Save File Editing Questions

[Kyrt Malthorn]

The following questions pertain to a stock installation. I'm aware there may be mods that could be used to achieve similar things, like hyperedit and tree toppler. I want to know if they're possible with stock alone.

(Answered) Question 1: Is it possible to move a craft in flight between save games?

Note, this isn't about the craft file. I'm asking about a craft that has already been launched. Say you launch a rocket to Duna. Then you want to make a copy of that craft in mid-flight, or after landing, and paste it into your sandbox game for simulations without having to recreate the entire situation. Or to build a scenario. Use it for story purposes or something. Is it possible?

I'm not afraid of mucking around in the file if it's complicated, I just want to know how complicated and what the pitfalls might be, if anyone knows already.

Question 2: Can you create a craft file out of a launched craft?

You launch your prize rocket. Then you go into the VAB and start fussing with the saved version, decide to leave the VAB and accidentally click to save the craft. You just saved over the ship you spent three days building. But there's one in orbit! Is it at all possible to copy a chunk from the save file and rebuild the craft file from whence it came?

(Answered) Question 3: Can you undo tech tree progress?

Say you reached the end of the tech tree and decide to trash all your tech nodes and start over, as if it were a whole new career. Imagine you didn't strip-mine Kerbin's biomes the first time around. Is there some way to reset the tech tree to your starting point?

I realize these are odd questions but I have some ideas. I could probably go rooting around in the save file and learn by trial and error, but if anyone already knows, I hope I can avail myself of your knowledge and save myself a lot of experimentation.

Edited October 31, 2015 by Kyrt Malthorn
Got my answers

[FancyMouse]

1. Yes. That's how I replicated my career save RT satellite network to my sandbox save for testing purposes. Just copy the whole vessel section and should be good to go. Having an editor that can select matching {}'s will make the work super easy. The only thing is the ship may not appear at the exact location from the other save because the current time may be different between saves, and current location is derived from orbit parameters and time, not saved directly.

2. I vaguely remember someone said they are not the same, but I'm not so sure.

3. Search for ResearchAndDevelopment scenario. Deleting each subnode should unresearch each tech node.

[cantab]

1) Yes, it's relatively simple. You just copy the VESSEL section. Do make sure you get it all though.

2) My understanding is there are differences. I recommend you get a routine backup set up and include your KSP saves in that. It's saved my save a fair few times.

3) Yes, you can blank the tech tree. I had to do that when updating a save from 0.90 to 1.0 because the tech tree had changed and I had duplicate entries for a load of parts.

[steuben]

For question 2: yes. claw and a few others have something. http://forum.kerbalspaceprogram.com/threads/75908-Extracting-ship%28s%29-from-SFS is the most recent thread and will provide pointers to others.