SureAI

You should download the QuickFix, because you need to extract the SkyrimEditor.ini file from it. From my experience it's very well suited for use with the CK.

Let me know about your experiences with the batch files, as I don't yet understand why the renaming sometimes fails. Is it a Win 10 problem or have I made an error. Does it execute too fast, skipping certain comments, or what?

Ok, I'll download it and I'll let you know how I get on.
However, I can't help with Win10 as I'm still on Win7 and unlikely to change anytime soon (unless forced into it).

That might still be of help. If the batch file executes without occasional renaming failures, it might mean Win10 is the problem. Otherwise I will have go over the batch file statements .

@Altbert
Execution prevention by Windows is not new, this has mostly something to do with rights management, whether by Windows in general, write protection or an antivirus program or certain settings. The installation location(e.g. do not install under C:\Program Files (x86)) also plays a role here, just like in rare cases a third party software.
If all rights have been checked unsuccessfully, it often helps to start as administrator.

@Stefanie
Thanks, rights management is not my favorite part in Windows. I just tested the batch file several times and folder and ini file were renamed correctly each time, not running the file as administrator, meaning I have correctly set my user rights. Antivirus and 3rd party software are not interfering. All my games are installed under Program Files (x86).

Firstly...
The ck.bat file.

Note - you're checking the existence of the folders without setting the full path to them. Potential problem?

If a shortcut is created to this file (ck.bat) (with the "Start In" set correctly) then the current directory should already be "c:\program files (x86) etc " thus removing the need for lots of editing of paths before using it. (You can then ignore my Note above)

Alternatively,

@echo off
cls
cd "c:\program files (x86) etc "

Would force the issue, remove the need for editing all the paths or even creating a shortcut for it (with the correct working directory set).

Thoughts?

Secondly...

There's no mention anywhere of having to copy any files changed during the editing session back to the real Enderal folder(s) otherwise you can't test the changes. Obviously that's up to the user but it could probably do with a mention. I can see now why the original method of doing this used symlinks - no issues updating the real files from the ones used for editing.

I'm in the middle of looking at all this for myself so I'll get back to you later re any renaming issues.

@Screwball:

Thanks for your suggestions! I haven't even thought about that! I will look into this and in due time I will upload a new version of the batch file with updated instructions.

Thanks again. Much appreciated.

You're welcome and thanks for the "Like"

I've gone with the CD (at the top of ck.bat) to remove the need for editing paths. Also removed the 2 PAUSE statements as they weren't making any difference and were simply "getting in the way" (yes, I can guess why you put them there).

I've switched between EnderalFS and Skyrim multiple times, sometimes loading the CK just to check, sometimes not (purely for speed). I've not had a single rename error as yet - not that it proves anything either way. Everyone's system is different and you can get the most obscure problems which no one else can replicate. Thanks M$

As for updating Enderal with any changes made in the CK, the simplest I can think of is an XCOPY (with the appropriate parameters). Does mean a destination path will be needed but need only be "..\enderal\data" if the full path is set to the skyrim folder in a CD (as at the top of (my) ck.bat).

XCOPY Data ..\Enderal\Data /S /D
append /L to those params for testing, remove for a real test.

HTH

I have already been working on the batch file and used your suggestion on the CD command. I have also already removed the PAUSE commands. I put those in as I thought the batch file was executed too fast for Win10, which is not the case. Works like charm: no rename failures. Failures in the past may probably have been caused by incorrect security settings (my weakest OS knowledge).

As for your other suggestion about updating Enderal, I would suggest not doing so in the way you mentioned. I keep my Enderal folders as clean as possible, that is without extracting BSA files or copying mod changes. When done editing a mod and before testing, I create a BSA file with the CK if needed and only copy ESP and BSA to Enderal's Data folder.

Only the EnderalData folder within the Skyrim folder will contain possible needed extracted BSA contents, such as scripts, meshes, textures, face gen data, etc. That way you will test your mod (ESP/BSA) in the same way as used by a subscriber to the mod. I am planning to do the same for Skyrim (which I should have done over 8 years ago). For backup purposes I create an archive with 7z and store it outside the "Program Files (x86)\Steam ..." path.

I also have started creating an instruction manual, which I could add as a PDF and/or maybe a guide in the Steam Community guides section.

Fair enough, do it how it suits you best - my idea was only to keep it simple. It does depend on the type of mods you're working with. I really wanted the CK working so I could look at whether certain things were intentional or possible bugs worth reporting rather than creating mods and packaging them for distribution.

Almost forgot I should post the updates ck.bat file. Just a bit too busy with too many other things.

A guide for the use of this batch file can be found in the guide sections of both Enderal and Skyrim.

Thanks again, Screwball, for your suggestions. I have incorporated your suggestions in the batch file.

It has been a while since I posted here about the Creation Kit and Enderal. I have recently acquired a new PC with Windows 11 and running Skyrim SE version 1.6.1170 and Creation Kit 1.6.1378 with the Creation Kit Platform Extended. I have adapted my batch file accordingly, and that works fine. I have also tried to add some of my own mods to Enderal SE, but for some reason these don't show up in game, although Wrye Bash (v3.13), LOOT and EnderalSEEdit (v4.15f) confirm the mods are installed and do not display any errors or other inconsistancies.

I presume Enderal SE still needs the older version of the Creation Kit, right? Does anyone know of a workaround?

hello Altbert
I haven't used Wrye Bash and co for years and can't contribute much to Enderal-SE-Modding myself,
but check out our SureAI-Discord for more info,
if you can't find it on NexusMod's
or in the Discord of the creator of the SE version (Eddoursul ) alternatively

Thanks, Stefanie.
I have already solved the issues, shortly before your response. The only thing required was to install B.E.E.S. (Backported Extended ESL Support).

I was in for some big disappointments today. I thought B.E.E.S. was the solution to my problems, but it wasn't an overall solution. I could add Skyrim SE mods to Enderal SE by stripping Cell and Worldspace records, replacing those with Enderal Cell and Worldspace records. But, compiling scripts doesn't work for one bit. Just replacing one single value in a script causes the compiler to produce a sh*t load of errors.

Over to Discord for a post-Steam version of Enderal SE, but ... it requires Mod Organizer? Why? Does the whole gaming community only use MO, not Vortex or Wrye Bash?

The SureAI team did a wonderful job with Enderal and the other TES based games, but I am completely done with Enderal SE, at least with the Eddoursul version of it.

From what I understand, Vortex is rather niche and Wrye Bash is special, but rarely used. Most people today use MO2, which also has the most support.

This is complete bullsh*t! Why the heck exclude non-MO users from using Enderal SE and forcing them to use MO? Because Vortex is niche and Wrye Bash is rarely used? Is this some personal vendetta of Eddoursul to not using Vortex, Wrye Bash or whatever mod manager? Is it that difficult to allow other mod manager users to use the game? It's not even possible to use xEdit with his version of Enderal SE. I hope I can at least get it to work with Creation Kit 1.1378 and Creation Kit Extended Platform, otherwise I'm done with it. I'm really very sorry to see SureAI taking this route!

I think we are misunderstanding each other, Vortex is not generally excluded just because there is no special support for it from us
(SureAI itself does not support mod's or mod-managers directly anyway, that would have to be done by the actual program- or mod-creators, not us).
I don't use Vortex, for example, so I don't know anything about it.
Of course you can also use simple mod´s via Vortex and Co or even install them manually / without a manager.
Maybe automated mod lists are something else? But someone in the mentioned Discord's will probably be able to help.
Why xEdit should not work is not quite clear to me, I have created mod's myself and also worked with SSEEdit in EnderalSE,
but I have installed my own mod´s manually and then edited them,
or used MO2 for many third-party mods without xedit. Maybe mod-manager and XEdit are a problem?
But MO2 is not hard to use, you just shouldn't try to use Windows 7 or 8 with it, but at least Windows10.
As I said, if you want to use Eddoursul's version and not Steam / SureAI's, just contact him directly or his Discord if you have any questions or suggestions.

If there is any misunderstanding and to be clear, this new Enderal SE can't be started without using MO2! Anything I tried to circumvent MO2 was a NO GO! If I would try to circumvent MO2, it would just load Skyrim SE, not Enderal SE, which in my opinion is an infringment. Skyrim SE should never be able to load outside the default Steam location. This game requires MO2. The folder structure is different from the the standard Steam folder structure, which prevents utilities like xE#dit to recognize it. Creation Kit ini files require version control to be disabled, but when disabled, stil requires to disable it.

Although I don't like MO2, I know how to install mods with it. I'm not a complete nood! I use Wrye Bash as a mod manager ever since Morrowind and it suits me very well. I have no intention to change to MO2, Vortex or whatever other mod manager. but requiring MO2 for launching the game?

It has even got worse!

"Version control is enabled. A network location must be selected to proceed. Select OK to locate a ConstructionSetNetwork.ini file and continue."

If I select Cancel, the following message appears:

"Version control can be disabled by setting bUseVersionControl to 0 in the ConstructionSet.ini or CreationKit.ini file."

This is what I have learned sofar about Eddoursul's Enderal SE:

• Using MO2 is a hard requirement
• xEdit doesn't work without a workaround (xEdit is working for me now as I have found a workaround)
• The CK needs a network connection to disable version control (network connection to Eddoursul's Discord?), setting bUseVersionControl=0 in the CK doesn't have any effect
• Use of a different folder structure, which prevents the use of external programs like xEdit, LOOT and Wrye Bash (the latter is important to create Bashed Patches, and I know the LOOT API is included in MO2)
• Enderal SE support now in the hands of Eddourul at Discord (great, but not really!)

Bad choices, very bad choices!