Embarrassingly noob question

[exanimis]

This is how much of a noob I am. I have new statue re textures and a new sword, both have nif and dds files. I've managed to get the statues in the CS but they aren't changed ingame. How do I add nif and dds files to the construction set?

 

I've been and still am reading here Oblivion Mods FAQ but it mostly covers adding mods to your game not to the CS. The FAQ's don't mention nif's or dds's.

 

I have been trying to add them for two days. I have tried different folders and opened the CS so many times that it is getting frustrating. I know there's a simple solution but I haven't been able to find it or I wouldn't have made this post

 

Thanks ahead of time.

[jaysus]

1. each item needs a name.dds and a name_n.dds , whereas the second is a normal map

2. the nif is a model file whereas the dds are textures

3. the nif file includes the information on which dds to use and can be changed in niftools

4. depending on what kind of item you want to create you need to choose the right category in the cs, double click any item and change its id, name, model, etc to your liking, upon hitting ok youll be asked to create a new id which you confirm

5. if you want to replace an item either place and name the nif file in the exact location as in the oblivionmeshes.bsa file or use the cs to change the nif of an object

6. if you change vanilla textures you need to open the archiveinvalidation.txt located in your data directory (or oblivion forgot) and add a line specifying the textures that should be used (it basicly gives those files you specify a higher rank than those in the *.bsa archives and thus loads em)

[myrmaad]

1. each item needs a name.dds and a name_n.dds , whereas the second is a normal map

2. the nif is a model file whereas the dds are textures

3. the nif file includes the information on which dds to use and can be changed in niftools

4. depending on what kind of item you want to create you need to choose the right category in the cs, double click any item and change its id, name, model, etc to your liking, upon hitting ok youll be asked to create a new id which you confirm

5. if you want to replace an item either place and name the nif file in the exact location as in the oblivionmeshes.bsa file or use the cs to change the nif of an object

6. if you change vanilla textures you need to open the archiveinvalidation.txt located in your data directory (or oblivion forgot) and add a line specifying the textures that should be used (it basicly gives those files you specify a higher rank than those in the *.bsa archives and thus loads em)

 

Archive Invalidation is a subject unto itself. Google the term, look for several in-depth discussions about it, and also how using OBMM's built-in archive invalidation tool can help resolve the problems inherent in archive invalidation.

[exanimis]

Thanks J. I have the sword in the CS now but it's pink. It's not connecting to the dds files it needs. I need to figure out where the dds files should be placed. Still working on it but that information was extremely helpful.

 

 

I've placed an Archive Invalidation folder in the Bethesda/oblivion folder and I'm still trying to figure this out.

[myrmaad]

Thanks J. I have the sword in the CS now but it's pink. It's not connecting to the dds files it needs. I need to figure out where the dds files should be placed. Still working on it but that information was extremely helpful.

 

You might be able to solve it by making your sword a completely "new" item.

 

 

Also See this tut:

http://cs.elderscrolls.com/constwiki/index...placer/Tutorial

[UK47]

it is the sword that I have make for you ?

[exanimis]

Two modders made the items for me and I have the nif and dds files. do I need to download TR Retexturing Tool ,BSA Commander and buy/download Adobe Photoshop with the DDS Plugins and/or Gimp?

[exanimis]

it is the sword that I have make for you ?

 

Yes. I don't know how to add it to the CS

[myrmaad]

Two modders made the items for me and I have the nif and dds files. do I need to download TR Retexturing Tool ,BSA Commander and buy/download Adobe Photoshop with the DDS Plugins and/or Gimp?

No, you don't need Photoshop, just get Gimp if you want to play with retexturing for yourself.

If you have OBMM you can just use the Archive Invalidation tool that's in it. OBMM also will unpack your BSAs so eliminates the need for BSA Commander, as well, I don't even use that anymore, I just use OBMM. I don't use the TR Retexturing tool, either, but it may be useful, I'm not sure because I'm not doing any retexturing of buildings etc, but it does look like a useful program because it handles the Normal Maps for you.

 

however Gimp will also create the Normal Maps, and Gimp will open your DDS files, as long as you get the Nvidea plugin tool that you need for reading DDS files in your digital art program. All digital art programs need that DDS plugin, and it doesn't matter what video card you have, Nvidea just made the plugin.

[exanimis]

Thanks Myrmaad. I do have and use OBMM so I think I need to experiment with it a little more and see what I can figure out.