Little G.E.C.K. tips

[steph87]

Just putting together some things I've learned about the G.E.C.K. and that I've been asked a couple of times. With Screen shots!

 

1)Viewing the FORM IDS in the G.E.C.K.

http://content.screencast.com/users/steph87/folders/Jing/media/1483cfe5-dd8a-4eea-b619-c795aa3f348b/2008-12-17_2230.png

http://content.screencast.com/users/steph87/folders/Jing/media/9446adb5-0050-4f8a-9b42-7273bc6481bf/2008-12-17_2231.png

 

2)Correctly loading an .esp in G.E.C.K.

http://content.screencast.com/users/steph87/folders/Jing/media/991d65fc-3fc1-4301-a128-36e49feb2498/loadESP.png

 

http://content.screencast.com/users/steph87/folders/Jing/media/32e0c4df-4103-404f-b979-7f8d63eaca8f/activated.png

 

 

3)Checking if the .esp is saved correctly.

Let's take a look a the G.E.C.K. title bar(It has a freshly loadead esp, no changes).:

http://content.screencast.com/users/steph87/folders/Jing/media/698fa89f-4d53-4e3a-850c-6ced015055b7/saved.png

Now look how it changes after I edited something:

http://content.screencast.com/users/steph87/folders/Jing/media/763d83d9-76d9-4348-8d23-745a5be49020/unsaved.png

Be sure to save often or after big changes! It'll ask to save on exit / if you load another .esp .

 

4)Do I have to quit the G.E.C.K. before playing?

You don't have to if you pc is fast enough, just remember to save you .esp before starting the game!

 

5)Changing .esp's author and description

http://content.screencast.com/users/steph87/folders/Jing/media/34ee9648-de97-420c-aa8b-385ed02a3e09/author.png

NOTE: The .esp doesn't have to be loaded at the time and you can edit multiple .esp without closing the Data.. window.

 

6) Where to find Autosave Function

From the menu File ---> Preferences...

http://content.screencast.com/users/steph87/folders/Jing/media/fe783526-e9d5-40e0-82e7-e727335effa8/autosave.png

 

7) Copying / Duplicating an existing item /effect /npc etc.

To duplicate an item/effect/npc you need to open up in the editor the file you want to copy. For this example i'll be using the Lucky Shades.

Once you've opened the file you need to change the "Editor ID" of the file:

http://content.screencast.com/users/steph87/folders/Jing/media/92b6a322-6b79-4166-b6fe-c7fc5e152e56/duplicate.png

Changing the ingame name is not necessary but it's recommended.

http://content.screencast.com/users/steph87/folders/Jing/media/44c06e75-c047-4466-81b2-d3ab6a2c3433/dupl2.png

The G.E.C.K. will ask if you want to create a new form. What the G.E.C.K. really means is: "do you want to create a COPY of the file using the new ID?"

 

I plan to add more of mini helps like these when I have time, I think it's a nice and quick way to show people how to G.E.C.K. without too much hassle.

Please tell me if I got any of these wrong or maybe if there's a better way....

[thewaronandrew]

Not only great tips, but also great visuals. Thanks!

[Irontaxi]

there is an autosave feature....just cant remember where it it...but its in there

[BulletSix]

yes there is an auto-save.

Its in File-> preferences and than the "Misc" flag (?).

 

But then again "save early, save often" is always a good idea ;)

 

Bit anyhow: Thanks for the tips :)

 

and off to the questions: is there a way to generate a "overview" list for entries added (by copy and change/ by edit and save as new)?

[steph87]

yes there is an auto-save.

Its in File-> preferences and than the "Misc" flag (?).

 

But then again "save early, save often" is always a good idea ;)

 

Bit anyhow: Thanks for the tips :)

 

and off to the questions: is there a way to generate a "overview" list for entries added (by copy and change/ by edit and save as new)?

i'll make a how to auto-save miniscreenshot when I get home from work, thanks for the tip :)

 

I'd like to know about the list, too. I usually put my name in front of the editor ID of everything i create in the G.E.C.K. so I can find them all easily....

[Khet]

I don't know if this really falls under the same category of what you want, Steph, but a little trick of my own (dealing more with the actual mod making itself)

 

Use statics in new ways. Combine them, stack them, scale them. Make them look different. A tiny example of this is taking a door frame, turning it backwards and then scaling it up to fit a door it wasn't even made for.

 

http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f80/Bakohryu/Screenshots/DoorFrameEx1.jpg

http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f80/Bakohryu/Screenshots/DoorFrameEx2.jpg

 

Another method I've used is taking a bookshelf, scaling it way down, rotating it backwards (so the open shelves are facing toward the wall) and then sinking it into the floor a bit to create a step of sorts. This can be used with counters, especially if you want one right next to an outer wall but only want half of it showing.

[steph87]

Added the autosave instruction

 

Keth, it's a really great tip! I had no idea you could do something like that!

[Khet]

It's Khet, not Keth. Heh. I love the autosave function, it's saved me so much pain when the CS crashes. Most work I lose at any one time is four minutes and fifty-nine seconds. If you don't mind I'll throw in a few other little building-tricks of mine. I've used them both in Fallout 3 and Oblivion.

[steph87]

It's Khet, not Keth. Heh. I love the autosave function, it's saved me so much pain when the CS crashes. Most work I lose at any one time is four minutes and fifty-nine seconds. If you don't mind I'll throw in a few other little building-tricks of mine. I've used them both in Fallout 3 and Oblivion.

That would we neat, Khet!

I'd love to expand this and everyone's help is welcome.

[Khet]

What exactly is a We Neat? Some kind of food? :D

 

I'll take some screenshots of a few tricks I've used and make a post in a bit, just need to finish some things up first.