Archive invalidation invalidated???

[GroachS]

Can someone please explain what an archiveinvalidationinvalidated.txt folder is and why I need it for some mods.

[sworddragon]

It is a text file keeping up which vanilla meshes/textures got replaced by another file.

Normally the files are in a BSA but when they get replaced by a mod they go into the data folder and then /meshes, /textures etc.

If the replaced files arent mentioned in archiveinvalidation they wont be replaced ingame i think.

Archiveinvalidation invalidated removes the hassle of merging the archiveinvalidations most replacers give you.

[PowderdToastMan]

most mods, like esp's and the like, and the new vegas esm, draw from the bsa meshes and textures in your data folder and simply say how to arrange those things, such as a series of walls and whatnot for a house mod etc... All the esp does is say how to arrange stuff in a certain area, and as long as the esp is loaded after the new vegas esm, it will take presidence when you get to the affected area.

 

There are times when you will want to replace default meshes and textures in the game with ones that have been created by someone, like a body texture or a wall texture. The default texture files are packed within the default bsa in your data folder and trying to open it and replace the file with your new one is not a realistic option. Inside the bsa it is arranged just like a series of regular folders and the game esm and esp's go to that folder file path to use the textures.

 

When you want to replace those vanilla materials, the tried and true way to do it is to re-create the identical file path in your own texture folder. What will happen at that point is that the esp or esm will see both texture files and will still pick the default one. Archive invalidation will tell the esp or esm, when it see's more than one, to choose the material with the newest time stamp - which would be the aftermarket texture in your duplicate folder.

 

If your looking for the easiest way to achieve permanent archive invalidation for anything that may need it in the future, go here and follow the instructions on this mod that relate to archive invalidation, just disreagard the body replacer if its not your thing.

http://www.newvegasnexus.com/downloads/file.php?id=38132

Edited August 3, 2011 by PowderdToastMan