Moving the Cleaned Files confusion

[Slough_Monster]

Returning to Skyrim after many years (yay quarantine) and I am confused by the following instructions from step number 3 on:

 

 

 

1. In a new window, open the Skyrim Special Edition Data directory (e.g. ..\Modding\Steam\steamapps\common\Skyrim Special Edition\Data)
2. Drag and drop (or copy and paste) the four cleaned master files from Data to the "Cleaned Vanilla Masters" folder.
3. In the xEdit Backups folder, rename the files to “MasterName.esm†(e.g. "Update.esm").
   • If there are multiple copies of any of the files, use the one with the earliest timestamp.
4. Drag and drop the renamed files from the xEdit Backups folder to the Data directory and choose to overwrite/replace, if asked.
5. Close the explorer windows.
6. Drag and drop the new Cleaned Vanilla Masters mod listing in the left pane directly below DLC: Dragonborn.esm.
   • The xEdit mod listing can be placed anywhere.

At this point, the Bethesda masters should be cleaned and the mod list order should reflect:

1. DLC: Dawnguard.esm
2. DLC: HearthFires.esm
3. DLC: Dragonborn.esm
4. Cleaned Vanilla Masters

 

Am I supposed to move the copy the same files that I put into vanilla masters into xEdit Backups?  If so, why am I renaming them to what they are already named?  Or was there some step that I missed that SSEEdit would have automatically backup up files prior to cleaning there?

 

As for the second part, I am not installing the vanilla masters, correct?  It is just sitting there in case I need them in the future?

 

 

Thank you

Edited March 23, 2020 by Slough_Monster

[Greg]

When you clean the master files, the cleaned masters are in Skyrim's data directory and the original, unmodified masters are in the ModOrganizer/Overwrite/xEdit Backups folder. In this step, you want to put the unmodified masters back into Skyrim's data directory and move the cleaned masters into a mod named "Cleaned Vanilla Masters". This keeps the Skyrim folder as vanilla as possible so you don't lose the cleaned masters if Steam updates Skyrim.

 

So the first step is to move the cleaned masters from Skyrim/Data to ModOrganizer/mods/Cleaned Vanilla Masters.

 

Once this is done, move the original masters from ModOrganizer/Overwrite/xEdit Backups to Skyrim/Data. Note that you'll need to remove the timestamps from the file names as well so you'll rename something like Dawnguard_20200323111427.esm to Dawnguard.esm.

[Slough_Monster]

When you clean the master files, the cleaned masters are in Skyrim's data directory and the original, unmodified masters are in the ModOrganizer/Overwrite/xEdit Backups folder. In this step, you want to put the unmodified masters back into Skyrim's data directory and move the cleaned masters into a mod named "Cleaned Vanilla Masters". This keeps the Skyrim folder as vanilla as possible so you don't lose the cleaned masters if Steam updates Skyrim.

 

So the first step is to move the cleaned masters from Skyrim/Data to ModOrganizer/mods/Cleaned Vanilla Masters.

 

Once this is done, move the original masters from ModOrganizer/Overwrite/xEdit Backups to Skyrim/Data. Note that you'll need to remove the timestamps from the file names as well so you'll rename something like Dawnguard_20200323111427.esm to Dawnguard.esm.

Thank you Greg. That made sense.

 

One more question, why did I make two empty mods that I don't seem to be using?  The xEdit Backups and xEdit Cache?  Their corresponding overwrite files have the backups/cache. which is where you directed me.

[TechAngel85]

Thank you Greg. That made sense.

 

One more question, why did I make two empty mods that I don't seem to be using?  The xEdit Backups and xEdit Cache?  Their corresponding overwrite files have the backups/cache. which is where you directed me.

From the Guide:

Create New Mod Listings

1. On the MO window, click the Open list options button at the top of the left pane, next to the profile selection drop-down.
2. Choose Create empty mod, name it “Cleaned Vanilla Masters”, and click OK.
3. Repeat the above to create two additional new empty mods and name them: xEdit Backups and xEdit Cache
   1. Users should replace "x" with the version they are using (e.g. "SSEEdit Backups" and "SSEEdit Cache").

 

 

If the highlighted step was completed correctly, the files should go into those created empty mods and not into the Overwrite mod.

 

For example, my cache mod is named "SSEEdit Cache" because my xEdit executable is "SSEEdit.exe". Likewise, for "xEdit Backups"...since I have "SSEEdit.exe", my backups mod is named, "SSEEdit Backups".

 

 

EDIT:

 

Scratch that! I see the folders need to be a layer deeper. I've updated the Create New Mod Listings instructions.

[SuperLain]

Hello! About the cleaned mods. In the manual you write that you need to move the cleaned mods to an empty mod Cleaned Vanilla Masters  , but do not write whether it should be enabled or not in the left panel in MO2? If I turn it on in MO 2, and I turned it on (it overwrites the cleaned mods) , then when I enter the game, I start downloading mods from the update. I disabled this folder and now all my cleaned masters and mods from AE have become dirty again.Restoring the original masters-follow the instructions to check the integrity of the game cache-also did. About manual recovery. Move or copy the renamed files to the game's "real" directory (..\Data), choosing overwrite/replace if asked. Do I just need to move the main wizard "SSEEdit Backup" or all from the folder ?I'm confused(

[z929669]

8 hours ago, SuperLain said:

Hello! About the cleaned mods. In the manual you write that you need to move the cleaned mods to an empty mod Cleaned Vanilla Masters  , but do not write whether it should be enabled or not in the left panel in MO2? If I turn it on in MO 2, and I turned it on (it overwrites the cleaned mods) , then when I enter the game, I start downloading mods from the update. I disabled this folder and now all my cleaned masters and mods from AE have become dirty again.Restoring the original masters-follow the instructions to check the integrity of the game cache-also did. About manual recovery. Move or copy the renamed files to the game's "real" directory (..\Data), choosing overwrite/replace if asked. Do I just need to move the main wizard "SSEEdit Backup" or all from the folder ?I'm confused(

Please revisit those instructions and try again. They have been revised clarity. Also see comments on your other post.