How Do You Package Your Mods for Upload?

[David Brasher]

I used to use TES4Files to gather up all my meshes, textures, and sounds before compressing with 7zip, and uploading a file. Lately it is not working right.

 

What program do most people use to package their meshes and textures?

 

Do people do it manually?

 

What method should I be using if I want to be efficient and up-to-date?

[dezdimona]

I've always used Zip files

[Pronam]

rar! (changed it.), manual.

 

I used 7zip for it before but got back to winrar.

[RGMage2]

I do it all manually. I create a new folder on my desktop and re-create the mod's file structure within the new folder. When I copy a folder from my mod to the new folder, I change the name of the old folder, adding an "x" to the end of the name, making it unusable. When I've copied everything to the new folder, including the esp, I add an "x" to the end of the old esp. "MyMod.espx". So everything is still there if I need it, but it is essentially uninstalled.

 

Then I pack it up with 7zip. Then I unpack it as if I had just downloaded it. I install it and test it. If everything is OK then I will upload it. I don't care about being efficient and up-to-date. :dry: I care that everything works the way it is supposed to. :geek:

 

It may sound like a lot of work doing it manually, but it's really not. If you are consistent in the way you set up your mods it makes it easier to find everything. What I mean by that is that I have an RGMs folder in every category, and all my stuff is in the RGMs folders.

 

meshes\Armor\RGMs\modname

textures\Armor\RGMs\modname

textures\menus\icons\RGMs\modname

 

As long as I stick to that file structure it makes everything easy. I didn't always do it this way, but I've learned from my mistakes.

 

I don't bother with omods or bain. I upload it in the exact format that I use it in. I think that is the fairest thing I can do, even though some people wont like it. :cool:

[Sultericdrums]

I've always used TES4Files for my mods and make sure it's just the Data folder so it's an easy install. I use WinRAR exclusively as it's far superior to WinZip.

 

I've never done OMODs and won't. It's an extra step and my companion mods aren't complicated. Well, perhaps Viconia's Return to the Underdark and The Vampire Hunter are but they require another mod (The Underdark) and if you read the ReadMe it goes into excruciating detail on how to install that and how to sort your load order.

[documn]

Manual, 7-zip.

[Nexus Set]

Wrye Bash, package for release feature. But then again, I haven't released anything for public use yet.

[Khettienna]

Like RGMage2, I also separate everything out into a new folder. Then I create a .7z archive of that folder and an omod, and test both by installing them clean back into my game. If all goes well, both get uploaded.

 

Testing your uploads this way can prevent a lot of errors, I have learned from experience. :)

[myrmaad]

I used to do it like RGMage2 described as well, but after I discovered how wonderfully TES4Files manages and documents the process, I have never looked back.

 

 

I wonder why it stopped working, David, maybe we could figure that out? Sometimes you have to unpack those jar files, I've been able to help several people get it working that way, and double check your links. And check your version of Java, of course.

 

 

Once I've got the folder package ready I zip it up with 7z.

[Vagrant0]

Lately, I've found the best way is to just create a duplicate directory structure of the data folder somewhere else, copy over items used by the mod, and just stick it all in a rar or omod. Not only does this also save you some time when it comes to having to do updates or alternate builds, but also serves as a sort of soft backup incase your data folder gets polluted by some bad mods. It's still largely manual, but since most already know how the data structure is supposed to look, you don't make as many mistakes when it comes to folder hierarchy (as opposed to trying to build the structure in winrar).