Editing strings advice for WWE 2K18

[spritefun]

Required tools: String PAC editor, PAC editor, MS excel

1 - Backup your original string_win.pac file from the directory ..\steamapps\common\WWE 2K18\pac\string\win\string_win.pac and using the pac editor extract the individual pac files which are packed into the string win pac file.

2 - Using string editor in wwe 2k16 mode, open one of the extracted pac files from step 1 and export the zlib data file as an excel file to be edited.

3 - Edit the strings, once you have made your edits in excel open string editor and select the generate new file option, select the edited excel file and it will be saved as a .dat-NEW file.

4 - Open the same extracted pac file you opened in step 2, select the 00.zlib and click inject as zlib, choose your 00.dat-NEW file

5 - Reopen the string win pac file and select the pac with the same name you extracted in step 2, click inject file and choose the new pac that was generated in step 4.

Test to see if it worked.

 

Edit: To change wrestler/championship strings you need to extract the file named "97ED1B14BC036AE7.pac" in step 1.

 

I originally posted this asking for help as I couldn't find any info on how to edit the string file myself, but I managed to figure it out and hopefully this can help someone else. I'm not sure if this info is already posted, if it is feel free to delete this post.

Edited November 27, 2017 by spritefun

[LS]

Hi! @spritefun @pozzum @eatrawmeat391

I just installed my WWE 2K18 on my PC. Just wanted to ask why CHRIS BENOIT is displaying as '-' in the game. I have assigned him slot # 489 as per Pozzum's memory sheet. Thus, I'm confused whether it's an issue with String ID or something? 

I also tried to edit 00.xls but after adding another row for CHRIS BENOIT, as a result my game crashed on launching.

Note: My CHRIS BENOIT Mod shows up in 'Downloaded Wrestlers'

 

Will appreciate any help, mate!!!

Edited December 17, 2017 by LS

[kim666]

Don't add any new row! You can only replace existing strings. 

[spritefun]

..

Edited December 18, 2017 by spritefun

[LS]

On 17/12/2017 at 4:38 PM, kim666 said:

Don't add any new row! You can only replace existing strings. 

Hi, @kim666 @spritefun, mates, can you ppl show me an example of which slot ID to edit from the exported excel file from String Pac Editor? Also i m not adding a new row now...

In my case, Benoit is given slot of 489 but in excel file it shows slot ID of  53583 for CHRIS BENOIT.

In my Game, BENOIT is shown unnamed (blanks) 

Edited December 20, 2017 by LS

[LS]

Okay, guys, last night i downloaded @pozzum 's String 2.0 and copied it to string folder in WWE 2k18 folder. 

Now, my CHRIS BENOIT (slot 489) shows up fine !

Also another way is to edit string id using CHEAT ENGINE 6.6 i.e go to POFO Hex of any superstar than right click on that address window and select '2 byte decimal' in cheat engine. Finally, 1st 3 addresses on the top left will be your slot # (PACH slot in Pozzum's Memory sheet)

[Cave Waverider]

On ‎27‎.‎11‎.‎2017 at 2:19 AM, spritefun said:

Required tools: String PAC editor, PAC editor, MS excel

1 - Backup your original string_win.pac file from the directory ..\steamapps\common\WWE 2K18\pac\string\win\string_win.pac and using the pac editor extract the individual pac files which are packed into the string win pac file.

2 - Using string editor in wwe 2k16 mode, open one of the extracted pac files from step 1 and export the zlib data file as an excel file to be edited.

3 - Edit the strings, once you have made your edits in excel open string editor and select the generate new file option, select the edited excel file and it will be saved as a .dat-NEW file.

4 - Open the same extracted pac file you opened in step 2, select the 00.zlib and click inject as zlib, choose your 00.dat-NEW file

5 - Reopen the string win pac file and select the pac with the same name you extracted in step 2, click inject file and choose the new pac that was generated in step 4.

Test to see if it worked.

 

Edit: To change wrestler/championship strings you need to extract the file named "97ED1B14BC036AE7.pac" in step 1.

 

I originally posted this asking for help as I couldn't find any info on how to edit the string file myself, but I managed to figure it out and hopefully this can help someone else. I'm not sure if this info is already posted, if it is feel free to delete this post.

Like with any other modded .pac files, I'd like to suggest to make a copy of the string in the \mods\ folder with a new Subfolder called something like Modded String (for example: WWE 2k18\mods\Modded String\pac\string\win\), open the Chunk0.def file with a text editor and replace the line pac\string\win\string_win.pac with mods\Modded String\pac\string\win\string_win.pac. The latter will tell the game to use the modded string instead of the original. You can then edit the modded String to your heart's content the way it was described above and still keep the original game files intact. In case you ever need to go back to them, you simply change the line in the Chunk0.def file back again.
Keeping all the mods in the \mods\ folder will help keep your mods organized, make it easy to back them up, prevent them from being overwritten by game updates, veryfying the game data via Steam etc..

Also, which .pac file needs to be extracted depends on the language you run your game in.