Can I add my own custom text to a STEX mod?

[gviper 922]

Downloaded a couple great items from the STEX, but the name in the query cannot be changed upon save and reload. I'd like to change that if possible. Can I? What do I need to do it? Thanks!

[JP Schriefer 5,591]

You can do it with Plugin Manager.

[gviper 922]

You can do it with Plugin Manager.

What is plugin manager? I have the ilivereader and editor...

[SimCoug 5,973]

ilives reader will work too. I can post a screen shot of the property you need to change, but I'm away from my computer at the moment.

[gviper 922]

ilives reader will work too. I can post a screen shot of the property you need to change, but I'm away from my computer at the moment.

When you get a chance I'd really appreciate it! I am driving myself nuts messing with uis, and dats (following ui editors readme) to no avail.  I just want to be able to take a piece of content I grow or plop into a city and title it as something else, save the city, and return having it showing the unique name I gave it, not the name the creator gave it. A screenshot would be a gem when you get the chance! Thanks!

[Indiana Joe 1,750]

Depending on the Plugin, there will be a file that contains an Exemplar that has the "Item Name" property.  For RCI BATs (growable stuff), it's usually in a .SC4Desc file.

 

[gviper 922]

Depending on the Plugin, there will be a file that contains an Exemplar that has the "Item Name" property.  For RCI BATs (growable stuff), it's usually in a .SC4Desc file.

 

What do I need to do with it?

[gviper 922]

OKay, I know this isn't rocket science (but it's beginning to seem like it).  I have tried everything including changing the lot id and name in the exemplar. I am working with Nadav's fountains and want to be able to change the queried names from "blue square fountain" to something of my choosing, save and have the name stay when I reload. If this is possible, please tell me how, if not, please tell me that too! lol thanks! (pulling out my hair here)

[Indiana Joe 1,750]

Don't forget to save the file before exiting the Reader.  It doesn't remind you to save.

 

Also, if you're trying to change the hover-query name of a prop on the lot, rather than the lot itself, you have to find the file for that prop.

[rsc204 21,836]

Firstly you need to open each .SC4Lot file in the reader that you wish to modify, find the buildings exemplar (not the lot exemplar) and look for the property "Item Name", change this to whatever you like and save the file. When you change this property the query (and the name in the menu) will be changed.

[gviper 922]

Don't forget to save the file before exiting the Reader.  It doesn't remind you to save.

 

Also, if you're trying to change the hover-query name of a prop on the lot, rather than the lot itself, you have to find the file for that prop.

Wow, okay. I went back up to the screen picture you posted above and worked with a different building (AMP Center) change the item name, under the Simcity Dat. Okay it worked. BUT when I rename it and save it, then reload my city, it reverts back to the no name tag. How can I take one of these lots, change the name, save it, and have it appear as I wrote it when i load it again? thanks

Firstly you need to open each .SC4Lot file in the reader that you wish to modify, find the buildings exemplar (not the lot exemplar) and look for the property "Item Name", change this to whatever you like and save the file. When you change this property the query (and the name in the menu) will be changed.

Okay, but when I save it in game, and reload it how do i get it to latch onto the name I have given it? I'd like these to function much like the standard parks and buildings in the game; i don't have to change their names through ilive reader...

[Indiana Joe 1,750]

 

Don't forget to save the file before exiting the Reader.  It doesn't remind you to save.

 

Also, if you're trying to change the hover-query name of a prop on the lot, rather than the lot itself, you have to find the file for that prop.

Wow, okay. I went back up to the screen picture you posted above and worked with a different building (AMP Center) change the item name, under the Simcity Dat. Okay it worked. BUT when I rename it and save it, then reload my city, it reverts back to the no name tag. How can I take one of these lots, change the name, save it, and have it appear as I wrote it when i load it again? thanks

Firstly you need to open each .SC4Lot file in the reader that you wish to modify, find the buildings exemplar (not the lot exemplar) and look for the property "Item Name", change this to whatever you like and save the file. When you change this property the query (and the name in the menu) will be changed.

Okay, but when I save it in game, and reload it how do i get it to latch onto the name I have given it? I'd like these to function much like the standard parks and buildings in the game; i don't have to change their names through ilive reader...

 

 

You cannot; it's a game limitation.  The lot names will always revert.

[gviper 922]

Okay: Yep, I can get it to change its name to what I save it as when i have the lot open in the reader, but it doesn't accept any changes that i make to the name of the building in game. This is thoroughly confusing. Some custom lots allow you to change their names in game I don't get it....

 

 

Don't forget to save the file before exiting the Reader.  It doesn't remind you to save.

 

Also, if you're trying to change the hover-query name of a prop on the lot, rather than the lot itself, you have to find the file for that prop.

Wow, okay. I went back up to the screen picture you posted above and worked with a different building (AMP Center) change the item name, under the Simcity Dat. Okay it worked. BUT when I rename it and save it, then reload my city, it reverts back to the no name tag. How can I take one of these lots, change the name, save it, and have it appear as I wrote it when i load it again? thanks

Firstly you need to open each .SC4Lot file in the reader that you wish to modify, find the buildings exemplar (not the lot exemplar) and look for the property "Item Name", change this to whatever you like and save the file. When you change this property the query (and the name in the menu) will be changed.

Okay, but when I save it in game, and reload it how do i get it to latch onto the name I have given it? I'd like these to function much like the standard parks and buildings in the game; i don't have to change their names through ilive reader...

 

 

You cannot; it's a game limitation.  The lot names will always revert.

 

Why don't they revert on everything? base parks and service bldgs as well as some custom lots I have downloaded from the STEX. These allow me to change and save their names as I like...

[Indiana Joe 1,750]

Interesting. I've never been able to change the name of anything from the STEX. Only base game content. Which lots are you able to do that to?

[gviper 922]

Think I might be on to something here. I took a look at all the files of customs whose names I can change and save repeatedly in the game vs those I can't. Found a common file among those I can that is missing from those I can't. The USER VISIBLE NAME KEY under property exemplar. Interestingly, it was located in a different area for the two buildings I checked (Summit and Cardinal Airlines).  Might this be what I need and how would I go about adding it?

 

p.s. IndianaJoe: Cardinal Airlines (grow) Summit (grow) Cronos Palms Condos (grow) (only a few I have checked)

[rsc204 21,836]

Well I don't understand where your problem lies, because I changed the lots you are referring to before answering to confirm which exemplars would and wouldn't affect the change. If you change the Item Name then it will correctly display whatever you call it in both the Menu List and for the hover query/query.

 

SC4 has many ways to mod such information. For example the property User Visible Name Key will be linked to an ID that references a separate LTEXT file which should be in the same dat or somewhere with the files it came with. If this property exists, simply find the related LTEXT and edit the file to your liking and don't forget to click apply and save. However I've looked at these files and you need to edit the Item Name field in the building exemplar of the SC4Lot file (you can't change it from the .Desc file), I don't understand why your results would differ if you've followed the instructions correctly.

[gviper 922]

Well I don't understand where your problem lies, because I changed the lots you are referring to before answering to confirm which exemplars would and wouldn't affect the change. If you change the Item Name then it will correctly display whatever you call it in both the Menu List and for the hover query/query.

 

SC4 has many ways to mod such information. For example the property User Visible Name Key will be linked to an ID that references a separate LTEXT file which should be in the same dat or somewhere with the files it came with. If this property exists, simply find the related LTEXT and edit the file to your liking and don't forget to click apply and save. However I've looked at these files and you need to edit the Item Name field in the building exemplar of the SC4Lot file (you can't change it from the .Desc file), I don't understand why your results would differ if you've followed the instructions correctly.

I think I have made it pretty clear where my problem lies. When I import a piece of custom content into my cities and conduct a query, for Nadav's particular fountains I get: "brown square fountain" in the query box. So, when I change it (in-game) to, say, "independence fountain" and save my game, then reload the city, it reverts back to "brown square fountain."  This is what I have wanted to change, now I appreciate simply being able to use the content, and if I can't change the name permanently as I like, bummer, but I understand. It's whether or not I can do such, and how to go about doing it that I have been inquiring about.

 

p.s. yes, I have changed the "item name" in the building exemplar countless times for several different pieces of content. I can get the items name in the query to reflect such change, but when I retitle it (in-game), save, and then reload thecity, it reverts back to the name given in the building exemplar.  I have followed the instructions to a "t," to this point and will continue to do so, and have/will report back exactly what

I get via the game in response.

 

thanks for the input and help...

[rsc204 21,836]

I think the confusion has come about because you can rename them, only you have to pick a name and stick to it for every instance of the same item. To clarify you can rename an item via the Item Name (or similar) property, but this is permanent, there is to my knowledge no way to name individual versions of the same item uniquely in this manner. The game stores the information of the name in the exemplars, but unless it had multiple fields tied to a given city (and then what if you had two of the same with different names in one tile) there is simply no place for this information to be stored. Not to mention the game doesn't write back to DATs, Lots, Models etc, it only reads from them so again there is just no place to store any of this unless some mechanism was in place with the main save file.

 

One possible work-around (I don't really think it would be worth the effort) could be to make a new unique lot for each newly named fountain, amongst the many drawbacks is an every-lengthening list of duplicated items and much mucking around in the LE/Reader every time you plop a new one. If you really want to name them, perhaps use a sign from the Maxis flora menu, at least you can toggle to show/hide all such labels and you'd still have some reference that never got reset unless you removed it.