Dazip files

[duckley]

I have downloaded the DAOmodmanager but it only accepts dazip files. I want to use several mods that are not Dazip. Is there anyway around this? The ones i want to use are the no Helmet Hack, Dreamy Alistair, More Hairstyles and pineapple vibrant colors.

 

Years ago (and two computers ago) I was able to use these but for some reason I can't get them to load

 

Any suggestion would be very welcome

[theskymoves]

Copy/paste of my response to the same question on the BSN board:

 

DAO-ModManager installs both DAzip and .override archives. While it can't install manual override mods, there's no reason to use a manager for those. Just decompress the downloaded archive, and add the files/folders to the override folder, as the Maker intended. (I've been playing and moding DAO for 10 years, and that's how I do it.)

Re the hairstyle mod not working, it sounds like a chargenmorphcfg.xml issue. Check your override for that file, and ascertain that there is only one file with that name.

If there is more than one instance, then you need to merge the files into a single, working XML (use CharGenMorph Compiler, from the Nexus).

If there is no chargenmorphcfg.xml at all, then reinstall your cosmetic mods, and run the compiler, if applicable.

• Installing cosmetic mods for Dragon Age

 

 

 

Again, there is no 'all in one' solution for installing DAO mods. There are three types of mods for the game, and each installs in a different way.

 

• DAzip mods > Proprietary Bioware archives, install with either daupdater, DAO-ModManager, or DAModder. DAModder is the least reliable of the three. If I were only installing one DAzip, as you indicate is your intent, I personally wouldn't bother with a manager (like DAO-ModMananger and DAModder); I'd just use DAupdater.
• .override mods > proprietary archives, sometimes configurable, install only with DAO-ModManager
• manual override mods > loose files, which 'override' base game files and those in DAzip mods. Install manually, by adding the files to game's override folder (<DRIVE LETTER>:\Users\<USERNAME>\Documents\BioWare\Dragon Age\packages\core\override). DAModder will install some manual override mods, but a manager is NOT needed for that kind of mod.

 

Cosmetic mods require the additional step of creating a merged/compiled chargenmorphcfg.xml file, enumerating assets from all those mods. (The XML is what tells the in-game character creator what assets are available.)

 

Install your DAzip(s) with either daupdater.exe or DAO-ModManager.

Unzip the downloaded archives for the character morph and cosmetic mods. Move (or copy/paste) the decompressed folders to the override folder location mentioned above. If the folder does not exist, run the game once, as far as entering the character creator, and exit the game, which will create the folder.

 

Download and install the ChargenMorph Compiler. Run it. It will make backups of the XMLs from the cosmetic mods, remove them from the override, and install a single merged XML containing information for all your cosmetic mods.

Edited July 7, 2021 by theskymoves