The Creation Kit doesn't work by default with Enderal.
This post will teach you why and how to fix it.
Quick-Fix
"Just get it working"
The Creation Kit can only be executed from the steamapps\common\Steam folder. Additionally, it is hardcoded to look for Documents\My Games\Skyrim.ini and Documents\My Games\SkyrimPrefs.ini, which Enderal doesn't use.
The SKSE version that comes with Enderal doesn't support the current version of the Creation Kit, so you cannot run the CK through SKSE to use the SkyrimRedirector plugin to redirect those files.
Symbolic Links
We're going to use Symbolic Links. These are like shortcuts, but they're followed automatically by any program without any extra logic. If you make a symbolic link at My Games\Skyrim that has My Games\Enderal as a target, every file that is read or written to My Games\Skyrim will end up at My Games\Enderal instead.
Unfortunately, you can only create Symbolic Links as an admin in Windows. So, in order to run any scripts or commands that follow, make sure you're running as an Administrator.
To make a symbolic link named LinkName targeting the directory TargetDir in cmd, you can use:
If you're making a symbolic link named LinkName targeting the file TargetFile in cmd, you can use:
To make a symbolic link named LinkName targeting the file or directory TargetItem in PowerShell, you can use:
The Solution
If you want to keep the Creation Kit at steamapps\common\Skyrim, you can just make a symbolic link at Skyrim\Data targeting the directory Enderal\Data. This works, but doesn't help with organization if you want to keep both Skyrim and Enderal installed at the same time.
So it might be better to rename your Skyrim folder, make a symbolic link at steamapps\common\Skyrim targeting the directory steamapps\common\Enderal, then copy the CK files to the Enderal folder or re-download it on Steam so that the files are copied there automatically.
This way, you can change which installation the CK will run on just by changing the "Skyrim" link to point to "Enderal" or to your actual Skyrim folder, and all files are kept in a single folder if you have just Enderal installed. This is the method used by the Quick-Fix.
Additionally, you'll have to edit your SkyrimEditor.ini to point to the right .bsa files. You can use the SkyrimEditor.ini included in the QuickFix.zip, or find the [Archive] section and add or replace the following entries:
While those are the bare minimum required to run the CK, Skyrim.ini and SkyrimPrefs.ini are also read by the program to apply extra options such as the 3D rendering quality. You'll have to make three links in your documents folder to redirect those: One link named My Games\Skyrim targeting the directory My Games\Enderal, one link named My Games\Skyrim\Skyrim.ini targeting the file My Games\Enderal\Enderal.ini, and one link named My Games\Skyrim\SkyrimPrefs.ini targeting My Games\Enderal\EnderalPrefs.ini.
The directory link alone is not sufficient like the other links because the names of the files are different in this case.
Scripts Sources
If you open the CK now, you'll notice that it works, but you're unable to see any script sources. That's because the script source files in Enderal come packed in a .bsa, but the Creation Kit can only read loose files.
You'll need to use a program that can read .BSAs, such as Bethesda Archive Extractor, to open the "Data\E - Scripts.bsa" archive and extract the "scripts\source" folder from inside the .BSA to your Data folder.
When you're done, your should have a bunch of .psc files inside of the Enderal\Data\Scripts\Source directory, and the CK should show you the source code of scripts and let you edit them now.
Tutorial Changelog
24 February 2019: The script no longer relies on "_ReadPaths.bat", so this should fix issues with Right Click -> Run as Admin changing the current path to System32. Thanks OverDev for pointing this out.
This post will teach you why and how to fix it.
Quick-Fix
"Just get it working"
- Uninstall the Creation Kit if you already have it installed
- Download and unzip the QuickFix.zip attachment
- Run Link.bat as an admin
- Install the Creation Kit via Steam
- Replace SkyrimEditor.ini on your Enderal folder with the one from the zip
- Optionally, extract the "E - Scripts.bsa" archive to your Data folder to make scripts editable
The Creation Kit can only be executed from the steamapps\common\Steam folder. Additionally, it is hardcoded to look for Documents\My Games\Skyrim.ini and Documents\My Games\SkyrimPrefs.ini, which Enderal doesn't use.
The SKSE version that comes with Enderal doesn't support the current version of the Creation Kit, so you cannot run the CK through SKSE to use the SkyrimRedirector plugin to redirect those files.
Symbolic Links
We're going to use Symbolic Links. These are like shortcuts, but they're followed automatically by any program without any extra logic. If you make a symbolic link at My Games\Skyrim that has My Games\Enderal as a target, every file that is read or written to My Games\Skyrim will end up at My Games\Enderal instead.
Unfortunately, you can only create Symbolic Links as an admin in Windows. So, in order to run any scripts or commands that follow, make sure you're running as an Administrator.
To make a symbolic link named LinkName targeting the directory TargetDir in cmd, you can use:
Code Select all
mklink /D "LinkName" "TargetDir"Code Select all
mklink "LinkName" "TargetFile"Code Select all
New-Item -Type SymbolicLink -Path "LinkName" -Target "TargetItem"If you want to keep the Creation Kit at steamapps\common\Skyrim, you can just make a symbolic link at Skyrim\Data targeting the directory Enderal\Data. This works, but doesn't help with organization if you want to keep both Skyrim and Enderal installed at the same time.
So it might be better to rename your Skyrim folder, make a symbolic link at steamapps\common\Skyrim targeting the directory steamapps\common\Enderal, then copy the CK files to the Enderal folder or re-download it on Steam so that the files are copied there automatically.
This way, you can change which installation the CK will run on just by changing the "Skyrim" link to point to "Enderal" or to your actual Skyrim folder, and all files are kept in a single folder if you have just Enderal installed. This is the method used by the Quick-Fix.
Additionally, you'll have to edit your SkyrimEditor.ini to point to the right .bsa files. You can use the SkyrimEditor.ini included in the QuickFix.zip, or find the [Archive] section and add or replace the following entries:
Code Select all
SResourceArchiveList=Skyrim - Animations.bsa, Skyrim - Interface.bsa, Skyrim - Meshes.bsa, Skyrim - Misc.bsa, Skyrim - Shaders.bsa, Skyrim - Sounds.bsa, Skyrim - Textures.bsa, Skyrim - Voices.bsa, Update.bsa
SResourceArchiveList2=E - Meshes.bsa, E - Music.bsa, E - Scripts.bsa, E - Sounds.bsa, E - Textures1.bsa, E - Textures2.bsa, E - Textures3.bsa, L - Textures.bsa, L - Voices.bsa
The directory link alone is not sufficient like the other links because the names of the files are different in this case.
Scripts Sources
If you open the CK now, you'll notice that it works, but you're unable to see any script sources. That's because the script source files in Enderal come packed in a .bsa, but the Creation Kit can only read loose files.
You'll need to use a program that can read .BSAs, such as Bethesda Archive Extractor, to open the "Data\E - Scripts.bsa" archive and extract the "scripts\source" folder from inside the .BSA to your Data folder.
When you're done, your should have a bunch of .psc files inside of the Enderal\Data\Scripts\Source directory, and the CK should show you the source code of scripts and let you edit them now.
Tutorial Changelog
24 February 2019: The script no longer relies on "_ReadPaths.bat", so this should fix issues with Right Click -> Run as Admin changing the current path to System32. Thanks OverDev for pointing this out.
Attachments
QuickFix.zip
(7.21 KiB) Downloaded 7194 times
Thanks! 
I have followed your Quick-Fix and got the CK running. I just have one noob question: how do I get the CK back to where it was once I'm done modding Enderal and would like to return Skyrim?
I have followed your Quick-Fix and got the CK running. I just have one noob question: how do I get the CK back to where it was once I'm done modding Enderal and would like to return Skyrim?
27.02.2019 23:10Aisis wrote: Thanks!
I have followed your Quick-Fix and got the CK running. I just have one noob question: how do I get the CK back to where it was once I'm done modding Enderal and would like to return Skyrim?
It will automatically delete the symbolic links and restore the Skyrim folder backups that Link.bat made
You may need to re-download the Creation Kit after that (if it isn't in the steamapps/Skyrim folder after unlinking)
Uh-oh. 
I've done the uninstall and now all of my stuff from Skyrim is gone. 
I'm pretty sure I've done all as it should be, but it is simply an empty folder. Is there any chance go get it back or is it all gone forever?
I've done the uninstall and now all of my stuff from Skyrim is gone. I'm pretty sure I've done all as it should be, but it is simply an empty folder. Is there any chance go get it back or is it all gone forever?
17.03.2019 14:03Aisis wrote: Uh-oh.
Link.bat backups your folders with .SkyrimBackup, so My Games\Skyrim becomes My Games\Skyrim.SkyrimBackup and steamapps\common\Skyrim becomes steamapps\common\Skyrim.SkyrimBackup.
Unlink.bat then deletes My Games\Skyrim and steamapps\common\Skyrim and renames the .SkyrimBackup folders, removing the .SkyrimBackup suffix.
If the unlinking just failed, you should still have the .SkyrimBackup folders with your data.
If you ran Unlink.bat twice, it deleted your actual Skyrim folders thinking they were Enderal links made with Link.bat, so it's truly gone
Hi,
I'm running windows 10 and when I run the link program I get an error message that says that I do not have sufficient privileges. I know I'm supposed to be running it as an admin but I don't know how to do that. Normally, I would right click->run as admin but I don't get that option with cmd. Is that the correct error? Can someone help me run CMD as an admin?
Much Appreciated!
*Edit* - I was dumb, and hadn't extracted the programs first.
I'm running windows 10 and when I run the link program I get an error message that says that I do not have sufficient privileges. I know I'm supposed to be running it as an admin but I don't know how to do that. Normally, I would right click->run as admin but I don't get that option with cmd. Is that the correct error? Can someone help me run CMD as an admin?
Much Appreciated!
*Edit* - I was dumb, and hadn't extracted the programs first.
hello Betzken
there is no official support for external tools, so we could only try to find an errors.
Were there any bugs similar to yours in the tread before and did you do everything exactly as described?
Did you get any error message?
Did you install Skyrim and Enderal under C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\SteamApps\common\? (or adjusted the path)
Have you used one of the BAT files more than once?
There are currently SkyrimBackup files, as in the description?
Possibly there are alternatives, but in German
there is no official support for external tools, so we could only try to find an errors.
Were there any bugs similar to yours in the tread before and did you do everything exactly as described?
Did you get any error message?
Did you install Skyrim and Enderal under C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\SteamApps\common\? (or adjusted the path)
Have you used one of the BAT files more than once?
There are currently SkyrimBackup files, as in the description?
Possibly there are alternatives, but in German
16.02.2019 16:33Davipb wrote: The Creation Kit doesn't work by default with Enderal.
This post will teach you why and how to fix it.
Quick-Fix
"Just get it working"Followed these steps but Creation Kit load but always stay in "not responding" Any ideas what's the issue?
- Uninstall the Creation Kit if you already have it installed
- Download and unzip the QuickFix.zip attachment
- Run Link.bat as an admin
- Install the Creation Kit via Steam
- Replace SkyrimEditor.ini on your Enderal folder with the one from the zip
- Optionally, extract the "E - Scripts.bsa" archive to your Data folder to make scripts editable
Unfortunately I can't see what's going on on your PC or if it's a false configration.
Where does the program crash, at startup or immediately afterwards? (e.g. when opening a master file)
Then these are often configuration errors, e.g. not the BSA files under Data, which are noted in the SkyrimEditor.ini.
After running the link.bat, did you find the enderal files under ...\Steam\SteamApps\common\Skyrim?
If not, then the tool is incorrectly configured for your installation path
Have you otherwise looked at the alternative methods I've written?
There are too many possible causes here, which come into question in case of incorrect handling or rare installation locations,
then technical background knowledge is important for the user for this.
Where does the program crash, at startup or immediately afterwards? (e.g. when opening a master file)
Then these are often configuration errors, e.g. not the BSA files under Data, which are noted in the SkyrimEditor.ini.
After running the link.bat, did you find the enderal files under ...\Steam\SteamApps\common\Skyrim?
If not, then the tool is incorrectly configured for your installation path
Have you otherwise looked at the alternative methods I've written?
There are too many possible causes here, which come into question in case of incorrect handling or rare installation locations,
then technical background knowledge is important for the user for this.
Recently I have found an easier and safer method , which I have described in the Enderal Guides section on Steam: https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/ ... 2136434669.
This concerns copying the Enderal Data folder and the SkyrimEditor.ini to the main Skyrim folder, after renaming these to EnderalData and EnderalEditor.ini. The guide describes the first setup inside the main Skyrim folder and provides a batch file for fast switching between using the Creation Kit for Skyrim or Enderal. No need to uninstall en re-install the CK, no chance to loose your Skyrim installation, and no linking or unlinking. When executing the batch file, it will detect which CK setup is used and switch to the other setup by renaming files and folders.
No hassle and works like a charm!
This concerns copying the Enderal Data folder and the SkyrimEditor.ini to the main Skyrim folder, after renaming these to EnderalData and EnderalEditor.ini. The guide describes the first setup inside the main Skyrim folder and provides a batch file for fast switching between using the Creation Kit for Skyrim or Enderal. No need to uninstall en re-install the CK, no chance to loose your Skyrim installation, and no linking or unlinking. When executing the batch file, it will detect which CK setup is used and switch to the other setup by renaming files and folders.
No hassle and works like a charm!
Thanks for your new switching option, you can also publish your batch directly here, whether as text or archive (file attachment).
You have already pointed out possible annoying things, as well as that your version works without hardlink's.
You have already pointed out possible annoying things, as well as that your version works without hardlink's.
Thanks! I will prepare the batch file with complete instructions and then post it here. It may take some time.
Here is my fast and safe solution to switch between using the Creation Kit for Skyrim and Enderal. The batch file is best viewed in Notepad++ or a similar code editor.
The batch file will automatically detect the current CK setup. If the CK is setup for use with Skyrim, it will revert to Enderal and vice versa. Ofcourse you can rename the SkyrimData, EnderalData, EnderalEditor.ini and TempEditor.ini in the batch file to whatever you want, but do not rename Data and SkyrimEditor.ini, and be consistent throughout the batch file.
Feel free to translate the comments (preceded by two colons).
The batch file will automatically detect the current CK setup. If the CK is setup for use with Skyrim, it will revert to Enderal and vice versa. Ofcourse you can rename the SkyrimData, EnderalData, EnderalEditor.ini and TempEditor.ini in the batch file to whatever you want, but do not rename Data and SkyrimEditor.ini, and be consistent throughout the batch file.
Feel free to translate the comments (preceded by two colons).
Attachments
ck.zip
(1.05 KiB) Downloaded 578 times
Quick question:-
In the .bat it says "... either for Skyrim LE or for Enderal Forgotten Stories". Does this method (of using the CK) work correctly with the very original version of Skyrim? I think it will, but like many others I'm concerned about messing up my Skyrim installation.
In the .bat it says "... either for Skyrim LE or for Enderal Forgotten Stories". Does this method (of using the CK) work correctly with the very original version of Skyrim? I think it will, but like many others I'm concerned about messing up my Skyrim installation.
I think for all kinds of switching a little bit of knowledge about data management is necessary, i.e. renaming, File paths, moving etc.
If you are unsure, make copies of the folders in question beforehand, which you can move back if necessary.
Skyrim LE is the 32bit version of Skyrim, i.e. the old original, the same one that Enderal uses.
(Skyrim SE, the 64-bit version, is not meant here)
If everything is done as described, it is ok, otherwise errors are possible.
If you don't dare go there, maybe it's okay.
PS:
In order to use this kind of switching for other things, you have to adapt them before
If you are unsure, make copies of the folders in question beforehand, which you can move back if necessary.
Skyrim LE is the 32bit version of Skyrim, i.e. the old original, the same one that Enderal uses.
(Skyrim SE, the 64-bit version, is not meant here)
If everything is done as described, it is ok, otherwise errors are possible.
If you don't dare go there, maybe it's okay.
PS:
In order to use this kind of switching for other things, you have to adapt them before
Hi, I know about the 32/64 bit issue, but LE was released in 2013 is therefore not the version I bought (on 11/11/11). What I don't know is what, if any, differences there are between LE (which includes the content from the DLCs) and the original plus the actual DLCs.
Point taken about being careful with paths and such. I already have backups of the entire game - I do that periodically anyway - so hopefully I could correct any mistakes I make (but I'd rather not make any to begin with
).
Point taken about being careful with paths and such. I already have backups of the entire game - I do that periodically anyway - so hopefully I could correct any mistakes I make (but I'd rather not make any to begin with
).
SkyrimLE (Legendary Edition) has the DLC's with it, the simple version of Skyrim (Classic) does not have them yet.
Otherwise it is the same version, both 32bit, so both are ok for Enderal and for these tools.
SkyrimSE includes the DLC's, but this one has a slightly different engine, based on 64bit. Therefore not usable for Enderal.
I hope this will bring some clarity about the different versions.
Otherwise it is the same version, both 32bit, so both are ok for Enderal and for these tools.
SkyrimSE includes the DLC's, but this one has a slightly different engine, based on 64bit. Therefore not usable for Enderal.
I hope this will bring some clarity about the different versions.
Ok, thanks - I'll give it a go and see what happens. I really would like to get the CK up and running...
21.08.2020 11:06Screwball wrote: Quick question:-
In the .bat it says "... either for Skyrim LE or for Enderal Forgotten Stories". Does this method (of using the CK) work correctly with the very original version of Skyrim? I think it will, but like many others I'm concerned about messing up my Skyrim installation.
Make a copy of your Enderal Data folder and the SkyrimEditor.ini (from the QuickFix file) in a folder outside the Enderal folders. Rename the Data folder to EnderalData and the .ini file to EnderalEditor.ini. Then copy both to the Skyrim folder(.../Steam/SteamApps/common/Skyrim/). You now have 2 data folders (EnderalData and Data) and 2 .ini files (EnderalEditor.ini and SkyrimEditor.ini) in your Skyrim folder, where also CreationKit.exe resides.
If you want to use the CK for Enderal:
1. Rename the Data folder to SkyrimData
2. Rename SkyrimEditor.ini to TempEditor.ini
3.Rename the EnderalData folder to Data
4. Rename the EnderalEditor.ini to SkyrimEditor.ini
If you want to return to using the CK for Skyrim:
1. Rename the Data folder to EnderalData
2. Rename the SkyrimEditor.ini to EnderalEditor.ini
3. Rename the SkyrimData folder to Data
4. Rename the TempEditor.ini to SkyrimEditor.ini
Principally this is all that the batch file does, although I have noticed that the renaming sometimes may fail (Win 10 problem?).
No changes are made to your Skyrim installation, where the QuickFix solution may make changes to your installation if not used properly (for instance using Unlink twice as mentioned by Stephanie). Another con of QuickFix is that you have to uninstall and re-install the CK.
Hi there - thanks for the info.
Fyi I've not downloaded the Quickfix - I really didn't like the idea of using symlinks for this, though I can understand the suggestion.
I need to check the .bat again and read it carefully (or more carefully...) and have another go at it.
Cheers.
Fyi I've not downloaded the Quickfix - I really didn't like the idea of using symlinks for this, though I can understand the suggestion.
I need to check the .bat again and read it carefully (or more carefully...) and have another go at it.
Cheers.
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Archäologin und Mumiensammlerin? ja , alte Spiele grabe ich gerne wieder aus. Zumindest die, die es Wert sind, nicht vergessen zu werden.
, alte Spiele grabe ich gerne wieder aus. Zumindest die, die es Wert sind, nicht vergessen zu werden.Enderal-Support: Bitte lese zuerst (DE) , please read first (EN)
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Archäologin und Mumiensammlerin? ja , alte Spiele grabe ich gerne wieder aus. Zumindest die, die es Wert sind, nicht vergessen zu werden.
, alte Spiele grabe ich gerne wieder aus. Zumindest die, die es Wert sind, nicht vergessen zu werden.Enderal-Support: Bitte lese zuerst (DE) , please read first (EN)
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Archäologin und Mumiensammlerin? ja , alte Spiele grabe ich gerne wieder aus. Zumindest die, die es Wert sind, nicht vergessen zu werden.
, alte Spiele grabe ich gerne wieder aus. Zumindest die, die es Wert sind, nicht vergessen zu werden.Enderal-Support: Bitte lese zuerst (DE) , please read first (EN)
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Archäologin und Mumiensammlerin? ja , alte Spiele grabe ich gerne wieder aus. Zumindest die, die es Wert sind, nicht vergessen zu werden.
, alte Spiele grabe ich gerne wieder aus. Zumindest die, die es Wert sind, nicht vergessen zu werden.Enderal-Support: Bitte lese zuerst (DE) , please read first (EN)
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Profile - Stefanie
Archäologin und Mumiensammlerin? ja , alte Spiele grabe ich gerne wieder aus. Zumindest die, die es Wert sind, nicht vergessen zu werden.
, alte Spiele grabe ich gerne wieder aus. Zumindest die, die es Wert sind, nicht vergessen zu werden.Enderal-Support: Bitte lese zuerst (DE) , please read first (EN)
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