Info.xml File
The Info.xml created earlier in the Guide will now be completed.
Declaration and Root Element
- Navigate to this file: (e.g., .\ModFolder\fomod\Info.xml)
- Open the file with a text editor
- Ensure the programming language is set to XML
- Ensure the Encoding is set to UTF-16.
- FOMOD scripts should always be saved with UTF-16 encoding to avoid issues. This is due to the XML declaration specifying UTF-16.
Now the document itself needs to be declared as a XML document and the root only element is placed. The root element for the info.xml script is: <fomod>
It is always easier to open and close tags at the same time to ensure the closing tag is not forgotten; causing the script to fail. The script for the declaration and root element look as such:
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-16"?>
<fomod>
</fomod>Child Elements
Finish the script by adding the fomod element's children. These children elements hold information mod managers use to display to users. The information is placed between the opening and closing tags of each child element. There is no formatting available, therefore, the text will usually display is inputted. The elements are defined as such:
- Name : this is the name of the mod and will be the initial name used by the mod manager for installation
- Author : this is the name of the author(s) for the mod
- ID : this is the ID of the mod, which may only be used by Vortex (unknown)
- Version : this is used to display the version of the mod. Be sure the MachineVersion attribute matches that of text for the version
- This element requires updating every time the mod increments version numbers!
- Website : this element holds the website link to the mod. Mod managers will typically display this as a clickable link.
- Groups : the Groups element is a parent element to the element element.
- element : within these children elements is where the categories are defined that the mod fits into. Nexus Mods categories are most commonly used.
- Description : this element holds the description of the mod. This can be anything the mod author wishes, but is best to add a meaningful description of the mod.
Add each element listed above to the info.xml' script. Remember that capitalization matters if the tag format is changed! The text placed between the opening and closing tags is what will be displayed to users.
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-16"?>
<fomod>
<Name>My Mod Name</Name>
<Author>Author01, Author02, Author03</Author>
<Id>xxxx</Id>
<Version MachineVersion="1.0">1.0</Version>
<Website>https://www.LinkToModPage.com/</Website>
<Groups>
<element>Models and Textures</element>
<element>Patches</element>
<element>My Category</element>
</Groups>
<Description>
<![CDATA[
My mod's beautiful, short description.
Changes this release:
- Fixed some issues with the Patches
- Updated FOMOD installer
Thanks for downloading and remember to endorse, if you enjoy it!]]>
</Description>
</fomod>Once complete, this concludes the info.xml script. Be sure to save before exiting!
