As a general rule, what action should I take when I find "old header form versions"?

[NotKinkyEnough]

A lot of the mods I dl from here are named as "SE" versions but have old header form versions flagged by Wrye.

 

Does this mean
I have the incorrect or outdated download?

or

the correct downloads from here sometimes have old header forms?

 

if the latter, should I

always run it through creation club to change the flag?

or

ignore and accept the file as is?

 

if the former, is there a neat way to find the latest and greatest version or conversion of a mod? 

 

[Pfiffy]

Tools like Wrye don't check all assets(animations, Nifs, textures) of a mod if they are converted correctly for SE. They only have the header as info for which version of Skyrim the mod was made originally.

So the answer to the first question is : 'Header 43' just means the mod was written with the old CK, nothing more and nothing less.

 

For the 2nd question:

Running it through the CK is a good practice (Nothing more and nothing less) But if you do so, you have to know what you are doing. 

 

Usually(I think, its more than 80% of all times), you don't have to do it and sometimes you might even break the mod by doing it. I have found at least one mod that was written with the new CK that broke by re-saving it. (fun fact: It was Artmoor's 'Alternative start' and Artmoor is one of the ppl who who tells you that it is a 'must') So be careful with that.

I also worked on mods for both Skyrim versions and switched back and forth between the two CK's without any problems. 

 

Generally speaking: If a mod works without re-saving it's not worth the effort to re-save it. If you run into problems, the chance is high, that it is not a problem with Form 43 header of the .esp but with a poorly converted Nif, texture or animation or a conflict with another mod.

 

For the last question: Read the description of the mod... 

 

The conversions of LE mods for SE are usually not made by the original authors and the porters like me are usually one or two versions behind the actual LE Version, if the mod is still in development. If the mod is no longer in development, you just have to pick the version that was made for SE... 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[NotKinkyEnough]

Thanks, I'll go ahead and do nothing unless I encounter a problem!