Craft files - meta and original?

[MR L A]

Hi all, 

Just a quick one today.. I haven't been able to find any results through usual searching (I'm sure I'm just not searching hard enough) but I'm looking for information on craft files... specifically what are the "meta" files that appear with my normal .craft files and what is a craft.original file? 

Thanks!

[Zeiss Ikon]

I think those store the tiny thumbnail image in the VAB/SPH "Open" dialog.  I've noticed that if I import just the .craft file, the .meta file appears after I've opened the file in one of the editors.  Likewise, if I create and save a new design, there's no .meta file initially (and no thumbnail image), but after I reopen the file in one of the editors and go back to the Open menu, the thumbnail appears, and now there's a .meta.

If you open the .craft file in a text editor, you'll see it contains a bunch of heirarchical information about parts and their properties -- it might be a form of XML, but if not, it's some kind of database file that tells the game what parts to load, in what order, attached to what, and offset how far in what direction, and rotated how, and recolored which way.  Like DNA, it contains all the information a working game of the correct version (and mod set) needs to recreate the craft.

Edited November 27, 2019 by Zeiss Ikon

[MR L A]

21 hours ago, Zeiss Ikon said:

I think those store the tiny thumbnail image in the VAB/SPH "Open" dialog.  I've noticed that if I import just the .craft file, the .meta file appears after I've opened the file in one of the editors.  Likewise, if I create and save a new design, there's no .meta file initially (and no thumbnail image), but after I reopen the file in one of the editors and go back to the Open menu, the thumbnail appears, and now there's a .meta.

If you open the .craft file in a text editor, you'll see it contains a bunch of heirarchical information about parts and their properties -- it might be a form of XML, but if not, it's some kind of database file that tells the game what parts to load, in what order, attached to what, and offset how far in what direction, and rotated how, and recolored which way.  Like DNA, it contains all the information a working game of the correct version (and mod set) needs to recreate the craft.

Ahh thanks for that! Explains the meta file  but I actually have *three* files for a few craft... one is .craft, one is the meta, and the third is .craft.ORIGINAL.

is the .craft.original something to do with old files being converted after an update?

[Zeiss Ikon]

Can't say for sure what the .ORIGINAL files are.  You might look at things like last modified date, file size, or even try opening them with a text editor to see what's inside.  I have a suspicion they might be files for the craft that are included in a new game (if you choose to allow them in settings), or craft provided by a parts mod, with the .ORIGINAL so you can't accidentally save back over.  Or they might be files that you currently have open in an editor, with the .ORIGINAL indicated the pre-edits version (so the game can restore that if you close without saving).