Solved [BUG] Problem with Dr. Harvey

[MsTiger08]

Well apparently I committed an offense against Stardew's programming. I started a new game, and when Marnie brought me my cat, I named it Harvey after my great-grandfather. The problem is now I cannot interact with Dr. Harvey. Is there a way around this, or am I stuck forever on Dr. Harvey's ignore list?

MsTiger08

 

[lilan castel]

You are stuck.

 

[Ereo]

I'm pretty sure you should be able to fix this by changing the name of the pet in the save file. I don't think there is an in-game way to do it.

 

[imnvs]

Okay, how to rename your pet? Savefile editing. That is the only way I know of. It's not that hard, but some may find it daunting. How to do so? I'll tell you...

1 - Most importantly, before going any further you should make sure to backup your savefile before you begin editing, just to make sure. (Make a copy in another folder.)
2 - Open your savefile (not the copy you made) in a text editor, and even Notepad will work for this.
3 - Do a search for your pet's name. In your case, Harvey. Since your pet's name matches an NPC, you'll want to make sure you have the right one. It should look like this: <NPC xsi:type="Cat"><name>Harvey</name>
4 - Change where it says Harvey to what you want your pet named.
5 - Save and exit.
6 - Open your save in Stardew and verify it worked.

 

[ISSsloth]

That's an interesting bug! I wonder if naming other animals or even children after npcs makes you unable to interact with them.

 

[MsTiger08]

Okay, how to rename your pet? Savefile editing. That is the only way I know of. It's not that hard, but some may find it daunting. How to do so? I'll tell you...

1 - Most importantly, before going any further you should make sure to backup your savefile before you begin editing, just to make sure. (Make a copy in another folder.)
2 - Open your savefile (not the copy you made) in a text editor, and even Notepad will work for this.
3 - Do a search for your pet's name. In your case, Harvey. Since your pet's name matches an NPC, you'll want to make sure you have the right one. It should look like this: <NPC xsi:type="Cat"><name>Harvey</name>
4 - Change where it says Harvey to what you want your pet named.
5 - Save and exit.
6 - Open your save in Stardew and verify it worked.

Thank you very much! I am now able to interact with Dr. Harvey It was rather irritating as my char had plans to marry the Doctor!

 

[Aleesha]

I have this same issue on Switch with Elliott and my cat and I never made the connection! Thank you for helping me finally figure it out. I can't change my cat's name but at least I can still give (human) Elliott gifts.

 

[imnvs]

I have this same issue on Switch with Elliott and my cat and I never made the connection! Thank you for helping me finally figure it out. I can't change my cat's name but at least I can still give (human) Elliott gifts.

You should be able to edit your file to change your cat's name following the same steps I outlined above... unless you simply can't edit your save file.

 

[Aleesha]

You should be able to edit your file to change your cat's name following the same steps I outlined above... unless you simply can't edit your save file.

I'm on Switch, I can't edit saves.

 

[imnvs]

I'm on Switch, I can't edit saves.

Yeah, that's going to limit you. Sorry. At least you know not to name your pets after people in town the next time, though.

 

[Laissez_Faire_Farming]

I'm on Switch, I can't edit saves.

Did you complete the wizard quest?
Can you change your farmer's appearance?
If yes, try to change your cat's name.

 

[imnvs]

Can you change your farmer's appearance?
If yes, try to change your cat's name.

You can not change your pet's name in Raz's basement that way, sadly.

 

[Laissez_Faire_Farming]

You can not change your pet's name in Raz's basement that way, sadly.

I loaded my game to prove you wrong...
I can change my appearance and my farm's name...
It's impossible to change the name of the cat...
It turns out you are right...

 

[Laissez_Faire_Farming]

I'm on Switch, I can't edit saves.

I suggest you create a new thread and add the "Switch" category (red tag)). Someone else will assist you to fix your problem.

 

[Corvus]

That's an interesting bug! I wonder if naming other animals or even children after npcs makes you unable to interact with them.

Some months ago when I started my very first game, knowing zip about it, I named my character "Gus" figuring that would be unusual enough -- it wasn't. I only got up to the middle of Spring when the HD died, taking the save file with it but so far as I could tell it made no difference to NPC Gus. He was perfectly willing to sell me food.

 

[Geoman265]

Some months ago when I started my very first game, knowing zip about it, I named my character "Gus" figuring that would be unusual enough -- it wasn't. I only got up to the middle of Spring when the HD died, taking the save file with it but so far as I could tell it made no difference to NPC Gus. He was perfectly willing to sell me food.

I had named one of my characters George (on mobile, or maybe xbox, can't remember), and I also had no issues with the townsperson. Maybe it's only with pets?

 

[Ereo]

Fixed an issue where naming your pet the name of an NPC could have your pet appear on the calendar on that NPC’s birthday.

Maybe that bug fix in 1.4.3 didn't go far enough.