Here's the detailed instructions for using Oblivion Mod Manager:

Launch OBMM.
Click create.
Click add archive.
Browse to the mod archive you want to convert and open it (this will import the files from the selected archive). <--And right here's where I'm already lost. I don't understand what this is. What is this archive? The file I DLed?(Ulcom group of modded sites around Tamriel) because I was only able to open the file through 7Zip, where it now resides while I try to figure out how I get it to the OBMM. I'm completely lost, here.

Archives are files of the format .7z, .rar, .zip, etc. What are you trying do? Most mod downloads are packed in compressed archives of those types.


--Tomlong75210


Edit: Here are some links to my dev site, a private wiki, but you might find the information helpful. If you have any questions about anything, post 'em in this thread.

http://tesposi.animolious.com/wiki/Oblivion:Intro_to_Mods <-- read this first
http://tesposi.animolious.com/wiki/Oblivion:Complete_Installation_Guide#Introduction

okay man, you are just over-thinking it.
To make an omod;

1) simply click the "create" button.
2)determine whether you have a .zip file, open files/folders, or an omod file and ensure the files are in the appropriate sub-folders or that you have omod conversion data in the main folder
(Proper format would match that of your own Oblivion/Data directory etc.- Textures/blahblah/blahblah/ actual texture file and not in other weird mixed up messes)
3)if you have a file in a archived format (aka. 7zip, winzip, rar, etc.) hit "add archive"
4)if you have a file that is already in omod format just hit load and bingo you can load up the omod into your library
5) if they are loose folders click (add folders/files or whatever)
6) it will go through a ton of steps, if you have conversion data then it will detect it and prompt you about whether it should be used (Chances are you should use it)
7) you will have a new omod in your library if it is red it conflicts with other mods, you can see the conflicts by right clicking--->view data conflicts
8) if it is green there are no comflicts
9) load the omod, double-check to make sure everything ended up approximately in the right areas and activate/enjoy.
Hope this helped you.

If you're only looking for OMOD installation instructions: http://tesposi.animolious.com/wiki/Oblivion:OMOD_Installation


Happy gaming!
--Tomlong75210

http://www.google.ca/url?sa=t&source=web&cd=1&ved=0CBcQFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fcs.elderscrolls.com%2Fconstwiki%2Findex.php%2FHow_To_Create_an_OMOD&ei=3yf0TZD3DMWztwf41LWQBw&usg=AFQjCNFzIdP99M4UaAZpzjzcY0DBxadKaQ

Edit: ...tired...

I can't see the point of making a post highlighting a link that's included in one already given.
Is it just me? :cryvaultboy:

Edit: ...tired...

First off, a sincere apology to evabuddy. The detailed responses only make my whiny post look even more juvenile. In my weak defense, I've had trouble sleeping for a couple of days now, thus cranky. Plus, I've recently upgraded my gpu and installed a great, stable power supply, so I was/am excited to find and utilize the awesome texture/graphics mods I've seen @Nexus and elsewhere. So, while I haven't yet started trying out the suggestions here, I see now that I was already going in the wrong direction, because although I'd read about changing the mod files to "omod" form, the thought never entered my mind when trying to install the 'ULcomp' suite of mods, where different areas in Tamriel have been designed by modders, so that each area looks entirely different from any other, as well as completely and aesthetically superior to the vanilla surroundings.

Being computer illiterate( my situation is like a guy who can barely drive, buying and trying to drive a Dodge Viper) I ended up downloading the mod program into the 7Zip Manager folder, and, I guess, it's still in it's compressed format. I already have OBMM installed. I think a great deal of my problem is that I don't understand the terminology used to describe how to move and/or alter a file/program from one place to another. Man, I'm so confused I can't even explain how confused I am.

I'll try and read the help at the sites suggested, and at least learn enough to be able to explain what I don't understand. Again, thank you all for being so helpful to an old, cranky guy trying to do things without a shred of comprehension of what he's doing.

No problem, and this post is much more helpful because there is in fact already an OMOD upload for all of the ULs. You don't have to make your own. It's scripted and everything: http://www.tesnexus.com/downloads/file.php?id=19370


Happy gaming!
--Tomlong75210


Edit: OMG, I didn't know that it had been made BAIN compatible. That's awesome. I can download that instead of downloading all of the individual ULs. Sweet!

That's the file I've DLed. How do I get it into the OBMM, and from there into the game files?

OMOD-Ready [edit]

• Launch OBMM
  
• Click on "Create" (bottom bar)
  
• Use "Add archive," and navigate to the OMOD-ready archive, the file you downloaded.
  
• Click "Create omod".

To install the OMOD after it's been created, just double-click on it.


--Tomlong75210

I did all that, but the browser only takes me to the 7Zip folder/lang, rather than to the OMOD files. I don't know why, 'cause I can see the files in the 7Zip folder otherwise.

I have re-downloaded the files, but I'm holding off on trying anything, because I see that there is OMOD conversion data file that seems to have all of the data involved. Is this the only one I need to extract? And where should I extract it so that the OBMM can find it?

Thanks for any help.

After installing OBMM it will create a folder called obmm in your Oblivion directory. Within that folder is another called mods.
Unzip the OMOD ready file to that folder.
Open OBMM and navigate to that folder. From there follow Tomlong's instructions.

After you click on create, you need to go into your downloads, select the archive - highlight it - then click on the "open".
You may have to wait a while for OBMM to load the archive, but when you see the plugins/data files appear, then click the "create omod" button.
You will get a pop up that says the archive has multiple esp/directories.... There will be a question- Do You Wish To Continue? yes/no - click yes
A second pop up that says OMOD conversion information is available, would you like to import it? - click on yes
Wait for OBMM to create the OMOD......
When OBMM is done you will get a popup that says "OMOD creation succesful"
You should be able to install the OMOD at this point, When you install it you will be asked a few questions, then depending on your answers the OMOD will install everything into your Data Folder.
You can then run BOSS and enjoy the new scenery (hopefully)
If you do get the prompt asking you what program would you like to use to open the archive, You should be able to select OBMM.

After following TomLong's instructions I got the OBMM to go to the mods folder where I thought I'd extracted to, but it states that nothing is there.

I've tried again, but with the same results. The 7Zip program says, while it's extracting, "Cannot open output files...individual file data-there's 3 files in the omod-config, info, and script. And when I open the "mods" folder, it is indeed empty.

I have had problems like this for...ever it seems, but every time, it's been some small detail I've missed. I know this is probably the same situation, and I sincerely apologize for being so stone-ignorant.

Okay, I now have a small pop-up window indicating "Compressing". I think this is correct? Regardless, my first problem is that I have never learned the "right" way to navigate to folders/files. Once I tried going to Downloads instead of using my standard C:\...method, I was able to follow your instructions, and then TomLong's.

Sorry, but what is BOSS?

Okay, now I have clicked the omod, and got the "Decompressing" window, and all the files are now in the Oblivion "esp" folder. Is that all I need to do? (I'm about to start giggling like a schoolgirl!)

The OMOD Conversion Data is the instructions for OBMM to use when it creates an OMOD out of the archive - an archive is the zipped folder from a website like TESNexus, Planet Elder Scrolls or TES Alliance.
An OMOD ready archive just means the archive has the OMOD creation info already, but you need to make the folder into an OMOD yourself using OBMM. You want to turn the ULComp165-19370-1 zipped archive itself into an OMOD.
Some mods that do not have an omod installation script need to be extracted into a folder, then you inspect the folder to make sure everything you need is inside. You can use OBMM to turn the folder into an OMOD, but this can take up to an hour with a large mod, I know this from turning 800 Mb downloads into OMODS.
I also remember what a pain trying to do this my first time was, and I disliked forgetting to mention that everything you need to do to create an OMOD is done with OBMM.
The readme for OBMM is accessed thru the "help" button, but it does not go into great detail.
EDIT http://www.tesnexus.com/downloads/file.php?id=20516 is a utility that alters the order of your esp and esm files to prevent conflicts

Thanks bradleyh. It seems I've somehow successfully installed this mod into the 'esp' load folder, after the "Compressing", clicking on the ULComp that showed up, "Decompressing" and answering two questions concerning performance issues. Is that all I need to do?

Also, is this the usual way to install "omod-ready" mods like this one? If so, I think I'll be very happy using them only, until I can read up more to get the idea behind the "converting to omod" formula.

Yes, this is the usual way, P.S. I placed a reply to your BOSS question as an edit in my last post, and I am glad you finally got the UL Compilation to work!

Okay, now to problems with BOSS. I have it installed, or rather, it self-installed, and now the DOS program of BOSS opens, says it's "Sorting programs files...", closes, and opens a web-browser page with a whole list of the Oblivion DLCs, like the ORRERY, etc. saying something about cleaning the files. Now, I've gone to a wiki of the TES4Edit_Cleaning_Guide (the actual page to this would not open for me; I had to go to a cached copy of the web-page for some reason.) where it has a whole lot of instructions on how to use this, all of them far more confusing than the previous problems I encountered trying to DL/install the omod itself.

Is the BOSS program sorting the .esp files automatically? And do I need this "cleaning" program as well, because if so, I quit. Seriously, it's just too much.

BOSS sorts automatically, and also provides a log file with usual content--such as noting when you have an out-of-date ESP that can be replaced, or some potential ESP conflicts. You can take action on these or not; it's your choice. But again, the sorting of your load order is done by BOSS.

Don't worry for now about cleaning your files with TES4Edit, or Wrye Bash. Just get up and running. Plenty of time once you've played for a bit to consider other matters.

The cleaning is optional, BOSS will automatically sort the esp and esm files that it recognises, but the ones it does not recognise may need to be hand sorted.