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The Creation Kit is the primary tool for creating and editing Data Files. Here you can find information about all the windows and dialogs you may encounter while using the toolset.

File Menu

A menu bar that displays commands and options from a drop-down menu. The file menu is located in the upper left hand corner of the Creation Kit and is used for managing loaded data files (.ESMs and .ESPs), importing/exporting of data, checking data validity and managing Archive Files.

File

This menu has options for loading and saving your plug-in, as well as exporting and importing data. It also contains the preferences link.

Data...: Opens the Data Window.
Save: Saves any changes you've made to the current Active file. If you haven't specified an active file in the Data Window, you will be prompted for a new filename to save your changes to. All changes will be saved to a plug-in file (FILENAME.esp) based on the current master file.
- Note: Plugin files cannot contain any reserved characters, such as "(" or ")", or when attempting to select them the loader will not recognize them as valid plugins. To remove this error, simply rename the plugin to not contain reserved characters.
Save and Push Plugin to PC:
Import/Export: Allows you to export data into tab delimited text files. Used for localization during development.
Preferences: Allows you to set preferences for various aspects of the editor, mainly having to do with how the Render Window looks and operates.
Validate Loaded Data: Validate Loaded Data runs a check through the loaded plug-in and master files to check for errors in how the data is set up. This check is also run automatically when the Creation Kit finishes loading the data selected; this is just a way to run that check without having to reload the data.
Create Archive:
Upload Plugin and Archive to Bethesda.net:
Compact Active File Form IDs:
Convert Active File to Light Master:
Login to Bethesda.net...:
Logout:
Exit: Closes the editor. If you have made any changes since your last save, you will be prompted to save before exiting.

Edit

Undo/Redo, Copy/Paste and other essential functions live here, which we will mostly access via Creation Kit Interface Cheat Sheet.

Undo:
Redo:
Cut Render:
Copy Render:
Paste Render:
Paste in Place:
Duplicate:
Search & Replace...:
Find Text:
Render Window Hotkeys:
Render Window Picking Preferences:

View

Options here largely control how the Render Window behaves, and will be useful during more complex tasks.

Toolbar:
Statusbar:
Object Window:
Cell View Window:
Scene Info Window:
Open Windows...:
Preview Window:
Show/Hide Window:
Reference Batch Action Window:
Layers...:
Material Palette:
Object Window Layouts:
Current Cell Only:
Markers:
Light Markers:
Sound Markers:
Light Radius:
Wireframe:
Bright Light:
Sky:
Grass:
Fog:
Collision Geometry:
Leaves:
Trees:
Occlusion Planes:
Isometric:
Top:
Depth Biasing:
Refresh Render Window:
Warnings:
Properties:

World

This menu collects many tools for manipulating aspects of the game world.

NavMesh

Users familiar with Fallout 3's GECK will remember navmesh, our central tool for AI navigation through an environment. This menu holds our various tools for creating and manipulating this valuable functionality.

Character

These tools are mostly for the manipulation of character behavior and beyond the scope of this initial tutorial.

Gameplay

These advanced settings can have game-wide effects and are also beyond the scope of this tutorial.

Help

Simple version information and a link to this wiki!

Toolbar

The main toolbar includes a set of buttons as shortcuts for commonly used functions from the menus.

General Buttons

File:Jbrowne IconVersionControl.jpeg Version Control
File:IconLoad.png Load Master/Plugin files
File:IconSave.png Save Plug-in
File:IconPreferences.png Preferences
File:IconUndo.png Undo
File:IconRedo.png Redo
File:IconSnaptoGrid.png Snap to Grid
File:IconSnaptoAngle.png Snap to Angle
File:IconLocalTrans.png Local Gizmo Orientation
File:IconHeightmap.png World (Heightmap) Editing
File:IconLandscape.png Landscape Editing
File:IconHavok.png Run Havok Sim
File:IconFX.png Animate Lights and Effects
File:IconLights.png Brighten Lights
File:IconSky.png Enable Sky
File:IconGrass.png Toggle Grass
File:IconDialog.png Open Filtered Dialogue Window

Navmesh Buttons

File:IconNavmeshMode.png Navmesh Mode

Level Design Buttons

File:IconTrigger.png Create a cubic activator: Helps build a cube-shaped trigger.
File:IconMultiboundCube.png Create a cubic multibound: Helps build a cube-shaped multibound for scenegraph culling.
File:IconMultiboundSphere.png Create a spherical multibound: Allows user to create a sphere-shaped multibound for scenegraph culling.
File:IconOcclusionPlane.png Create an occlusion plane: Allows user to place an occlusion plane for scenegraph culling.
File:IconOcclusionCube.png Create an occlusion cube: Allows user to place an occlusion cube for scenegraph culling.
File:IconJoinBreakPlanes.png Join or break planes: Allows user to combine or separate two occlusion planes
File:IconRoom.png Create a room: Allows users to draw a roombound form around objects in a room to form a group
File:IconPortalMode.png Toggle Portal Mode Prepares the render window for manipulation of portals
File:IconPortalCreate.png Draw a portal: Allows users to draw a portal object
File:IconPortalLink.png Link portal to room: Allows users to link two rooms with a portal object
File:IconPortalDetach.png Detach portal from room: Allows users to detach a previously linked portal

Sound Design Buttons

File:IconSoundEmitter.png Create a sound emitter: Allows users to select and place a sound emitter in the render window
File:IconAcousticSpace.png Create an Acoustic Space: Creates a drawn space where users can play a unique sound/music clip in a unique location

Collision Buttons

File:IconCollisionPlane.png Create a collision plane: Allows users to place a flat collision plane
File:IconCollisionCube.png Create a collision cube: Allows users to place a cube shaped collision plane
File:IconCollisionSphere.png Create a collision sphere: Allows users to place a sphere shaped collision plane

Current Buttons

File:IconCurrentPlane.png Create a current plane: Allows users to place a current plane to create drift
File:IconCurrentCube.png Create a current cube: Allows users to place a cube shaped current object
File:IconCurrentSphere.png Create a current sphere: Allows users to place a sphere shaped current object