How to properly use the Me3Explorer?

[gax]

Hello there,

I unsuccessfully attempted to install various mods by doing it as explained in the various tutorials and mod documentations. Obviously l i did something wrong and  i a now hope that i can find out here what it was.
First, the mods i am intending to use are Expanded Galaxy Mod, Me3Recalibrated, ThaneMod, Miranda Mod, Backoff, MEHEM and ALOT. I first installed the mod manager, then the mods (i never installed ALOT thou) and finally the ME3explorer. DLC unpacking made it crash, only after removing all non-official dlcs did it work.

After that, i moved the other  dlc´s back and tried to autotoc, wich started and worked only to about 80% wgere it stopped.  The same happend when i tried to install ThaneMods EWAC TPF.

Now my question is, at what point do i install the ME3explorer and scan? I assume only scanning the original dlc´s caused the other problems, is that right?

[giftfish]

Everything you need to know is on the wiki.

Start here: me3explorer.wikia.com/wiki/Using_the_ME3Explorer_Wiki

----

1. ME3Explorer is not "installed". It's presence on your PC does nothing in itself.
2. "Scanning" (Texplorer) and "DLC unpacking" are not the same thing, so your question is not clear. Read the ME3Explorer set up guide on the wiki.
3. I've never had the toolset crash during unpacking BW DLC, even when DLC mods are installed, so I can't say.
4. Autotocing, if you're just moving DLC mods into the game's folder structure after removing them temporarily, is not necessary. Extracted BW DLC will be autotoc'd as part of the extraction process.
5. I suspect your TPF installation hanged b/c of problems in your install, judging by your description. For starters, you didn't mention a Texplorer scan.

[gax]

Thank You for trying to help. I did indeed read the relevant parts of the wiki (setup, installations, ME mods in general etc.), but i am still confused about the proper order of what to do when (ME3 mod installation is obviously not dummy proof). I also do know that the ME3Explorer is not to be installed, i just used the wrong term by mistake (ironically, the wiki does that too, in the part about backing up your games ). I first unpacked the DLC´s, then did the scanning and treebuilding. Do You recommend to do the ME3Explorer setup first and then the ModManager and the Mods?

[giftfish]

Mar 16, 2018 20:53:10 GMT gax said:

Thank You for trying to help. I did indeed read the relevant parts of the wiki (setup, installations, ME mods in general etc.), but i am still confused about the proper order of what to do when (ME3 mod installation is obviously not dummy proof). I also do know that the ME3Explorer is not to be installed, i just used the wrong term by mistake (ironically, the wiki does that too, in the part about backing up your games ). I first unpacked the DLC´s, then did the scanning and treebuilding. Do You recommend to do the ME3Explorer setup first and then the ModManager and the Mods?

As per the wiki:

Optimum installation of mod types is as follows:

DLC content mods (e.g., Enhanced Galaxy Mod)
Non-DLC mod, full-file replacement content mods (e.g., Better Cabin Music)
MOD files without textures (e.g. EDI Default Outfit MOD file)*
MOD files that contain PCC-stored textures (e.g. Ashley Legacy Project MOD file)
TPFs/DDS texture files (e.g. EDI Default Outfit TPF file)

This install order will allow you to apply MOD file changes to all content mods, and texture changes to both vanilla and content-mod files. The step with the asterisk is where you'd do a Texplorer scan. Remember, MOD files for textures are deprecated; stick to TPFs instead.

I know nothing of the inner workings of Mod Manager, so I can't say.

What I do know is most of the mods you listed cannot be installed with Mod Manager. ME3Re, BackOff, ThaneMOD, and MEHEM are not installed with Mod Manager; they are installed manually or via execuatables. EGM/MiriMod can be installed with Mod Manager or executables. ALOT is installed with a different tool entirely -- not ME3Explorer, nor Mod Manager.