NPC names display incorrectly

[Crosine]

Hi everyone! First I would like to thank the devs for this project as you guys have done an awesome job so far!


Here is the problem I am running into with my server build. Just a fair warning I am new to this whole private server thing so I apologize if this has been asked before. I just created my own server to play with some friends of mine and everything so far is running well, until I noticed something odd. In some of the zones npc names are not displaying properly and certain animations aren't showing from field manuals etc. I have tried looking up the answers online to no avail. Up to this point I have reinstalled the server as well as made sure that ffxi is up to date with the latest being sept 2014 patch. I also checked within the navicat db npc_list.sql and the npc names show correctly in there but not in game. Not sure what else to do at this point as it seems things are correct. Any help would be appreciated as I would like to learn to configure my own server so my friends and I may enjoy this awesome game. Thanks again to the developers and code on!

[kjLotus]

probably just have to wait until someone fixes them

long story short: every time there's a new retail patch, some npcs in a few zones will move around a bit and that'll happen until someone fixes it

[Crosine]

Hmmmm, thank you for your quick reply lotus. Don't suppose you would know the process for fixing that myself? Mainly I like what you guys are doing here and would like to learn/contribute to the project as much as I possibly can. Maybe even have thought of a way to lock the current retail version where its at to create a standalone version as to make developing a tad easier from the current install set that I have. Looking to devote a TON of time into this if its possible and get a 100% working version that could be in a single pack. I could be way off but hey dreams start somewhere right?

[kjLotus]

if you open a zone in POLUtils, you can compare what the ID *should* be for an NPC, and then compare it with npc_list.sql and fix the IDs in npc_list.sql

[Crosine]

Thank you again for your timely reply Lotus. When you say open a zone, I assume your referring to the .dat file inside of my FFXI folder? I will go ahead and try that now. Will post again after I have tested the paths. Thanks again ^^

[Crosine]

So I was able to find the correct zone file for west ronfaure (testing the incorrectly named field manual), but when I select the .dat file in POLUtils it tells me there are no viewers available for this file. Not sure if I'm missing something or perhaps now I need to open the .dat file in another program to be able to see the zone id and compare with the .sql list? I am convinced that the zone id in the .dat files is different than the current .sql lists we have just need to be able to view it from the .dat file. Are there any programs out there that will display this information properly? I tried opening it with notepad ++ and while I can view the names, it gives me a buch of black boxes with the word null in between each entry. Again I apologize for being a noob at this but learn fast. Thanks again!

[kjLotus]

depends where you installed polutils from, i think its mostly up to date over on https://github.com/Windower/POLUtils (browse the binaries folder to download the installer)

[Crosine]

The version I have currently matches the version you suggested as I downloaded it from the POLUtils website directly. Something I noticed when POLUtils is searching/reading the .dat files though is that it only seems to be looking for images within the .dat and not the actual data. It would seem that the .dat files are encrypted which I assume is what the black nul boxes after each entry are showing. I am at work currently but when I return home I will post a screenshot of what POLUtils is giving me as well as what notepad++ is rendering when I open the file to view. If you possibly have another idea to work around the encrypted data I would be open to trying anything, since once I figure this out it will solve 60% of current issues in my build and then I can begin working on the scripting/coding for missing quests etc. Thanks again for your replies Lotus and I will check back again before I am off shift!

[kjLotus]

you don't need to post me a screenshot, i know what it looks like - i had that problem myself and the only way i solved it was by getting polutils from someone else whose worked

[Crosine]

Hmm ok then I will download and try the POLUtils from the link you sent me. There may be something wrong with the one on the POLUtils site. As far as POLUtils itself does the initial install path have to be inside of a specific directory or can I install it to the default location? Think it was C:\program files (x86)\pebbles if i remember correctly. I apologize if I have alot of questions but trying to learn. Thanks for being patient with me and hope to figure this out soon.