Monday, April 4, 2011

Essential Tools and Tips


1. First off install Conscribe. Modify its ini as follows :
[ConsoleLog]
ScribeMode=PerSession
Includes=
Excludes=
[General]
TimeFormat=%Y-%m-%d %H-%M-%S
LogBackups=-1
RootDirectory=Default
This will make it keep infinite backups - per session - and sorted by date. It is very important if something goes wrong - you can check exactly when it happened. Add the folder Conscribe keeps its logs to the WB ini :
sCustom17=C:\GAMES\TESIV\Oblivion\Data\ConScribe Logs
sCustom17opt=-Option(s)
sCustom17txt=Conscribe Logs
This is deprecated with the Apps folder.

2. Coming to talk of the WB ini a couple of useful settings are :
sScriptFileExt=.es4   ; this is the extension used by misterMcCoonie's Notepad++ definition file
bSkipHideConfirmation=1   ; does not ask you if you really want to hide a package
s7zExtraCompressionArguments= -ms=on -mx=9   ; solid Ultra compression
3. Updating WB from Sourceforge the easy way :
  • Lojack, from whom those instructions came, suggested to sync the whole oblivion folder - I took a modular approach (the non modular approach has some drawbacks, see below) .
  • Download and install Tortoise SVN - needs restart.
  • Right click on the "Bethesda Softworks\Oblivion\Mopy" folder->SVN Checkout...
  • For "URL of repository" use: https://oblivionworks.svn.sourceforge.net/svnroot/oblivionworks/Programs/Wrye%20Bash/Mopy/
  • For "Checkout directory", for example, use "C:\Program Files (x86)\Bethesda Softworks\Oblivion\Mopy".
  • Make sure it's set to "Fully recursive".
  • Click yes on the :
    The target folder
    C:\Games\Oblivion\Oblivion\Mopy
    is not empty!
    Are you sure you want to checkout/export into that folder?
    warning.
  • Let it update. I had to right click > revert on recently changed files (poor tortoise thought I actually edited the files and was willing to let me commit them - while they just were a couple revisions old). So open the Mopy folder and right click > Revert on all files with a red exclamation mark (select them all at once).
  • Rinse and repeat for Data\Bash Patches, Data\Ini tweaks and Data\Docs. Use respective urls (https://oblivionworks.svn.sourceforge.net/svnroot/oblivionworks/Programs/Wrye%20Bash/Data/Bash%20Patches/,
    https://oblivionworks.svn.sourceforge.net/svnroot/oblivionworks/Programs/Wrye%20Bash/Data/Docs/,
    https://oblivionworks.svn.sourceforge.net/svnroot/oblivionworks/Programs/Wrye%20Bash/Data/INI%20Tweaks/).
  • Now to sync a folder with the latest SVN right click on folder > SVN update. Done !

  • If taking the non modular approach : right click on the Oblivion folder > SVN Checkout... For "URL of repository" use: https://oblivionworks.svn.sourceforge.net/svnroot/oblivionworks/Programs/Wrye%20Bash. For "Checkout directory", make sure it didn't tack on a "Wrye Bash" to that, for example use "C:\Program Files (x86)\Bethesda Softworks\Oblivion". This also downloads the forum starter post, the.nsi etc. I will post a solution (if one does not want those files around). Also if using this approach you might get a purple question mark on all files/folders in the Oblivion\ folder that are not in the repository. A workaround exists by editing the registry. See here.
Now that you synced open up the Bash folders - you will notice a green checkmark on synced files - the ones with no checkmark are not (anymore) present in the SVN and are most (all) safe to delete - do not delete your .ini or bashed patch saved configs (etc) along.

4. And an autohotkey script to open your oblivion install folder - whether your 2006 install in Program Files or your C:\Games one or whatever :
^!0::     ; Ctrl + Alt + 0
    RootKey = HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE
    SubKey = SOFTWARE\Bethesda Softworks\Oblivion
    RegRead, Ob_path, % RootKey, % SubKey, Installed Path
    run %Ob_path%
return
TBC

Last edited : 2011.08.29 12.39 UTC