Question: Location of FF8 text data from battles

[Waechter]

I have been using Garden to view the text data (.msd) from the field archives. But in FF8 there is also some dialog to be found in battles, such as the fight against Ifrit or Ultimecia. In what archive is this text located? I can only assume that it can be found in the battle archives, possibly in the .dat files. Is there a program out there that lets me view that text as well?



Waechter

[Colly]

Umm, such as this? :

http://www.robincolly.republika.pl/PuPu.jpg
[This is translated "Elixir please!" to Polish ]

Texts from battles are located in the [Battle] folder, in files which names are [c0xxxx.dat]. One file has texts from one battle. Of course no all of files has this texts.

When I translated this files I create .xls file with list of files, which has texts for translate:

http://www.robincolly.republika.pl/Walka.xls

B column has files' names, C and D column means "Translated" and "Corrected", E column has enemies.
c0m068.dat - "z kulkami" means "with balls", at c0m077.dat NORG is "without balls".

So how discover texts:
1. Open for example a c0m003.dat (in Translhextion)
2. Load FF8 table
3. Look at the pointer on 1Ch adress - there is 78 E6, so go to the E678 adress. Yes - there is a enemy name.
4. Look at the pointer on 20h adress - there is F4 E7, so go to the E7F4 adress. On that adress starting text's section.
At first you have 03 00. I don't know what it means but it's not necessary
Jump +8 bytes - to the E7FC - there is a F4 00, next pointer is FC 00(at E800).
Move your cursor onto E7F4 and jump F4h=244d bytes. So now you are at start of pointer section.  You see 00 00 | 21 00 | 3D 00 | 5D 00 <--- that's pointers to texts. At E800 you have FC00. Jumping +252 bytes from E7F4 - that's move cursor onto E8F0. Texts starts here.
And now - 00 00 from pointer section means E8F0. Jump + 21h=33d bytes, and you have at second text. From E8F0 jump + 3Dh=61d bytes - you have third text. And last, jumping + 5Dh=93 bytes (of course from E8F0).
So now you know where are texts on battle files .
After my session on study I'll complete my program to edit texts on battle, kernel, name's and area names

[Waechter]

Wow, that was very detailed. Thanks a lot. Even though I'm working with a different language version, I followed your steps and it seems to work like a charm. The .xls file telling me what .dat file corresponds to what enemy was especially useful. I'm very grateful.


Waechter