[sophie]

BOSS

A plugin load order optimizer for TES IV: Oblivion

Introduction

BOSS is designed to assist mod users in avoiding detrimental conflicts, by setting the correct load order for the plugins they have installed. BOSS also provides thousands of plugin-specific messages, including usage notes, Bash Tag suggestions, requirements, incompatibilities, bug warnings and installation mistake notifications. It supports the sorting of plugins ghosted by the Wrye *ash (Wrye Bash, Wrye Flash, Wrye Flash NV, Wrye Smash) utilities, is highly customizable, has been translated into multiple languages, and is simple to use.

Although BOSS recognizes tens of thousands of plugins, it is not a complete solution to load ordering issues, as there are many new mods constantly being created. To properly place unrecognized plugins, a good working knowledge of mod load ordering is still necessary, for which some research and documentation reading will go a long way. See the "Introduction To Load Orders" section of BOSS's readme for an overview.

Downloads

BOSS can be downloaded from its http://boss-developers.github.io/.

BOSS uses a Master List text file to sort mods into the proper load order. The masterlist updates can usually be downloaded via the BOSS GUI. If for whatever reason the GUI isn't functioning properly you can download the most recent masterlist files from http://www.nexusmods.com/oblivion/mods/45765 or from http://www.theassimilationlab.com/forums/files/file/1102-boss-masterlist-for-oblivion.

Contributions & Help

The BOSS Masterlist, BOSS Forum Thread, and Master List download pages are maintained by mhahn123. Current development for the BOSS program itself is being undertaken by Deaths_Soul (aka VisceralMoonlight). DS has dedicated a huge amount of time trying to get a functional BOSS update ready for download. Expect to see that become available some time in the very near future. One development point to take note of is continued functionality when using Windows XP. Some of the library components used internally by BOSS have begun to drop support for Windows XP with recent updates. As of right now, the WIP BOSS still functions with XP. But as time goes on that functionality may be lost in future updates. We suggest upgrading to Windows 7 or later if you haven't already done so.

General discussion, and the submission of questions, suggestions and unrecognized or unclean mods, takes place in BOSS's official threads, which are linked to at the bottom of its http://boss-developers.github.io/.

User contribution of additions and corrections to the masterlist are vital to the upkeep of BOSS. Let us know what you know by posting information here in this forum or on either of the masterlist download sites. Lists of unrecognized mods are welcome, but the only way we can get them added in a timely manner is if we get the following info:

• The correctly spelled .esm or .esp file name(s).
• A link to where the description, download or readme can be found to read or download.
• A brief description of each mod will also help. Feel free to make load order suggestions.

Lists of unclean mods are also very welcome, but for the report to be most useful we require:

• The correctly spelled .esm or .esp file name(s).
• The number of Identical To Master records removed (the ITM count) as shown by TES4Edit/TES5Edit (not the number of records processed).
• The number of records undeleted (the UDR count) as shown by TES4Edit/TES5Edit (not the number of records processed).
• The CRC(s) of the unlcean ESP/ESM file name(s). Make sure that the CRCs are of the uncleaned files, not the files after cleaning. The CRC(s) may be calculated using BOSS, Wrye *ash or 7-zip, with other sources being unverified as correct. In the case of 7-zip, the "CRC checksum for data" is the one required.

License

See the ReadMe in the download for more information.

Previous Threads

Spoiler

http://www.gamesas.com/topic/1540888-boss-for-oblivion-thread-50

http://www.gamesas.com/topic/1515293-rel-boss-for-oblivion

http://www.gamesas.com/topic/1498853-rel-boss-for-oblivion

http://www.gamesas.com/topic/1434397-rel-boss-for-oblivion

http://www.gamesas.com/topic/1404766-rel-boss-for-oblivion

[Veronica Flores]

The zipped version of the version 2.3.2 works like a charm. Thanks deaths_soul.

raed

[Rozlyn Robinson]

So your bug has been fixed, then? Excellent! Once the installation kinks get worked out, I can finally put XP support out to the pasture.


For the curious, the next big release is going to be known as Spunky Panda. I like pandas.

[Louise Andrew]

Has anyone else been having issues with the installer? Either on 64-bit or 32-bit? If you're able to specify which executables are installed (32-bit or 64-bit) too that may help with tracking down the issue.

[Eve Booker]

I have WIn 10 64 bit running. The installer did not see my older version of BOSS. So I just uninstalled the old version and installed the latest version. No hiccups.

Raed

[latrina]

Thanks, sounds like I messed the paths up somewhere. I'll see if I can track it down.

[Darlene Delk]

The installer overwrote my current my current installation without comment or uninstallation, but I personally don't have a problem with that. Win7-64 here.

[naome duncan]

Hmm, how strange. Vorians, do you also use Windows 10? Supierce, which Windows are you running?

[Hayley O'Gara]

Windows 7 Home Premium 64.

[Anthony Santillan]

What happens if the installer is run after installing 2.3.2? Does it detect the current install or does it still fail?

[noa zarfati]

I added BOSS/LOOT report right click menu in the latest version of xEdit for convinience, hope you'll find it useful

http://s17.postimg.org/87vzxccel/image.png

[NAkeshIa BENNETT]

Absolutely wonderful!! Thanks man

[Irmacuba]

I use Windows 10 x64

Running the installer again when 2.3.2 is already installed (onto D drive) results in no acknowledgement of the existing install and a suggestion to install to C:\BOSS.

EDIT

Andalay's post from previous BOSS thread:

I don't know, I wasn't asked whether I wanted 32-bit or 64-bit, it just installed. Task Manager does not label BOSS_GUI.exe as (32 bit) so I assume that I have the 64 bit version of BOSS installed.

[Jerry Cox]

Thanks, sounds like it's looking for a registry key different from that being written. One is probably the 64-bit one and the other the 32-bit one. That helps narrow things down.

[Marlo Stanfield]

Just edited my previous post to reply to Andalay's question from the previous BOSS thread.

[Brian LeHury]

Could you guys try http://www.theassimilationlab.com/forums/files/file/1254-boss-installer-test/ installer and see if it works any better? I made some changes to hopefully get it to look at the right registry keys.

[Emily Graham]

No change... there's no recognition of the installed version or prompt for 32/64 bit installation. It does install the 64 bit version correctly.

[Davorah Katz]

Not prompting for 32-bit/64-bit installation is intended, it's supposed to just pick the one that works with the architecture.

Okay, I'll keep digging through the NSIS documentation and see if I can figure out what's going on.

[Heather Stewart]

Same result for me, did not acknowledge an existing installation.

[phillip crookes]

What happens if the new installer is used to install and then run again? Does it properly detect the install that was installed the second run?

[Conor Byrne]

No, there's no difference.

[Ebony Lawson]

So the change I made had no effect, thanks.

[Claire]

2.3.2 keeps crashing with me. I'm on win 10 1511 x64. Sometimes it works but today it just won't get past this error

http://i66.tinypic.com/xge93n.jpg

[Franko AlVarado]

Can you double check the version by passing --version to BOSS on the comamnd-line? 2.3.2 was supposed to have fixed one issue like that and there may be another but I want to verify that is's actually 2.3.2 first.

[how solid]

I'm going through the master list and see some dirty messages either with incomplete CRCs (some digits are missing) or without a CRC check.

For example:

Gateaux et sucreries.esp
//French version of above. Keep them together for neatness.
  IF CHECKSUM("Gateaux et sucreries.esp", F4DEEC) DIRTY: 21 ITM, 0 UDR records. Needs TES4Edit cleaning: "http://cs.elderscrolls.com/index.php?title=TES4Edit_Cleaning_Guide"

Cryptic Festive Ayleid Dining Set.esp
  TAG: {{BASH: Names, Graphics, Stats}}
  SAY: Needs TES4Edit cleaning: "http://cs.elderscrolls.com/index.php?title=TES4Edit_Cleaning_Guide"
  SAY: Only use one 'Cryptic's X X X Dining Set' plugin.

The first one appears to have 2 digits missing while the latter one doesn't do a check nor does it have much information. Any preference on how lines like this should be handled? Should they just be removed or what? Or maybe a message should be written to the log when an incomplete CRC is encountered about how the item may need to be cleaned and have its CRC corrected?

I ask as I'm thinking about moving a lot of the repetitive messages to constants to help condense the master list to just the specific commands and information (for example: dirty: crc: x item: y udr: z) and make it easier to read.