[ Tutorial ] - dlclist.xml Troubleshooting/Syntax Rules/All DLC stopped working possible FIX

a63nt-5m1th

Just covering the most common 'dlclist.xml' errors that can cause all your dlc to stop working/loading & also some guidelines on formatting & avoiding syntax errors.

Note: Reference to capital ('I') or lowercase ('i') apply only to the <Item>/~/</item> parts of the lines. Not to the dlc name or anything else.

No DLC is loading:
If all your dlc has suddenly stopped loading, the most common cause is that there is a line in your 'dlclist.xml' that starts with a capital 'I' in the '<Item>' part & ends with a lowercase 'i' in the '</Item>' or vice versa (<item>/dlc-name-here/</Item> etc).

Capital ('<Item>')/Lowercase ('<item>'):

Both of these will work:

		<Item>dlcpacks:/mpxmas_604490/</Item>

		<item>dlcpacks:/mpchristmas2/</item>

You can have different lines, some with two capital 'I's ('<Item>' & '</Item>'), some with two lowercase 'i's ('<item>' & '</item>'). That's totally fine. They will both work.

Example (all your dlc will load perfectly fine if formatted something like this):

		<item>platform:\dlcPacks\mpBeach\</item>
		<Item>platform:\dlcPacks\mpBusiness\</Item>
		<item>platform:\dlcPacks\mpChristmas\</item>
		<item>platform:\dlcPacks\mpValentines\</item>
		<Item>platform:\dlcPacks\mpBusiness2\</Item>
		<Item>platform:\dlcPacks\mpHipster\</Item>
		<Item>platform:\dlcPacks\mpIndependence\</Item>
		<item>platform:\dlcPacks\mpPilot\</item>
		<item>platform:\dlcPacks\spUpgrade\</item>
		<Item>platform:\dlcPacks\mpLTS\</Item>

Just make sure not to mix & match capitals 'I's ('<Item>' or '</Item>') & lowercase 'i's ('<item>' or '</item>') within the same line (see below).

Any one or more lines like this, will break 'dlclist.xml' functionality & STOP ALL DLC from loading:

		<item>dlcpacks:/mpxmas_604490/</Item>

		<Item>dlcpacks:/mpchristmas2/</item>

Example (some of these lines will cause your game to not load any dlc):

		<item>platform:\dlcPacks\mpBeach\</Item> (bad)
		<Item>platform:\dlcPacks\mpBusiness\</item> (bad)
		<item>platform:\dlcPacks\mpChristmas\</item> (good)
		<Item>platform:\dlcPacks\mpValentines\</item> (bad)
		<Item>platform:\dlcPacks\mpBusiness2\</Item> (good)
		<item>platform:\dlcPacks\mpHipster\</Item> (bad)
		<Item>platform:\dlcPacks\mpIndependence\</Item> (good)
		<item>platform:\dlcPacks\mpPilot\</item> (good)
		<item>platform:\dlcPacks\spUpgrade\</Item> (bad)
		<Item>platform:\dlcPacks\mpLTS\</Item> (good)

Easy way to find syntax errors:
If you use 'Edit' (right-click file>'Edit' or 'Ctrl+Enter') to open a file using OpenIV, a '[</> XML]' button will appear at the top when you are in the file. Tap that button & OpenIV will check the file for syntax errors & take you to where it thinks the error is if it finds one. After you fix the error, hit the '[</> XML]' button again to check there isn't more than one & then '[Save]' the file (bottom right).
Note: OpenIV will now also notify you of syntax errors when you attempt to '[Save]' a file after editing it.

Backslashes or Forwardslashes on either side of the dlc name:
These don't matter, in that they can be backslashes (' \ ') OR forwardslashes (' / ') & even if you mix & match in the same line, the dlc will still load perfectly fine.

Example (all this dlc will still load perfectly, even if formatted like this):

		<Item>dlcpacks:/forest/</Item>
		<Item>dlcpacks:\firebird77/</Item>
		<item>dlcpacks:\na1\</item>
		<item>dlcpacks:/16challenger\</item>

Correct general formatting of 'dlclist.xml' file & where to add new lines:

If you're new to GTAV modding, it's not always clear in mod instructions where exactly one should add the dlc line, so just to clarify, it can go anywhere below '<Paths>' but above '</Paths>' & in it's own line is usually best/easiest to read etc.

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<SMandatoryPacksData>
	<Paths>
Add DLC Lines HERE (below what already exists is usually best, but anywhere here, in it's own line, will work)
	</Paths>
</SMandatoryPacksData>

Example:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<SMandatoryPacksData>
	<Paths>
		...~
		<Item>dlcpacks:/forest/</Item>
		<Item>dlcpacks:/firebird77/</Item>
		<item>dlcpacks:\na1\</item>
		<item>dlcpacks:\16challenger\</item>
		<Item>dlcpacks:\zmissile\</Item>
		<Item>dlcpacks:\dov\</Item>
		<Item>dlcpacks:\satoca\</Item>
		<Item>dlcpacks:\gto2\</Item>
		Adding a new line in here is usually easiest
	</Paths>
</SMandatoryPacksData>

That's the basics coverered I think but if you find any other common 'dlclist.xml' issues I've forgotten to mention, give me a shout & I'll add them

WillisMcguire

Great article. Very well explained. Thanks for the share. Just what I needed, worked a treat, thank you! mcdvoice

lolno99

my syntax error is in paths

JohnFromGWN

@a63nt-5m1th Excellent summary. Only thing you might want to add is that there are 2 files with that name.

the one you want to update, generally speaking, is the one in the mods folder

.....**\mods\**update\update.rpf\common\data

and not this one:
your GTA install folder\update\update.rpf\common\data

a63nt-5m1th

@JohnFromGWN
My post is older than 365 days, so can no longer edit it
People will hopefully read enough to catch your post. Cheers

@lolno99 said in [ Tutorial ] - dlclist.xml Troubleshooting/Syntax Rules/All DLC stopped working possible FIX:

my syntax error is in paths

Give us a little more info. What does OpenIV syntax check say exactly?

Alternatively, upload your 'dlclist.xml' somewhere (Mediafire etc) or use a codeblock (see below) to post it here & I'll check it for you

How to Post a Codeblock:

```xml
Copy these three lines to a blank txt etc file, overwrite only this line with everything in dlclist.xml, copy all & paste into gta5-mods forum post.
```
It will then appear like this when posted & be an exact copy of everything you have in 'dlclist.xml':

Example:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>

<SMandatoryPacksData>
	<Paths>
  		<Item>platform:\dlcPacks\mpBeach\</Item>
		<Item>platform:\dlcPacks\mpBusiness\</Item>
		<Item>platform:\dlcPacks\mpChristmas\</Item>
		<Item>platform:\dlcPacks\mpValentines\</Item>
		<Item>platform:\dlcPacks\mpBusiness2\</Item>
		<Item>platform:\dlcPacks\mpHipster\</Item>
		<Item>platform:\dlcPacks\mpIndependence\</Item>
		<Item>platform:\dlcPacks\mpPilot\</Item>
		<Item>platform:\dlcPacks\spUpgrade\</Item>
		<Item>platform:\dlcPacks\mpLTS\</Item>
	</Paths>	
</SMandatoryPacksData>

JohnFromGWN

@a63nt-5m1th Now if they will only read your post!

I think the fact that the "Mods file structure" creates what are duplicates in name goes a long way to explain why there are so many posted issues, not just here but on Steam and elsewhere.

Anyway, excellent work.