MO2 Folder Clarification

[Berzerkernox]

I am trying to install MO2 via the STEP guide but am confused: do I put the MO2 in Modding or Modding/tools folder? Thanks for all of your work to help us all!

[TechAngel85]

6 minutes ago, Berzerkernox said:

I am trying to install MO2 via the STEP guide but am confused: do I put the MO2 in Modding or Modding/tools folder? Thanks for all of your work to help us all!

https://stepmodifications.org/wiki/Guide:System_Setup_Guide#Tools_Installation_and_Setup

[Berzerkernox]

Yes. Those are the instructions I was looking at. The folder address says tools folder but the instructions above that say Modding folder, yet, MO2 instructions referred to under that says Modding folder.

Edited October 31, 2022 by Berzerkernox

[Kattmandu]

28 minutes ago, Berzerkernox said:

Yes. Those are the instructions I was looking at. The folder address says tools folder but the MO2 instructions referred to under that says Modding folder.

It's just recommended pathing.  You can path it however you see fit.  But in the case you are referring to, to stay consistent with the rest of the guide, it probably should say...

 

Install MO by running the installer and changing the path to the "Modding" folder (e.g.  ..\Games\Modding\Tools\Mod Organizer

 

The "Modding" folder structure should now reflect:

..\Games\Modding\Tools\Mod Organizer
..\Games\Modding\GameName
..\Games\Modding\Tools
..\Games\Modding\Tools\BethINI
..\Games\Modding\Tools\LOOT
..\Games\Modding\Tools\xEdit
..\Games\Modding\Tools\xLODGen

 

Personally, I set mine up like this instead...the F drive being designated for all my modded games.

F:\Games\Steam\steamapps\common\Skyrim Special Edition
F:\Tools\BethINI Standalone
F:\Tools\DynDOLOD
F:\Tools\LOOT
F:\Tools\MO2Base\Skyrim  <--Where all the downloads, mods, caches, profiles, and overwrite files live
F:\Tools\Mod Organizer 2
F:\Tools\xEdit
F:\Tools\xLODGen

Edited October 31, 2022 by Kattmandu

[Berzerkernox]

Thanks.

Well, after doing that, scrolling down after the Tools section of the guide, I saw this, so there is definitely some contradiction:

The "Modding" folder structure should now reflect:

..\Games\Modding\Mod Organizer
..\Games\Modding\GameName
..\Games\Modding\Tools
..\Games\Modding\Tools\BethINI
..\Games\Modding\Tools\LOOT
..\Games\Modding\Tools\xEdit
..\Games\Modding\Tools\xLODGen

[TechAngel85]

I do mine a bit differently that what is in that Guide because I mod non-Bethesda games and instructions in that Guide seem to keep getting reverted to only consider Bethesda games when changes are made. Since it's been changed by other Admin, I'll let someone else address the contradiction.

[Kattmandu]

Yeah, there's a few typos in the guide here and there.  It's to be expected.  Just politely point them out and hopefully an admin sees it and corrects the typo.

[z929669]

2 hours ago, Berzerkernox said:

Thanks.

Well, after doing that, scrolling down after the Tools section of the guide, I saw this, so there is definitely some contradiction:

The "Modding" folder structure should now reflect:

..\Games\Modding\Mod Organizer
..\Games\Modding\GameName
..\Games\Modding\Tools
..\Games\Modding\Tools\BethINI
..\Games\Modding\Tools\LOOT
..\Games\Modding\Tools\xEdit
..\Games\Modding\Tools\xLODGen

Yes, there is contradiction because there are many places where we are referencing this structure in the Setup Guide and on some mod pages, and it keeps getting 'fixed' by different people and thus the inconsistencies are fixed in some places and made inconsistent in others.

The folder structure is only a recommendation, and no matter what games are installed --be they Bethesea games or not-- EITHER structure works:
 

../Games/Modding/.
../Modding/.

No difference but for path length, so we are going with the shorter path.

The same is true for modding 'tools' used by ANY game:

They can be in either:
 

../Games/Modding/Tools/.
../Modding/Tools/.
../Modding/<gameName>/Tools/.
../<gameName>/Modding/Tools/.
... nearly limitless alternative choices

We are using the second convention.

The point is to be consistent and follow a standard of your own (and don't do this under UAC-protected paths). We are only providing a 'good' and viable example.

---

The wiki has been updated (again) to make everything everywhere consistent, so let us know if anything remains.

[Berzerkernox]

Thanks for the clarification and action taken to remedy inconsistency. It is much appreciated.