I'm taking two .esps and merging them together, following Miax' .pdf manual (most of these records happen to be overrides). It's pretty much working right, I'm copying from the top-most .esp down to the bottom one as deep-override, except in cases where the records do not exist within lower-most .esp, in that case I copy those as a new record, and things seem to be going well.

But then I get to a spot where, top-most .esp has created an activator of its own, and, placed a ref of that type into the worldspace of DLC02.

I think I am fudging the activator itself well enough by dropping its script off (temporarily, you know) and merging it that way, and then I expect to reapply the script once its set.

But that ref in the DLC02 worldspace is being trouble. I can't figure out how to make that go. It is, expectedly, complaining that that I need to add top-most .esp as a master. I understand why (I think) but I don't know how to overcome it. It needs to copy it into the worldspace in a way to where it understands that the ref being placed is an activator that is sourced from lower-most .esp.

..... How does one go about this?

I could be making this harder than it really is. I'm kinda newbie to FO3edit.

When I copy objects from one esp to another, I load both esp wth the one I want everything copied into as the active mod.

I then 'rename' the stuff I want to copy and they become part of my new mod.

hm, that sounds like it would work for the activator but I don't see how it would work for the REF in the worldspace.

Could try it tho.

Select (prefereably multi-select) froms from the lower [02] plugin and R-Click -> Change Form ID -> select upper mod and all selected forms will be injected into the upper mod while their references will remain intact so you won't have to recompile scripts and such. From there, you can "copy as override into..." that upper plugin as said forms will be in the [01] range or whatever the load index is of the assimilating plugin.

Oh! After copying any new INFO, DIAL, REFR, ACHR, ACRE, PGRE, PMIS, NAVM, or CELL records into that upper mod, check it for 'orphans' (Children and/or World Children) as they'll mess things up if not properly contained or 'fostered' by their 'parent' records. If you see children, delete them, reload FO3Edit, then re-copy and all should copy over correctly the second time. If it's a cell which is already in the upper plugin, chances are new records won't be left orphaned while there's a chance they will be if that CELL/WRLD/DIAL 'parent' record wasn't already present.

Nice response Justin_Other. I need to update the manual to include your 2nd paragraph, I cover that in the manual.

I plan on doing a manual update soon to accompany the release of the FNV version of Fo3Edit, I'll make sure its in there.

Cheers,

Miax

Justin is god at this [censored] pretty much. It's great to see his advice in here.

I'm trying to start to learn it, since Phalanx in the future is going to require a bit more skill with this crap than I currently have.

My first efforts at doing this... oh man... I was trying to combine some plugins that master to one of them in their original form.. and I loaded my game .. oh man. Things look messed up. It wasn't a pretty sight.

But hey the game loaded without freezing up at the loading screen! Maybe that counts for something. Maybe.

In actual fact I think JustinOther knows more about the practical, tactical uses of Fo3Edit than anyone else (including Elminster). It's one thing to know the machanics of how a tool works, another thing to have built the tool and know those mechanics inside-out. But its only when the ultimate power-users get the tools and use them in ways we never intended that we realize how far the software can Actually go.

When the FNV version of the tutorial is done, I've already asked him to review and point out mistakes so I get it right.

Danke, Miax Hopefully that tidbit will spare some folks the trouble of having their orphans unceremoniously deleted by the GECK and wondering WTF happened to their records and/or having their plugin(s) mysteriously crash.

Glad some of the trials and errors I've encountered/FO3Edit tactics to overcome them are useful to you guys. Most of my familiarity with FO3Edit is due to using TES4Edit a BUNCH merging Oblivion mods together to keep my load order under control. I'd have never though I would end up so hooked on a program, but those colors are hypnotic ...or something. @_@

* <3 FO3Edit/TES4Edit *

Tarrant: If ever you want plugins merged and are still having any trouble, send 'em to me and I'll be glad to hand merge them and send 'em back ASAP. I'd be more than happy to help you catch up with the stand-alone Phalanx by helping with the merging tasks as I greatly appreciate all your time and energy spent on FOOK and am totally willing to reciprocate. Alternatively, know I'm always down to answer merging questions over PM's/IM's if you'd rather do it yourself.

I look forward to working with you on the update, your knowledge will be invaluable. I'll be PMing you very soon.

Cheers,

Miax

Likewise, Miax. Say 'when'. I'm steadily piecing together a huge update for FOOK, merging in the hotfixes and update files from Tarrant and Xporc into new main files, but can mix it up and proofread a chapter or two a night and reply if I've any input or tips that would fit in well.

go away miax, me and xporc wanna hog ALL of Justin's available dev time!!!

oh wait did I just say that.

^H^H^H^H^H^H^H^H^H^H^H^H^H^H^H^H^H

lolol! dem's fightin words! :gun:

No worries though - his knowledge of Fo3Edit is by now so strong and ingrained into his mind that I'm sure it no longer requires much thought to recollect it, correct my ramblings and add some real inspiration to the next revision.

Elminster also spun a new version of TES/Fo3Edit too - bringing the code base up to the latest revision of Delphi (works good too, a few small things I've noted that I need to submit to him). Even the Master is making preparations for the FNV release!

I could almost swear he works for Beth except that he so strongly disapproves of the state(s) of the .esms they release (having junk lying around in them and such). If it weren't for that I'd really be thinkin we had a stealth dev among us.

Makes you wonder sometimes.

have you ever listened to Elminster as he discusses the guts of the game? omg. Its like you want to understand and you're really trying.. buuuuut.....