Guide:Archive2

Template:Construction

Introduction

Archive2 is the official tool from Bethesda used to pack archives files for Fallout 4, known as .ba2

It is part of the toolpack that come with the Fallout4's Creation Kit.

For end-users, it is useful to re-pack files under .ba2, especially textures.

Installation

The creation kit and its toolpack have to be installed through the Bethesda.net launcher.

You can download the installer by clicking [here]

Once the download is complete, run BethesdaNetLauncher_Setup.exe to install it to the location of your choice.

Then, start the launcher (either from the shortcut if you chose to create one during the installation, or by launching BethesdaNetLauncher.exe ). You will be presented with this page:

If you don't already have a Bethesda.net account, you will need to create a one by clicking on CREATE ACCOUNT. If you already have one, simply enter your credentials to gain access to the launcher:

Simply select Creation Kit: Fallout 4 in the left panel, and click INSTALL on the bottom-left corner of the launcher. Accept the EULA, and leave the install options at default (except for shortcuts if you want/don't want them).

Wait for the download/installation to complete (less than 1 minute).

Congratulation ! You know have access the the FO4's creation kit and all of its toolset.

Utilization

Packing a single archive from scratch

You will find Archive2.exe in <gamefolder>\Tools\Archive2

Simply double-click on it to have launch the application:

To add files to your archive, click on Archive -> Add Files... or Archive -> Add Folder..., browse your computer and add the relavant files with the proper folder architecture.

Once all the files you want into your .ba2 have been added, you can pack the .ba2 by clicking on File -> Save.

You will have to enter a name and choose the location of your archive. Your archive will then be generated according to your settings.

Configuring the settings

To configure the settings of your archive, click on Archive -> Settings... to bring up this dialogue:

Archive Settings

Those settings affect the archive itself.

Format

Default: General

Options:

• General - Pack the archive as a regular .ba2
• DDS - Pack the archive optimized for textures
• XBoxDDS - Pack an archive optimized for textures and XBox
• GNF - Unkown, should allow for texture-storage optimization as well

Maximum Archive Size

Default: 17592186044415 MB

Mutually exclusive with #Archive Count. Set the size limits of an archive.

Note that despite this setting, the game itself can only load .ba2 under ~2Gb This is probably intended to limit further the size of archives when packaging for consoles.

Archive Count

Default: 0

Mutually exclusive with #Maximum_Archive_Size. Believed to be usable to create multiple indexed archives (see FO4's textures .ba2 files).

Save String Table

Currently unknown.

File Settings

Those settings affect individual files stored in the archive. Only files added to the archive will have those settings taken into consideration, files already present will retain their previous compression level.

Compression

Default: Default

Options:

• None - No compression
• Default - Standard compression
• XBox - Xbox-specific compression

The compression of the file.

Max Chunk Count

Not 100% sure about this yet, most-likely related to texture mipmaps.

Single Mip Chunk Area

Not 100% sure about this yet, most-likely related to texture mipmaps.

Why and how re-packing texture packs ?

Texture-optimized archives improve the way textures are handled by the game, optimizing performances and VRAM usage.

Textures pack are often distributed as loose files, because they don't need any plugin. However, re-packing them as .ba2 can improve performance over loose files.

There is two ways to have a .ba2 loaded into the game :

Plugin's name match:

• Create a dummy plugin by simple opening the CK and saving. (In this example, PluginName.esp)
• Package your archive with the texture pack, and name it PluginName - Textures.ba2
• Make sure both are present in the Data\ folder, and that PluginName.esp is activated.

INI force feed:

• Package your archive with the texture pack. Name it whatever you want, such as MyTexturePack.ba2
• Add MyTexturePack.ba2 at the end of the list (separated by comma) of the sResourceIndexFileList setting in Fallout4.ini