diff --git a/include/file.h b/include/file.h
index 46346470..073762e0 100644
--- a/include/file.h
+++ b/include/file.h
@@ -177,6 +177,7 @@ extern int ef_byname(char *);
 extern int ef_byname_from(char *, int *);
 extern void ef_init(void);
 extern int ef_verify(void);
+extern int ef_elt_byname(int, char *);
 
 extern struct empfile empfile[EF_MAX + 1];
 
diff --git a/include/nsc.h b/include/nsc.h
index fc20d0fa..dcecec1f 100644
--- a/include/nsc.h
+++ b/include/nsc.h
@@ -48,7 +48,6 @@ typedef enum {
     NSC_LONG,			/* long */
     NSC_DOUBLE,			/* double */
     NSC_STRING,			/* char *, zero-terminated string */
-    NSC_TYPEID,			/* signed char, index into chr table */
     /* unpromoted types */
     NSC_CHAR,			/* signed char */
     NSC_UCHAR,			/* unsigned char */
@@ -116,7 +115,7 @@ struct valstr {
 	    char *base;
 	    size_t maxsz;
 	} str;
-	long lng;		/* cat NSC_VAL, type NSC_LONG, NSC_TYPEID */
+	long lng;		/* cat NSC_VAL, type NSC_LONG */
     } val_as;
 };
 
diff --git a/src/lib/commands/xdump.c b/src/lib/commands/xdump.c
index ef9531ae..956260e2 100644
--- a/src/lib/commands/xdump.c
+++ b/src/lib/commands/xdump.c
@@ -112,7 +112,6 @@ xdprval(struct valstr *val, char *sep)
     unsigned char *s, *e, *l;
 
     switch (val->val_type) {
-    case NSC_TYPEID:
     case NSC_LONG:
 	pr("%s%ld", sep, val->val_as.lng);
 	break;
diff --git a/src/lib/common/ef_verify.c b/src/lib/common/ef_verify.c
index 6083a79e..41f5a54a 100644
--- a/src/lib/common/ef_verify.c
+++ b/src/lib/common/ef_verify.c
@@ -97,7 +97,7 @@ verify_row(int type, int row)
 	    val.val_as.sym.len = ca[i].ca_len;
 	    val.val_as.sym.idx = j;
 	    nstr_exec_val(&val, 0, row_ref, NSC_NOTYPE);
-	    if (val.val_type != NSC_LONG && val.val_type != NSC_TYPEID)
+	    if (val.val_type != NSC_LONG)
 		continue;
 	    ca_sym = ef_cadef(ca[i].ca_table);
 	    if (ca[i].ca_flags & NSC_BITS) {
diff --git a/src/lib/common/type.c b/src/lib/common/type.c
index 18b0310c..44f977d9 100644
--- a/src/lib/common/type.c
+++ b/src/lib/common/type.c
@@ -98,3 +98,53 @@ typematch(char *name, int type)
     }
     return M_NOTFOUND;
 }
+
+/*
+ * Search table TYPE for an element matching NAME, return its index.
+ * Return M_NOTFOUND if there are no matches, M_NOTUNIQUE if there are
+ * several.
+ */
+int
+ef_elt_byname(int type, char *name)
+{
+    switch (type) {
+    case EF_NATION:
+	return cnumb(name);
+    case EF_SECTOR_CHR:
+	return sct_typematch(name);
+    case EF_SHIP_CHR:
+	return stmtch(name, mchr,
+		      offsetof(struct mchrstr, m_name),
+		      sizeof(mchr[0]));
+    case EF_LAND_CHR:
+	return stmtch(name, lchr,
+		      offsetof(struct lchrstr, l_name),
+		      sizeof(lchr[0]));
+    case EF_PLANE_CHR:
+	return stmtch(name, plchr,
+		      offsetof(struct plchrstr, pl_name),
+		      sizeof(plchr[0]));
+    case EF_NUKE_CHR:
+	return stmtch(name, nchr,
+		      offsetof(struct nchrstr, n_name),
+		      sizeof(nchr[0]));
+    case EF_ITEM:
+	return stmtch(name, ichr,
+		      offsetof(struct ichrstr, i_name),
+		      sizeof(ichr[0]));
+    case EF_PRODUCT:
+	return stmtch(name, pchr + 1,
+		      offsetof(struct pchrstr, p_sname),
+		      sizeof(pchr[0]));
+    case EF_TABLE:
+	return stmtch(name, empfile,
+		      offsetof(struct empfile, name),
+		      sizeof(empfile[0]));
+    default:
+	if (ef_cadef(type) == symbol_ca)
+	    return stmtch(name, ef_ptr(type, 0),
+			  offsetof(struct symbol, name),
+			  sizeof(struct symbol));
+    }
+    return M_NOTFOUND;
+}
diff --git a/src/lib/common/xundump.c b/src/lib/common/xundump.c
index f0566af0..1f27f5b2 100644
--- a/src/lib/common/xundump.c
+++ b/src/lib/common/xundump.c
@@ -447,7 +447,6 @@ setnum(int fldno, double dbl)
 
     switch (ca->ca_type) {
     case NSC_CHAR:
-    case NSC_TYPEID:
 	old = ((signed char *)memb_ptr)[idx];
 	((signed char *)memb_ptr)[idx] = (signed char)dbl;
 	break;
diff --git a/src/lib/global/nsc.c b/src/lib/global/nsc.c
index 8287650a..f01147c2 100644
--- a/src/lib/global/nsc.c
+++ b/src/lib/global/nsc.c
@@ -123,7 +123,7 @@ struct castr sect_ca[] = {
     {NSC_NATID, 0, 0, fldoff(sctstr, sct_own), "owner", EF_NATION},
     {NSC_XCOORD, NSC_CONST, 0, fldoff(sctstr, sct_x), "xloc", EF_BAD},
     {NSC_YCOORD, NSC_CONST, 0, fldoff(sctstr, sct_y), "yloc", EF_BAD},
-    {NSC_TYPEID, 0, 0, fldoff(sctstr, sct_type), "des", EF_SECTOR_CHR},
+    {NSC_UCHAR, 0, 0, fldoff(sctstr, sct_type), "des", EF_SECTOR_CHR},
     {NSC_UCHAR, 0, 0, fldoff(sctstr, sct_effic), "effic", EF_BAD},
     {NSC_SHORT, 0, 0, fldoff(sctstr, sct_mobil), "mobil", EF_BAD},
     {NSC_UCHAR, NSC_DEITY, 0, fldoff(sctstr, sct_loyal), "loyal", EF_BAD},
@@ -137,7 +137,7 @@ struct castr sect_ca[] = {
     {NSC_SHORT, 0, 0, fldoff(sctstr, sct_avail), "avail", EF_BAD},
     {NSC_UCHAR, 0, 0, fldoff(sctstr, sct_work), "work", EF_BAD},
     {NSC_UCHAR, 0, 0, fldoff(sctstr, sct_coastal), "coastal", EF_BAD},
-    {NSC_TYPEID, 0, 0, fldoff(sctstr, sct_newtype), "newdes", EF_SECTOR_CHR},
+    {NSC_UCHAR, 0, 0, fldoff(sctstr, sct_newtype), "newdes", EF_SECTOR_CHR},
     {NSC_UCHAR, 0, 0, fldoff(sctstr, sct_min), "min", EF_BAD},
     {NSC_UCHAR, 0, 0, fldoff(sctstr, sct_gmin), "gold", EF_BAD},
     {NSC_UCHAR, 0, 0, fldoff(sctstr, sct_fertil), "fert", EF_BAD},
@@ -193,7 +193,7 @@ struct castr dchr_ca[] = {
 { NSC_NATID, 0, 0, fldoff(genitem, own), "owner", EF_NATION},		\
 { NSC_XCOORD, 0, 0, fldoff(genitem, x), "xloc", EF_BAD},		\
 { NSC_YCOORD, 0, 0, fldoff(genitem, y), "yloc", EF_BAD},		\
-{ NSC_TYPEID, 0, 0, fldoff(genitem, type), "type", ef_chr},		\
+{ NSC_CHAR, 0, 0, fldoff(genitem, type), "type", ef_chr},		\
 { NSC_CHAR, 0, 0, fldoff(genitem, effic), "effic", EF_BAD},		\
 { NSC_CHAR , 0, 0, fldoff(genitem, mobil), "mobil", EF_BAD},		\
 { NSC_UCHAR , 0, 0, fldoff(genitem, off), "off", EF_BAD},		\
diff --git a/src/lib/global/symbol.c b/src/lib/global/symbol.c
index 5a772c45..5c7ab5d0 100644
--- a/src/lib/global/symbol.c
+++ b/src/lib/global/symbol.c
@@ -86,7 +86,6 @@ struct symbol meta_type[]  = {
     {NSC_LONG, "d"},
     {NSC_DOUBLE, "g"},
     {NSC_STRING, "s"},
-    {NSC_TYPEID, "d"},
     {NSC_CHAR, "d"},
     {NSC_UCHAR, "d"},
     {NSC_SHORT, "d"},
diff --git a/src/lib/subs/nstr.c b/src/lib/subs/nstr.c
index f6dd88c1..5941a914 100644
--- a/src/lib/subs/nstr.c
+++ b/src/lib/subs/nstr.c
@@ -45,7 +45,7 @@
 
 static char *nstr_parse_val(char *, struct valstr *);
 static int nstr_match_ca(struct valstr *, struct castr *);
-static int nstr_match_val(struct valstr *, int, struct castr *, int);
+static int nstr_match_val(struct valstr *, struct castr *, int);
 static int nstr_string_ok(struct castr *ca, int idx);
 static struct valstr *nstr_resolve_sel(struct valstr *, struct castr *);
 static struct valstr *nstr_mkselval(struct valstr *, int, struct castr *);
@@ -106,8 +106,8 @@ nstr_comp(struct nscstr *np, int len, int type, char *str)
 	 * possible.  Example: n<n for sectors could mean newdes<n or
 	 * n<newdes.
 	 */
-	lft_val = nstr_match_val(&np->lft, type, ca, rgt_caidx);
-	rgt_val = nstr_match_val(&np->rgt, type, ca, lft_caidx);
+	lft_val = nstr_match_val(&np->lft, ca, rgt_caidx);
+	rgt_val = nstr_match_val(&np->rgt, ca, lft_caidx);
 	/*
 	 * if lft_val >= 0, then rhs names a selector and lhs names
 	 * one of its values.  Likewise for rgt_val.
@@ -142,13 +142,7 @@ nstr_comp(struct nscstr *np, int len, int type, char *str)
 	lft_type = nstr_promote(np->lft.val_type);
 	rgt_type = nstr_promote(np->rgt.val_type);
 	np->optype = NSC_NOTYPE;
-	if (lft_type == NSC_TYPEID) {
-	    if (!nstr_coerce_val(&np->rgt, NSC_TYPEID, str))
-		np->optype = NSC_TYPEID;
-	} else if (rgt_type == NSC_TYPEID) {
-	    if (!nstr_coerce_val(&np->lft, NSC_TYPEID, str))
-		np->optype = NSC_TYPEID;
-	} else if (lft_type == NSC_STRING) {
+	if (lft_type == NSC_STRING) {
 	    if (!nstr_coerce_val(&np->rgt, NSC_STRING, str))
 		np->optype = NSC_STRING;
 	} else if (rgt_type == NSC_STRING) {
@@ -227,7 +221,6 @@ nstr_exec(struct nscstr *np, int ncond, void *ptr)
 	rgt = np[i].rgt;
 	nstr_exec_val(&rgt, player->cnum, ptr, optype);
 	switch (optype) {
-	case NSC_TYPEID:
 	case NSC_LONG:
 	    if (!EVAL(op, lft.val_as.lng, rgt.val_as.lng))
 		return 0;
@@ -254,7 +247,8 @@ nstr_exec(struct nscstr *np, int ncond, void *ptr)
 /*
  * Parse a value in STR into VAL.
  * Return a pointer to the first character after the value.
- * Value is either evaluated (but not NSC_TYPEID) or an identifier.
+ * Value is either evaluated into NSC_STRING, NSC_DOUBLE or NSC_LONG,
+ * or an identifier.
  */
 static char *
 nstr_parse_val(char *str, struct valstr *val)
@@ -272,6 +266,7 @@ nstr_parse_val(char *str, struct valstr *val)
 	val->val_as.str.base = str + 1;
 	val->val_as.str.maxsz = tail - (str + 1);
 	if (*tail) ++tail;
+	/* FIXME else unclosed string */
 	return tail;
     }
 
@@ -337,31 +332,28 @@ nstr_match_ca(struct valstr *val, struct castr *ca)
 
 /*
  * Match VAL in a selector's values, return its (non-negative) value.
- * TYPE is the context type, a file type.
- * CA is ef_cadef(TYPE).  If it is null, then IDX must be negative.
  * Match values of selector descriptor CA[IDX], provided IDX is not
- * negative.
+ * negative.  CA may be null when IDX is negative.
  * Return M_NOTFOUND if there are no matches, M_NOTUNIQUE if there are
  * several.
- * TODO: This is just a stub and works only for NSC_TYPEID.
- * Generalize: give struct castr enough info to find values, remove
- * parameter `type'.
  */
 static int
-nstr_match_val(struct valstr *val, int type, struct castr *ca, int idx)
+nstr_match_val(struct valstr *val, struct castr *ca, int idx)
 {
     char id[32];
 
     if (val->val_cat != NSC_ID || val->val_as.str.maxsz >= sizeof(id))
 	return M_NOTFOUND;
 
-    if (idx < 0 || ca[idx].ca_type != NSC_TYPEID)
+    if (idx < 0 || ca[idx].ca_table == EF_BAD)
+	return M_NOTFOUND;
+    if (CANT_HAPPEN(nstr_promote(ca[idx].ca_type) != NSC_LONG))
 	return M_NOTFOUND;
 
     memcpy(id, val->val_as.str.base, val->val_as.str.maxsz);
     id[val->val_as.str.maxsz] = 0;
 
-    return typematch(id, type);
+    return ef_elt_byname(ca[idx].ca_table, id);
 }
 
 /*
@@ -452,7 +444,8 @@ nstr_resolve_sel(struct valstr *val, struct castr *ca)
 static struct valstr *
 nstr_mkselval(struct valstr *val, int selval, struct castr *ca)
 {
-    if (CANT_HAPPEN(ca->ca_type != NSC_TYPEID)) {
+    if (CANT_HAPPEN(nstr_promote(ca->ca_type) != NSC_LONG
+		    || ca->ca_table == EF_BAD)) {
 	val->val_type = NSC_NOTYPE;
 	val->val_cat = NSC_NOCAT;
 	return val;
@@ -487,18 +480,15 @@ nstr_comp_val(char *str, struct valstr *val, int type)
  * Promote VALTYPE.
  * If VALTYPE is an integer type, return NSC_LONG.
  * If VALTYPE is a floating-point type, return NSC_DOUBLE.
- * If VALTYPE is NSC_STRINGY, return NSC_STRING.
- * If VALTYPE is NSC_NOTYPE, NSC_STRING or NSC_TYPEID, return VALTYPE.
+ * If VALTYPE is a string type, return NSC_STRING.
  */
 static int
 nstr_promote(int valtype)
 {
     switch (valtype) {
-    case NSC_NOTYPE:
     case NSC_LONG:
     case NSC_DOUBLE:
     case NSC_STRING:
-    case NSC_TYPEID:
 	break;
     case NSC_CHAR:
     case NSC_UCHAR:
@@ -550,8 +540,6 @@ nstr_coerce_val(struct valstr *val, nsc_type to, char *str)
 
     if (from != to) {
 	switch (to) {
-	case NSC_TYPEID:
-	    return cond_type_mismatch(str);
 	case NSC_STRING:
 	    return cond_type_mismatch(str); /* FIXME implement */
 	case NSC_DOUBLE:
@@ -667,10 +655,6 @@ nstr_exec_val(struct valstr *val, natid cnum, void *ptr, nsc_type want)
 	case NSC_TIME:
 	    val->val_as.lng = ((time_t *)memb_ptr)[idx];
 	    break;
-	case NSC_TYPEID:
-	    val->val_as.lng = ((signed char *)memb_ptr)[idx];
-	    valtype = NSC_TYPEID;
-	    break;
 	default:
 	    CANT_REACH();
 	    val->val_as.lng = 0;
@@ -691,7 +675,6 @@ nstr_exec_val(struct valstr *val, natid cnum, void *ptr, nsc_type want)
     if (CANT_HAPPEN(valtype != want && want != NSC_NOTYPE)) {
 	valtype = want;
 	switch (want) {
-	case NSC_TYPEID:
 	case NSC_LONG: val->val_as.lng = 0; break;
 	case NSC_DOUBLE: val->val_as.dbl = 0.0; break;
 	case NSC_STRING: val->val_as.str.base = NULL; break;