Editing Save Files in FM Editor: A Step-by-Step Guide

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Are you tired of starting over from scratch every time you make changes to your Football Manager (FM) save game? Don't worry, friend! In this article, we'll show you how to edit a saved game using the popular FM editor.

Why Edit Save Files?

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Before diving into the nitty-gritty of editing save files, let's briefly discuss why you might want to do so. Perhaps you've spent hours fine-tuning your team's tactics and transfer market dealings only for an unexpected error or glitch to wipe everything clean? Or maybe you simply enjoy experimenting with 'what if' scenarios without messing up your main game progression.

Whatever the reason may be, editing save files can be a powerful tool in keeping control over your FM experience. Just remember: always backup your original file before making any changes!

How to Edit Save Files

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### Step 1: Enable Editing

First things first - you'll need to enable edit mode within Football Manager itself.

1. Open up the game and load or create a new save.

2. Go to Edit > Game > Advanced Options (or press `Ctrl + Shift + F10` on PC, Command + Option + L then select 'Advanced' from the drop-down menu).

3. Underneath the 'Compatibility' tab, check both boxes labeled 'Allow Editing of Omitted Players' and 'Load Compressed Files'.

4. Click OK to save these changes.

### Step 2: Locate Your Save Folder

Now that editing is enabled within FM itself, it's time to locate your actual save folder on PC or Mac:

#### Windows

1. Open up File Explorer (or press `Windows + E`).

2. Navigate to the following directory:

- C:\Users\\Documents\EA Sports Football Manager 2023/Saves (adjust the version number as needed).

#### macOS/High Sierra+

1. Click on your hard drive icon in Finder.

2. Double-click 'Library' and then double-click 'Application Support'.

3. Open up the folder with EA Sport's name followed by 'Football Manager 'version''.

### Step 3: Editing Your Save File

You should now see several folders within this directory, each corresponding to a specific save game you've played in FM. Identify the one whose data you want to edit and double-click it:

#### Windows

* Database

* Here lies all of your game's vital information - players' attributes, teams' finances etc.

* Saves (or save_v'version number'_id_'unique ID'.sav)

* This is where the magic happens! Double-click this file to open it up in a text editor like Notepad++ or Sublime Text.

#### macOS/High Sierra+

1. Right click on your desired save folder and select 'Show Package Contents' (or press `Cmd + Option + i`).

2. Within this new window, double click the Data folder.

3. Inside here you'll find another folder called 'save_v'version number'_id_'unique ID''. Double-click to open it up.

### Step 4: Making Changes

You're now in business! Use your preferred text editor (we recommend Notepad++ or Sublime Text due to their advanced search and replace features) to make the necessary changes. Be careful though - messing around with the wrong values can lead to some pretty unpredictable results!

Once you've made all of the alterations required, simply save the file back out again (`Ctrl + S` on PC or `Cmd + Option + S` on Mac). Exit your text editor and reload FM from within game menu (File > Load Game).

And that's it! You should now be able to edit a saved game in Football Manager using our step-by-step guide. Remember - always backup your original file before attempting any changes, just in case something goes wrong!

Additional Tips & Tricks

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* If you're having trouble finding the correct save folder on PC or Mac (or both!), try holding down `Shift` while loading a game to reveal hidden folders and files.

* Don't forget about online resources like FM Forums' 'Save Editing' section - there's loads of useful information, tutorials, and community-created editors available for download!

* Always be cautious when downloading third-party add-ons or editing tools from the internet. Only use reputable sources to avoid potential viruses or compatibility issues.

By following these simple tips above, you'll be well on your way to unlocking the full potential of save file editing in Football Manager 2023 (or whatever version happens to come out next!). Happy modding!

How to edit a save in fm editor