Plugin¶
This is the structure that brings all the others together, and forms the main component of a metadata file. It is a key-value map.
-
name
string
Required. Can be an exact plugin filename or a regular expression plugin filename. If the filename contains any of the characters
:\*?|
, the string will be treated as a regular expression, otherwise it will be treated as an exact filename. For example,Example\.esm
will be treated as a regular expression, as it contains a\
character.Regular expression plugin filenames must be written in modified ECMAScript syntax.
-
group
string
The name of the group the plugin belongs to. If unspecified, defaults to
default
.The named group must be exist when LOOT sorts plugins, but doesn’t need to be defined in the same metadata file. If at sort time the group does not exist, a sorting error will occur.
The plugin must load after all the plugins in the groups its group is defined to load after, resolving them recursively. An exception exists if doing so would introduce a cyclic dependency between two plugins without any other group loading rules applied.
For example, if for plugins A.esp, B.esp, C.esp and D.esp:
B.esp has A.esp as a master
A.esp is in group A
B.esp and C.esp are in the default group
D.esp is in group D
group A loads after the default group
the default group loads after group D
Then the load order must be D.esp, C.esp, A.esp, B.esp. Although A.esp’s group must load after B.esp’s group, this would cause a cycle between A.esp and B.esp, so the requirement is ignored for that pair of plugins.
However, if for plugins A.esp, B.esp and C.esp in groups of the same names:
group B loads after group A
group C loads after group B
A.esp has C.esp as a master
This will cause a sorting error, as neither group rule introduces a cyclic dependency when combined in isolation with the third rule, but having all three rules applied causes a cycle.
-
after
file set
Plugins that this plugin must load after, but which are not dependencies. Used to resolve specific compatibility issues. If undefined, the set is empty.
-
req
file set
Files that this plugin requires to be present. This plugin will load after any plugins listed. If any of these files are missing, an error message will be displayed. Intended for use specifying implicit dependencies, as LOOT will detect a plugin’s explicit masters itself. If undefined, the set is empty.
-
inc
file set
Files that this plugin is incompatible with. If any of these files are present, an error message will be displayed. If undefined, the set is empty.
-
msg
message list
The messages attached to this plugin. The messages will be displayed in the order that they are listed. If undefined, the list is empty.
-
tag
tag set
Bash Tags suggested for this plugin. If a Bash Tag is suggested for both addition and removal, the latter will override the former when the list is evaluated. If undefined, the set is empty.
-
url
location set
An unordered set of locations for this plugin. If the same version can be found at multiple locations, only one location should be recorded. If undefined, the set is empty. This metadata is not currently used by LOOT.
-
dirty
cleaning data set
An unordered set of cleaning data structures for this plugin, identifying dirty plugins.
-
clean
cleaning data set
An unordered set of cleaning data structures for this plugin, identifying clean plugins. The
itm
,udr
andnav
fields are unused in this context, as they’re assumed to be zero.
Equality¶
The equality of two plugin data structures is determined by comparing the values of their name
keys.
If neither or both values are regular expressions, then the plugin data structures are equal if the lowercased values are identical.
If one value is a regular expression, then the plugin data structures are equal if the other value is an exact match for it.
Merging Behaviour¶
Key |
Merge Behaviour (merging B into A) |
---|---|
name |
Not merged. |
group |
Replaced by B’s value only if A has no value set. |
after |
Merged. If B’s file set contains an item that is equal to one already present in A’s file set, B’s item is discarded. |
req |
Merged. If B’s file set contains an item that is equal to one already present in A’s file set, B’s item is discarded. |
inc |
Merged. If B’s file set contains an item that is equal to one already present in A’s file set, B’s item is discarded. |
msg |
Merged. B’s message list is appended to A’s message list. |
tag |
Merged.If B’s tag set contains an item that is equal to one already present in A’s tag set, B’s item is discarded. |
url |
Merged. If B’s location set contains an item that is equal to one already present in A’s location set, B’s item is discarded. |
dirty |
Merged.If B’s dirty data set contain an item that is equal to one already present in A’s dirty data set, B’s item is discarded. |
clean |
Merged. If B’s clean data set contain an item that is equal to one already present in A’s clean data set, B’s item is discarded. |
Examples¶
name: 'Oscuro''s_Oblivion_Overhaul.esm'
req:
- 'Oblivion.esm' # Don't do this, Oblivion.esm is a master of Oscuro's_Oblivion_Overhaul.esm, so LOOT already knows it's required.
- name: 'example.esp'
display: '[Example Mod](http://www.example.com)'
condition: 'version("Oscuro''s_Oblivion_Overhaul.esm", "15.0", ==)'
tag:
- Actors.Spells
- Graphics
- Invent
- Relations
- Scripts
- Stats
- name: -Relations
condition: 'file("Mart''s Monster Mod for OOO.esm") or file("FCOM_Convergence.esm")'
msg:
- type: say
content: 'Do not clean. "Dirty" edits are intentional and required for the mod to function.'