Error: Mod doesn't contain a valid title

bp2008

Update: Problem solved. Private level mods need to be made public or else they don't work even for testing (unless of course they are put directly into ns2's maps folder).
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I am trying to create a Level mod, but the game won't load my mod.

Here is basically what I have done:

1. I created a level (ns2_co_lavacliff.level) in the spark editor with the ready room start entity, marine and alien start positions, etc., as directed by the wiki. I also generated the overviews.
2. I created a Level Mod (title: Co_Lavacliff) using the interface in LaunchPad.
3. As directed by the publisher interface, I created a maps subdirectory inside my mod's root directory and copied my .level file and overviews folder into it.
4. I tried the Test Mod button in the publisher panel. It starts NS2 which tries to load my level but it fails, showing me a "file couldn't be found" box or something to that effect. Of course it wouldn't say which file or tell me where it was looking. I look through the console and see that the level "couldn't" load.
5. I publish the mod (as private) in order to test it that way.
6. I subscribe to the mod using the steam interface.
7. I enter NS2 which downloads the mod. I activate the mod and restart NS2.
8. The level appears exactly as expected on the server hosting setup screen.
9. When I try to start the server using my new level, the level fails to load in practically the same way as it did in (4.) above.

My level can and will load <b>if I copy it into the primary maps directory</b> alongside the official maps. But obviously that is just a workaround. The mod itself is broken and it needs to be fixed before I can justify spending any more time developing the level.

I even tried creating a second mod and second level (testlevel.level) in a different place (C:\testlevel\) and followed all the above steps with it, and it too fails to load in exactly the same way.

I should also note that I can subscribe to other level mods (e.g. <b>Co_Ulysses</b>) and that level will <b>load just fine</b> in my client. I've looked at the downloaded contents of the Ulysses mod and it looks exactly like my level mods except for the name and the fact that it includes custom materials / sound which my mods do not contain.

In fact, I can delete ns2_co_ulysses.level and replace it with my own level, renamed to "ns2_co_ulysses.level", and my level loads in its place. That pretty much rules out the possibility that my .level file is bad.

Anyway, here is the most recent log from trying to load my level mods. Pretty much all the logs contain the same key points. I've highlighted the ones that I think are related to the problem.

<div class='codetop'>CODE</div><div class='codemain' style='height:200px;white-space:pre;overflow:auto'>
Date: 11/28/12
Time: 21:20:14
--------------------------------------------------------------
Build 232
Steam initialized
Render Device: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 680 (9.18.13.697)
Sound Device: SPDIF Interface (TX0) (VIA High Definition Audio) stereo
Record Device: Microphone (Logitech G930 Headset)
Error: Mod wasn't available
Error: Mod wasn't available
Error: Mod wasn't available
Loading config://ConsoleBindings.json
Loading config://FavoriteServers.json
Main Menu Initialized at Version: 232
Connected to Steam servers
Downloading mods
Connecting to server 127.0.0.1:27015
VAC Enabled
Starting download of 'Co_Ulysses'
<b>Error: Mod '695bdb6', doesn't contain a valid title</b>
<b>Error: Mod '6985121', doesn't contain a valid title</b>
Client connecting (127.0.0.1)
Download of 'Co_Ulysses' complete
Finished downloading and installing mods
<b>Error: Mod wasn't available</b>
<b>Error: Mod wasn't available</b>
Mounting mod from C:/Users/Brian/AppData/Roaming/Natural Selection 2/Workshop/m672f332_1353733822
Loading config://ServerConfig.json
Loading config://ServerAdmin.json
Loading config://BannedPlayers.json
Loading config://MapCycle.json
Loading config://ConsistencyConfig.json
Hashed 1 game_setup.xml files for consistency
Hashed 687 *.lua files for consistency
Hashed 46 *.fx files for consistency
Hashed 14 *.screenfx files for consistency
Hashed 90 *.surface_shader files for consistency
Hashed 5 *.fxh files for consistency
Hashed 2 *.render_setup files for consistency
Hashed 3 *.shader_template files for consistency
<b>Loading 'maps/testlevel.level'</b>
<b>Error: Couldn't load 'maps/testlevel.level'</b>
Downloading mods
Starting download of 'Co_Ulysses'
Starting download of ''
Starting download of 'Co_Lavacliff'
Mod 'Co_Ulysses' installed
Mod '' installed
Client disconnected (127.0.0.1) Server shutdown
Finished downloading and installing mods
Error: Attempted to load remote options from a file that does not exist.

</div>

What really jumps out at me is the two lines containing "doesn't contain a valid title". Those are referring to the two private level mods I created, which most certainly have valid titles, at least on my end.

Anyone know what is going on here?

bp2008

I uninstalled NS2, redownloaded/reinstalled, and tried to create my level mod again. <b>Same issue</b>.

Error: Mod 'xxxxxx', doesn't contain a valid title

I'm not even trying to do anything fancy here. How can it be that nobody else's level mod has this problem?

Huze

I've had similar things happen when
<ol type='1'><li>No title in steam workshop</li><li>No description in steam workshop</li><li>Workshop item is private</li></ol>
Your issue is probably the last one. Mark is public and try again.

bp2008

You were right! I changed it from private to public and it worked.


Wow. Just wow.


Thank you, good sir!