With VASL v6.4 close at hand (Three cheers to all the code gnomes, map elves, and counter smiths involved!) this suggestion might come a bit late:
It would be fabulous if VASL had a more thorough function to update existing vasl-files created with older versions.
There is some things we already have:
The Convert pre-6.2 game function
Can be found at the bottom of the dropdown list of the "Orange Soldier" button in the VASL map window. This one works like a charm to fix the the "offset" associated with the broadening of the margin offmap introduced with VASL v6.2.
The Counter Refresher
The what? Try the 'Tools' menu in the VASL controls window...
I have tried to use this now and then, but even with relatively new versions of VASL/VASSAL, it does have its difficulties (VASSAL v3.2.16 and a file created with VASL v6.2.2 in case of an attempt which created the following error message).
View attachment 1367
I have not yet fully grokked under which circumstances it fully works and under which it partly works. Illumination would be welcome as to what combinations of VASSAL/VASL are theoretically necessary to make work and since which versions GamePiece IDs exist.
If it works, I have had cases that, say, 95 out of 100 counters were refreshed (i.e. newest versions pulled to replace old ones). However, there was no way to find out which ones were NOT refreshed automatically by the function. Which compromises the whole thing in a way.
People have sunk hundreds of hours into creating VASL setup-files. They all become increasingly obsolete within the passage of a few years due to new VASL/VASSAL versions. Meanwhile some people have figured out how to create some very nice and elaborate setups so it is a pity of seeing their work going to waste eventually. At vasl.info you can find VASL setup files for all (older) core modules for VASL v5.3 IIRC. Not as elaborate as more recent ones, but still: Whoever created all that back then will surely never ever again go through the same pain for VASL v5.4, v5.9.3, v6.1, v6.2.2, v6.3.3, v6.4, ...
If there were some sort of system or converter that would manage the transition to newer VASL versions better, maybe more people would be induced to dedicate some time into creating setup-files for the benefit of the community and maybe collections had a chance to develop and to expand before becoming obsolete in short order.
von Marwitz