eqstr_us.txt

[AndMetal]

The "IDs" (the number at the beginning of the line) are considered String IDs and are used by the Message_StringID functions in the source. The most common one we use is Client::Message_StringID().

Basically, instead of the server sending the string, it sends just the string ID (so, less data over the wire). If the string ID has any variables (%1, %2, etc), you can also send a smaller string as part of the function that will be inserted where the variable is.

The idea behind EQ using a file like this is you don't have to recompile the EXE if you want to change what the strings output, especially when translating to another language.

As for the "cannot find string" error, I would recommend changing it in eqstr_en.txt also, although I'm pretty sure it's been depreciated (although maybe not entirely). It looks like the line endings are Windows-style & there is a new line at the end of the file, so as long as you maintain that, it should be fine.

[neiv2]

So, what I'm hearing you say is that there is no validation of characters for each line, and in theory I should be able to change the 'Entering [zone]" text that appears while zoning simply by changing the string next to the numbered reference for that zone. That makes sense of the numbering system at the beginning of each line.

Yet I just attempted to change line 2303 (Felwithe) to another name, in both eqstr_us.txt and eqstr_en.txt, and upon reaching the character select screen I receive the following message: [5 ERROR: String not found. (1530)]. I'm concluding the first number in the brackets is simply the character level since that number changes when I select another character. The error number itself (1530) also changes, but I cannot map it to anything. Selecting some characters produces error 1530, others 1502, 1542, or 1558. The difference is not due to zone since some characters in the same zone have different numbers while others in different zones have the same number.

Any suggestions on what's going on here and how I might be able to change these zone references?