Ask the Experts / 'Unable to load file.... File contains invalid data

Right first of all. Thanks for veiwing this topic whoever solves this problem will help a massive deal!
It all started of when i was making a junior coaster in my new MASSIVE park i am working on. Then i tryed to save the park then a message saying 'save failed' i knew what was going to happen so i turned the computer off at the wall thinking it wont make a differencel. Went back on the park later then the 'Unable to load file.... File contains invalid data' doom message came up! =( So pleeeaaaassseee help because i am proud of this park and i want a way of getting back! Cheers

Misery

P.S I used custom scenery and rides

That sucks!

Have you used an existing bench?
Have you changed items in that bench?
Do you know how to use parkdat?

It'll be a bitch to get it fixed, if that's even possible (changed items).

I've seen a lot of people get this error lately...do we know why it happens? Is it an operating system-specific thing? Is it caused by trainer/custom object use? I think we should compile a list of symptoms for these things, put them in a database (like a FAQ), and use them to diagnose future problems, so we don't have to create individual threads for these problems. (Even though that's what the Ask the Experts forum is for, why not have 1 general topic?) Someone else has probably already had this thought but I think it's a good idea.

Computer says Noooooooooooooooo......

It just happens, no one really knows what causes it.
The best thing you can do, is save multiple times and always have several save games (i'm using 25 save games for my current project).

It's better to be save than sorry...

Okay so what do you suggest? Iv'e used the 8 cars ONLY on closing my park! When i attempted saving my park it said save failed /> Park dat? Theres hardly any custom stuff in my park. I havn't moved a single thing out of the game. People suggested its Amazing Earl rides? I must get that park back whatever happens! So maybe when i do my next project i save it in different files? Thanks for help so far!

Miser =(

Yes, make several saves for your next project.

If you know what bench or scenario you've used and you didn't swap items with parkdat, then it's fixable.
It's not because of the A.E. rides, it just happens, you're not the first encountering this.

Okay, i used 8cars to shut the park. I used some custom scenery and custom rides. Never heard of Parkdat. How to i fix this?

Parkdat is a tool that allows you to switch items in a park.

Let me explain...

In your case, the files (dats) are missing, because of the faulty save.
You can use parkdat to replace the missing files, but you need the scenario, or bench, or whatever you started the park in, as an example, to figure out wich dats are missing.

There's a tutorial in ask the experts on how to use parkdat.

have you made your own scenario?

Yeah its my own scenario. So what do i do

If you've saved your landscape, than you can use that too, you only need to turn it into a save game.
It's just to figure out wich dats you need to add.

If you don't have it, then you're screwed.

Like convert saved into scenario?

No, like the landscape you started in scenario editor.

I usually make a save of the landscape, before i turn it into a scenario.
If you have that...

Yeah but all my rides will be gone

Not necessarily.
If you have that landscape, then you have the objects that are in that landscape.
Turn that landscape into a save game and you can use it with parkdat to figure out wich dats are in there. Then you open parkdat again (just like in the tutorial) and open the broken save game. Then you'll be able to add the dats that are most likely missing, it'll take some time, since you'd have to do it manually, one by one.
But it can fix your savegame.

Open the scenario you used and save it as a new separate save. Then follow along with the method that arjan will probably explain

Okay thanks but where is parkdat?

rct2 tools

All you need for rct2.
Parkdat is in there too.