I have mentioned this below, and in my description. : Thanks for reporting this. I understand the concern when an antivirus flags a download. Let me clarify what's happening.
This is a false positive detection by your antivirus.
For full transparency, the complete source code for the editor is available on GitHub here:
If you have any doubts, I encourage you to review the code yourself to confirm it doesn't contain malicious components. If you're unsure how to review code, you could even copy/paste the code files from GitHub into an AI assistant (like ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude, etc.) and ask it to check for anything suspicious.
Antivirus programs sometimes flag tools like this using generic terms like "worm". Save editors, by their very nature, work by directly reading and modifying game save files (like the game) file for Space Haven, or similar files for other games). This file modification behavior is something antivirus heuristics can sometimes mistake for malicious activity, especially since the application isn't digitally signed (getting official code signing certificates involves an annual cost, which can be prohibitive for free tools). I can assure you the code doesn't contain anything designed to spread itself or harm your system; its sole purpose is to edit the Space Haven save file you choose and optionally create backups.
Regarding version 1.01 specifically: My apologies, I accidentally left 'Debug' mode enabled when compiling that version. This doesn't harm your computer in any way, but it does include extra development information in the file, which unfortunately makes antivirus software even more likely to trigger false positives than a standard 'Release' build. This mistake has been corrected, and the next version will be compiled properly in 'Release' mode, which should help reduce these flags.
It helps if users experiencing this report the file to their specific antivirus vendor as a false positive, as different vendors require separate reports. (I've already reported it to mine).
As always, please remember to back up your saves before editing, as mentioned in the tool's disclaimer.
New Crew member was created as a civilian. I had the exact same faction refugee aboard my ship. Changing the skill level does not change the max skill level (mxn=). Unknown skill (22) is Piloting.
Thank you, this will be fixed and changed in the next version. Essentially, at the moment, the new crew member option takes a random crew member and "clones" it to create the new crew. In the next version 1.1, which I am working on, will allow you to select a "template character" and it will clone that one. You could then pick a regular crew member character and clone that one. In addition, the next verison will have a bulk crew option, where you can add X number of characters to the selected ship (from a template crew member). Hopefully, coming at the end of this month. As well as several bug fixes.
Run into an issue. The save editor is throwing up an error when I attempt to load the save file for editing. Message reads as thus:
Error parsing the save file XML [Xmlexception] An error occurred while parsing EntityName. Line 9245, Position 325
File: [Where my save is located] The file may be corrupted or not a valid Space Haven save
Went into the file with notepad+, it seems that for some reason, the Haven Foundation ship that spawns when doing the Exodus Fleet quest involving the asteroid base where you need to hold the line (in this save, it was the Search and Destroy) is causing issues when loading the save. Game runs fine, but the save editor can't ignore it and chucks a hissy fit.
Going to try and just remove the ship entirely from Notepad and see if that works, and pray it doesn't cause the game to crash.
Removing the ship from the save file via notepad allows the Save Editor to load the save again. So there's *something* going on aboard that ship that prevents the Save Editor from loading.
Further report: removing the ship entirely in Notepad (from the <j> to </j> it was contained in) does not cause an immediate game crash. Loading into the system map does not cause a game crash either. If there's any further instability I do not know, but it appears just deleting the ship the Haven Fleet provides for that mission will fix this issue.
For the interim and also in case that this can't be solved with an update to the Save Editor, quick and dirty fix is below:
0: Backup the save (copying and saving it in the same directory as save.old works for me) 1: Identify the Line and Position given in the error (in this particular case, it was line 9245, position 325). This will be where the offending ship is located. 2: select everything between the <j> and </j> thingies (I used to code, forget what these are called) and hit backspace. DO NOT ERASE ANYTHING ELSE, AND ENSURE YOU HAVE THE CORRECT j AND /j LINES OR YOU WILL DEFINITELY f*#@ SOMETHING UP. 3: remove any blank lines that might remain 4: Save the file 5: Run Save Editor and reload the save file
Thanks for narrowing this down with an example. I have been looking over these errors, trying to find where it is happening. This is super helpful. I will take a look at this, and see if I can either ignore this ship or change the way it loads the save. Stay Tuned.
So if it is getting flagged, how bout get it unflagged or prevent it from flagging? how hard is it the software grandfathered into not being flagged? Might be worthwhile learning to get it bypassed by flagging software for future developer work?
If you have any doubts, I encourage you to review the code yourself to confirm it doesn't contain malicious components. If you're unsure how to review code, you could even copy/paste the code files from GitHub into an AI assistant (like ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude, etc.) and ask it to check for anything suspicious.
Antivirus programs sometimes flag tools like this using generic terms like "worm". Save editors, by their very nature, work by directly reading and modifying game save files (like the game) file for Space Haven, or similar files for other games). This file modification behavior is something antivirus heuristics can sometimes mistake for malicious activity, especially since the application isn't digitally signed (getting official code signing certificates involves an annual cost, which can be prohibitive for free tools). I can assure you the code doesn't contain anything designed to spread itself or harm your system; its sole purpose is to edit the Space Haven save file you choose and optionally create backups.
Regarding version 1.01 specifically: My apologies, I accidentally left 'Debug' mode enabled when compiling that version. This doesn't harm your computer in any way, but it does include extra development information in the file, which unfortunately makes antivirus software even more likely to trigger false positives than a standard 'Release' build. This mistake has been corrected, and the next version will be compiled properly in 'Release' mode, which should help reduce these flags.
It helps if users experiencing this report the file to their specific antivirus vendor as a false positive, as different vendors require separate reports. (I've already reported it to mine).
As always, please remember to back up your saves before editing, as mentioned in the tool's disclaimer.
28 comments
Like crew has potential but has to train to achieve it, you know.
This is a false positive detection by your antivirus.
For full transparency, the complete source code for the editor is available on GitHub here:
https://github.com/moragar360/Space-Haven-Save-Game-Editor
If you have any doubts, I encourage you to review the code yourself to confirm it doesn't contain malicious components. If you're unsure how to review code, you could even copy/paste the code files from GitHub into an AI assistant (like ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude, etc.) and ask it to check for anything suspicious.
Antivirus programs sometimes flag tools like this using generic terms like "worm". Save editors, by their very nature, work by directly reading and modifying game save files (like the game) file for Space Haven, or similar files for other games). This file modification behavior is something antivirus heuristics can sometimes mistake for malicious activity, especially since the application isn't digitally signed (getting official code signing certificates involves an annual cost, which can be prohibitive for free tools). I can assure you the code doesn't contain anything designed to spread itself or harm your system; its sole purpose is to edit the Space Haven save file you choose and optionally create backups.
Regarding version 1.01 specifically: My apologies, I accidentally left 'Debug' mode enabled when compiling that version. This doesn't harm your computer in any way, but it does include extra development information in the file, which unfortunately makes antivirus software even more likely to trigger false positives than a standard 'Release' build. This mistake has been corrected, and the next version will be compiled properly in 'Release' mode, which should help reduce these flags.
It helps if users experiencing this report the file to their specific antivirus vendor as a false positive, as different vendors require separate reports. (I've already reported it to mine).
As always, please remember to back up your saves before editing, as mentioned in the tool's disclaimer.
Thanks again for the feedback.
Changing the skill level does not change the max skill level (mxn=).
Unknown skill (22) is Piloting.
[edit nvr mind. 1.01 version works)
Error parsing the save file XML
[Xmlexception] An error occurred while parsing EntityName. Line 9245, Position 325
File: [Where my save is located]
The file may be corrupted or not a valid Space Haven save
Went into the file with notepad+, it seems that for some reason, the Haven Foundation ship that spawns when doing the Exodus Fleet quest involving the asteroid base where you need to hold the line (in this save, it was the Search and Destroy) is causing issues when loading the save. Game runs fine, but the save editor can't ignore it and chucks a hissy fit.
Going to try and just remove the ship entirely from Notepad and see if that works, and pray it doesn't cause the game to crash.
Further report: removing the ship entirely in Notepad (from the <j> to </j> it was contained in) does not cause an immediate game crash. Loading into the system map does not cause a game crash either. If there's any further instability I do not know, but it appears just deleting the ship the Haven Fleet provides for that mission will fix this issue.
For the interim and also in case that this can't be solved with an update to the Save Editor, quick and dirty fix is below:
0: Backup the save (copying and saving it in the same directory as save.old works for me)
1: Identify the Line and Position given in the error (in this particular case, it was line 9245, position 325). This will be where the offending ship is located.
2: select everything between the <j> and </j> thingies (I used to code, forget what these are called) and hit backspace. DO NOT ERASE ANYTHING ELSE, AND ENSURE YOU HAVE THE CORRECT j AND /j LINES OR YOU WILL DEFINITELY f*#@ SOMETHING UP.
3: remove any blank lines that might remain
4: Save the file
5: Run Save Editor and reload the save file
If there's no more errors, it's fixed.
Edit: nvm he means from <l through />
edit :
I try with out mods and just start fresh new one and it still not saving it.
Error parsing the save file XML:
[XmlException] An error occurred while parsing EntityName. Line 5663, position 316.
C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\SpaceHaven\savegames\new haven-3\save
The file might be corrupted or not a valid Space Haven save.
Error parsing the save file XML:
I can't open save. any solution?[Xml Exception] An error occured while parsing Entity Name. Line XXXX, position XXX.
This is a false positive detection by your antivirus.
For full transparency, the complete source code for the editor is available on GitHub here:
https://github.com/moragar360/Space-Haven-Save-Game-Editor
If you have any doubts, I encourage you to review the code yourself to confirm it doesn't contain malicious components. If you're unsure how to review code, you could even copy/paste the code files from GitHub into an AI assistant (like ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude, etc.) and ask it to check for anything suspicious.
Antivirus programs sometimes flag tools like this using generic terms like "worm". Save editors, by their very nature, work by directly reading and modifying game save files (like the game) file for Space Haven, or similar files for other games). This file modification behavior is something antivirus heuristics can sometimes mistake for malicious activity, especially since the application isn't digitally signed (getting official code signing certificates involves an annual cost, which can be prohibitive for free tools). I can assure you the code doesn't contain anything designed to spread itself or harm your system; its sole purpose is to edit the Space Haven save file you choose and optionally create backups.
Regarding version 1.01 specifically: My apologies, I accidentally left 'Debug' mode enabled when compiling that version. This doesn't harm your computer in any way, but it does include extra development information in the file, which unfortunately makes antivirus software even more likely to trigger false positives than a standard 'Release' build. This mistake has been corrected, and the next version will be compiled properly in 'Release' mode, which should help reduce these flags.
It helps if users experiencing this report the file to their specific antivirus vendor as a false positive, as different vendors require separate reports. (I've already reported it to mine).
As always, please remember to back up your saves before editing, as mentioned in the tool's disclaimer.
Thanks again for the feedback.