Usually, when this error occurs, a character or set of characters in the Combat Record File (XML) can not be read by Hero Combat Manager.

For example, the following text in the Combat Record causes this problem:

<ATTACK>Local Weather Control III  (Change Environment) Change Environment (\2614 Temperature Level Adjustment), Varying Effect (heat or cool; +1/4), Area Of Effect (32m Radius; +1) ; Unified Power [END: 3]</ATTACK>

This was caused by

A quick solution is to edit the generated Combat Record file by finding pattern(s) such as "\###" and replacing them with the plain text equivalent.  The long-term solution is to send the generated combat record and the HDC files used to create the character(s) in the combat record using the feedback form.  By doing this, the Export Template can be fixed permanently.

NOTE:  The example that has been shown is already fixed.

Do not load these files into Hero Combat Manager.  Hero Designer uses these files to export a Combat Record.

1. A link to the Hero Combat Manager FAQ (this set of pages
2. A link to the Hero Combat Manager Website so you can submit an error
3. Typically, the error message is associated with trying to open either "HeroCombatManager-5e-XML.hcr" or "HeroCombatManager-6e-XML.hcr" files.

Refer to the Hero Combat Manager User Manual, specifically the section called "Creating Combat Record."