Issues with filepath targeting (tl;dr at bottom)

[x0jackie0x]

This involves a custom follower mod and the issues I am having with certain file paths and such involved within.

 

Initially, while I was making my mod, I had a pretty simple setup: Textures went under 'C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\Skyrim\Data\textures\actors\character\charactername' with each group (body/hair/etc) having their own sub-folders. Meshes went in 'C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\Skyrim\Data\meshes\actors\character\charactername', also with their respective sub-folders. Everything was targeted correctly and my mod worked wonderfully.

 

Transferred it to my gf's computer through Discord as a .rar and asked her to try it out. Manually installing it, there was little issue, but it brought to light that installing it this way may not be successful for everyone. So, I tried to install it via NMM. I left the file paths intact. When I loaded it into NMM (as a .rar), there was no issue in the manager itself. However, I found that my texture folder and mesh folder did not target correctly, as both were installed directly into the \data folder. Tried it out on my computer with the same result. I also tried to re-target my textures and meshes within CK to fit there, but they came up with an 'invalid directory' error.

 

SO, with some head scratching and a few choice expletives, I uninstalled the mod, modified the file paths for my texture and mesh folders (not the files), renamed them to not get them confused and, reinstalled and tried it again. I figured it would work, since I have several follower mods, with each of them downloaded and installed through NMM, that have found homes in several different folders. (for example, one of my follower mods was installed into the \data folder, while some reside in \actors and others reside in \character. I didn't choose these for them. : P )

 

HOWEVER, after reinstalling, I found them in my virtual install folder. Tried re-targeting my textures and meshes in CK, but once again, I got the 'invalid directory' error. Kinda stuck now. NMM has a filepath set to the virtual install folder, which is how it was advised to be installed. Hella confused.

 

So, the questions: How do I target my file paths correctly and consistently so that I can use this in NMM without it screwing up for everyone? Why do my file paths keep changing every time I change the structure of my mod's basic folders? Why does CK not allow certain file paths to be used?

 

TL;DR: Please help, my file paths keep changing when I load my mod into NMM and I don't know why.