diff --git a/stepmania/src/Actor.cpp b/stepmania/src/Actor.cpp
index fb8f6a3dbd..d99794ac59 100644
--- a/stepmania/src/Actor.cpp
+++ b/stepmania/src/Actor.cpp
@@ -218,7 +218,7 @@ void Actor::LoadFromNode( const RString& sDir, const XNode* pNode )
 			/* If parameters are specified here, save their values to the actor. */
 			RString sName;
 			if( !pChild->GetAttrValue( "Name", sName ) )
-				RageException::Throw( "Input node in \"%s\" is missing the attribute \"Name\".", sDir.c_str() );
+				RageException::Throw( "%s: Input: missing the attribute \"Name\"", ActorUtil::GetWhere(pNode).c_str() );
 
 			bool bOptional = false;
 			pChild->GetAttrValue( "Optional", bOptional );
@@ -228,7 +228,7 @@ void Actor::LoadFromNode( const RString& sDir, const XNode* pNode )
 			ActorUtil::GetParam( L, sName );
 
 			if( lua_isnil(L, -1) && !bOptional )
-				RageException::Throw( "Actor in \"%s\" requires parameter \"%s\" that is not set.", sDir.c_str(), sName.c_str() );
+				RageException::Throw( "%s: Actor requires parameter \"%s\" that is not set", ActorUtil::GetWhere(pNode).c_str(), sName.c_str() );
 
 			lua_settable( L, -3 );
 			lua_pop( L, 1 );
@@ -238,13 +238,13 @@ void Actor::LoadFromNode( const RString& sDir, const XNode* pNode )
 		{
 			RString sName;
 			if( !pChild->GetAttrValue( "Name", sName ) )
-				Dialog::OK( ssprintf("Context node in '%s' is missing the attribute \"Name\"", sDir.c_str()), "MISSING_ATTRIBUTE" );
+				Dialog::OK( ssprintf("Context node in '%s' is missing the attribute \"Name\"", ActorUtil::GetWhere(pNode).c_str()), "MISSING_ATTRIBUTE" );
 
 			this->PushContext(L);
 			lua_pushstring( L, sName );
 
 			if( !pChild->PushAttrValue( L, "Value" ) )
-				Dialog::OK( ssprintf("Context node in '%s' is missing the attribute \"Value\"", sDir.c_str()), "MISSING_ATTRIBUTE" );
+				Dialog::OK( ssprintf("Context node in '%s' is missing the attribute \"Value\"", ActorUtil::GetWhere(pNode).c_str()), "MISSING_ATTRIBUTE" );
 
 			lua_settable( L, -3 );
 			lua_pop( L, 1 );
diff --git a/stepmania/src/BitmapText.cpp b/stepmania/src/BitmapText.cpp
index 3d5f3946ac..93ebafb7e6 100644
--- a/stepmania/src/BitmapText.cpp
+++ b/stepmania/src/BitmapText.cpp
@@ -111,8 +111,8 @@ void BitmapText::LoadFromNode( const RString& sDir, const XNode* pNode )
 		pNode->GetAttrValue( "File", sFont );	// accept "File" for backward compatibility
 
 	if( sFont == "" )
-		RageException::Throw( "An object \"%s\" in \"%s\" is missing the Font attribute.",
-				      pNode->GetName().c_str(), sDir.c_str() );
+		RageException::Throw( "%s: BitmapText: missing the Font attribute",
+				      ActorUtil::GetWhere(pNode).c_str() );
 
 	LoadFromFont( THEME->GetPathF( "", sFont ) );
 	SetText( sText, sAltText );
diff --git a/stepmania/src/ComboGraph.cpp b/stepmania/src/ComboGraph.cpp
index b2cbe0bdef..4ef8c60f8f 100644
--- a/stepmania/src/ComboGraph.cpp
+++ b/stepmania/src/ComboGraph.cpp
@@ -25,17 +25,17 @@ void ComboGraph::LoadFromNode( const RString& sDir, const XNode* pNode )
 
 	m_pMaxComboText = (BitmapText *) this->GetChild( "MaxComboText" );
 	if( m_pMaxComboText == NULL )
-		RageException::Throw( "ComboGraph in \"%s\" must have a child named \"MaxComboText\".", sDir.c_str() );
+		RageException::Throw( "%s: ComboGraph: must have a child named \"MaxComboText\"", ActorUtil::GetWhere(pNode).c_str() );
 	if( !m_pMaxComboText->IsType("BitmapText") )
-		RageException::Throw( "ComboGraph in \"%s\" has a child named \"MaxComboText\" that is not a BitmapText.", sDir.c_str() );
+		RageException::Throw( "%s: ComboGraph: \"MaxComboText\" child is not a BitmapText", ActorUtil::GetWhere(pNode).c_str() );
 
 	m_pNormalCombo = this->GetChild( "NormalCombo" );
 	if( m_pNormalCombo == NULL )
-		RageException::Throw( "ComboGraph in \"%s\" must have a child named \"NormalCombo\".", sDir.c_str() );
+		RageException::Throw( "%s: ComboGraph: must have a child named \"NormalCombo\"", ActorUtil::GetWhere(pNode).c_str() );
 
 	m_pMaxCombo = this->GetChild( "MaxCombo" );
 	if( m_pMaxCombo == NULL )
-		RageException::Throw( "ComboGraph in \"%s\" must have a child named \"MaxCombo\".", sDir.c_str() );
+		RageException::Throw( "%s: ComboGraph: must have a child named \"MaxCombo\"", ActorUtil::GetWhere(pNode).c_str() );
 }
 
 void ComboGraph::Load( const StageStats &s, const PlayerStageStats &pss )
diff --git a/stepmania/src/DifficultyIcon.cpp b/stepmania/src/DifficultyIcon.cpp
index 36b4592a05..6cc3d0166b 100644
--- a/stepmania/src/DifficultyIcon.cpp
+++ b/stepmania/src/DifficultyIcon.cpp
@@ -45,7 +45,7 @@ void DifficultyIcon::LoadFromNode( const RString& sDir, const XNode* pNode )
 {
 	RString sFile;
 	if( !ActorUtil::GetAttrPath(pNode, "File", sFile) )
-		RageException::Throw( "MeterDisplay in \"%s\" missing \"File\" attribute.", sDir.c_str() );
+		RageException::Throw( "%s: DifficultyIcon: missing the \"File\" attribute.", ActorUtil::GetWhere(pNode).c_str() );
 
 	ActorUtil::ResolvePath( sFile, sDir );
 
diff --git a/stepmania/src/DifficultyList.cpp b/stepmania/src/DifficultyList.cpp
index 1d4c1cd9fd..e4597b22b1 100644
--- a/stepmania/src/DifficultyList.cpp
+++ b/stepmania/src/DifficultyList.cpp
@@ -44,7 +44,7 @@ void DifficultyList::LoadFromNode( const RString& sDir, const XNode* pNode )
 	{
 		const XNode *pChild = pNode->GetChild( ssprintf("CursorP%i",pn+1) );
 		if( pChild == NULL )
-			RageException::Throw( "ComboGraph in \"%s\" is missing the node \"CursorP%d\".", sDir.c_str(), pn+1 );
+			RageException::Throw( "%s: ComboGraph: missing the node \"CursorP%d\"", ActorUtil::GetWhere(pNode).c_str(), pn+1 );
 		m_Cursors[pn].LoadFromNode( sDir, pChild );
 
 		/* Hack: we need to tween cursors both up to down (cursor motion) and visible to
@@ -55,7 +55,7 @@ void DifficultyList::LoadFromNode( const RString& sDir, const XNode* pNode )
 		 * colors; I think we do need a diffuse color stack ... */
 		pChild = pNode->GetChild( ssprintf("CursorP%iFrame",pn+1) );
 		if( pChild == NULL )
-			RageException::Throw( "ComboGraph in \"%s\" is missing the node \"CursorP%dFrame\".", sDir.c_str(), pn+1 );
+			RageException::Throw( "%s: ComboGraph: missing the node \"CursorP%dFrame\"", ActorUtil::GetWhere(pNode).c_str(), pn+1 );
 		m_CursorFrames[pn].LoadFromNode( sDir, pChild );
 		m_CursorFrames[pn].AddChild( m_Cursors[pn] );
 		this->AddChild( &m_CursorFrames[pn] );
diff --git a/stepmania/src/DynamicActorScroller.cpp b/stepmania/src/DynamicActorScroller.cpp
index a189522e5e..b691cbad25 100644
--- a/stepmania/src/DynamicActorScroller.cpp
+++ b/stepmania/src/DynamicActorScroller.cpp
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ void DynamicActorScroller::LoadFromNode( const RString &sDir, const XNode *pNode
 	 * Make one extra copy if masking is enabled.
 	 */
 	if( m_SubActors.size() != 1 )
-		RageException::Throw( "DynamicActorScroller in \"%s\" loaded %i nodes; require exactly one.", sDir.c_str(), (int)m_SubActors.size() );
+		RageException::Throw( "%s: DynamicActorScroller: loaded %i nodes; require exactly one", ActorUtil::GetWhere(pNode).c_str(), (int)m_SubActors.size() );
 
 	int iNumCopies = (int) m_fNumItemsToDraw;
 	if( !m_quadMask.GetHidden() )
diff --git a/stepmania/src/GraphDisplay.cpp b/stepmania/src/GraphDisplay.cpp
index 30d022aed1..f6481489c7 100644
--- a/stepmania/src/GraphDisplay.cpp
+++ b/stepmania/src/GraphDisplay.cpp
@@ -157,13 +157,13 @@ void GraphDisplay::LoadFromNode( const RString& sDir, const XNode* pNode )
 
 	const XNode *pChild = pNode->GetChild( "Body" );
 	if( pChild == NULL )
-		RageException::Throw( "ComboGraph in \"%s\" is missing the node \"Body\".", sDir.c_str() );
+		RageException::Throw( "%s: ComboGraph: missing the node \"Body\"", ActorUtil::GetWhere(pNode).c_str() );
 	m_pGraphBody->LoadFromNode( sDir, pChild );
 	this->AddChild( m_pGraphBody );
 
 	pChild = pNode->GetChild( "Texture" );
 	if( pChild == NULL )
-		RageException::Throw( "ComboGraph in \"%s\" is missing the node \"Texture\".", sDir.c_str() );
+		RageException::Throw( "%s: ComboGraph: missing the node \"Texture\"", ActorUtil::GetWhere(pNode).c_str() );
 	m_sprTexture.LoadFromNode( sDir, pChild );
 	m_size.x = m_sprTexture->GetUnzoomedWidth();
 	m_size.y = m_sprTexture->GetUnzoomedHeight();
@@ -171,18 +171,18 @@ void GraphDisplay::LoadFromNode( const RString& sDir, const XNode* pNode )
 
 	pChild = pNode->GetChild( "Line" );
 	if( pChild == NULL )
-		RageException::Throw( "ComboGraph in \"%s\" is missing the node \"Line\".", sDir.c_str() );
+		RageException::Throw( "%s: ComboGraph: missing the node \"Line\"", ActorUtil::GetWhere(pNode).c_str() );
 	m_pGraphLine->LoadFromNode( sDir, pChild );
 	this->AddChild( m_pGraphLine );
 
 	pChild = pNode->GetChild( "SongBoundary" );
 	if( pChild == NULL )
-		RageException::Throw( "ComboGraph in \"%s\" is missing the node \"SongBoundary\".", sDir.c_str() );
+		RageException::Throw( "%s: ComboGraph: missing the node \"SongBoundary\"", ActorUtil::GetWhere(pNode).c_str() );
 	m_sprSongBoundary.LoadFromNode( sDir, pChild );
 
 	pChild = pNode->GetChild( "Barely" );
 	if( pChild == NULL )
-		RageException::Throw( "ComboGraph in \"%s\" is missing the node \"Barely\".", sDir.c_str() );
+		RageException::Throw( "%s: ComboGraph: missing the node \"Barely\"", ActorUtil::GetWhere(pNode).c_str() );
 	m_sprJustBarely.LoadFromNode( sDir, pChild );
 }
 
diff --git a/stepmania/src/HoldJudgment.cpp b/stepmania/src/HoldJudgment.cpp
index 9835311e10..d611db0333 100644
--- a/stepmania/src/HoldJudgment.cpp
+++ b/stepmania/src/HoldJudgment.cpp
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ void HoldJudgment::LoadFromNode( const RString& sDir, const XNode* pNode )
 {
 	RString sFile;
 	if( ActorUtil::GetAttrPath(pNode, "File", sFile) )
-		RageException::Throw( "HoldJudgment node in \"%s\" is missing the attribute \"File\"", sDir.c_str() );
+		RageException::Throw( "%s: HoldJudgment: missing the attribute \"File\"", ActorUtil::GetWhere(pNode).c_str() );
 
 	CollapsePath( sFile );
 
diff --git a/stepmania/src/MeterDisplay.cpp b/stepmania/src/MeterDisplay.cpp
index ecc79b3cdf..d9c81102c0 100644
--- a/stepmania/src/MeterDisplay.cpp
+++ b/stepmania/src/MeterDisplay.cpp
@@ -31,17 +31,16 @@ void MeterDisplay::Load( RString sStreamPath, float fStreamWidth, RString sTipPa
 
 void MeterDisplay::LoadFromNode( const RString& sDir, const XNode* pNode )
 {
-	LOG->Trace( "MeterDisplay::LoadFromNode(%s,node)", sDir.c_str() );
+	LOG->Trace( "MeterDisplay::LoadFromNode(%s,node)", ActorUtil::GetWhere(pNode).c_str() );
 
 	RString sExpr;
 	if( !pNode->GetAttrValue( "StreamWidth", sExpr ) )
-		RageException::Throw( "MeterDisplay in \"%s\" is missing the \"StreamWidth\" attribute.", sDir.c_str() );
-	m_fStreamWidth = LuaHelpers::RunExpressionF( sExpr );
+		RageException::Throw( "%s: MeterDisplay: missing the \"StreamWidth\" attribute", ActorUtil::GetWhere(pNode).c_str() );
 
 	{
 		RString sStreamPath;
 		if( !ActorUtil::GetAttrPath(pNode, "StreamPath", sStreamPath) )
-			RageException::Throw( "MeterDisplay in \"%s\" is missing the \"StreamPath\" attribute.", sDir.c_str() );
+			RageException::Throw( "%s: MeterDisplay: missing the \"StreamPath\" attribute", ActorUtil::GetWhere(pNode).c_str() );
 
 		ActorUtil::ResolvePath( sStreamPath, sDir );
 
diff --git a/stepmania/src/PercentageDisplay.cpp b/stepmania/src/PercentageDisplay.cpp
index ac0568404c..3afc421ff4 100644
--- a/stepmania/src/PercentageDisplay.cpp
+++ b/stepmania/src/PercentageDisplay.cpp
@@ -38,7 +38,7 @@ void PercentageDisplay::LoadFromNode( const RString& sDir, const XNode* pNode )
 
 	const XNode *pChild = pNode->GetChild( "Percent" );
 	if( pChild == NULL )
-		RageException::Throw( "PercentageDisplay in \"%s\" is missing the node \"Percent\".", sDir.c_str() );
+		RageException::Throw( "%s: PercentageDisplay: missing the node \"Percent\"", ActorUtil::GetWhere(pNode).c_str() );
 	m_textPercent.LoadFromNode( sDir, pChild );
 	this->AddChild( &m_textPercent );
 
@@ -46,7 +46,7 @@ void PercentageDisplay::LoadFromNode( const RString& sDir, const XNode* pNode )
 	{
 		const XNode *pChild = pNode->GetChild( "PercentRemainder" );
 		if( pChild == NULL )
-			RageException::Throw( "ComboGraph in \"%s\" is missing the node \"PercentRemainder\".", sDir.c_str() );
+			RageException::Throw( "%s: ComboGraph: missing the node \"PercentRemainder\"", ActorUtil::GetWhere(pNode).c_str() );
 		m_textPercentRemainder.LoadFromNode( sDir, pChild );
 		this->AddChild( &m_textPercentRemainder );
 	}
diff --git a/stepmania/src/Sprite.cpp b/stepmania/src/Sprite.cpp
index 68d72a8d3c..c56588b322 100644
--- a/stepmania/src/Sprite.cpp
+++ b/stepmania/src/Sprite.cpp
@@ -133,8 +133,8 @@ void Sprite::LoadFromNode( const RString& sDir, const XNode* pNode )
 			if( !pNode->GetAttrValue(sFrameKey, newState.iFrameIndex) )
 				break;
 			if( newState.iFrameIndex >= m_pTexture->GetNumFrames() )
-				RageException::Throw( "In \"%s\", %s is %d, but the texture \"%s\" only has %d frames.",
-					sDir.c_str(), sFrameKey.c_str(), newState.iFrameIndex, sPath.c_str(), m_pTexture->GetNumFrames() );
+				RageException::Throw( "%s: %s is %d, but the texture \"%s\" only has %d frames",
+					ActorUtil::GetWhere(pNode).c_str(), sFrameKey.c_str(), newState.iFrameIndex, sPath.c_str(), m_pTexture->GetNumFrames() );
 
 			if( !pNode->GetAttrValue(sDelayKey, newState.fDelay) )
 				break;