SmartCleaning
Upgrading to 4.3 without corrupting your save games!
SmartCleaning is a new approach that I am taking to allow users of the Farmer Mod to upgrade to the newest version without having to start a whole new game. The idea is to prevent both doubling and data loss, a balance that is quite difficult to achieve. Therefore, I have developed the "SmartCleaner", a plug-in file that will selectively clean your save game of Farmer Mod data, erasing anything that could cause doubling, but keeping almost all necessary data.
Preparation
In order to prepare for SmartCleaning, you must do the following things
Make sure that you have "Farmer Mod 4.0.esp", "Farmer Mod SmartCleaner 4.0.esp", and "Farmer Mod 4.3.esp" in your Morrowind\Data Files directory
Turn on the "Yes to All" option. To do this, navigate to your Morrowind folder and open Morrowind.ini with a text editor like notepad. Find the line, under [General], that says "AllowYesToAll=n" where n is either 0 or 1. If it is 0, change it to 1. If you do not have a line that says this, add one under General that reads "AllowYesToAll=1"
Backup your save game. You can do this by navigating to your Morrowind\Saves directory, right clicking and holding on the save game you want to backup, dragging the icon to empty space, letting go, and clicking "Copy Here"
The Cleaning Process
Follow these simple steps in order to "SmartClean" and upgrade your game
Step 1 - Preparing
Run the "Morrowind Launcher". Click on Data Files and make sure that only "Farmer Mod 4.0.esp" is checked (your other mods may also be running, but make sure nothing else pertaining to the Farmer Mod is active).
Launch Morrowind
Load your saved game
Find a secluded interior somewhere that the Farmer Mod does not modify (NOT your farmhouse or shacks)
Save and exit
Step 2 - Cleaning
Run the launcher again, this time checking "Farmer Mod SmartCleaner 4.0.esp" and unchecking "Farmer Mod 4.0.esp". BE SURE THAT Farmer Mod 4.0.esp IS UNCHECKED!
Launch Morrowind
Load your saved game. An error message should come up. Click "Yes to All". If you do not have the "Yes to All" option, re-read the second bullet under the "Preparation" part of this document.
Follow the on-screen instructions. If no messages pop up after a few seconds, exit and be sure that you have the SmartCleaner active.
Save and exit
Step 3 - Upgrading
Run the launcher one last time, unchecking "Farmer Mod SmartCleaner 4.0.esp" and checking "Farmer Mod 4.3.esp". At this point, the only mod pertaining to the Farmer Mod that you should have active is "Farmer Mod 4.3.esp".
Launch Morrowind.
Load your saved game. This time, instead of clicking "Yes to All", click "Yes" to each individual error. There should only be around 10 error messages. After you save, you won't have to see these ever again.
Save your game.
Enjoy your upgrade!
Inconsistency Detection
If you should (accidentally or not) answer one of the SmartCleaners' questions wrong, a special system might be able to detect this. This system will automatically fix the "inconsistency", as if you had chosen the correct answer. The system can not always detect the inconsistencies, especially if you have just bought a plantation. Unfortunately, this leaves the door open for cheaters. But really, the only thing you are doing is "cheating" yourself out of the real Farmer Mod experience.