Torsten, the file you attached is utf-8 encoded but specifies "encoding iso8859-1" on the first line. XTherion does no encoding autodetection and relies on the first line. When it encounters "ö" character, which is represented by two bytes in utf-8 (for comparison, it is just one byte in iso8859-1), it simply displays those two bytes as iso8859-1 characters. The problem with your file is that you created it in XTherion using iso8859-1 encoding, but then edited it in VSCode. VSCode editor assumed the file was utf-8 encoded (it ignores the information on the first line, which is therion-specific) and then encountered one-byte "ö" representation, displaying it as an unknown character. You replaced that with "ö" in VSCode and saved the file in utf-8, resulting in a two-byte representation of "ö" in the file. Since the file became utf-8 encoded, you should have modified the first line to "encoding utf-8". So, there is no problem in Therion at all, you just need to ensure the encoding specification matches the file's actual encoding. The easiest way is to use utf-8 everywhere. Martin On Fri, May 29, 2026 at 9:04 AM Torsten Schnitter < torsten.schnitter@netcologne.de> wrote:
Hi Martin
As you can see on the screenshots the file format from Xtherion editor is the same as the first line of the file. (but real file format seems to be UTF-8 as Visual Studio Code is saying) When I change the file format with XTherion the first line (not shown in XTherion editor) is autmatically changed corresponding.
The file was created and edited with XTherion editor. Resulting in that problem. My only solution was to edit the file in an external editor (without changing file format). This does work now but the character within Xtherion editor is corrupted...
For me there is a file format problem inside XTherion (may be with special circumstances). Or someone can explain to me what I did wrong.
regards, Torsten
Am 2026-05-28 17:31, schrieb Martin Budaj:
Hi,
there is a simple rule: the encoding given in the first line of the .th file should match the actual file encoding.
If you reencode your file to another encoding, you must modify the first line (encoding xxx) accordingly.
Martin
On Thu, May 28, 2026 at 3:41 PM Torsten Schnitter < torsten.schnitter@netcologne.de> wrote:
Hi all
Problem found and solved.
I do use commands to import different layouts inside the thconfig file: input ..\_Therion\_Layouts\area_blocks_hdens.th
This file was edited with XTherion and saved as "iso8859-1":
As someone can see: text de .... seems to be OK (especially the character ö)
When opening this file with Visual Studio Code it looks like:
Now the character does NOT look ok (and format of file is UTF-8 as you can see at the bottom of the screenshot)
Just changing within Visual Studio Code this single character in line 2 (not changing the format) and saving the file does solve the problem:
But now the file looks somehow wrong inside XTherion:
Seems to be a problem with XTherin file editor and file formats.... Attached the actual and working layout file.
For me I will not use XTherion file editor anymore and will edit files with Visual Studio Code.
best regards, Torsten
Am 2026-05-28 12:07, schrieb knollesimage@t-online.de:
Same behavior here:
Running therion 6.4.0 on a thconfig file automatically inserts "encoding UTF-8" in the first line, if it is not there already.
Regards, Michael.
*From:* Therion <therion-bounces@speleo.sk> *On Behalf Of *Torsten Schnitter *Sent:* Mittwoch, 27. Mai 2026 14:00 *To:* Therion <therion@speleo.sk> *Subject:* [Therion] Compiling error due to encoding
Hello
I have a thconfig file where I use the statement "language de"/"language en" to switch language for the output. Within the config file I use some translations like this: ... text de "point passage-height:unsigned" "Ganghöhe" ... text en "point passage-height:unsigned" "passage height"
Every time I try to compile with "language de" I get an error:
#################### end of metapost log file #################### converting scraps ... done C:\Program Files\Therion\therion.exe: error -- Invalid utf-8 string! writing xtherion file ... done
As soon as I switch back to "language en" it does work. Therefore I'm pretty sure it is due to the special characters like 'ö'.
I opened the thconfig file with an external editor (Visual Studio Code), removed the first line "encoding utf-8" and saved the file with encoding "ISO 8859-1".
As soon as I open the thconfig file with XTherion and start compile the format is resetted to utf-8 and within the thconfig file the first line is replaced to "encoding utf-8" (checke this again with Visual Studio Code". And the error above is the result. Only opening the config file and closing again without any changes does change the encoding line in the config file to utf-8.
I'm using Therion 6.4.0 and can't remeber when this behaviour/problem raised. I'm pretty sure some time ago this did work without error.
Any help is appreciated. Thanks in advance! regards, Torsten
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