» Sat Feb 19, 2011 5:29 am Past Threads:
http://www.gamesas.com/index.php?/topic/1058962-relz-boss-for-fallout-3/
A simple "one-click" program for users to quickly optimise and avoid detrimental conflicts in their Fallout 3 mod load-order.
Features:
- Checks and correctly positions all the mod files involved with a FOOK install
- Supports over a large number of mods
- Warns the user about any commonly miss-installed files.
- Provides useful load order notes.
- Provides Wrye Bash for FO3 with Bash Patch tag suggestions which it will import.
- Is mostly right (most of the time)!
- Is under constant development and improvement by a team of modders and Fallout 3 experts.
- Differentiates between FOOK and non-FOOK set-ups.
BOSS is designed to assist installing a wide variety of other mods and help mod users avoid serious conflicts. It isn'?t a complete solution to load ordering issues as there are far too many mods out there (estimated at about 30 thousand). To properly place mods the program doesn'?t know about, a good working knowledge of Fallout 3 mod load ordering is going to be necessary. Some research and documentation reading will go a long way.
REQUIREMENTS:
Windows (or Wine), Fallout 3, some mods.
DOWNLOADS:
http://www.fallout3nexus.com/downloads/file.php?id=10193
There are no official mirrors at this time.
INSTALLATION AND USE:
1. Backup your load order with FOMM or Wrye Bash for FO3.
2. If you have Wrye Bash, make sure it has its "Lock Times" function deactivated.
4. Run BOSS-F.bat (the .bat file, not the .exe file).
The output of the utility will be displayed immediately. Read any notes, install errors if applicable and/or Wrye Bash Bashed Patch suggestions. Wrye Bash can import suggestions from BOSS-F and apply them automatically.
You will need to re-order "unknown" mods by hand with FOMM or Wrye Bash.
Wrye Bash automatically integrates BOSS's Bashed Patch suggestions from the masterlist.txt file. Some Bashed Patch suggestion can come with conditions and notes that require human intervention so read the suggestions BOSS makes thoroughly and adjust tags by hand if necessary.
UNINSTALLATION:
Delete BOSS-F.bat, BOSS-F.exe and masterlist.txt.
Also delete BOSSlog.txt, modlist.txt and modlist.old if BOSS-F has been run.
TROUBLESHOOTING:
Won't run: Using BOSS-F version under 1.51:
Update to version 1.51
Won't run: BOSS-F not extracted (unzipped) to ...\oblivion\data but a sub-folder or the Oblivion folder.
All BOSS-F files must share the same folder as your mods.
Check you have:
- BOSS-F.exe
- BOSS-F.bat
- masterlist.txt
Won't change load order: OS is Vista and FO3 is installed in Program Files.
Install FO3 outside the Program Files folder where possible. Otherwise temporarily deactivate UAC.
Won't Change load order and generating a blank text file: OS is Windows 7:
Give group or users name: BATCH controls of the Oblivion folder
Won't change load order: Wrye Bash's load order locking feature is enabled.
Disable before changing load order.
A text box flashes up but disappears.
Run BOSS-F.bat not BOSS-F.exe
FURTHER DETAILS:
There are no options, command-line switches or run-time choices to make.
The only thing this tool does is re-date files and create a couple of text files including one that is displayed to the user with (hopefully!) handy comments and/or install error messages.
Fallout.esm is never touched and all file dates are derived from it.
The program archive contains masterlist.txt which is, obviously, the master list of mods the program recognises and is the most frequently updated component of BOSS.
The output for the user to read is called BOSSlog.txt and is saved as a text file and displayed by Window's default text file handling program once BOSS has finished re-dating files.
The program generates a text file called modlist.txt which is your list of mods prior to re-ordering.
The changes BOSS-F makes can be undone in the following way:
- Rename masterlist.txt to masterlist.old (or any temporary name).
- Rename modlist.txt to masterlist.txt .
- Run BOSS-F.bat .
- Delete masterlist.txt .
- Rename masterlist.old to masterlist.txt .
One of the best ways more experienced users can use BOSS is to edit your own copy of masterlist.txt and include there any mods not listed. You can "merge" in new updates with the excellent free open-source WinMerge software. http://www.winmerge.org
CONTRIBUTIONS AND HELP:
Questions, suggestions, unrecognised mods and general discussion takes place http://www.gamesas.com/index.php?/topic/1058962-relz-boss-for-fallout-3/.
User corrections to the masterlist are vital. Let us know what you know.
Lists of unrecognised mods are welcome but the only way we can include them in the database in a timely way is if we get:
- The ESP/ESM file name(s) and
- 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.
UPDATES:
Updates are published from and the latest masterlist is always on Google Code Repository and the latest masterlist is always on Google Code Repository.
Files on Nexus are updated once a month or so. Always use latest dated files.
CREDITS:
Sources for the mod list and its order include: The guy that made FOLOT (Clatvicus or some such, correct me!!!!!) ; suggestions and instructions from many other modders; lots of advice and information from users. Some people have gone out of their way and provided continuing, expert and detailed help - thank you very much!
PROJECT MEMBERS
BOSS since the middle of 2009 been a collaborative project on Google Code using the SVN version tracking and editing engine.
Google Code Administrators:
- Arthmoor
- PacificMorrowind
- Random007
- WrinklyNinja
Oblivion Masterlist Developers:
- Alithelord
- Arthmoor
- PacificMorrowind
- Random007
- Riddling Lynx
- Tokc/Tokc.D.K.
- Vacuity
- WrinklyNinja
- ZiggyX
FO3 Masterlist Developers
- Alithelord
- Arthmoor
- PacificMorrowind
- Valda
Project members can be contacted on the Bethesda Game Studios Oblivion (and FO3) modding forum. Most can also be contacted on TesNexus.
LICENSE:
Better Oblivion Sorting Software and periodic updates are distributed under the [URL=http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0]Creative Commons Attribution Noncommercial No Derivative Works 3.0 Unported copyright license, some rights reserved, 2009-2010. Copyright is owned wholly by the Better Oblivion Sorting Software development team (see list of project members).
- BOSS may be copied and distributed freely as long as it is not changed and includes all the original files including this documentation.
- Commercial use of this software or masterlist.txt file is not permitted without permission.
- Publishing derivations and customisations of the program or masterlist.txt file is not permitted without permission. Ask first.
(for the summer at least...)
