# Game Mode: migration.lst

This file contains information on the tags used in, and how to build, a migration.lst file. Before we get to how you build such a file though, let’s first answer a few questions on the migration file in general.

## What the Character Migration File Does

The character migration tool works behind the scenes to smoothly load characters from older versions of PCGen into the current version. The file’s primary purpose is to allow a character to be automatically updated to reflect changes in the relevant data sets.

## Building a Character Migration File

The migration file consists of lines of lst code, each defining a separate and specific migration item. Each line begines with the LST Object tag followed by supporting tags. These tags are described below. The LST objects currently supported include Sources, Abilities, and Equipment. The syntax for a migration line is as follows:

Migration Line Syntax

`<Old Object Key>` <tab> `<New Object Key>` <tab> `<Version Tags>`

## Migration File Tags

The tags used in the migration.lst file consist of two sets of tags.

Version Identification Tags

- MAXDEVVER
- MAXVER
- MINDEVVER
- MINVER

Source and Object Migration Line Tags

- ABILITY
- EQUIPMENT
- NEWCATEGORY
- NEWKEY
- RACE
- SOURCE

Examples of Complete Migration Lines.

### Migration Line Examples

The examples included below are displayed in multiple lines for easy readability. In the actual migration file all tags would be included on the same line and separated by tabs.

Ability Example:

`ABILITY:Special Ability|Animal Fury`

`NEWKEY:Animal Fury ~ Rage Power`

`MAXVER:6.00.01`

`MAXDEVVER:6.01.02`

When any character last saved in v6.00.00 or earlier (or 6.01.01 in the dev line) is loaded if it has a “Special Ability” with the key “Animal Fury” the ability will be mapped to the new key “Animal Fury ~ Rage Power”.

Equipment Example:

`EQUIPMENT:Kasari Gusoku`

`NEWKEY:Kusari Gusoku`

`MAXVER:6.1.8`

If a character has the equipment “Kasari Gusoku” when last saved in PCGen 6.1.8 or earlier, it will instead load “Kusari Gusoku” now.

Source Example:

`SOURCE:Paizo - Guide To Pathfinder Society Organised Play 4.0`

`NEWKEY:Guide To Pathfinder Society Organised Play`

`MAXVER:6.0.1`

`MAXDEVVER:6.1.7`

If a character used the source “Paizo - Guide To Pathfinder Society Organised Play 4.0” when last saved in PCGen 6.0.1 or earlier (or 6.1.7 in the dev line) for it will instead load “Guide To Pathfinder Society Organised Play” now.

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