Select a Save and Refresh Data

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This chapter is part of our “the hunter call of the wild cheats” guide. The tool provides read-only save analysis and does not offer cheats or modify game data.

Goals

• Have the desktop app read the correct Steam account save;
• Switch between multiple save directories;
• Refresh data immediately after the game saves;
• Use scheduled monitoring to observe changes continuously;
• Determine whether a refresh succeeded or failed.

1. Identify the Correct Save Directory

A common Steam save location is:

%USERPROFILE%\Documents\Avalanche Studios\COTW\Saves\<Steam ID>

If the Documents folder is synchronized with OneDrive, the path may instead be:

%USERPROFILE%\OneDrive\Documents\Avalanche Studios\COTW\Saves\<Steam ID>

The correct Steam ID folder should directly contain:

thp_player_profile_adf
animal_population_<number>
found_need_zones_adf

Of these, only thp_player_profile_adf is essential for validating the directory. The other files vary with game progress and reserve.

2. Use Automatic Detection

After startup, check the save source at the top left:

• Auto-detected means the app found a valid save in a common location;
• A full path identifies the directory currently being read;
• “Save not found” means you need to select one manually.

If the computer contains multiple Steam IDs, automatic detection normally chooses the valid directory whose essential save file has the most recent modification time. Verify that the path at the top left belongs to the intended account.

3. Select or Switch Saves Manually

Steps

1. Click the save source area with the folder icon at the top left.
2. The desktop app opens the native Windows folder picker.
3. Navigate to Avalanche Studios\COTW\Saves.
4. Open the target Steam ID folder.
5. Confirm that the folder directly contains thp_player_profile_adf.
6. Click the button to select the folder.
7. Wait for the interface to reread the data.
8. Verify the new path at the top left, the game time at the top, and the reserve list.

Do not select these directories

...\COTW
...\COTW\Saves
...\Documents

You must select the Steam ID folder one level below them.

Local record after selection

The desktop app records the most recently selected directory in:

%USERPROFILE%\.cotw-map-analyzer\preferences.json

It tries that directory first the next time it starts. If the save directory is deleted, moved, or renamed, select it again.

4. Refresh the Save Immediately

An immediate refresh is useful when:

• The game has just completed an autosave;
• You want to see new data after changing reserves or completing a harvest;
• You are about to compare a population before and after an activity;
• The game time displayed on the page is clearly behind.

Steps

1. In the game, wait for the save icon to disappear.
2. Switch back to COTW Save Analyzer.
3. Click the circular-arrow Refresh Now button at the top.
4. Do not click repeatedly while the refresh is in progress.
5. Check the data status and game time at the top.
6. Confirm whether the map, animals, profile, or harvest data has changed.

5. Enable Scheduled Monitoring

Set the refresh interval

1. Click the three-dot button at the top right.
2. Under Scheduled Monitoring, choose an interval:
   • 30 seconds;
   • 1 minute;
   • 5 minutes;
   • 15 minutes.
3. Close More Options.
4. Confirm that the monitoring switch at the top is on.

Start or stop quickly

The switch next to the refresh button at the top can:

• On: monitor at the selected interval;
• Off: stop automatic refreshes while retaining the interval setting.

If you previously selected “Off,” choose a specific interval under More Options first.

6. Interpret Refresh Results

Successful refresh

Common signs include:

• The data status at the top returns to the current snapshot;
• The game time or data time changes;
• New harvests, profile status, or animal changes appear on the page;
• Recent population changes show a new comparison time.

Failed refresh

A read may fail while the game is writing to or holding a save file. On failure:

• The page retains the last successful snapshot;
• The status at the top or a notification displays an error;
• Partially written data does not overwrite the current interface;
• The next manual refresh or scheduled monitoring cycle tries again.

Recommended recovery procedure

1. Do not close or force-stop the game while it is saving.
2. Wait 10 to 30 seconds.
3. Confirm that the in-game save icon has disappeared.
4. Click Refresh Now again.
5. If it still fails, verify the save path at the top left.
6. If necessary, exit the game and refresh once more.

7. Establish a Population Comparison Baseline

Recent population changes require two successful snapshots.

Standard procedure

1. Before starting a hunt, wait for the game to save.
2. Click Refresh Now to establish the baseline.
3. Hunt or change the in-game time.
4. Wait for the game to save again.
5. Click Refresh Now again.
6. Open Recent Population Changes on the Map page to view the differences.

If the game does not write a new population record between the two refreshes, the change list may be empty.

8. Recommendations for Multiple Accounts or Backup Saves

After switching directories, always check:

• The path at the top left;
• Hunter level and cash;
• Current game time;
• Number of reserves and species;
• Recent harvests.

These details help confirm that the app did not read another Steam ID or an old backup.

The app only reads the selected directory, but you should still make your own backup before manually copying, replacing, or restoring game saves. Do not replace the entire save directory while the app is refreshing.

Next, read Map Console Basics.