Using the override directory - subdirectories?

[SkullKnight]

Alright, Im new to installing mods on DAO, and Im wondering about how the override directory works exactly. The game seems to be able to tell which files you want to override simply based on the name of the file in the directory. I also noticed that some mods use subdirectories within the override directory to store their files.

 

Is it safe for me to create a new folder under the override directory for each mod I install? Is the path of a file being overridden irrelevant? This would make installation and uninstallation a lot easier for me because I could quickly tell which files belong to what mod. But, is this likely to cause any problems? (i.e. files with same name in 2 different directories)

 

EDIT: Another question, if there is a conflict between .dazip files, DAO-Modmanager overrides, and override directory files, which files win the conflict?

[DarkeWolf]

For the first question, yes... subdirectories are fine. BUT... the game will only look THREE folders down from the override folder.

EX1- Override/folder/subfolder/subfolder. This would be fine.

EX2- Override/folder/subfolder/subfolder/subfolder/subfolder/ This wouldnt work. The game would not read the two folders or their contents, that I've got highlighted in red.

 

As for the second question... I'm not sure. And I dont wanna give you erronous info by guessing.

[nezroy]

Override files will win over .dazip files. I don't know where DAO-Modmanager puts its files specifically so I can't say regarding that one.

[DarkeWolf]

DaM and DaMM both install a lot of files to the documents/bioware/dragon age/ addins folder. And some to the documents/bioware/dragon age/packages/core/override folder. Possibly elsewhere as well.

[SkullKnight]

Alright, I just made a single subdirectory for each mod, and it seems to work fine. Im gonna go ahead and install some more mods like that. It might take a while before I can test them though, as I already started a quest that doesnt let you take a break until you finish :S. I might report back later on what happens if you have 2 of the same file in different folders.

 

EDIT: Ok, the files in the override directory are loaded alphabetically by folder, and files that load later override files that load earlier.

 

EDIT2: Apparently DAO-Modmanager is installing the mod files in my personal directory, while Ive been installing my mods to the game's install directory. Is there any difference?

[DarkeWolf]

I was kinda thinking that it loaded them alphabetically, but wasnt sure. MUCH thanks for the confirmation! :thumbsup:

And its good to know that the last files that load will be the ones that the game uses. I was thinking the opposite on that, that it uses the first one it loads and ignores the last one. I'll try to remember that!

 

For mods, you want to install the files into the personal directory (documents or my documents folder) (the name varies by version of windows).

 

Edit- kudos for the information! :smile:

[SkullKnight]

Mods seem to work when installed in either directory. Im guessing that mods in my personal directory only apply to me, while those in the install directory apply to all users of the computer. Either way, Im the only user of this computer who plays the game lol.

 

Yeah, adjusting the mods' "load order" with folder names might help resolve some conflicts by choosing which files should take precedence, as there doesnt seem to be a mod-handling utility that handles those situations. It seems that dazips will always load first unless you manually adjust the file structure (like how esms always load before esps in oblivion and fo3). Overall I think mods are easier to manage in DA since I can give each mod its own folder, unlike how oblivion and fo3 just have a big messy "Data" folder that stores all of ur mod and official content together, and resource files from mods overwrite each other.