Question about "Disable Plugin"

[HadToRegister]

Am I correct in understanding that the option to disable a plugin on the plugins tab, just disables the ESP but leaves the BSA, BA2 etc installed?

I ask, because there are some mods, that have you download other mods, to use them for their BA2, BSA, while having you disable the esp.
I just want to make sure that when I disable a plugin on the plugin tab, that I'm not disabling the entire mod.

[rmm200]

Speaking out of line here - you are correct.

For example, I always disable xpmse.esp. The skeleton still works fine.

You disable mods from the Mods tab. You disable esps and esms from the Plugins tab.

[Grestorn]

Remember that in most times, the .bsa is only loaded if the corresponding .esp is also loaded (by mechanics of the game itself!).

 

What remains active in any case, even if you disable a plugin, are the loose files that come with a mod.

[Tannin42]

Disabling a plugin just makes it not get listed in the plugins.txt file (or without a star in front of it for fallout 4 and later). Both the esp and bsa/ba2 are still installed but neither will get loaded because bsas only load if the corresponding esp is.

[Grestorn]

"...if the corresponding .esp is", you mean.

[Tannin42]

correct