I want to rename a mesh but not sure if the new mesh will use the textures that came with it. So I was wondering how to link the mesh to the texture so that it reads it?

meshes are linked to textures in the file path within the nif itself, or you can use a TXST to override it in the CK

Either way how do I do that? How do I change the paths in the nif? Or how do I make a new txst to use new textures?

txset: find miscellaneous / texture sets in object palette, create new, enter new textures in list (1st slot actual texture, 3rd slot normal map), name & save set; click 'model' in your base models tab, enter your txset to the empty slots, rename object, save.

paths in nif: get nifskope, find BSShaderTextureSet / Textures in the tree view, change textures, save new nif; in ck, open any model of your desired type, click 'model', enter your model here, rename & save.

Ok trying to make new texture set but the textures are not being recognized. Is this because I change the name of the mesh? If so how do I fix this? The model is showing blue.

do you have your textures in an .dds-file format? cuz u need 2.

For your first question: If you rename a mesh, the texture stays and is not changed sothe new mesh still uses the old texture. Or so it works with the meshes I'm familiar with (i.e. armour, weapons, and such).

If you want to change a texture the mesh uses, you have to make a new texture, save it as a .dds. Depending on the texture you will have to mess with normal maps and alpha. Also do not forget that you have the basic map as well as a normal in the same folder. I thinkthat the game tracks the normal map authomaticly, so it has to follow some rules. If you make a texture "texturename.dds" you will need to put a "texturename_n.dds" into the same folder. If you are only changing a colour pattern, you can use some vanilla normal map and just rename it. When you have this, you will need to apply the new texture to the mesh. For that you will need NifSkope or other such programme (I personally think that NifSkope is about the best one you can get and it is free as well). I'm not altogether sure, but I think you have to apply the normal map as well.

Hope this helps. Good luck.

Look up texture sets. They override the nif file paths. This was done back in Fallout 3 to save on having to make individual nifs for every texture variation.

Dont need to change the textures just need to rename the nif so the game doesnt replace the armor in the game that uses that name.

OMG it worked! Thanks naja! All I needed to do is rename it and thats it. Now the game kept the original shield from the game and has the new mesh and textures for the renamed nif. Wow I would of saved alot of time if I knew it was that easy.

Some things are easier than they look. I'm glad I could help .

Good luck modding, just bevare! It is addictive