is it okay to unpack a bsa into loose files?

[checkett]

so I can edit meshes and textures and just leave it as loose files? or does it have to get repacked into a bsa?

[Guest]

Just a question of speed of your HD.

 

If it is a SSD, then go by unpacking.

If it is rotational, then keep the files you modify, but remove all the vanilla ones.

[shane4244]

so I can edit meshes and textures and just leave it as loose files? or does it have to get repacked into a bsa?

 

Yes you can, the loose files will override what's in the BSA.

 

 

Edit: better answer above my post.

 

[RitualClarity]

The files won't need to be repacked to use. They are safe loose except if you install other mods that have the textures and such on the same path. Then you can have your edited textures and such written over and loose your work. Make sure you have backups and you can keep the loose safely.

[checkett]

okay. hmm I'm still fairly new to messing with BSAs and BSAopt. so there's the in and there's the out. I need to have files I want to edit the bsa go into the "in" and set the destination in the "out"

 

no?

[Guest]

BSAOpt can extract or compress the file in BSA archives.

 

Now, if you just want to have the vanilla file loose, then just set as "IN" the BSA file, and as "OUT" a folder where to unpack them (Don't use the Data folder, use a different one and then move the files.)

 

Repacking a vanilla BSA is not a good idea. Don't do it.

Just left the modified files in the folders, and keep the vanilla BSA 100% vanilla without changing it.

(Or will be impossible to revert to a vanilla install in case you need.)

 

[checkett]

okay, I see. I never use the data folder, since I'm using Mod Organizer.  In this particular mod, I noticed it already has a "meshes" folder along with the BSA and the ESP. So I'm assuming now, that the author already had skeleton customization in mind for those that downloaded the mod. 

 

So, instead of messing with the BSA, is it possible to just create my own meshes and textures folders inside the mod and drop whatever files I want in there?

[Guest]

Yes, it is possible.

And in your case don't use the Data folder but put the file inside a mod folder (an existing one or just create a new folder.)

[checkett]

right. I don't use the data folder ever. just using Mod Organizer.

[WaxenFigure]

right. I don't use the data folder ever. just using Mod Organizer.

MO can unpack those BSA files for you (right pane, archives tab, right-click on the bsa, select extract), no need for BSAOPT. Also with MO if some other mod overwrites the modified textures you will see it in the left pane and can of course disable those overwriting textures in the mod doing the overwrite if find you have to keep the same priority in the left hand pane.

[RitualClarity]

okay, I see. I never use the data folder, since I'm using Mod Organizer.  In this particular mod, I noticed it already has a "meshes" folder along with the BSA and the ESP. So I'm assuming now, that the author already had skeleton customization in mind for those that downloaded the mod. 

 

So, instead of messing with the BSA, is it possible to just create my own meshes and textures folders inside the mod and drop whatever files I want in there?

 

With MO you can create the folder (with proper structure, Texture, Mesh, Sound etc) somewhere and drop it right into Mod Organizer/Mods folder and click it. Move it up or down the left side to get the desired override results. This sounds like what you need to do / know.

[checkett]

alright awesome. Thanks everyone. I was thinking at first that I had to mess with the BSA itself to give whatever followers that have BSAs the skeleton and textures I want them to have. What I'm trying to do is take the skeletons and textures from HDT Bounce and Jiggles http://www.nexusmods.com/skyrim/mods/72030/? to work with my followers, instead of bothering the author to create a patch for them.

[myuhinny]

If you extract more then one thing from a BSA it will make the whole folder path for what you extracted. I do that most of the time then drop the folder delete out anything that isn't needed then add the files that I'm going to use to modify whatever it is I'm going to modify.

[checkett]

If you extract more then one thing from a BSA it will make the whole folder path for what you extracted. I do that most of the time then drop the folder delete out anything that isn't needed then add the files that I'm going to use to modify whatever it is I'm going to modify.

 

what I just did was make my own Meshes folder, then made an "actors" subfolder, then another "character assets" subfolder within that and dropped the files I needed in that. Is that not correct?

[myuhinny]

As long as the folder paths you made match the folder paths in the BSA you will have no problem otherwise they won't work.

[checkett]

ah alright

[RitualClarity]

If you extract more then one thing from a BSA it will make the whole folder path for what you extracted. I do that most of the time then drop the folder delete out anything that isn't needed then add the files that I'm going to use to modify whatever it is I'm going to modify.

 

Good tip.. You know you are overwriting the files you plan on using properly because you would be prompted for the overwrite.

[Todd420]

so I can edit meshes and textures and just leave it as loose files? or does it have to get repacked into a bsa?

 

yep.