"Compacted for ESL" means the FormID of a mod's plugin have been set to the range for ESL. It does NOT mean the file extension was changed to "ESL". Maybe the extension was changed to ESL to force a high load order or maybe it was kept ESP to make installation easier and overwrite an existing ESP of the same file name.
An ESL file is just a plugin with the .ESL file name extension. They load high and can be good for avoiding worldspace conflicts.
Some of my Power Armor files are ESL flagged ESP. That IS an "ESLified" file. That file name still has the .ESP extension. They do not count against the ESM+ESP plugin limit but do allow moving the file in load order.
A couple of questions 4estGimp because I'm a bit confused:
1st. If I have a save where I was already using the original ESP from the Institute Power Armor Redux mod (MSTP_InstitutePowerArmor.esp), can I still install your ESL and continue playing without issues? I see you compacted the plugin for ESL but I'm not sure whether the FormIDs have changed. (I'm also wondering this to know if I should or shouldn't remove the original ESP from that mod, based on what your wrote at the end of your mod description I would imagine that I do have to remove or disable the original ESP, correct?)
2nd. Do you know if your ESL works with Institute Power Armor Redux Additions mod? (this one was made to be used with Institue Power Armor Redux mod, so I guess if the answer to my 1st question is that no, the FormIDs haven't changed from ESP to ESL then I would assume the Additions mod is safe to be used with your ESL?)
3rd. What would be the load order among these files? MSTP_InstitutePowerArmor.esl (main file in your mod), InstitutePowerArmor.esp (dummy file in your optional file, I assume it's just there to comply with dpillari's .esp so that saves don't complain about a missing .esp?) and 4estGIMP - dp MSTP Institute PA ESL Patch.esp (also in the optional file in your mod). Is the load order: first the .esl, then the dummy .esp, then the PA ESL Patch.esp?
Hi there! A bit confused here, maybe you can clear this up!
I see the new optional file:
Uses dpillari's Institute Power Armor HD Reboot with with 4estGimp - Institute Power Armor Redux - ESL
ONLY for use with 4estGimp - Institute Power Armor Redux - ESL
Includes a dummy InstitutePowerArmor.esp file.
I want to use this mod with both Institute Power Armor Redux and dpillari's HD Reboot.
What is the proper load order here? Do I need both the main mod and this patch? Does the patch quoted above go at the end of everything and overwrite the ESP from HD Reboot?
Why is the ESP in the optional file only a "dummy" one?
Can I still change the main file's ESL extension to ESP to move the mod in load order?
The Institute Power Armor Redux mod uses a totally different file than the basic Institute PA mod. dpillari made a replacement file for the old-school basic Institute PA mod and we don't want it. So I made a dummy file to nullify it. The patch contains all it's work inside a second file, 4estGimp - dp MSTP Institute PA ESL Patch.esp.
Nope. The master of a file is for the full name including extension. So the patch would no longer have a master if you changed the extension. It is possible to change the file name of the master using Wrye Bash though.
20 comments
1st. If I have a save where I was already using the original ESP from the Institute Power Armor Redux mod (MSTP_InstitutePowerArmor.esp), can I still install your ESL and continue playing without issues? I see you compacted the plugin for ESL but I'm not sure whether the FormIDs have changed. (I'm also wondering this to know if I should or shouldn't remove the original ESP from that mod, based on what your wrote at the end of your mod description I would imagine that I do have to remove or disable the original ESP, correct?)
2nd. Do you know if your ESL works with Institute Power Armor Redux Additions mod? (this one was made to be used with Institue Power Armor Redux mod, so I guess if the answer to my 1st question is that no, the FormIDs haven't changed from ESP to ESL then I would assume the Additions mod is safe to be used with your ESL?)
3rd. What would be the load order among these files? MSTP_InstitutePowerArmor.esl (main file in your mod), InstitutePowerArmor.esp (dummy file in your optional file, I assume it's just there to comply with dpillari's .esp so that saves don't complain about a missing .esp?) and 4estGIMP - dp MSTP Institute PA ESL Patch.esp (also in the optional file in your mod). Is the load order: first the .esl, then the dummy .esp, then the PA ESL Patch.esp?
For my mod, follow the Installation steps 1-4 on the main page PLUS the large red note below them.
Do i have to desactivate the esp from this optional file?
Can I turn InstitutePowerArmor.esp into an ESPFE or is there a reason not to flag it ?
Thank you for your time.
I see the new optional file:
I want to use this mod with both Institute Power Armor Redux and dpillari's HD Reboot.
What is the proper load order here? Do I need both the main mod and this patch? Does the patch quoted above go at the end of everything and overwrite the ESP from HD Reboot?
Why is the ESP in the optional file only a "dummy" one?
Can I still change the main file's ESL extension to ESP to move the mod in load order?
Thanks in advance!
- This mod
- Dpillari's mod
- The patch for both
The Institute Power Armor Redux mod uses a totally different file than the basic Institute PA mod. dpillari made a replacement file for the old-school basic Institute PA mod and we don't want it. So I made a dummy file to nullify it. The patch contains all it's work inside a second file, 4estGimp - dp MSTP Institute PA ESL Patch.esp.Edit: Nvm just read the last part...