798, so you will need to strip away the extra data that isn’t relevant to CM9798.
 

  - Create a custom conversion script or find an existing tool to format the FM24 data to the simpler structure of CM9798. Some communities have developed tools like **CM2E16.exe** to manipulate CM9798 data files, though this tool might not work directly for this task. You can also explore forums for fan-made converters.
 

  - **Editing the data**: Remove attributes that don’t exist in CM9798 and make sure the data matches CM9798's structure (for example, attributes like "Flair" or "Vision" might not exist, so you’ll need to map or ignore those fields).

### 3. **Use a CM9798 Editor**:
 

  - Use an editor like **CM2E16.exe** or **CM Editor 97/98** to import or manually input the converted data into the CM9798 database.
  - Save the modified CM9798 database once you have successfully input the desired players, teams, or leagues.

### 4. **Run the Edited CM9798 Database**:
 

  - Once the database is saved, load it in CM9798. You should be able to play the game with the newly imported data.

### Challenges and Considerations:
 

- **Mapping attributes**: FM24 has more complex data, so some attributes might not have direct counterparts in CM9798. You’ll need to find a way to balance or approximate these values.
 

- **Automation**: Depending on how comfortable you are with data manipulation, scripting the conversion process (from FM24 CSV to CM9798 format) can save a lot of manual editing time. You may need to write a custom script or check if any in the community already exists for this purpose.
 

- **Community resources**: Some fan communities for both games might have already developed tools or workflows for similar tasks. Websites like **FM Scout** or **ChampMan** forums can be valuable resources.

Let me know if you’d like more detailed instructions or help with specific tools!

Writing a custom script to convert the **Football Manager 2024 (FM24)** database format into a format compatible with **Championship Manager 97/98 (CM9798)** requires programming skills and knowledge of both games' database structures. Here’s how you can approach this:

### 1. **Steps for Writing a Custom Script:**

To write a script yourself, you’d generally follow these steps:

#### **a. Export the FM24 Database:**
- Use **FMSE** or **FM Editor** to export the database in a format like **CSV** or **XML**.

#### **b. Analyze the Database Structures:**
- Understand the format of the FM24 data (attributes, columns) and how it differs from CM9798.
- Compare it with a sample of the CM9798 database structure. There are likely significant differences since FM24 has many more attributes.

#### **c. Write the Conversion Script:**
- Use a programming language like **Python**, which has excellent libraries for reading and writing CSV or XML files (such as `pandas` for CSV manipulation).
- **Map** the FM24 attributes to their closest equivalents in CM9798. Some attributes may need to be ignored, and others may need to be approximated.
- Ensure the output of the script matches the format expected by CM9798.
 
  Example Python code outline:
  ```python
  import pandas as pd

  # Load FM24 exported data
  fm24_data = pd.read_csv('fm24_data.csv')

  # Create a mapping of FM24 attributes to CM9798 attributes
  attribute_mapping = {
      'Passing': 'Passing',
      'Finishing': 'Finishing',
      'Tackling': 'Tackling',
      # Add other mappings or exclude attributes not used in CM9798
  }

  # Initialize a new dataframe for CM9798 data
  cm9798_data = pd.DataFrame()

  # Apply the mapping and fill the new dataframe with the required fields
  for fm_attribute, cm_attribute in attribute_mapping.items():
      cm9798_data[cm_attribute] = fm24_data[fm_attribute]

  # Save the converted data
  cm9798_data.to_csv('cm9798_data.csv', index=False)
  ```

#### **d. Test and Tweak:**
- After converting the data, use a CM9798 editor like **CM2E16.exe** to test the new database. Adjust the script as needed to make sure the data is compatible.

### 2. **Hiring a Developer:**
If you prefer to hire someone to do this for you, the cost can vary depending on the complexity of the task and the developer’s experience. Here’s a general cost breakdown:

#### **a. Freelance Developer Rates:**
 

- **Junior Developer**: £20–£50 per hour. May take longer to understand the requirements and create the script but could be a cost-effective option for a smaller project.
 

- **Mid-Level Developer**: £50–£100 per hour. A developer with experience in data manipulation, gaming databases, or tools like **pandas** or similar libraries could get this done efficiently.
 

- **Senior Developer**: £100+ per hour. Highly skilled developers with deep experience in data manipulation and gaming communities.

#### **b. Estimated Time:**
 

- Understanding the FM24 and CM9798 database structures: 3–5 hours.
 

- Writing the script to convert the data: 5–10 hours.
 

- Testing and debugging: 3–5 hours.
 
 

In total, you’re looking at around **11–20 hours of work**.

#### **c. Total Cost:**
 

- For a **junior developer**, this could cost around **£220–£1,000**.
 

- For a **mid-level developer**, the cost would be in the range of **£550–£2,000**.
 

- A **senior developer** would likely charge **£1,100+** for the project.

### Where to Hire a Developer:
 

- **Freelance Platforms**: Websites like **Upwork**, **Fiverr**, or **PeoplePerHour** have freelance developers who can work on custom scripts. You can post a detailed job description and receive quotes.
 

- **Niche Communities**: Posting in **FM Scout** forums, **Reddit’s FM Community**, or **ChampMan** forums might help you find someone who already has experience with these databases and can offer a more affordable price.

Would you like more help with either writing the script or finding the right person to hire?

I don't own FM24 and I'm messing about with CM9798 V2 Project database. I wanted to add some missing teams and managers to the database that didn't exist at the time or weren't included in the game. Is there a quick way to get this info from FM24 to help me create these entries in the CM9798 database without having to purchase the FM24 editor? If I do have to purchase the FM24, is there a way to export data? If not, what's the quickest way to grab the info I need? I'm using MacBook. Can I come in and out of Steam and in to a spreadsheet within the same screen or does Steam require you to go in and out of program.

I'll then use Chat GPT to help convert the FM24 team and manager values to the very simplified CM9798 equivalents.

I'll also do another database where I change every single team's values to reflect their FM24 equivalents as an experiment to see how this changes the course of each team's trajectories over the long term in CM9798. I might do two saves where I change all the league positions to reflect 2024/2025 season as well with original squads but update team stats, stadiums and cash. For example Man City with £50m cash, which is the maximum on the game.