3 copies of every mod?

[wizardmirth]

I recently tried Vortex, briefly, to see how it might work with updating my old FO4 install. So please forgive me if I missed something since I have already uninstalled it:

 

Does this program need 3 copies of each installed mod to work? Like, 1 for the original file, 2 for the install, and 3 for the "back-up"?

 

If true, do we really have to have 3 copies? Or at least can we have an option to archive and backup the original file on a separate flash drive, or at the very least, choose to not have a 3rd "backup" copy installed? (Not to mention this seems to make a busy mess of your Data folder.)

 

This would be better for people with smaller drives who want to save space (and sometimes look in to see a much less cluttered Data folder).

[AugustaCalidia]

I recently tried Vortex, briefly, to see how it might work with updating my old FO4 install. So please forgive me if I missed something since I have already uninstalled it:

 

Does this program need 3 copies of each installed mod to work? Like, 1 for the original file, 2 for the install, and 3 for the "back-up"?

 

If true, do we really have to have 3 copies? Or at least can we have an option to archive and backup the original file on a separate flash drive, or at the very least, choose to not have a 3rd "backup" copy installed? (Not to mention this seems to make a busy mess of your Data folder.)

 

This would be better for people with smaller drives who want to save space (and sometimes look in to see a much less cluttered Data folder).

 

There are not three copies. There are only two copies of each mod - a downloaded archive version and its corresponding unzipped version, which is the actual installed mod. (In this respect, Vortex is no different from NMM and MO.) The downloaded archives are found in the download folder for each game, and the unzipped and installed mods are found in the mod staging folder for each game. I suspect that Vortex's use of hardlinks in the game data folder has led you to believe that these hardlinks are third copies. However, the hardlinks found there are not mods; they are links to your installed mods found in the mod staging folder.

 

For Vortex to operate, you actually need only the mods found in the mod staging folder, for they are your installed mods. Once installed, their archive versions can be deleted with no effect on your game. However, I do not recommend doing that because the archives are needed in case you want to reinstall a mod.

[rmm200]

We Gerbils recommend Augusta's post. That is as clear a description of the process as you are going to get.

[wizardmirth]

Thanks for your reply. I'm not a coder so I don't understand the important of these hardlinks, but I would recommend from a user perspective to be able to turn them off or hide them at least somehow. Older games like Oblivion for example sometimes requires digging into your installed files, depending on the mod, to check or adjust things. And the hardlinks add more clutter. Also it would be great to have an option to archive the original mod files onto another drive.

 

I was also wondering if Vortex will ever have any sort of OBMM and Wrye Bash wizard support, as in being be able to read and install those mods? I don't think NMM ever had it so I'm going to go ahead and guess not.

[AugustaCalidia]

Thanks for your reply. I'm not a coder so I don't understand the important of these hardlinks, but I would recommend from a user perspective to be able to turn them off or hide them at least somehow. Older games like Oblivion for example sometimes requires digging into your installed files, depending on the mod, to check or adjust things. And the hardlinks add more clutter. Also it would be great to have an option to archive the original mod files onto another drive.

 

I was also wondering if Vortex will ever have any sort of OBMM and Wrye Bash wizard support, as in being be able to read and install those mods? I don't think NMM ever had it so I'm going to go ahead and guess not.

 

In Vortex there is a purge function that allows you to "turn off" the hardlinks in the game data folder. This operation removes the hardlinks from the game data folder, but it does not uninstall the game mods. However, if you leave the game folder in a purged state, your game will have no active mods. To reactivate the mods, simply push the "Deploy" button and the mod hardlinks will be restored.

 

Hardlinks are therefore not clutter. When Vortex installs a mod, two things happen: (1) the unzipped mod is placed in the Mod Staging Folder, and (2) a hardlink to the mod is placed in the game data folder. The result is a game data folder populated by two sets only: the core game files and hardlinks. There is no third set called "mods."

 

Therefore nothing in all this prevents you from fiddling with Oblivion mods, to cite your example. Simply click on the hardlink for Mod A or B or C or whatever, and voila! You have the mod laid bare and ready for your manipulations. The hardlink gives you as much access to the mod as if you had gone to the Mod Staging Folder and opened it there.

 

Vortex does indeed give you the option to create the download folder anywhere you want: Vortex Dashboard>Settings>Download

 

As for OBMM and Wrye Bash support, I presume you are asking about OMOD and BAIN installer support. I have no firsthand knowledge here. I've seen contrary reports about OMOD's. Some people say Vortex can handle OMOD's, others say not. My guess is that it cannot. I've not read anything about BAIN installer support, but my guess is Vortex may be able to handle simple, non-wizard BAIN installers. However, I suspect it cannot handle more complex BAIN installers. Somebody please correct me if I'm wrong about any of this.

[wizardmirth]

Ok, well maybe I'll try again with some other game from scratch and for practice, some time.

 

(But one of these days it would be great to have one mod manger that retroactively can install all valid omod and bain formats. Just having to do bashed patches for some of the older games is bad enough, lol.)

[AugustaCalidia]

 

(But one of these days it would be great to have one mod manger that retroactively can install all valid omod and bain formats. Just having to do bashed patches for some of the older games is bad enough, lol.)

 

Since Vortex is open source, sooner or later somebody in the modding community will probably come along and develop OMOD and Bain installer extensions for Vortex.

 

Anyway, Happy New Year and happy gaming! :smile:

[wizardmirth]

Thanks, you too!