Problems loading custom wdw files (game UI windows)

[Graegoyle]

I did a crash report but has anyone been having trouble with custom wdw files? 

 

I have been using custom window, chat, keybind, options and menu files for loading settings (including macros) using my own folder in the Live folder (I had to change from the Homecoming>Data folder to Homecoming>Settings>Live folder when the game folder structure changed but it has been working fine) for a long time until yesterday, 7-17-2022.  This morning, 7-18-2022, I have suddenly been getting constant crashes when loading custom wdw files (no other files seem to be causing the crash).  If I use a custom wdw.txt file in the Homecoming>settings>live folder, it crashes.  If I do not have any wdw file in that folder, the game will load fine but it will crash if I load a custom wdw file in game as I have been doing successfully for months.  If I try to use older wdw files that have been working fine for months, it will crash.  If I try to load a wdw file that is saved directly from a character that has loaded successfully, it will crash, even if the windows are unedited.

 

I even reinstalled the game and keep getting the same crash results.

[AboveTheChemist]

I use custom .wdw files myself but have not noticed any issues. I haven't tried loading one in a while, though. I'll be sure to give it a shot when I am in-game this evening to see if I notice any issues.

 

I think that there were some non-used windows whose names could at one point be found in the .wdw file, but that were removed from that file in the past year or so. If your .wdw files are old, then perhaps it's one of those now-obsolete window names kicking around in the .wdw file that is causing the issue? That's a bit of a stab in the dark, though. Incidentally, BlackSpectre recently created a wiki page that quite nicely details the window names found in that .wdw file, if you want to investigate some of the names further.

 

I wonder too if somehow your .wdw files are set to read-only somehow. If you don't mind sharing the full CoH install path (all the way back to the drive letter), that might help address that.

[Graegoyle]

Full file path:  G:\Games\City of Heroes\Homecoming\SETTINGS\live\

Full path for my custom files:  G:\Games\City of Heroes\Homecoming\SETTINGS\live\KEYS\BINDS\SETTINGS

I use a LOT of files for things from changing settings to changing costumes to cycling combat numbers and much more. 

 

I really wish the game would just read from the Homecoming>Data folder for custom files.

 

 

Here is the contents of the base wdw file that I use that is crashing:

 

 

Revision 2
status 429 0 330 65 1.300000 666664ff d9 0 2
target 426 0 236 66 1.300000 666664ff d9 0 2
tray 756 1011 440 150 0.800000 666664ff d9 0 2
tray1 758 971 450 50 0.800000 666664ff d9 0 2
tray2 758 931 450 50 0.800000 666664ff d9 0 2
tray3 1119 971 450 50 0.800000 666664ff d9 0 2
tray4 1119 931 450 50 0.800000 666664ff d9 0 2
tray5 1119 891 450 50 0.800000 666664ff d9 0 2
tray6 1507 683 50 450 0.800000 666664ff d9 0 2
tray7 300 700 450 50 0.800000 666664ff d9 0 4
tray8 350 800 450 50 0.800000 666664ff d9 0 4
compass 915 0 280 82 1.300000 666664ff d9 0 2
chat 0 1011 493 484 0.800000 666664ff d9 0 2
chat1 0 610 431 522 0.800000 666664ff d9 1 4
chat2 0 419 431 524 0.800000 666664ff d9 0 4
chat3 1920 446 431 523 0.800000 666664ff d9 0 4
chat4 1920 622 431 200 0.800000 666664ff d9 0 4
group 0 110 245 34 0.800000 666664ff d9 0 4
league 240 110 245 34 0.800000 666664ff d9 0 4
enhancements 1120 833 440 73 0.800000 666664ff d9 0 2
pet 0 330 250 300 1.000000 666664ff d9 0 4
powerlist 1084 451 440 230 1.500000 666664ff d9 0 4
contactdialog 1600 505 600 400 1.400000 666664ff d9 0 4
inspiration 532 877 160 84 0.800000 666664ff d9 1 2
mission 1098 0 440 178 1.000000 666664ff d9 0 2
actions 426 109 180 66 1.300000 666664ff d9 1 4
store 1800 505 630 480 1.200000 666664ff d9 0 4
defeat 1740 70 280 100 0.800000 666664ff d9 0 4
costume 1117 605 707 574 1.000000 666664ff d9 0 4
chatOptions 200 200 570 380 1.000000 666664ff d9 0 4
map 1548 630 460 476 0.800000 666664ff d9 0 2
friend 407 125 409 480 0.900000 666664ff d9 0 4
supergroup 1040 21 800 625 1.100000 666664ff d9 0 4
email 555 0 800 445 1.200000 666664ff d9 0 4
compose 875 372 400 383 1.200000 666664ff d9 0 4
contact 1440 20 400 456 1.200000 666664ff d9 0 4
clue 1181 90 400 600 1.000000 666664ff d9 0 4
info 1248 20 440 600 1.000000 666664ff d9 0 4
badge 1370 20 550 523 1.000000 666664ff d9 0 2
baseprops 1920 0 200 250 1.000000 666664ff d9 1 4
baseinv 960 505 150 150 1.000000 666664ff d9 0 4
baseroom 0 0 250 505 1.000000 666664ff d9 1 4
inventory 100 100 250 300 1.000000 666664ff d9 0 4
salvage 1335 20 585 518 1.000000 666664ff d9 0 4
vault 929 150 400 300 1.000000 666664ff d9 0 4
conceptinv 200 200 250 300 1.000000 666664ff d9 0 4
recipeinv 250 250 250 300 1.000000 666664ff d9 0 4
invent 300 300 250 300 1.000000 666664ff d9 0 4
options 824 17 990 994 1.000000 666664ff d9 0 4
base_storage 350 350 460 400 1.000000 666664ff d9 0 4
recipes 1304 556 616 455 1.000000 666664ff d9 0 4
combatnumbers 2220 320 600 600 0.800000 666664ff d9 0 4
combatmonitor 763 893 185 19 1.800000 ff7f33ff d9 0 2
missionMaker 960 505 950 850 1.000000 666664ff d9 0 4
missionSearch 960 505 750 550 1.000000 666664ff d9 0 4
missionReview 1240 410 480 480 1.000000 666664ff d9 0 4
scriptui 1600 171 350 250 1.000000 666664ff d9 0 4
auction 924 397 740 610 1.300000 666664ff d9 0 2
lfg 200 391 400 300 1.000000 666664ff d9 0 4
lfgdialog 1125 100 300 200 1.000000 666664ff d9 0 4
razertray 1600 299 130 170 1.000000 666664ff d9 0 4

 

Edited July 18, 2022 by Graegoyle

[Graegoyle]

Well, I got it working now, but I have no idea what I did to fix it.  Maybe there was a weird artifact in memory or something. 

[AboveTheChemist]

1 minute ago, Graegoyle said:

Well, I got it working now, but I have no idea what I did to fix it.  Maybe there was a weird artifact in memory or something. 

 

Good to hear! I don't see any file path issues that jump out at me, and the contents (as far as window names) of your .wdw file are identical to the ones I use. I'll still try loading one when I hop on tonight and see if I have any issues.

[Graegoyle]

I do a lot of quirky things with my settings so I doubt that you will come across the same situation.  I was just asking if there might be a known issue with the wdw file, but thanks for checking in.  Have fun.

 

[AboveTheChemist]

1 hour ago, Graegoyle said:

I do a lot of quirky things with my settings so I doubt that you will come across the same situation.

 

As do I, which is why the topic interested me enough to want to delve a bit further. I keep pretty close eye on the forums (and somewhat less so on the Discord) and have not noticed any other reports of this (or similar) issues.

[AboveTheChemist]

I was delayed a bit in testing but I tried loading several custom window files, both on live and on Beta, and saw no issues with any of them.

[Graegoyle]

After continuing to experience seemingly sporadic problems with crashing when loading the wdw files, it seems that the actual culprit is the "bonus" power tray that pops up when you have a travel power active.  If you save a wdw file while that try is open and then try to load that wdw file, it will cause the crash.  It doesn't seem to happen when you save a wdw file without that tray active, but load that wdw file while that tray is open.