I'm wanting to clean-up my load list by manually combining related mods in the construction set. For example combining all four Windows Glow mods seems simple enough right? I've attempted a few combinations in the past and have not been pleased with buggy behaviour afterwards. My first attempts were with clothing mods. After a quick search of this site and googling for other peoples I've not come up with much at all. If there's something I've overlooked please link it here and I'll take a look. Thanks in advance.

Combining plug-ins is pretty simple, assuming they don't conflict with each other. Here are a few sure-fire steps (that have helped me in the thousands of files I've had to merge for TR over the years).

Step 1: Load all the plug-ins you want to merge together in the CS. Do NOT set any of them as active.
Step 2: Again, NO active plug-in! Also, make sure you don't modify anything. As soon as you load the plug-ins, don't do anything except proceed to Step 3.
Step 3: Go to File > Combine loaded plug-ins, select "Yes", and then choose a file name, such as "Combined Plug-Ins". Then save.
Step 4: Exit the CS and delete all your separate plug-ins from the Data Files folder once you've documented your combined plug-in to your satisfaction, so that you know which plug-ins are included in it.

That's all. Hope it helps.

Thank you for your help. What happens when you do alter the plugin before combination? Just curious about the inner workings of the process.

Some of the info on http://gmml.pbworks.com/MergeMods may help

When you modify an object or landscape while some mods are selected as passive, you run the risk of losing everything except the things you modify. I know this is true 100% of the time when you have loaded both an active and a passive mod (or mods) at the same time. For example, if you modify a rock and a tree in a given cell, then only that rock and tree and the cell data will be saved. Everything else (including the landscape data of that cell) will not be saved.

While I'm not sure about only passive, it's still practicing safe se--safe modding... and as such is a good idea to make a habit of.

Thank you both. That does make since.

Take a look at http://www.gamesas.com/index.php?/topic/1071136-merging-mods/page__p__15569643&#entry15569643 topic.

I know its a bit off topic but does the same procedure work for Oblivion CS? Ive never tried it before But I want to merge all my cosmetic mods (hairs, eyelashes, eyes & nails)

It should; I don't think they changed any of those features in the Oblivion CS.

Judassem, that was very helpful, thank you.