Well, I'm a noob too, so I can only give the instructions as I understand them:

1. Insert a model in WED (Object | Add Model).
2. Double-click on the model in the Level list (on the left of the screen).
3. Select the "behaviour" tab (lower left of screen).
4. Specify a string for "String 1"
5. Specify a string for "String 2". This is needed (in my experience) or you can't access "String 1".

Then when you have access to that entity, you can retrieve "String 1" like this:

str_cpy(sEntityName, me.string1);

Again, if I don't set "String 2", then me.string1 will always be null.

Hope that helps...

Steve