Why is updating a Blueprint so difficult now?

[SandMan]

I have looked at several ways to update a blueprint on the workshop. Now NOTHING WORKS! I have done it step by step and it seems that Steam is making it extremely difficult to update the blueprint. You can NOT just select REPLACE like it was before. Does it matter if you have cloud saved or local? This is very frustrating and this system should be better than this. It shouldn't be that hard to click a button and update the blueprint. LR

[Husker_85]

You may have to elaborate; nothing has changed on my end. I have cloud saving enabled and I'm able to save and update my blueprints just fine. When you save the second time it will add a _1 to the blueprint name, but if you rename it then it'll prompt you to replace the original.

[Capt Fuzzy]

It's not difficult at all.
Make your changes, save it, and name it the same as the old blueprint.
Voila!! Updated blueprint.

[Mettle]

He means updating in the workshop, not locally.

[Mollymawk]

I had the same issue recently. I ended up just doing new versions.

[Dan2D3D]

Hi, first we must keep the in-game Steam cloud Off (in game options) especially to be able to create Local Blueprints because only the local ones can be edited and published on the Workshop.

+
We must update and republish the same Local Blieprint to update existing Workshop item.
=
We must redo the exact same thing we did the very first time we published to update existing item.

__________

How to update a Workshop item

Blueprint as example :

-> Aim at the new updated creation, that should have the same grid name.
-> Hit Ctrl+C to copy.
-> Open the Blueprints window F10.

-> Select the Original Local Blueprint so the Local one you published the very first time (not the Workshop one)

-> Click the "Replace" button.
Doing so will update the Local Blueprint so change it for the new version.

-> and republish that Local updated Blueprint.
=
That is how we update existing Workshop item

+
Why it is important to keep and backup the original Local Blueprint, to be able to update the Workshop Item.

In other words :
-> We have to redo the exact same thing we did the very first time publishing to update the existing Workshop item.

_______________________________

Info +

The in-game Steam cloud is not made to save at all and a lot of members reported having problems when using that option without knowing what it is made for.
-> problem like "I lost all my Blueprints and Saves", thinking they were saved by Steam but it does not save at all.

More info about the in-game Steam cloud and how to fix if you enabled added to this pinned important :

Can't upload to Workshop - Workaround(s) Pin 📌
https://steamcommunity.com/app/244850/discussions/1/3267935171647013488/

[Dan2D3D]

To specify ;

We must not change the ship name, it must have the exact same name as the existing Local Bp that is in your Workshop.

-> Changing the Bp name will publish a new Workshop item.

+
Changing the item name from the Workshop item page will lock that Workshop item so it can't be updated anymore, so it's important to keep the same name.

[SandMan]

Thanks for all the input. I guess I am creating a creative save pasting in all of my cloud BP's and disabling the cloud all together. I figured that was a problem.

[Dan2D3D]

Best to learn how to use your Workskop because it got the best Backup System and it is like the "Default Steam Cloud" where we can save without limits.

The in-game Steam Cloud is made to create "Cloud Blueprints" that should auto-transfer to your second PC having the same Steam account but it is very very limited and we must Backup the Cloud folder on the C: Drive to reuse and for not losing any Cloud Bp.

-> The Cloud folder is very very limited and we have to empty + backup that cloud folder from time to time to be able to create more Cloud Blueprints for our second PC.

+
No limits at creating Local Blueprints on your C: Drive, also no limits on the Workshop and why best to take advantage of your Workshop = Free space.

-> You will be able to download your Workshop items from any PCs and will never lose any.

[Ronin Planetary Industries]

Perhaps the devs want to make the process simpler? It just seems like a convoluted way of doing things.

[Dan2D3D]

I sent a few reports to the SE team about that in-game Cloud option problems, I also recommended them to delete that option because a lot of members use it without knowing what it is made for that ends up losing all their saves and/or not able to publish in their workshop...

But only one member asking for a change may not be a priority for them.

EDIT
I also suggested them to add more details on mouse over the cloud option :
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3225993245

[Jack Schitt]

Only blueprints save to the cloud for this game so the cloud is really not even remotely necessary if we only play on one computer. We have a local copy and if we've uploaded it once to the workshop we're automatically subscribed to it so we should have 2 copies in the game (an online one from the workshop subscription and the local copy).

Having 2 different copies is where some of us whoopsie updating a current blueprint we've already published to the workshop.
1. Make your changes to the blueprint you want to update.
2. Aim your player's reticle on it and press CTRL+C (copy it)
(Not CTRL+B to blueprint it again that will just make a new local copy)
3. Press F10 to open the blueprints menu.
4. Look for the local copy.
- One will have a house icon (select this one)
- One will have a Steam Wrench icon on it (this is the one from the workshop)
5. Click "Replace", then publish it again.

There are no prompts that ask about overwriting or anything it will just upload the new local copy overwriting the old online copy without prompting about it. Go to its workshop page and check it.

[SandMan]

Originally posted by Dan2D3D:

Best to learn how to use your Workskop because it got the best Backup System and it is like the "Default Steam Cloud" where we can save without limits.

The in-game Steam Cloud is made to create "Cloud Blueprints" that should auto-transfer to your second PC having the same Steam account but it is very very limited and we must Backup the Cloud folder on the C: Drive to reuse and for not losing any Cloud Bp.

-> The Cloud folder is very very limited and we have to empty + backup that cloud folder from time to time to be able to create more Cloud Blueprints for our second PC.

+
No limits at creating Local Blueprints on your C: Drive, also no limits on the Workshop and why best to take advantage of your Workshop = Free space.

-> You will be able to download your Workshop items from any PCs and will never lose any.

____________________________________________________________

I was able to get it to work. Disabling the cloud and making a local BP worked. The only issue was that I could NOT use the in game post to replace the blueprint with the updated one.
I had to get the BP id number. Open the bp.sbc file in the BP folder in Appdata/user/SpaceEnginers/blueprints/local
I had to put the bp id number into the bottom of that file and save it.
Then copy and paste the metadata.mod file from original file and delete the bp.sbcB5 file from the mod is to be loaded to update the one on the ws.

Then go into the game paste a bp. Then publish the bp. Once this was all done. The BP in the workshop showed it had been updated.

This is the BP in question and the process was far from easy.
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3027509552

[SandMan]

Originally posted by Jack Schitt:

Only blueprints save to the cloud for this game so the cloud is really not even remotely necessary if we only play on one computer. We have a local copy and if we've uploaded it once to the workshop we're automatically subscribed to it so we should have 2 copies in the game (an online one from the workshop subscription and the local copy).

Having 2 different copies is where some of us whoopsie updating a current blueprint we've already published to the workshop.
1. Make your changes to the blueprint you want to update.
2. Aim your player's reticle on it and press CTRL+C (copy it)
(Not CTRL+B to blueprint it again that will just make a new local copy)
3. Press F10 to open the blueprints menu.
4. Look for the local copy.
- One will have a house icon (select this one)
- One will have a Steam Wrench icon on it (this is the one from the workshop)
5. Click "Replace", then publish it again.

There are no prompts that ask about overwriting or anything it will just upload the new local copy overwriting the old online copy without prompting about it. Go to its workshop page and check it.

I am not sure why. This does NOT work for me. I attempted it this way and the replace option is completely Unable to be selected. The above post explains how I got it to update.

[Jack Schitt]

Are you sure you selected the LOCAL copy to replace and republish in-game? The local blueprint files of course don't have a workshop_ID or meta data. They're local copies.
The in-game cloud needs to be disabled (doesn't work right). Steam's cloud is optional.

...good thing: you got it to work.

[Dan2D3D]

Glad to know you were able to fix.

You should be fine if you keep the original Local Blueprint and in-game Cloud Off to be sure you create Local Bp, you will never have to mess with the game files again.

I backup my Local folder from time to time especially for not messing with the Bp files, I just have to copy/paste to content of the local folder when I change PC or Format the Drive.


EDIT
Keep the original local bp -> To avoid having to fix using this Guide added to pinned :

How to update your published Blueprint without the original :

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1134254883