.esm, .esp, and .bsa files appear as documents and not executable files

[thellamaman99]

Hi, I'm a complete noob when it comes to modding, and I've recently started to mod up Skyrim on my Mac, which runs the game through Cider. I've been successful when installing meshes and mods whose .esp files show up as unix executable files, but for some reason, I have a hard time installing certain mods because they save .bsa, .esp, and .esm files as documents rather than unix executable files. I even save them to the data folder, and put the scripts in a folder of their own within data, but, alas, nothing seems to work. Can anyone help me understand why this happens?

 

The mods that I have been successful in installing so far are Grass on Steroids, Unarmed Warfare, and the Better Weapons mod. I am trying to get Footprints, Immersive Armors, Immersive Weapons, and Pure Waters. I also want SkyUI, but I CANNOT GET SKSE, so I don't think there's any chance of that happening. Thanks!

[bben46]

esm, esp and bsa are not executable files. Windows Executable files end in .exe .bat :blush:

 

There should be no reason to try to run them or click on them for any reason. bsa are Bethesda Software Archive. esp are Elder Scrolls Plugin files and ESM are Elder Scrolls Master files

 

Please remember that Skyrim was written for Windows and not Linux or OSX, so the file associations may be different.

 

As all mods are downloaded as compressed files ( zipped) All 3 of these should be unzipped and copied directly into the game data folder.

[DEATHROWW]

I've actually had a similar issue to the one above (and am also a noob when it comes to modding)... I manually download mods from nexus for my mac (El Capitan) Skyrim, however when they contain .esp, .esm or .bsa files within them, I cannot seem to get them working!? I followed various tutorials and placed a 'Plugins.txt' (I had to rename it to: Plugins.txt, because it automatically saved as just: Plugins) into the '%USERPROFILE%/Local Settings/Application Data/Skyrim' section as I was instructed. I've also gone through trying SKSE and creating a 'Skyrim Launcher' via Wine, but these haven't worked at all either. I know that I need a Skyrim Launcher to active mods through the 'data files', however, is there any other way? Am I doing something wrong with the layout of my Plugins.txt?

Here's a copy of my Plugins, if anyone could possibly help:

Skyrim.esm

TRO_BasicNeeds.esp

FAMP2.esp

Blacksmithforge water fix Vanilla.esp

Radiant and Unique Potions and Poisons v2.0.esp

isilNarsil.esp

iNeed.bsa

iNeed.esp

Dawnguard.esm

Dawnguard.bsa

KTIS.esp

GR123 Knights Templar.esp

Crimson Tide - Blood.esp

 

Anyway, if anyone could reply to help me, it would be great! Thanks.

[NexusComa]

"I cannot seem to get them working!? I followed various tutorials and placed a 'Plugins.txt' (I had to rename it to: Plugins.txt, because it automatically saved as just: Plugins)"

 

All files have a 3 letter extension, ALL of them ... You will have to turn on view file extensions from your folder/file options.

 

In your case here what happen is when you saved Plugins it did save it as Plugins.txt - However you are not seeing the extension with that option turned off.

So when you renamed it to Plugins.txt you really renamed it to Plugins.txt.txt - as the extension was always there.

Edited May 3, 2016 by NexusComa

[DEATHROWW]

Oh ok, so leaving it as Plugins is alright?

 

I don't understand what I could do though to 'activate' supposedly my mods?

Edited May 4, 2016 by DEATHROWW

[NexusComa]

I sorry DEATHROWW but you are no longer a common PC user ...

It's time for you to show extensions in the folder/file options.

Google how to do that if you have to.

Edited May 4, 2016 by NexusComa