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Fix Character Strings

Based on game build 714014 | Last updated: 2026-03-10

Overview​

fix_character_strings is a standalone Lua utility script used outside of the game engine to normalize and reorder character localization data. It reads a Lua file containing a nested table of string keys and values, recursively sorts all entries alphabetically (by key), and writes the reformatted output to a new file. This ensures consistent ordering across localization files, which improves maintainability and version control diffs.

Usage example​

-- Run from command line with input and optional output paths:
-- lua fix_character_strings.lua prefabs/characters.lua prefabs/characters_sorted.lua

-- Internally, the script:
-- 1. Reads the input file via `require(file_in)`
-- 2. Recursively sorts all string tables using `alphatable()`
-- 3. Writes the result as a `return`-statement-compatible Lua file

Dependencies & tags​

Components used: None identified
Tags: None identified

Properties​

No public properties

Main functions​

alphatable(in_table, indent)​

  • Description: Recursively processes a Lua table, formats its contents as sorted, indented Lua syntax, and returns the result as a string. Handles string, number, and nested table values. Strings are quoted (%q), and numeric keys are prefixed with [key].
  • Parameters:
  • in_table (table) — The table to format and sort.
  • indent (number, optional, default 0) — Current indentation level for nested tables.
  • Returns: A string representation of the sorted table in valid Lua syntax.

Events & listeners​

Not applicable