#Cannot load model when folder has exp3.json files, cannot save new expressions in editor

22 messages · Page 1 of 1 (latest)

compact storm
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Hi there, I have experienced issues trying to open different models in VTS, and I will summarize them as the followings:

(1) VTS will not load any model that has exp3.json file in the model folder, whenever the folder contains exp3.json file, only loading screen will show, and the model will never come out. Picture 1 shows the start up error message when VTS is trying to load the model with the expression files in the folder, and it says "Logs indicate there has been a crash when loading the model last time when attempting to load the file "Unknown"". It also mentioned something related to texture file, so the artist resized the files and textures for my model, but it did not solve the issue.

(2) Then if you try to reload the model by selecting the model again, the second error message pop up as shown in picture 2 : "Could not read VTube Studio model file. The file is probably broken or corrupted. Please repair or delete it if that's the case", it also mentioned about no special characters should be in the names, and the artist confirmed there are no special characters, but it still stays at the loading bar as shown in picture 3. HOWEVER, after I compared the other models that I have loaded successfully, I discover the expression files in the folder are the ones that is causing the issues. After removing all the exp3.json files, the model is finally loaded, glad it solved one issue!

(3) Since all expression files are removed and the model can be loaded, I go to the expression editor and try to customize expression and save them, but it failed. The "save" and "cancel" button within the expression editor is not interacting with the software, and the screen just get stuck at the editor. But when I checked the folder, the exp3.json files were saved, so I thought I will just restart VTS to load the expression files, but that did not work. Once VTS is started, the errors in (1) and (2) happened again, and the model never show up, only the loading page.

1Start_up_error_message.png 2Select_the_model_pop_up_error_message.png 3Loading_screen_never_ended.png Cannot_load_this_model_with_expression_file.png Can_load_this_model_even_with_error_message_and_expression_file.png
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I think it's something related to the exp3.json files and expression editor, because I have experienced the same issues since 2023, and every model I tried with expression files have failed, except for the very old model I have since 2022 Febuary. My old model also will show the error message in (1) and (2), but VTS is able to load the model and the expression files successfully.

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Picture 4 is the new model that is not working with the expression files and expression editor within VTS. Picture 5 is the model folder of my 2022 old model that can load successfully.

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I tried my best to explain the details, my tests, and the current ongoing issue. Hope to see an update for the expression files and also the expression editor. Feel free to let me know if you need anymore information <3 <@&652617938422988801> <@&652609396479623209>

proper aurora
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I have a very similar issue, I get the (2-"Could not read VTube Studio model file. The file is probably broken or corrupted. Please repair or delete it if that's the case") message when trying to load a model on a new laptop and similar issues with items as well. These are the same files as I use on my iMac, but on the new ASUS, no luck.

steep fjord
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@compact storm Can you please DM me the model? A ZIP archive of the model folder would be great.

compact storm
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@steep fjord Yes! Please check your DM, thank you so much <3

proper aurora
steep fjord
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@proper aurora For @compact storm, the issue was macOS creating metadata files with the ._ prefix that had the same file extension as the original. These files are hidden by default, but if you delete them it should work again (at least until macOS re-creates those files).

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With the next VTS update, this will be fixed and the app will just ignore those files.

proper aurora
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That’s what it said on mine as well! Well it said it had that in the vtube window when it called the files broken, but I couldn’t find anything with that

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Should I be waiting for the next update then?

steep fjord
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If you want to! But you could also try deleting those files.

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That should fix it, at least temporarily until the update is out.

proper aurora
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I’m uncertain where to delete them without losing the needed files

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Can you explain how to delete that from the needed files?

steep fjord
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"Use shift+command+period to toggle hidden files in Finder" is what google says.

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Delete all files in that folder that have ._ in front of the file name

proper aurora
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And these shouldn’t infringe on needed files?

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But thanks so much!! Trying this as soon as I can!

steep fjord
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You can safely delete them.