I don't know if it's been asked before or if there's already a utility that does it, but is therre something out there for the Windows XP environment that will examine the zipped container that modders package their mod in to determine where it needs to be unpacked with respect to the game folder?

I've been downloading a bunch of mods recently and am gettering pretty frustrated with the modder's instructions about where to unpack the mod; they're pretty slipshod. They may say extract it to the game directory when they mean the Data Files. Sometimes they zipped it such that it would create a totally new folder rather than unzipping into the Morrowind game folder much less the Data Files as they claim it will.

Currently I use IZArc to test unpack a file (.zip, .rar, .7z are the most common I find) to double check the modder's claims about where to unpack it. I usually spot if there's a problem, but it takes a lot of time and effort for something that is IMO mundane and shouldn't be an issue in the first case but is.

Ideally (well, for the moment) I'd like to find something that would identify the top(?) folder where the files starts being unpacked, confirms that that is a valid starting point (either the top level Morrowind folder or the subfolder Data Files), test that the files will unpack without failing and then unpack them. If there is a discrepancy, then warn that there's a mismatch between where the file wants to unpack the files and where mods are usually placed.

Even better would be finding a batch file that would work on a group of packed files at one time looking for these type of problems.

Thanks. for any input.

John

The best option I know is using Winrar and looking inside the archive at how it's laid out before extracting. :shrug:

Unzip the archive to your desktop, then manually install the folders to your Data Files.
That is always the safest way to install mods.

The data files within a mod download need to go into your data files folder within your game set up, sometimes modders pack the data files within a data files folder which when it is extracted creates a second folder so the mod wont work and you need to take the files out of the second and place them into the main data files directory.


What i do is this ..

I have a shortcut on my desktop to my data files folder to simplify and speed up mod installs as well as quickly access the contents as and when i want to.

I extract the mod download where it is , in my case it is in my downloads folder. then click on the unpacked folder , if there is a second data files folder i click on that too. then cut or copy the esp/esm , textures folder/ meshes folder and any other stuff all in one go , and paste on my desktop shortcut to my data files folder. thats it. for 99.9% of all mods made for Morrowind, Just check the box on the Morrowind launcher and you are good to go.


There are a few exceptions like utilities / Total conversions and mods that alter the game engine but they are very few in number.

Free , Utilities like winrar or 7zip , (easy to find with google) will allow you to inspect the contents of a mod without unpacking.

This. No sense in clicking on everything willy-nilly and hoping for something magical to happen.

I always repack the archives. If it is a simple replacer my routine is creating...

/textures
/meshes
esp

layout because Mash likes it.(no data files)

I read the readmes and repack my versions of the mods(leaving optional files out, including only necessary files). I sometimes mix and match. After repacking mods if there are no more issues that I have to pay attention, I just copy them to my Mash installers directory and then use Mash for one click mod installs. It is pretty easy in my case. I installed 60+ mods in 1-2 hours like this once.

Then I use MLOX for final checks.

PS. I use 7zip. Winrar isn't bad. As long as it works any archive utility is nice I guess.

This might help get you started: http://www.mwmythicmods.com/starting.htm

No question is dumb...without questions, we would never learn.

Thanks.

John