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This is initially reported in the forum post: https://discussions.unity.com/t/unity-sprite-slice-button-opens-aseprite-crashes-it-enters-play-mode-and-burns-itself-into-my-screen-background/1732503
Repro:
1: Import an Sprite asset. Set the Sprite mode to Multiple
2: Select the sprite asset and open it in the Sprite Editor, and slice sprites
3: Without Applying changes in sprite editor after slicing, go into Play Mode
4: This will result in the Sprite Editor Window dialog box to confirm in applying changes
5: Selecting Apply will lead to the error message
While in this state the Project Window does not seem to be in a good state, as it does not seem to update itself when drag-dropping items from the filesystem into the Project window, even after invoking "Refresh" in the Project Window's context menu
Everything gets reverted into a good working state after an editor restart.
The error message is as follows
Exception: AssetDatabase.ForceReserializeAssets cannot be used when in play mode UnityEditor.AssetDatabase.ForceReserializeAssets (System.Collections.Generic.IEnumerable`1[T] assetPaths, UnityEditor.ForceReserializeAssetsOptions options) (at /Users/bokken/build/output/unity/unity/Modules/AssetDatabase/Editor/ScriptBindings/AssetDatabase.bindings.cs:780) UnityEditor.U2D.Sprites.SpriteEditorWindow.DoApply () (at ./Library/PackageCache/com.unity.2d.sprite@0eb6ea2c7181/Editor/SpriteEditor/SpriteEditorWindow.cs:1066) UnityEditor.U2D.Sprites.SpriteEditorWindow.HandleApplyRevertDialog (System.String dialogTitle, System.String dialogContent) (at ./Library/PackageCache/com.unity.2d.sprite@0eb6ea2c7181/Editor/SpriteEditor/SpriteEditorWindow.cs:794) UnityEditor.U2D.Sprites.SpriteEditorWindow.RebuildCache () (at ./Library/PackageCache/com.unity.2d.sprite@0eb6ea2c7181/Editor/SpriteEditor/SpriteEditorWindow.cs:866) UnityEditor.U2D.Sprites.SpriteEditorWindow.OnPlayModeStateChanged (UnityEditor.PlayModeStateChange playModeState) (at ./Library/PackageCache/com.unity.2d.sprite@0eb6ea2c7181/Editor/SpriteEditor/SpriteEditorWindow.cs:767) UnityEditor.EditorApplication.Internal_PlayModeStateChanged (UnityEditor.PlayModeStateChange state) (at /Users/bokken/build/output/unity/unity/Editor/Mono/EditorApplication.cs:487)
This is reproducible on 6000.7.0a5, 6000.6.0b5, 6000.5.6f1.
It also can be reproduced in 6000.0 and 6000.3, for these versions, Domain Reload needs to be removed from the project via Project Settings > Editor > Enter Play Mode Settings > "When entering Play Mode" → "Reload Scene only" (i.e. Reload Domain off).
Also verified to be reproduced on 6000.0.80f1 and 6000.3.19f1
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