Show err

Basic guide to using the -show_err function in RTW and BI

-show_err is the basic error reporting system for RTW and BI, to activate it do the following:

Right click on the desktop shortcut you use to launch your game. Select properties. In the target line after the end " type a space and then -show_err

the finished line should look like: click apply and that should be done.

Please note that -show_err only gives message for the first problem it finds. You have to fix the first problem before you get next message. For some problems you also need to delete the map.rwm file in order for first problem to be removed. If you have a non-fatal error that gives message, you do need to fix it, otherwise you won't get message for more serious problems.

Understanding messages given by -show_err

Once you have -show_err operating you will find that for some modding problems it very kindly gives you a reference to which file is wrong and gives you the line number where problem is located. (to find line number x use notepad, edit, go to function) Unfortunately a lot of the error messages it gives you are more difficult to understand. Some of the common confusing ones are listed below:

"Expected faction - must add at least two factions to the world" apart from the obvious that you haven't added two factions, this KTM message normally means you have an error in descr_strat (message should also have given you line number) the error will normally be one of formatting or spelling which serves to stop game reading file before the point that it gets to 2nd faction. Trying to use a 1.2 file in 1.5 patch does this as the win conditions section is not recognised. Comments in the resource section that have lost their ; also do it, there are many other possible ways of getting the error.

"The child character xxx has no father and will be omitted from the game" Means you have too many children for one father you can only have 4. Any more don't appear and generate that message when you quit game.

"Script error at... could not find next child. Children list must be terminated with an end" this doesn't often literally mean you don't have ', end' on the relative line. It more often is that line has some other problem, for instance including a child that doesn't either have army on map or a character record line.

"Script error in ..../descr_strat.txt , at line xxx. You have chosen an invalid tile (0,0) for the settlement of" If settlement is not named and the line xxx it gives you is the bottom of descr_strat file, that normally means you have a spare colour in map_regions.tga that does not belong to any region defined in descr_regions.txt (that problem can also cause straight CTD and I'm not quite sure what causes difference)

"Cant find texture blah_blah.psd" Message with CTD on attempting to load battle map, assuming your descr_model_battle.txt doesn't actually ask for blah_blah.psd, normally means you haven't put texture line in DMB for faction that's attempting to use unit, so show_err is referring to the default texture for the model (you shouldn't actually need it - just give a correct texture line). Watch out for officers, crews and mounts with this one as well as basic soldier.

Problems that crash or KTM without -show_err message

Some examples of modding problems that don't generate show_err message are listed below.