displaying long file save names

[anjenthedog]

So.... I often save via console so that I can name my saves

 

ex: "character-name_progression-level_current-location_active-quest"

 

for instance "BobTheDragon_Level45_lakeview-manor_beyond_death"

 

Unfortunately, when I use the games game-load, it presents

 

"BobTheDragon_Leve"

 

or something like that.

 

Is there a way for me to either increase the character-length displayed OR alternately reduce the size of the text to something less than a 24-point font so I can read the entire save title?

 

(and ftr, yes I'm probably being a bit hyperbolic about the actual size they use, it's just "big", and way, WAY, WAY "bigger" than necessary on my 27" wide screen monitor.)

 

thanks friends

[Arthmoor]

Don't use underscores in your save game names. The engine uses those to distinguish characters on the loading menu and any use of them in any other way just messes up the display and makes it harder (and sometimes impossible) to find the save you want.

[anjenthedog]

Possibly (although at this point I will question everything you say from here out) a good tip and thank you for that, but with all due respect, it still doesn't address the issue I'm outlining. The load screen only shows a short handful of characters and truncates the rest, underscored or not.

[IsharaMeradin]

Figure out how many characters are displayed and make sure you utilize those characters to visibly differentiate each save. Just be glad it isn't limited to eight characters. Those were the days...

 

I suspect there may be a SWF file some where that governs it. But what file that might be (or how to read / edit it), no idea.

[Arthmoor]

Yes, but I explained this already. The underscores have screwed the whole thing up. I've seen character lists that are quite long but none of them had underscores messing up the menus.

[anjenthedog]

Figure out how many characters are displayed and make sure you utilize those characters to visibly differentiate each save. Just be glad it isn't limited to eight characters. Those were the days...

 

I suspect there may be a SWF file some where that governs it. But what file that might be (or how to read / edit it), no idea.

Heh... I remember those days very well, albeit not with skyrim ;)

 

Yes, I guess that's what I have to settle for. I was hoping someone would tell me I'm stupid and it's easy to fix by doing A. B, C or installing some mod, but maybe not...

[anjenthedog]

Yes, but I explained this already. The underscores have screwed the whole thing up. I've seen character lists that are quite long but none of them had underscores messing up the menus.

 

Hmm. I didn't interpret that as a causal suggestion, but more as a side-issue advisory. (if you know what I mean, like "BTW, you really shouldn't be doing that, fwiw")

 

I'll try saving without underscores and see how it goes.

 

EDIT: IT did not go well. In fact, it made no difference whatsoever

 

Thanks.

[anjenthedog]

Yes, but I explained this already. The underscores have screwed the whole thing up. I've seen character lists that are quite long but none of them had underscores messing up the menus.

 

With all due respect...

 

No, in fact that does not solve the issue. A save-file name more than ~18-20 characters long (including white space) is automatically truncated and a trio of periods are added to indicate the actual file name is longer than what is shown.

 

Example. I created a save called "Ajigorn Level 33 Whiterun Sofia" to indicate the player identity (I have more than one player vector), his current level, where he is, and a brief mnemonic reminder of what he's doing (deciding if I should wake Sofia from her slumber in the horse stall, where she's been since I started this particular character almost two months ago... in real time...)

 

Upon clicking "Load", the game reports : "Ajigorn Level 33 ..."

 

The fundamental problem appears (to this website developer) to be one of Skyrim's menu being written with game-console style text display (that is, something like the PS/3 being routed through an old fashioned television), using over-sized fonts and automatic truncation of information, in order to fit the kiosk-style motif. (much like the MCM UI that covers almost the entirety of the computer monitor when it is displayed, even if "small font" is chosen)

 

This is one of the things that's always annoyed me about gaming. The screen fonts are too often made as if to cater to the same toddlers who faithfully watch Sesame Street and Telly-Tubbies and who prefer children's books because the words are literally big and kept to under 6 or 7 characters in length.

 

So, the question remains. Is there a setting somewhere to increase the "# chars shown" and decrease the font size used in this display, so that in fact such a reduction would provide space in which to show full file names, OR, alternatively, a mod that effectively provides the same level of support for file names longer than 18 characters? (e.g, by some combo of increasing the char limit for truncate(), increasing the width of the save file panel to allow more characters to be shown, allowing wrap-around of the file-name display, etc)

 

 

- PS I appreciate Ishara's point. Not arguing that she's wrong or was unhelpful. She's right and was helpful, within bounds of Skyrim's apparent limitations. Yes, without a doubt, 18 characters is better than the "8.3" of yester-year. Just not really all that much better in practice.

[Arthmoor]

Ok, whatever you say guy. Just call the only working advice wrong if you must but maybe don't ask people for help if you're unwilling to accept true answers to your problems when they're given.

[anjenthedog]

Ok, whatever you say guy. Just call the only working advice wrong if you must but maybe don't ask people for help if you're unwilling to accept true answers to your problems when they're given.

 

No, in fact that does not solve the issue. A save-file name more than ~18-20 characters long (including white space) is automatically truncated and a trio of periods are added to indicate the actual file name is longer than what is shown.

 

You are wrong. Simple as that. You are wrong. The only answer that had any validity was Ishara's, which abbreviated is "deal with it. it's better than the old days of 8.3"