About This Mod
The PAYDAY 2 Savefile Import/Export Tool (aka "Save Tool") allows you to import and export save data as JSON, rather than the encrypted .sav files that the game normally saves and loads from.
What can this mod do?
- You can use this mod to migrate your game progression data (level, infamy, money, inventory, everything) as JSON files from one account to another, regardless of platform- eg. the Epic Games distribution of PAYDAY 2 to the Steam distribution, or vice versa. (Though why would you want to go back to Epic Games?)
- If you have another PAYDAY 2 .sav save file from another Steam account, you can use this mod to disable the save ownership check, allowing you to use someone else's save file. This is useful if you are trying to transfer your progress to another account.
- As this uses the original .sav files, you are not required to use the import/export as JSON feature of this mod.
- This must be from Steam <-> Steam. Epic <-> Steam .sav savefiles are not intercompatible.
- You can also use this tool to transfer your save progress from the Linux version of the game to the current Windows version of the game. (The native Linux version of PAYDAY 2 is no longer supported by the developers, and the .sav save files cannot be transferred between Windows and Linux.)
- If you're curious, you can dig through your save data
and feel like a leet hacker
What can't this mod do?
- This mod cannot give you access to DLC you do not own, even if you owned it on a previous platform.
- This mod cannot directly read or write .sav savefile data from other platforms- it is reliant on the Diesel engine to parse these formats.
- Therefore, it also cannot rescue corrupt .sav files, and can only operate from valid .sav files.
- This mod cannot validate save data, other than making sure the file is readable. If you feed it corrupt or null JSON save data to import, it has little way of protecting you, so you are advised against modifying your own JSON save data!
IMPORTANT, READ THIS!
1. DLC Licenses do not transfer!
This mod does not grant you access to DLCs you purchased on other platforms. You will have to buy them again if you want access to them on other platforms. That's not what this mod is for.
2. Back up your save files before you do anything to them!
No matter what you do to your save file, as long as you save a backup before that point, you can always restore it.
It is good practice to do this any time you are doing anything that could affect your save file!
3. I am not responsible for whatever you do to your save files with this mod!
It is possible, but not intended or supported, to edit your save files using this mod since they are in a more readable format.
However, many values (perk points, money, etc) are hashed by the game already, so you can't just change the money or xp values as plain text. You are welcome to try save editing, but if you mess up your save, it will be your responsibility.
4. This mod is in testing!
It is stable, but I have not tested every possible case. Please report any issues to me to help improve the mod and prevent further issues from happening to others!
Usage Instructions
How to export your save to JSON:
Click to expand
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BACK UP YOUR SAVES!
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Install this mod.
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Launch the game.
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Enable the option called "Enable saving as JSON save".
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Save the game. The easiest way is the "Save your progress now" button in the options menu, but you can also perform any inventory/loadout action such as equipping or buying a weapon, buying or completing a heist contract, or purchasing a skill, and then exiting to the main menu.
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Your save file will be in the "mods/saves/SavefileImportExportTool/". The default save file slot for PAYDAY 2 progression is "098", so your JSON file will likely be called "save098.json". If you are using Restoration Mod or some other mod that changes the save slot, the name of the save file may be different. Additional files like "save000.json" may be used for other data such as settings.
JSON save files created with this mod are typically a little less than 1MB, depending on how many weapons and profiles you had in your save file.
How to import your JSON save to the game:
Click to expand
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BACK UP YOUR .sav SAVEFILES IF YOU HAVEN'T ALREADY!
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Install this mod in the copy of the game you are importing your save into. In the Save Tool mod's options, make sure that the option called "Enable loading from JSON save" is enabled.
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Drag your JSON save files into the Save Tool Mod's save directory, in "mods/saves/SavefileImportExportTool/".
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Launch the game. Your save files should be loaded instead of the .sav files. Save your game. It should now be safe to remove or disable the "Save Import/Export Tool".
I recommend leaving the "Enable loading from JSON save" option unchecked in general play, as otherwise your game will always try to load the JSON save file instead of the .sav file. This may result in loading older save data if you do not also keep "Enable saving to JSON save" enabled.
[Steam platform only] How to import another Steam user's .sav savefile
Click to expand
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Stop me if you've heard this one before... BACK UP YOUR .sav SAVEFILES BEFORE YOU DELETE THEM, just in case something goes wrong!
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Install this mod in the copy of the game you are importing your save into. In the Save Tool mod's options, make sure that the option called "Bypass User ID Check in Saves" is enabled. (It is on by default)
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Disable Steam Cloud sync: Right click PAYDAY 2 in your Steam library -> "Properties" -> "General" -> Disable the toggle option "Keep game's saves in the Steam Cloud for PAYDAY 2". This will prevent Steam from detecting the save file as being outdated and replacing it.
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Drag your new .sav file(s) into your save file location (if you don't know where this is, see the guide in FAQ)
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Launch the game. The new save files will be loaded. If you get an error message that the save file is corrupt, your save file might be corrupt, or it might be from the Epic Games platform, or some similar issue.
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Save the game. There is a handy button in the Save Tool's mod options menu for this purpose.
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You may now re-enable Steam Cloud sync if you wish. Close the game and re-enable the toggle from Step 2.
Installation
Unzip to your "mods" folder.
(Please see the "Dependencies & Instructions" tab for instructions on installing BLT mods.)
F.A.Q.
Q: How do I back up my game files? Is it going to take a long time?
A: It only takes maybe five minutes, and it's worth spending five minutes to prevent you losing hours and hours of progress. Here are some guides:
- Text guide (Steam Community Guides) to backing up your PAYDAY 2 save files: https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2384017109
- YouTube video guide for backing up your PAYDAY 2 save files, for those of you who prefer videos: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a0eCynE0oT4
Q: Can I use this to give myself infinite money/CC/perk points?
A: I won't help you cheat, but I won't stop you from trying. Anything you do to your save is your responsibility.
Q: Does this work on older versions of the game?
A: I haven't tested it, but theoretically it should work at least as far back as U153, though it depends on some features added by recent SuperBLT updates, so if you are using an older version, you may need to make some slight modifications to get the mod working.
Q: Can I use this on PS4/Xbox360/Xbox One?
A: Mods are not available on consoles, so no, sorry! (Unless you know something I don't...)
Q: Will this mod mark me as a cheater?
A: Nope! However, the game does perform an achievement check after loading your save file, so if you unlock a bunch of achievements at the same time, that might look suspicious to anyone snooping on your profile.
Q: What's a "JSON"? Isn't that the guy from that one horror movie?
A: JSON is a lightweight data storage structure used by many programs and applications. I chose it as the format to save your data in because it's very easy to parse and store that way. The JSON standard is generally only used for data storage, not executable code. You can learn more about it at: https://www.json.org/
Q: There's nothing in the mod options menu!
A: One of your other mods is broken and causing mod menus to break. Check your BLT log to find out which it is; I can pretty much guarantee you it's not this one.
Q: Mod no work!!!! FIX IT!!!
A: Make sure you have the most recent version of the mod and the game. I generally keep my mod creations updated, or if I don't have time to fix them, I tag them as discontinued/outdated, or hide them. If you're encountering some kind of bug, please describe it in a bug report so that I can fix it. Simply commenting "doesn't work" provides little information for me to work with, and makes it less likely that I will be able to find and fix the issue.
Bug Reports
Special note: I have done my very best to prevent and avoid save corruption issues, and to warn the user when they are doing something potentially hazardous, because I understand that progress is something valuable to each person. To avoid permanent loss of data, again please make sure you back up your saves before performing any changes to them, including using this mod.
If you encounter any issues, please report them here, and I will address/fix them ASAP.
Please also feel free to leave questions or feedback on this mod page.
