text editing question

I want to change the name of an item could someone show me how I go about doing this

Your question is too vague. You should at least name the console, the game, and what documentation you've already read...

For a basic starter

If it is ingame text. You will have to work out a Table file which is hex values of each character. After this you will require a Hex editor of any sort that can load table files and this will then convert the "text banks or items names" into readable text to locate.

e.g.

80 = A, 81 = B, 82 = C

so if the item was ABC in a hex editor it will read 808182. Confusing I know but normally text editing takes a while to get used to and is a lot of trial and error.

The other way is if it is a graphic you will have to find a tile editor such as Tile Layer Pro. This is usefull for finding title screens and sprites also.

The best way to practice is to find a game where someone has produced a table file so you can learn from it and have a play.

I suggest going to the http://www.romhacking.net/utilities/ to get the items you need. Start with Hexecute or Winhex for your hex editor. You can make a table file in Notepad but you should really see them before making them. and also get Tile Layer Pro in the graphics area to mess with graphics tiles (if they are uncompressed) that is.

Here is also a link to text editing documents. If you know the console e.g. GBA, PSX, NES etc then just refine the search.
http://www.romhacking.net/?category=&Platform=&game=&author=&perpage=20&page=documents&level=&docsearch=Go&title=text&desc=

Good Luck.

hi thanks for responding. I downloaded hexecute as you said and I am confused about why the values are different from hexecute if i view the memory in desmune. why is this???



i am trying to create an ar code that i could use to change text on the real game and idk what address to use. i am new to hacking so sorry if my questions sound stupid

use the Hexecute address. The desmune address is the memory the game stores information in and is completely seperate to Hexecute. Reason is Hexecute is loading the games ROM information not RAM information.

alright thanks now i have a new problem what would be the address for 0021f700 in the C column? i tried changing a letter with the code: 0021F70C 00000066 in action replay and nothing happened

Ah, i didn't see you were attempting to do it via Action Replay. Sorry I haven't ever hacked AR info so I wouldn't know. My apologies for setting you in the wrong direction.

np now that i know its different do u know if theres a way i can search for a word in desmune ctrl+f doesnt work. i get a bin file when i click the dump all button which im not sure how to use

edit: nevermind i downloaded a random bin file reader off google haha

was gonna say you could write down the hex values of the letters from Hexecute then search for those in the RAM with desmune

You need to learn about memory mapping. What the rom file contains is only the contents stored in the rom chip(s) on the cart. But in the memory space of the cpu on the console there is a lot of stuff, yet not everything at once. Long story short, there are areas mapped to hardware features, areas mapped to ram, areas mapped to save ram and areas mapped to rom. The addresses you get in the emulator are from the view of the emulated processor. But the addresses in the hex editor are from the start of the rom file.

The rom file thankfully includes the memory mapping to use. If it doesn't the emulator has to guess. But for Nitro games the mapping is included, since the executables of the game are loaded from specified addresses of rom into ram at other specified addresses. All the addresses are in the file header, look it up.

the problem is the names are gibberish theres nothing to search for haha

the problem is the names are gibberish theres nothing to search for haha

OMG...I think I will open a new account with the name "The Babysitter" 

You have a list of items that is all gibberish and the same gibberish in the description 
You have one or more of this problems:
- Bad dump of the game
- an anti-piracy protection
- you messed the game up by playing with the hex editor or other program
- you messed the game up with a wrong cheat code.

Solve this problems first and then you can think about change the name of an item.

they're supposed to be unfinished items but all it does is crash my game if i try to use the ar code to get them in the real version. when i was playing this game on wifi one day I met with a hacker that can drop all these items without the game crashing.  he said something about the items being nulled so i figure a good way to start is to fix the names since they load fine on an emulator as long as i dont try dropping it ( and of course i already tried begging for the code; thats why im here -.- )

What you mean by "unfinished"?? Items that are in the programming code but not in the game??
If I am right, it's normal that they can make your game crash.

If you want just to change the name of an item, you can do it easy.
It's took me longer to find a savegame from the internet and convert it (lucky me us and eur save games are exchangeable :p) than edit that Copper to Auryns

wow nice care to explain how

and yea theres a bunch of items from ffcc: ring of fates that arent used in game such as magicites