Origin RA2 wont read String files

Concolor1 · GDI Hacker **Joined**: 16 Jul 2020

Hi, Ive recently purchased RA2 from Origin, hoping to run it on a laptop with windows 10.
Game works fine, until I wanted to play a custom made mission.
The Mission loads, however placing the csf string file in the RA2 folder causes the game to crash.

So I made an expandmd14.mix folder I placed both map and csf file in that and put that in the RA2 folder.

This time the game launches and the mission plays, but its still not reading the string file.

What am I missing, surely ppl playing Mods on Origin are seeing modified texts in their games?

I downloaded the modified bibber launchers, that helped with some issues,but not this.
Any input/solutions would be much appreciated.

TAK02 · Posted: Wed Dec 09, 2020 7:25 pm Post subject:

How did you modify the CSF? It's possible it was somehow corrupted, or you deleted some strings the game needs.

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Concolor1 · GDI Hacker **Joined**: 16 Jul 2020

Hi, its edited with the String Editor, the one ive always used. The file works fine on my none Origin versions. Even placing it in the expandmd file wouldn't override the default texts.

G-E · Defense Minister **Joined**: 09 Feb 2015

Have you tried keeping it outside of a mix just loosely in the dir?

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Concolor1 · GDI Hacker **Joined**: 16 Jul 2020

Yes that was my first try, that caused a crash. The game wouldn’t launch at all.
Removing it and just leaving the mission map in the directory worked, it loads the mission. However it’s not much use without the supporting texts that are carried in the .csf.
As said earlier it’s just this Origin version that’s got the troubles, all my other systems work fine.

Concolor1 · GDI Hacker **Joined**: 16 Jul 2020

Just a refresh really to see if anyone has any more insight into this problem.
Im assuming that someone must have the Origin download version and is able to run Mods, if so the text from a csf must display in those Mods.

I did come across information stating that 'stringtablexx.csf' can be loaded like ini files from outside a mix file, but Im guessing thats just like naming it RA2.csf. I tried this but that failed to work, although the game did launch funnily enough. The text files simply didn't display.

Which leads me down the road of thought that the Origin version of RA2 is unable to read 'RA2'. Now Im thinking should I try naming the file RA2MD, instead. Even though its red alert2 im playing it is actually packed in the origin version with Yuri's Revenge, so maybe they did away with having two string files?

E1 Elite · General **Joined**: 28 May 2013

That stringtable* is Ares feature - http://ares-developers.github.io/Ares-docs/new/misc/stringtableenhancements.html

For your problem, move your RA2 installation to other that C drive. Remove any wsock DLL in the game folder. Then try.

There is a chance that your .csf file is corrupt. Or might have different user credentials.

I don't have Origin version so can't test.

Concolor1 · GDI Hacker **Joined**: 16 Jul 2020

Thanks E1 Elite, I appreciate you getting back to me on this, as its frustrating.

My thoughts on the csf file was that it was not corrupt, as its the same file Ive used on other systems, I could try another couple for an experiment in case thats the problem.

Other than C Drive.... hmm would it run off a USB stick I wonder?
I'll certainly give that a try later and post my results, thankyou very much, Id like the solution to this as Ive a few systems and Id like to run a different map/project on each to keep them apart. I'll remove the wsock,dll too and try.

G-E · Defense Minister **Joined**: 09 Feb 2015

If you have the ra2.csf loose, you may have to give the game.exe/ra2.exe administrator privileges to read it depending where you installed it.

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Mr.Hymn · Missile Trooper **Joined**: 01 May 2020

I don't know what causes the string table not to read but I got this problem from RA2 to Generals in the past string csf file can be edited and leave outside mix would work just fine but recently everything become MISSING: so I have to put the edited file back into the mix to solve the problem. For generals I have to put in BIG file instead.

Anyway if you want to enjoy editing text without altering the csf you can use "NOSTR:your text here" would be able to show the info right without altering csf and save my time a lot.

Example.
[B2]
UIName:NOSTR:B-2 Bomber
Name=xxx
xx
xx

TAK02 · Posted: Tue Dec 22, 2020 7:23 pm Post subject:

Your method is only valid when using the Ares DLL and NOSTR: limits you to 31 characters INCLUDING the NOSTR: prefix.
The prefix is 6 characters long so you're actually limited to 25 characters. This should be fine for most new things; except for mission texts.

I think your problem might be creating a new CSF instead of modding the original one.
The new CSF overrides the original, and so all of the original strings are "lost" to the game until the override is "lifted" by deleting the new CSF.

RA2.csf is in language.mix; extract then mod it if you're modding RA2.
RA2md.csf is in langmd.mix; extract then mod it if you're modding YR.
StringtableXX.csf (XX = 01 to 99) don't exist; create one then mod it if you're modding YR+Ares. Or just rename the CSF you now have loose in your folder to stringtable04.csf or something.

Concolor1 · GDI Hacker **Joined**: 16 Jul 2020

Erm I thought I’d tried that. The csf I’m using is the ingame one I extracted and added strings too. Some of the existing strings I altered ie loadmsg:sov01 ect. But it refuses to read it either loose or in the expand mix. I’ve yet to try E1 Elites suggestion of placing the RA2 folder in a different drive.
Bare in mind that these missions work fine on other systems using the RA2 and YR mission discs. - the fault appears to be with the Origin version.

TAK02 · Posted: Wed Dec 30, 2020 8:05 am Post subject:

You are running Ares, right?

StringtableXX.csf files are only read if Ares is running, not the original games.

Concolor1 · GDI Hacker **Joined**: 16 Jul 2020

No I don’t have Ares, I just have The vanilla versions installed and modify the missions via opening the map file in wordpad. The csf is used to add background text and information. So I use the string editer on the csf.
Everything I’ve written works with the original game disc installs.