Talk:How To Prep Mod Files Using TES4Files
Created by: LHammonds
Date Last Modified: 01:29, 28 July 2007 (EDT)
Last Modified by: LHammonds
Regarding changes to article by MentalElf
I do not agree with the changes made by MentalElf concerning how mods should be packaged. It is my belief that all mods should be packaged so they can be extracted to Oblivion's Data folder since that is where all mod content should reside. Too many authors create files that overwrite files in Oblivion's directory such as "readme.txt" and I don't think any mod files should be placed in the same folder where the .exe files reside. It's a bad practice.
I also do not agree that readme files should be named exactly like the .esp file just because TES4Files cannot pick something named "MyMod Readme.txt" because the vast majority of players do not use TES4Files. They use other tools such as Oblivion Mod Manager which can automatically identify and import the correct text file as the "readme" if the file has the word "readme" such as "MyMod Readme.txt"
I also corrected a typo that existed since the original "MyMod\MyMod" --> "MyMod"
--LHammonds 23:52, 30 July 2007 (EDT)
Regarding above comments
The location of the files in the archive does not affect where the files are unarchived to. No files are created in the area the exe resides in. It's simply easier with an archiver to specify "/Data" subdirectory rather than everthing in the /Data subdirectory. Where I would deviate from this practice is where the user has used TES4Files to create a BSA, in which case the archive should consist of an esp file, a readme text file, and the bsa file. Regarding creating BSA type files, it is important the user use the "ADD ON" feature to enable content unseen by TES4Files to be included in the BSA.
--MentalElf 04:03, 1 August 2007 (EDT)
Data Subdirectory
I have seen several mods (even very recent ones) where they are packaged incorrectly and apparently seem confused about the "Data" folder inside the archive. Example:
\Data\Meshes\*
\Data\Textures\*
\MyMod.esp
\MyMod Readme.txt
If this archive was extracted directly to the Oblivion folder or Oblivion's Data folder, it would not work and would require manually moving files around...basically restructuring how the archive should have been created in the first place. There is no reason to have "Data" as a subfolder anywhere in a mod archive...barring those extremely rare mods are supposed to modify files in the Oblivion folder. People get confused if they are presented with extra options that are not necessary...that is, after all, how tests are designed to fail people. hehehe.
--LHammonds 06:27, 1 August 2007 (EDT)
As far as I know, am concerned, having /Data in the archive paths is the norm, most people don't know the /Data subdirectory is where the stuff ends up. Hence, unarchive to /Oblivion is correct.
--MentalElf 11:22, 1 August 2007 (EDT)
I prefer not having everything in the /Data directory, because that allows me to see the contents of a mod directly after opening an archive. I also think it's best to standardize these things and most mods already have to be unpacked inside the Data directory. Plugin only mods usually only have a plugin file and a readme, putting that in a Data folder will make things more complicated.
Off-topic: I like the layout of the talk page LHammonds, it's a lot better than indentation.
--Qazaaq 17:58, 1 August 2007 (EDT)
Regarding Layout of Talk Page
Thanks, maybe that's because I don't know what I'm doing and haven't actually seen other talk pages. I just looked for a horizontal line (found in toolbar!) and did what was recommended on the wikihelp reference card by using the 4 tilde characters to sign at the end. The rest is in the middle. I don't know how to do any other way so if I'm outta line, please educate me. I'm new to wiki-speak.
--LHammonds 18:07, 1 August 2007 (EDT)