[Major Issue - Modding] Optimized SLD file from build 177723 not editable anymore with SMX Workshop 1.9.2

Age of Empires II: DE II - Report a Bug
1

:play_button: GAME INFORMATION

:backhand_index_pointing_down: These details are CRITICAL; DO NOT skip them or your issue may not be reviewed.

  • GAME BUILD #: 177723
  • GAME PLATFORM: Steam
  • OPERATING SYSTEM: Windows 11

:play_button: ISSUE EXPERIENCED

:backhand_index_pointing_down: DESCRIBE THE ISSUE IN DETAIL (below). LIMIT TO ONE BUG PER THREAD.
Once openned with the editng tool, sprites are rendering as empty, while they were not doing so prior to this update.

:play_button: FREQUENCY OF ISSUE

:backhand_index_pointing_down: How often does the issue occur? CHOSE ONE; DELETE THE REST!

  • 100% of the time / matches I play (ALWAYS)

:play_button: REPRODUCTION STEPS

:backhand_index_pointing_down: List CLEAR and DETAILED STEPS we can take to reproduce the issue ourselves… Be descriptive!

Here’s the steps to reproduce the issue:

  1. dowload sotfware: https://aok.heavengames.com/blacksmith/showfile.php?fileid=13410
  2. Try open any of the recently updated SLD
  3. Try open any of the SLD prior to 177723 build update to see the difference

:play_button: EXPECTED RESULT

:backhand_index_pointing_down: What was SUPPOSED to happen if the bug you encountered were not present?
Sprite to be rendered by the tool as they were before.

:play_button: IMAGE

:backhand_index_pointing_down: ALWAYS attach a PICTURE (.jpg, .png, .gif) or VIDEO (.mp4, YouTube link) that highlights the problem.
Can’t really screenshot emptyness.

:play_button: GAME FILES (SAVE / RECORDING)

:backhand_index_pointing_down: Attach a SAVE GAME (.aoe2spgame) or GAME RECORDING (.aoe2record) of the match where you encountered the issue. Link it below if using an external file service.

  • #N/A

Additionnal Note:

As a modder I’ve already had hard time finding a program able to edit the files for the DE version, the old Turtle editor was not able to do so for SLD files, only the old HD version SLP file were supported by the said tool so I had to relearn to use a new tool when I started to mod on the DE version.
But now, it seems the recent optimization to reduce memory usage made the tool I’m using totally useless for anything that will be done from now on.

Since we only got AGE as official tool, it’s extremly annoying to suddenly loosing the possibility to edit files, and knowing that any future file update will be out of reach. I know it sounds ridiculous to ask for “giving back the non optimized files” but currently it will probably cause trouble to many other modders that are not 3d artists / photoshop users. And the tool has not be updated since 2019 so I doubt it will be updated anytime soon to support the changes done on the today build.

Cordially, Ekarlath. (aka Zyth23/Etzu)

2

Hello Ekarlath, SMX Workshop newer version is available now. It can load new SLD files.

Besides, there would be no noise tiles generated in loading files anymore.

3

Oh yeah, gonna download that immediatly !

However it seems the latest version is not totally stable, I can’t open the Houfnice walk files for example, it’s not the same kind of issue, will wait for the tool to get updated.

4

Fine, that’s a minor issue of my mistake. I have fixed that.

5

As the author of the tool made the changes on his tool, the issue is solved as modder. Topic can be archived.