Where To Install Dragon Age Origins Mods

Contents

• 1 Editorial
• 2 Updates
• 3 Iv ways of content adding
• 4 Dazip-Files and the daupdater
  • 4.1 Updating a mod with the daupdater
  • iv.2 Deactivation and Uninstallation of .dazip-files
    • iv.two.i The Uninstall with the Toolset(unconfirmed)
    • four.ii.2 The manual Uninstall
  • iv.3 Force Loading Savegames
• 5 Modfiles that use the Override Folder
  • 5.one Uninstallation/Updates of files that utilize the Override Binder
• six Using DAModder to manage mods
  • 6.i How to install a Modern with DAModder
  • 6.2 How to uninstall a Modern with DAModder
  • 6.iii How to make a Mod compatible with DAModder
• 7 Epilogue

Editorial

This Guide should comprehend the basic questions of how to get a Mod to work with your Vanilla Dragon Age game, how to update it and how to uninstall it propper. Its quite basic data, but everyone has to start somewhere, thats what this Guide is for. Read information technology and maybe you learn something new even if you call up you know how to exercise that already =)

Normally every Mod should have a Readme or Information posted how to make information technology work with your Game, simply some dont, and when you are new to this kind of affair then you might not know what to practice with those files yous tin download here. I can only cover the things i know, and i am myself no modder (withal), but i promise the information i can give may be enough to get you going if you lot have no clue on where to start =)

All the locations i give you are for a Windows XP Operating System, becouse thats what i have. But the paths should not differ very much if yous are using Vista or Win7. All screenshots show german language couse thats what i accept, but i hope that dosent thing.

Its good to work with a User Account on your Windows Bone that has Ambassador rights and to set all files and folders to visible on your PC if you are dealing with mods, and then you dont overlook whatever files or run into access problems. Use google or ask in the Forum if you lot really have trouble with this things.

And lastly some mods need further tweaking or are dependent on other mods to piece of work, thats nil that can exist covered in this general FAQ sadly, then ask then the Modern-Author via Individual Message or in the comments of the mod you have trouble with. If aught helps enquire in the Forums here, most often some other Member will aid y'all.

In that location is besides another wiki article that discusses Dragon Age mods more mostly : Using Dragon Age Mods for Dummies .

Now that DAModder is available i would recommend anyone to use that smashing tool to manage the Mods for Dragon Age, instead of installing them with daupdater or manually. See more than Info to that in department 3 of the Guide.

All modern authors are welcome to link to this guide!

Updates

All information here is based on Dragon Age Version 1.02 as it is on the 10-12-2009.

V1.0 initial release

V1.1 Updated 24-xi-09: spelling errors, .dazips department expanded

V1.2 Updated 24-11-09: incooperated feedback, edited links, thanks section added, better formatting, added updating .dazip-files section, header motion picture added

V1.three Updated 25-11-09: included a clarification how to uninstall .dazip files with the Toolset

V1.iv Updated 26-11-09: minor spelling fixes, links & text-colors finally work in the Commodity, Updating Mods Section expanded, Force Loading Section added

V1.v Updated 28-11-09: spelling & formatting, content overview added, Uninstallation/Updates of files that use the Override Folder rewritten, link to German version added

V1.v.two Updated 06-12-09: German language Article translation finished.

V1.half-dozen Updated 10-12-09: included DAModder section, cleaned up remainder of the Article, many minor tweaks here and there

Status August 2010: Because my Focus inverse from Dragon Age to other things, this Guide wont be updated whatever more than. I am non certain if all Information is nevertheless authentic after that much time. Please accept it as it is, and excuse eventual inacuracies.

Four ways of content calculation

First you have to know that Dragon Age has multiple ways to add content to the game.

- In that location are the official Addons/Downloads (similar Wardens Go on, ect.). Those are not covered in this Guide, looking up information for them in the offical Forums should help you lot if y'all have trouble with them. Bioware Social Network

- Then at that place are .dazip files (see 4.)

- And at that place are files that use the "override" Folder (see 5.)

- DAModder offers the easiest and best way to add Mods to your Game. (run into six.)

Dazip-Files and the daupdater

Some Mods you can download have the extension ".dazip", they are basically .zip files that contain the files and settings for a mod that someone has created with the Dragon Historic period Toolset. As far as i know these Files are the preferended mode from Biowares bespeak of View of how to get a Mod installed into their Game.

Yous could use the daupdater.exe to install these files. This updater is located where you installed the actual game in the bin_ship subfolder. The path is normally: "C:\Programs\Dragon Age\bin_ship\daupdater.exe" If you installed to another drive or location you lot can notice information technology at that place in the "\Dragon Age\bin_ship" folder.

Make certain your game is non running and get to that directory and run the daupdater.exe, you lot should get this Window on your Desktop.

At present you tin can merely drag and drib the .dazip file into the window OR select information technology from your download location by pressing the "select DAZIP"-Button (or withal its called in your language).

When you have washed that you see the .dazip file in the listing, (you could add more than one file and install them all one after the other) now select information technology past clicking on it and press the "install selected" button.

Now the daupdater processes the file and after a brusque while you should meet something like in the next motion picture. Dont get irritated past the loading bar thats non fully filled, when information technology says installed so its washed.

You can cheque the sucessfull installation when you click on the log tab equally you lot see in the next picture, at the terminate of the log it says that information technology succeeded. (or that the Installation was chancelled because there was an Mistake, ordinarily with a fault message/mention of the file that caused it) Basically the daupdater is like a enchanced unzipper, it unpacks the contents of the .dazip-file into the correct location so information technology tin be used by the game. Y'all could do it manually too if the daupdater.exe is not working for yous, but its alittle complicated. (ordinarily the daupdater should merely fail if your Game-Installation or your .dazip-File has a trouble)

This location (on winXP) is ordinarily a new folder in the "C:\Documents and Settings\YOURNAME\My Documents\BioWare\Dragon Age\AddIns"-folder, the path differs alittle on win7 and vista only its allways "...\BioWare\Dragon Historic period\AddIns", i am sure you will find it. Additionally nigh .dazip files too put files into "...\BioWare\Dragon Age\packages\core\data" and use the "Manifest.xml"-file to put information in the "AddIns.xml"-file both located in "...\BioWare\Dragon Age\Settings"

The reason i tell you this is, unless you use the DAModder, you lot cant uninstall this files automatically, and these are the places where you lot can observe what you installed, then y'all tin delete it afterwards manually if you are not happy with what you installed. More to that at the Uninstall Department.

Simply dorsum to the installation, subsequently yous installed the .dazip file you wanted to install you tin close the daupdater and get-go your Dragon Age game. And so click on "Download Content" (or whatsoever information technology is in your language)

In the window that popped up select the upper bar "installed content/mods", now you lot should take a new entry below all official content that is ordinarily green colored (not in the below pic) to prove you lot that its new. When you select it it should give you lot additional info to what information technology is in the right info aerea. Make certain its enabled and activated past checking the box right next to the entry in the listing, it should say "Activated" below the modentry.

Basically your mod should now be ready for play, its installed and activated now. Remember that some mods require boosted steps or are dependent to other mods. Allways refer to the readme file or additional information that should be aviable at the modernistic-site.

Updating a mod with the daupdater

Commonly you just install the new version over the older one in the aforementioned manner you installed the modern the commencement time. Just refer too to the modern readme, if aviable, sometimes additional steps have to be taken depending on the specific mod.

According to feedback the daupdater not allways succeds in updating a modern that was allready installed to the new version. You can of course install every dazip-mod twice to be sure all previous data is removed/overwritten. In most cases that should be enough to go it updated.

There is another process to be sure your Mod gets propper updated, but yous should only use it if the mod yous desire to update is not tied to whatsoever Quests or Single Player Scrips, similar for example you lot should be able to use it for a texture or color modify mod only not for a mod that adds a new quest line to the game, if you are non certain ask the modernistic author or dont use this method. Use it at your own risk!

Starting time reload the mod y'all want to update with the daupdater.exe, after it has finished start your Game and UNCHECK it in Downloadable Content, so Strength Load a game without it (Force loading means to load a game when you uninstalled a Mod that was installed and is now non aviable whatsoever more than). Afterwards force loading through the warnings brand a new savegame, then get out to the menue and recheck the updated modernistic in the Downloadable Content List. When you lot now load the new salvage game you have created, the mod should be propper in effect.

Once again, do this at your ain gamble and ask the Mod Author how to update if you are unsure if the mod can be updated this way. Refer to the Force Loading Department further down this Article for more than Information nigh it.

Deactivation and Uninstallation of .dazip-files

If yous always want to Uninstall a modern that you installed with a .dazip-file, first make sure yous accept a clean and propper savegame, then go to the modernistic-list in the game and deactivate the mod you lot want to get rid of by unchecking the box adjacent to the proper noun of the modern, it should say deactivated under it. Now its deactivated but not uninstalled. For virtually times this should be fine and all you need to do.

Many Modernistic-Authors tell in their readmes and instructions that deleting the modernistic from the Addins Folder is enough to delete it. That is Not Truthful! Read below how to uninstall those Mods completly.

The easiest and safest way to uninstall a .dazip-Mod is to apply DAModder for that. The information below is for if you want to do a manual uninstall.

For manually uninstalling a .dazip-file, in that location are two ways that this can be accomplished with,

- for the outset you need to have the Toolset installed and need to be at least basically familiar with it (see A.), - the 2nd way is a manual delete with the edit of of import game files that can exist dangerous if you mess it upwardly (see B.).

Since there is now DAModder aviable, at that place is no need to manually uninstall modfiles any more unless y'all choose to. I recommend using DAModder.

The Uninstall with the Toolset(unconfirmed)

The following information is from a comment to this Article by Gaias (i havent verified it myself because i dont have the Toolset installed)

For this commencement method y'all need to take the Toolset installed and working ( you can get the Toolset hither ), and need basic understanding with information technology, dont try information technology if you lot dont know what youre doing, the Toolset is a mighty tool and you tin can cause all kinds of damage to your game if y'all mess things upwards, be warned!

- Kickoff kickoff your Toolset and open the file 'Contour.dap' in the Settings folder.

- And then you navigate down to the string entry 'SAVEPROFILE_ADDIN_LIST' stringlist and find the entry that corresponds with the name of mod file in your AddIns folder that you want to uninstall. It should be listed final in the stringlist in one case you have expanded information technology. Only left click on the entry and hit the Del fundamental (or right click for the context menu) and save the file via the menu. The toolset will automatically create a backup file that volition be located in the same binder as the saved one.

- Continue to delete the files associated with the modern and showtime up DA:Origins. Go to the Dowloadable Content menu and click on the Installed Content tab.

- Then continue to enable or disable whatsoever of the content within and it should create 2 new "Manifest.xml" and "AddIns.xml" files, with the content as shown on the screen.

This should be a relative safe and working way to uninstall the mods that get installed via .dazip file, only be advised that i havent tested this mode yet, if you want to confirm this method is reliable and working, or if you want to add something and then please post in the comments to this commodity and let me know!

If y'all are unsure near information technology just disable information technology ingame and dont try a manual uninstall, or utilize DAModder. Use these informations every bit they are at your own take a chance.

The manual Uninstall

The following information is partly from a Tutorial from Rheinguard from damods.com

This second method is alittle more tricky and potentially dangerous to your game and DLC, be warned!

REALLY - Dont effort that if you are not sure what you lot are doing.

- Disable the mod you desire to uninstall in your game and exit information technology.

- Outset go to the "...\BioWare\Dragon Age\AddIns"-folder, and locate the mod-folder for the mod you want to uninstall and delete it.

- Second you take to bank check the "...\BioWare\Dragon Age\packages\core\data"-folder, and delete all files that belong to the mod you want to uninstall there (usually one .erf-file).

- Third but most complicated, find your "...\BioWare\Dragon Age\Settings"-folder and locate your "Manifest.xml" and "AddIns.xml" files. Save them to a secure location in instance y'all mess something upward!

- You lot can open up both of this files with a basic Editor like Notepad, or amend with an .xml Editor that should come with your Operating Sytem or IE Browser. There you have to delete whatsoever information that belongs to the mod you want to uninstall. Most times only the Addins.xml contains Data for mods you lot installed, the Manifest.xml contains data for official DLC. Shut them later the edit and salve them again.

- Now the .dazip-mod is actually uninstalled.

BE Really CAREFULL WHEN EDITING "Manifest.xml" and "AddIns.xml", they comprise also information of your bought DLC, like Wardens Keep and all that, if you delete the wrong lines you tin can damage your DLC!

Over again If you are unsure about it just disable information technology ingame and dont endeavour a manual uninstall, or use DAModder. Use these informations as they are at your own run a risk.

Force Loading Savegames

If you load a savegame after yous deactivated or uninstalled a mod that was installed when you created the Savegame you have to "Force Load" it. Force loading means to load a game through the warnings that the game gives you, about the content that isnt aviable whatever more than.

What furnishings this can have depends just on the mod/content that is now unaviable to the game for loading. If you disabled a mod that alters the color of a detail the colour will be original again, if it was a mod that adds a new aerea to the game that location will be gone. Of course this tin have consequences for your saved game and could make it unplayable, the more complex the modern the more things could happen, allways depending on the circumstances and the mod.

If you are unsure near force loading a game later you disabled a modern, enquire the mod author before you do it to be aware of what can happen with that specific mod.

Modfiles that use the Override Folder

This Override Binder is normally (under winXP) located here:

C:\Documents and Settings\YOURNAME\My Documents\BioWare\Dragon Historic period\packages\core\override

The path differs alittle on win7 and vista but its allways "...\BioWare\Dragon Age\packages\core\override", i am certain you will find information technology. If you lot dont accept the "override" folder in the "\core" folder then yous can create it.

Normally you NEVER have to overwrite any files in the location where you originaly installed your game, then you lot dont have to edit annihilation in that location. Specific mods may have special occasions where that is necessary, just i never saw one jet that required that. If you have to overwrite game files for a mod you desire to try, ALLWAYS make backups of these files then yous can disengage the overwrite if necessary.

Besides, and i would recommend that to anyone, you tin can brand ONE SUBFOLDER for every modern y'all install, so yous tin keep your Override Directory tidy, and know what files belongs to which mod. You dont take to of course, but the override folder can become a mess the more mods you install without subfolders, and then y'all dont know what to delete if you want to uninstall a specific mod.

According to Feedback you tin can besides brand subfolders in these folders you create in the override directory, there but seems to be a total path length brake of 255 characters, so be sure that y'all dont get over that length and choose shorter foldernames over longer ones.

"...\BioWare\Dragon Age\packages\core\override\Somemod" <-- works "...\BioWare\Dragon Historic period\packages\cadre\override\Somemod\Subfolder" <-- works as well "...\BioWare\Dragon Age\packages\core\override\Somemod\Subfolder\anotherSubfolder" <-- works not the full pathlentght cannot exceed 255 characters

Ok, at present you know where this Override-folder is, and you have downloaded a modfile like...

"hf_genfl_morrigan.mor" for example. (just an example, nearly mods contain more than one file) To brand this file work create a folder in your Override directory like this:

"...\BioWare\Dragon Age\packages\core\override\Morrigan"

and in this "Morrigan"-folder you copy that file(s). Uncomplicated every bit that thats all you take to do.

If the modernistic y'all have downloaded allready comes with a preexisting binder structuere, like this: "\Morrigan" or "\Morrigan\subfolder" you tin can normally safely copy this into your override directory and it should work, just like if you created the folder yourself.

When you start your game and load a save the mod should exist in effect. (sometimes you need to enter another zone for some mods to take effect)

Basically the game checks everytime you outset information technology if there are files in that folder that change files from your original installation and uses then the modded files instead. (similar different textures ect.)

Uninstallation/Updates of files that use the Override Folder

If y'all want to uninstall such a mod go to the Override binder and delete the binder (+ subfolder) of the specific mod, easy as that, and much easier than with the .dazip-files.

Updates are similary unproblematic with this method, normally you simply delete all of the files from the mod you lot desire to update (but empty the subfolder if you created one) and re-create the new files to the same location again. (in the subfolder if you have one). I wouldnt just overwrite them becouse that could lead to issues if the Mod-Writer left out files with an update. Those would still be in your subfolder if you just overwrite files.

For Questions near Forcefulness loading Savegames refer to the section about it that is farther up in this Guide.

Using DAModder to manage mods

The DAModder Website

The DAModder Nexus-Download-Page

The DAModder Support Site & FAQ

With DAModder you tin can easily install and uninstall mods of all types, even those that employ the Override Binder. I recommend information technology to anyone. It has a Backup Organization not only for mods and settings simply also for salvage games, and it offers localization Info for mods where its aviable. Its easy to employ and works with allmost any modern that is aviable. And information technology will become better and become more than Options in the future. I was a Betatester from the start for DAModder and i am sure when y'all tried it you lot dont want to use anything else to manage your mods once more. Learn more than about it and the Features on the to a higher place links.

First you lot need to download the Application, use the links in a higher place to get the latest public or beta Version.

The Installation is easy, at that place is none. Just make a Folder where you want to have it located (your Desktop for example) and name it DAModder (or any you cull). And so copy the contents of the downloaded File into that folder. The .exe-File in the Binder is the DAModder Awarding, with a doubleklick you tin can kickoff information technology. If you lot choose another location than the Desktop, you can create a shortcut for the .exe and put that on the desktop if yous want to, that ensures piece of cake access to it when you need it.

How to install a Mod with DAModder

On this FAQ Site you can detect the latest data on how to install mods with DAModder.

In general, at that place are two ways to install mods in DAModder. Yous tin either Drag & Drop the downloaded mod onto the DAModder window, or yous can click the Install Mod button and so choose the file to be installed. This works with .dazip-Files and virtually .zip-Files.

If the mod is packaged in a .RAR or .7z file, DAModder will not be able to process it. In this example, excerpt the file manually to a temporary binder, and then drag the folder onto DAModder for installation. The aforementioned goes for .aught-files that are packed in a non compatible format, like subfolders or different installation options/mod versions in the .zip-file. Just extract the content y'all want to add together to the game into a temporary folder and drag it then onto DAModder to install information technology. Refer to the FAQ Page for more than information well-nigh installing.

How to uninstall a Modernistic with DAModder

On this FAQ Site you lot can notice the latest information on how to uninstall mods with DAModder.

Uninstalling a mod is extremly simple, just select the mod in the list of installed mods on the install/uninstall tab page, and click uninstall. Make sure the Toolset is closed before uninstalling a Mod with DAModder.

How to make a Mod compatible with DAModder

DAModder is designed to be every bit flexible as possible, but the most benefits come up from using DAModder Compatible packages. This non only makes the installation easier, it allows you to take advantage of futurity features planned for DAModder such as the ability to configure compatible mods inside of DAModder. If your modern is not currently in a DAModder Compatible Package, i encourage you to make one. DAModder Compatible packages even so work fine exterior of DAModder and so its the best of both worlds for the author and its much more than user friendly for the the Modern-User.

At that place are two types of mods in general. Standard mods and Core Override mods: - Standard Mods are those that are released in a .DAZIP file and can be installed with DAUpdater. - Core Override Mods are mods that aren't technically a "module" past the game'southward standard, simply instead merely driblet files into the players "Cadre Override" directory to change the beliefs of the game.

If your mod is a standard modernistic, that is currently installed by DAUpdater, so chances are pretty good its already uniform with DAModder. If you are just distributing the .DAZIP file, or yous are ziping information technology upwards along with a Readme file, it will work fine with DAModder. The user tin simply elevate and drop the .DAZIP file or the .Nix file into the application, and hit install. No problem. About the just way a standard mod would exist incompatible right now is if y'all're doing something like zipping it upward, just hiding the DAZIP in a subfolder.

Core Override mods are alittle more comlicated. By definition these are non "modules" by the game's standards, and as such there is no module data for DAModder to parse. In other words, DAModder has Zilch information on the mod. The instructions in the sample package below prove some small changes y'all can brand to how its packaged so DAModder can essentially be "told" the mod's details. This will make the end user experience for your mods much better, as users will be able to come across details like Modernistic Name, writer, version, URL, description, etc.

• Y'all tin get the sample packages here: Sample mod packages for DAModder compatibility download

• On this FAQ Site yous can find the latest information on how to Create a DAModder Bundle for a Cadre Override modernistic].

• On this FAQ Site you tin discover data on how to utilize DAMarkdown to make your Descriptions and Readmes better readable in DAModder.

If you have questions about how to brand your Mod DAModder compatible, refer to THIS THREAD in the Nexus Forums or ask at the Support Page .

Epilogue

I estimate thats all i tin assist you with, you should at present be able to install and to uninstall mods you download here. I recommend y'all to use the DAModder to manage your Mods.

Remember that every mod is different, and then there could allways be some alterations to the "standard"-installation-process. Read the Readme or the data on the mod specific folio, and read the comments, they ofttimes requite solutions if you lot are stuck.

If you have questions well-nigh a specific mod inquire the Author of that mod in the comment-section for his mod or via private message. Or y'all tin allways visit the forum here and ask your questions there =)

My native language is german and so please excuse minor spelling errors if yous discover some.

Cheers for your time and reading, if y'all discover an fault or want to add annihilation, please go out a comment.

A word to the Mod-Authors:

All mod authors are welcome to link to this guide if someone has bug using the mod yous have made, unless of course your mod needs more than advanced installation/updating/uninstallation procedures that are non covered in this guide.

Please make your Mod DAModder compatible, refer to the department above on how to do that.

Please consider packing your mods in .zip files (or whatever packer you lot prefer, link to information technology in the clarification if its something uncommon) with a propper readme (there is even a readme generator here ), and maybe include a small .jpg where it applies.

That helps everyone, and if you ever reinstall something you have all informations at hand =)

Some helpful Links:

- The Nexus Forums

- The DAModder Website

Official:

-The Official Game Forums

-The Official Game Site

Mod Info:

- DA Builder Wiki

- Across Ferelden Blog

- damods.com

Game Info:

-The unofficial Dragon Age Wikia

-The official Dragon Age Wiki

Thanks to:

Bioware for making Dragon Historic period The Staff and owners at dragonagenexus for providing this swell site

John Vanderbeck, for writing his Beyond Ferelden Blog and helping so many pepole with modding Rheinguard, for the information on how to propper uninstall .dazip files Pheelon, for the helpfull feedback provided Gaias, for the 2nd style to uninstall .dazip files

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Legal: This Article (including pictures) can not be replicated anywhere else than on the site dragonagenexus.com without my agreement, especially not for profit. If yous desire to publish information technology elswhere contact me via private bulletin here or via mail at: alexspeed75 AT yahoo.de This article is linked at my Bioware Projection Site , the german and english official Forums, at the Tutorials Page of the DA Architect Wiki, damods.com and dao-diewacht.co.de has permission to link to it and publish it partly or fully. I cannot be held responsible for whatsoever damage to your game or your pc. Apply these informations equally they are at your own risk.

Where To Install Dragon Age Origins Mods,

Source: http://wiki.tesnexus.com/index.php/Installing_Dragon_Age_mods

Posted by: daigletabstair.blogspot.com

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