Modding of STR Files in SF2

[starfighter006]

Hello,

I just recently discovered SF2 and I am amazed how easy it is to mod the game.

I  started adding my own fantasy nation to the game and I am doing pretty well so far.

However, one thing that I could not figure out yet is how to edit STR Files?

I understand that is is a binary file containing string information, for instance MEDALUSAF.STR contains the ID of the medal and the medal name that, I suppose, is being displayed in the game.

It is referenced in Nations.ini file. e.g.:

Medals=MedalsUSAF.ini
MedalTextFile=MedalsUSAF.str

I would like to add my own fantasy medals to the game, but I am not sure to handle this STR file.

It seems odd to me that the game makes extensive use of text ini files, but for this specific case it refers to an STR file? 

I know that there is an Medal expansion pack, but I am not allowed to download it yet for analysis.

So maybe anyone can give me some hints.

Many thanks!

[starfighter006]

Just some Update:

I managed to update the STR file using a hex editor and changing the string values there, but maybe there is a better way or a more comfortable editor...

[CaptainLee1145]

Hope my instructions can help you (Please forgive my poor english, non-english speaker)

No need to use the str file

The first thing to make mod in this game is have a extractor(official one or unofficial one, the unofficial one is already have on this website)

Then extract the “MissionData1.cat”, in the extractor, you'll see the MedalsUSAF.ini (Also USN, USMC, IDF, RAF)

if you want to make your own fictional medal, just imitate what the .ini looks like, then add the award

for example

[Medal001]
Name=MEDAL_USN_MOH_NAME
MissionScore=3500
MissionKills=5
MissionRating=3
AwardImage=MedHonor_Award.bmp
Citation=USN_MedalOfHonor.txt 

just copy it and change the title to [Medal00x(or 0xx)], then edit rest of it[Medal001]

[Medal021]
Name=Medal example
MissionScore=1145
MissionKills=1
MissionRating=1
AwardImage=
Citation=

the AwardImage= and Citation= you need put those related thing  in menu file, the .BMP and the .txt
the text is quite complex, I suggest you can try to find some mod that include some other medals that the game don't have(or extract the menu.cat, you'll find the original game files)

after edit put image and text into menu file, put award.ini into flight file

If you want to make a fictional country and its award, you should extract the nation.ini in the "Flightdata.Cat"

Just like you edit the award, imitate the nation structure to add a new country

For example

[Nation251]
Name=SRT
DisplayName=SRT Special Academy
Alignment=FRIENDLY
PilotNameList=NamesUSAF.lst
RankList=RanksUSAF.lst
CallsignList=CallsignsUS.lst
Formation.Fighter=USFighter
Formation.Attack=USFighter
Formation.Bomber=USBomber
Formation.Transport=USBomber
Formation.Tank=USTank
Formation.MobileAD=USAD
PilotTrainingStandard=EXCELLENT
GenderRatio=0
DebriefSuccessMusic=DebriefSuccess.wav
DebriefFailMusic=DebriefFail.wav
DebriefKilledMusic=DebriefKilled.wav
SpeechFile=USAFSpeech.cat
SpeechTextFile=USAFSpeechText.cat
Medals=MedalsUSAF.ini
UseFAC=TRUE

just change the Medals=MedalsUSAF.ini, replace the "MedalsUSAF.ini" to the "xx.ini" that you edit

Please make sure the filenames match the names you edited in the .ini file.

the nation.ini is also put into flight file

[starfighter006]

Hello and thank you for your quick and detailed answer!

Yes, I already did what you all mention. 

I also noticed that you can just use the name tag and it is displayed in the GUI, like so:

[Medal007]
Name=This is not only the ID, but it can also be shown as text in the GUI
PilotStatus=0
CanBeMultiple=TRUE
AwardImage=PurpleHeart_Award.bmp
Citation=PurpleHeart.txt

But this probably not now the devs intended it and I thought that maybe this might could lead to some strange behavior.

As far as I understood, the STR file is used as a text reference for the medal name and is defined in Nations.ini:

[Nation002]
...
Medals=MedalsUSAF.ini
MedalTextFile=MedalsUSAF.str

 

In the MedalsUSAF.str File you have a mapping of medal ID from MedalsUSAF.ini to a medal name shown in the GUI, e.g. 

in MedalsUSAF.ini:

[Medal007]
Name=MEDAL_USAF_PH_NAME

in MedalsUSAF.str:

MEDAL_USAF_PF_NAME mapped to  "Purple Heart" -->

Then "Purple Heart" is the string shown on the GUI screen .

But maybe it is not mandatory to do it...

[Menrva]

@starfighter006 there's no use in editing or creating new STR files when adding new medals. Originally SF1 games featured multiple languages, hence STR files were useful in those cases when a different language was selected and loaded. SF2 is only in English so STR files for medals are no longer needed, they're just a remnant of SF1 using STRs for their strings. There's no utility to edit those as far as I know, hex-editing is the only way.

[starfighter006]

Ah, that clarifies it! Thank you very much!