question about archive management/ dummy .esp

[axel4340]

i know that MO will on ocasion let you use a mod without needing to load the .esp file, since it can directly load the .bsa if you have it manage archives and tick the box in the archive tab.  but generally it tells you that the .esp file is a dummy file and not needed.

 

i'm using a helmet toggle mod https://www.nexusmods.com/skyrim/mods/22765/? and noticed that while mod organizer doesn't list its .esp as a dummy file the .bas associated with the mod allows me to tick the box next to it (most mods are generally grey'd out).  does this mean it can manage the mod without the .esp loaded?

[Greg]

All BSA files are listed in the Archives tab with a checkbox to allow Mod Organizer to manage the BSA, even if the ESP is not a dummy plugin. If you load HelmetToggle2.02b.esp in TES5Edit, you'll see that it has a few records for Armor, Global Settings, Magic Effects, Quests, and Spells so it isn't a dummy plugin.

[Kesta]

IIRC, if the box isn't greyed-out, it means that the plugin isn't ticked in the loa dorder either. (with a default configuration at least).

[GrantSP]

The actual 'Archives' tab in MO may need a bit of tweaking, IMO, as it should automatically select all the bsas if you choose to have MO manage your archives & you have selected the plugin. For whatever reason it doesn't always do so and you will need to ensure they are selected.

 

 

There are times when you install a new mod and the bsa is not selected, but after ensuring it is, you can safely de/activate the mod in the left-hand pane and the bsa will return to its previous state.

 

Actually, doing a bit of testing shows the status of the archives is not correctly updated in the 'archives.txt' in the selected profile. May need to post an issue on the Bug Genie.

[Greg]

In this case, the checkbox isn't grayed out even though the mod is checked and is in the load order. I think it's still enabled because the BSA contains only scripts and doesn't have a single conflict so the load order of the BSA is pretty much irrelevant, but this is just a guess.

[13thGeneral]

What if MO flags the esp, but there's no bsa associated with the mod in the archives tab?

I have a mod I had been using in NMM for Fallout 3, prior to porting to MO, that is doing this; Lightweight Food Sanitizer

 

I also have the MiscWeightFix.esp mod, so it's placed below that as the instructions say.

 

I don't see any conflict flags associated with these, except the .bsa message.

Edited July 14, 2015 by 13thGeneral

[GSDFan]

I just looked at this in the FO3edit. There is no game data changes, but it does have a reference to a script. Leave it in.

[13thGeneral]

I just looked at this in the FO3edit. There is no game data changes, but it does have a reference to a script. Leave it in.

Ok, cool. That .bsa archive message threw me off since there was no .bsa present.

I figured as much, but just thought it was worth finding out for certain.

 

Thanks for checking that out.