A guide to packing loose files into BSA with Creation Kit Utility "Archive.exe"

[judge007]

Why pack loose files into BSAs?

- the more loose files in Skyrim SE the longer the load time.

 

Limits with BSA files:

Maximum BSA size 2GB

Each plugin can have two BSA files, one named the same as the plugin, and one named as the plugin + " - Textures"

          i.e. MyMod.esp, MyMod.bsa, MyMod - Textures.bsa

Each BSA file requires a plugin to load in-game.

If more than 2GB of data needs to be packed, an dummy plugin is required for the extras {see Empty ESL & ESP link below}

 

The "fake data folder trick":

Bethesda's Archive utility thinks it's data comes from install folder, we're gonna cheat because we can.

 

Required:

 

Skyrim Special Edition

Creation Kit installed

Empty ESL & ESP https://www.nexusmods.com/skyrimspecialedition/mods/23658  {optional}

 

We'll pack the textures included in SlaveRun Reloaded into a BSA for our example

 

To get started, we need to be able to see file extensions in Windows Explorer

Click "View" tab and enable "File Name Extensions"

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First find and open Archive.exe from:

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Now open mod folder (or working folder) of mod:

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Create a new folder (Ctrl-Shift-N or right-click and select "New Folder" & call it data:

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Copy "Textures" folder and plugin (SlaveRun_Reloaded.esp) to new data folder:

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Have Archive.exe window visible & drag textures folder to it

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In "Edit" menu click Check All and check Textures box:

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Click "File" + "Save As" & navigate to data folder you created & click "OK"

Name the file the same as the plugin + " - Textures.bsa" {that's space, dash, space + Textures.bsa"}

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Now the new bsa file and .bsl can be copied back to mod/working folder.

Delete the data folder and you are done.