Hi, actually we can't open variant files?
Hmm, that is tricky, that was a question or a statement?
heh heh
Welp, the idea is that currently you use the editor to load in a .ship file and create a new .ship vile via the JSON code that the editor provides once you make your changes, just paste it into a notepad file ending with .ship, and then proceed to the second row of tabs for the variant, when you are done inputing the information then copy the contents of the JSON tab of the variant area into a new notepad file ending with .variant.
I find that using Control A on the raw JSON code does the trick nicely, to make sure I don't miss any of it when I copy it.
It is a little confusing, but it works currently for creating new ship types and then creating variants of that ship. If you wanted to just make a plain .variant of an original game ship, then you could just load in that .ship file from the hull folder and skip the new .ship part, head to the variant row of tabs and go to town.
Also, you have to reference your new .ship file in the main ship file in the hull folder, I'll get some more details for ya once I get back to my home computer, but that is the best I can do from memory.
Someone else might have said it better before I get the chance to re-reference the code/editor.
If that made Zero sense, ignore me, ha ha, and Redbull will no doubt answer the question pretty soon, etc.
Good luck with getting into the editing, I have really enjoyed it personally.