The STR# resource format used to store many of the strings in EV may seem to be incompatible with the flexible nature of plugin files. For example, a plugin for a new ship would have to replace several of the built-in STR# resources to incorporate its new name into the game. The problem arises when you want to use two plugins that try to modify the same STR# resource.
The solution is not to changes the STR# resources at all, but to use EV's handy string patching functionality by updating only select strings in a STR# resource by providing EV with a properly-numbered 'STR ' resource. For example, to change the first cargo type from food to something else, you'd simply create a 'STR ' resource with the ID 9000 and type in the name of your new commodity. A chart of 'STR ' resource numbers is provided below:
String Type: Replacement 'STR ' ID range:
Message buoys 1000-2500
Short outfit names 3000-3127
Lowercase outfit names 3200-3327
Lowercase plural outfit names 3400-3527
Short shipyard names 3600-3663
Long shipyard names 3700-3763
Short ship names for communications dialog 3800-3863
Government abbreviations for target display 4000-4127
Government short names for comm dialog 4200-4327
Hail quotes 5000-5511
Disaster news 6000-6127
Stellar types 7000-7063
jünk abbreviations 8000-8127
Lowercase jünk names 8200-8327
Generic cargo names 9000-9063
Lowercase cargo names 9100-9163
Cargo abbreviations for status display 9200-9263
Base prices of commodities 9300-9305
Commodity abbreviations for status display 9400-9405
(A similar function exists for updating the graphics for the shipyard and outfit menus - see the note at the top of this document for details.)