Version Control

Information contained herein was taken from the Skyrim page, and amended after testing in the Fallout 4 Creation Kit. Though instructions are similar, this page shall document the process specifically for Fallout 4, in the context of mod collaboration from multiple contributors. This page will not document how to use external revision control software such as Perforce, or Git.

Step 1: Setup your Creation Kit installation to enable version control

• Navigate to your Fallout 4 directory
• Create the following new folders:
  • Fallout 4\Merging\Data
  • Fallout 4\Merging\VersionBackup
  • Fallout 4\Data\CheckInBackup

• Enable Windows Sharing for the newly created folders
  • Right click on the CheckInBackup folder -> select "Properties" -> select the "Sharing" tab -> click "Advanced Sharing..."
  • Click "Share this folder", and then "OK"
  • Back on the Properties windows, click "Share..."

  

  • You won't actually be sharing your computer with anyone else, so you don't have to add any additional users - just click "Share" -> "Done"
  • Make note of the "Network Path" displayed, you'll need this for the next step
  • Repeat the above for the Merging folder (you don't need to do this individually for the two sub-folders within)

• Next, navigate back to your Fallout 4 directory
• Open the file "CreationKit.ini"
• Modify the following line to say:

bUseVersionControl=1

• Add the following lines (anywhere under the "[General]" heading):

SNetwork Path=\\COMP-NAME\Merging\
SNewVersionBackupPath=\\COMP-NAME\Merging\VersionBackup\
SNetworkMasterPath=\\COMP-NAME\Merging\Data\
SLocalBackupPath=Data\CheckInBackup\

• Note:

  - There is a space in "SNetwork Path"

  - Replace "COMP-NAME" with your computer name, displayed on the window in the above screenshot

  - Do not omit the "\" at the end of the paths above, or this will not work properly

  

• Finally, open "CreationKitPrefs.ini"
• Scroll to the bottom of the file, and add the following lines

[WhoCanMerge]
YOURWINDOWSUSERNAME=1

• Note:

  - Replace "YOURWINDOWSUSERNAME" with your actual windows username

  

Step 2: Understanding .ESM master files vs .ESP plug-in files

Step 3: Creation of your .ESM file

Step 4: Workflow for multiple team members contributing to the same .ESM file