[RESOLVED] WS List Is Bugged... Any Solutions?

Been having this issue for over a month now, and it appears to be getting worse. It persists through log ins, updates, everything. My weapon skill list is full of blank entries and the actual ones I can use are at the bottom. I just ignored this for awhile but now it has gotten to the point that I have 22 blank slots on the list and my regular job abilities and WS are no longer even usable, as they cannot appear on the list. Any ideas on how to fix it would be appreciated.

--- Edit [RESOLVED]

--- 7/8/2023

The issue was found in my ./PlayOnline/Final Fantasy XI/USER
folder. I didn't take the time to go through each file to figure out where all the bloat was coming from.
-The bug is not saved if you store your character data, and then you can presumably just delete the folder and reload your character settings.
-I did keep a copy of my original folder by changing it's name to BUGGED_USER. I then loaded my fresh USER folder and reloaded my character settings.

Do a file check

If you are using XIpivot, it might be a corrupted file reapplying the .dat and causing graphic issues. Something like an outdated xiView, do you have the new WS in your list when this happens?

Just some ideas I can think of. If all else fails, do a full resintall and make sure xiPivot doesn't place a corrupted file

Thanks for the reply. I hadn't considered pivot being the issue, but when I went to check it I realized I wasn't even using any overlays. Also an interesting quirk is that I have three characters on the account and only one of them is affected by it. Probably rules out XiPivot?

Edit - Loaded a blank settings file from a save slot. No Pivot, no dice. I'm guessing it's a bloated character file somewhere local, just not sure which one to delete, I'd rather not do a full reinstall.

Do file check from play online.

If that doesn't fix it, do a file check from Final Fantasy XI config.

Are you ONLY running retail ffxi?

Again thank you for the replies. File check doesn't detect anything, even loading up vanilla doesn't fix the issue. It has been at least 2 updates and this problem has persisted.

@RadialArcana - I do have a completely separate private server install.

It's reading stuff from the other in memory.

Something similar happened to one of my alts, not WS but spell list. I bought new spell, consumed the scroll and used auto sort function. This fixed all the blank spots.

On the character in question, make a marker on a map and save it.

Log out and Go to the FFXI\USR folder and sort by date.

Go to the folder with the most recent modified date.

Move the aix.dat file into a backup folder somewhere else on your drive, like the Desktop.

Log back in and check spells/JAs/whatever was messed up before.

If it worked, delete the aix.dat file you put on your desktop.

If the above doesn't work delete and reinstall will fix it.
I do like the thought process on the above method.

File check never replaced my broken reraise dat I had to copy from a good install backup

Update: I zipped the private server install and now POL will not even boot. So definitely a conflict between the two installs. Not sure why this issue popped up after years of dual installs but it looks like my only recourse will be a full reinstall. Thanks to everyone for the help.

The issue is usually only going to kick in if you run both games at the same exact time, I think it's fine to have them both installed and run separately.

You can use sandbox on one or both of them if you want both without interference.

Update: Uninstalled Private Server, uninstalled POL, reinstalled. Still the same issue. Driving myself nuts here trying to figure this out.

Did you do a clean install or just uninstall and reinstall over the old directory and remaining files (which include your user profiles)

Hmm I used the POL uninstaller. Maybe that leaves the character files?

Uninstall
Rename your POL folder (so you have your old files if necessary)
Reinstall

Well a complete reinstall fixed the issue. Brute force fix but I guess that's done. My character save slots are gone though, other than the 1 that I could put on the POL server. Any idea which files I can copy from my old POL folder to be able to reload the local saved ones?

Edit: I'm worried that if I overwrite with the data I saved from the previous install I will end up with the same problem again.

Edit: Yup, replacing my /Final Fantasy XI/USER folder made the issue return. I saved a backup of the vanilla one. So now we can say at least the problem was in a messed up USER config file. Still working on it and I will change the OP to [RESOLVED]