Quickly BSA pack all your textures and meshes

Prerequisites:

• []You have generated your LOD and it's already BSA packed[/]

  []Windows 11 (win10 should be fine too)[/]

  []Python 3. 14. 3 (newer versions should work too)[/]

  []BSArchPro [/]

  We'll need to restore a backup (meaning removing our current mods folder and reinstating the backup),

  when we want to add new mods that add additional textures or meshes, so we can check for conflicts and so on via MO2, because doing that with BSA packed files isn't really practical. Also we'll need it always for troubleshooting purposes.

  The best approach is to follow this simple rule:

  When you change anything in your mod setup: First restore your mods backup.

  (Else you will be doomed to merge and backtrack your changes while your meshes and textues were BSA packed. That's also true for adding comments in MO2, as they are saved in the Meta.ini files of each mod folder.

  Also settings you change ingame via MCM or Stewie's Tweaks, could need merging. You can avoid that by making sure all config files are in your overwrite folder, e.g. \Viva New Vegas\overwrite)

  ✅ When you should BSA pack

  • []Large texture / Mesh-heavy mods[/]

    []Finished mod setups[/]

    []Performance-sensitive builds because there will be less I/O stutter => improved frame pacing (results depend on your specs)[/]

    []In general it smooths cell transitions and shortens loading times[/]

  ❌ When you shouldn’t
  • []Mod setup you frequently tweak[/]

    []During development/testing[/]

    []Mods requiring loose files (some scripts, UI mods, etc.) => This is already considered in the python scripts[/]

    video tutorial

    The scripts essential three steps:

    • []merges all textures/meshes to a new mod folder: "My Textures and Meshes BSA Packed"[/]

      []removes textures/meshes from mod folders (&saves manifests for script mods)[/]

      []moves script mod files out of merged folder to a new combined mod folder: "Loose Overrides for Script Mods" and launches BSArchPro[/]

      You can add the script to MO2 like this:

      Switch argument the /k to /c if you expect no errors. Wth /c the script will auto close the terminal/shell window and MO2 unlocks.

      (note that having no mods in the folders list will be reported as an error and the /c option, will not make it possible for you to see why the script terminates)

      UPDATE 2. 2:

      After testing BSArchPro, I recommend using it instead of CAO7 (do not compress your textures/meshes!)

      UPDATE 2. 0:

      New script menu: helps creating a backup/ resetting the current mods list, combines the merge/remove/r