Tool Setup: Script Extenders - Nexus Mods Wiki (2024)

Vortex, unlike other mod managers, is capable of allowing you to manage your installation of the "script extenders" for Bethesda titles.

Contents

  • 1 What is a "script extender"?
  • 2 Where to get script extenders
  • 3 Option 1: Install with Vortex (Easy)
  • 4 Option 2: Install manually (Intermediate)
  • 5 Option 3: Install with an old version Vortex (Intermediate)
    • 5.1 Download and install
    • 5.2 Move the files into the correct directories
    • 5.3 Update mod info in Vortex
    • 5.4 Set up the shortcut
    • 5.5 Check it's working

What is a "script extender"?

A script extender is an unofficial addon created for Bethesda's Gamebryo based games. It is designed to add to or enhance the available functions and features of the game and its engine. This may include fixing important bugs, removing limitations or allowing modders to interact with the game data in new ways when designing their mods.

You are not required to use a script extender for your modding setup unless you wish to use a mod that relies on it. For games still receiving updates, script extenders (and by proxy mods using them) may cease to function in any new updates. This would mean a delay while you wait for the script extender and any dependant mods to receive an update.

It's important to note that the script extenders are neither created or endorsed by the game developers. They are created by a group of highly skilled modding enthusiasts who are under no obligation to update or add features to the script extender. Any problems with your game that occur when using this software are entirely up to the user to resolve.

Where to get script extenders

Option 1: Install with Vortex (Easy)

With Vortex 1.2.12 and above, install a Script Extender has never been easier. The following video from Gopher covers the process in detail.

Option 2: Install manually (Intermediate)

Install the script extender as defined on the download page. This usually involves placing some files in the same folder as the game EXE.

With the script extender installed, go to the Vortex dashboard and in the starter dashlet press the refresh button. If you have installed it correctly, the icon for the script extender will now light up. You can click the menu button next to the icon and make the script extender primary, this means whenever you launch the game through the top left play button in Vortex, the script extender will be launched.

Option 3: Install with an old version Vortex (Intermediate)

This content applies to Vortex 1.1.15 or lower.

Experienced users may wish to install the script extender through Vortex itself. The advantage of this is easily managing the installation and swapping out updated files cleanly. This method does not work with USVFS deployment.

For this example, we'll be using SKSE64 v2.0.10, but similar logic will apply to other the script extenders.

Download and install

First, you will need to download the archive. Even the files hosted at Nexus Mods will need to be downloaded manually.

Next, in your mods tab on Vortex, click the "Install from File" button and select the archive you've just downloaded.

This will add a new disabled mod entry for your script extender. Leave it disabled for now as we need to make a few changes before deploying it.

Move the files into the correct directories

Generally, script extenders aren't packed in a way that would allow installing them this way, so we'll need to move the files around to make it play nice.

To do this, right-click the script extender mod and select "Open with file manager".

In the example of SKSE64, you need to create a new folder called "Data" on the top level and move the scripts folder inside it.

Then move skse64_1_5_53.dll, skse_loader.exe, skse64_steam_loader.dll to the top level. You can delete the skse64_2_00_10 folder after this.

You should now have a Data folder (containing the scripts), 2 DLL files and an EXE file on the top level.

Update mod info in Vortex

Now we need to tell Vortex this isn't a normal mod and should be added to the game folder, not the mods folder.

Double-clicking the mod will open the mod details pane on the right. Make the following changes:

  • Mod Name - This is optional, but you can make the name of the mod more friendly, such as "SKSE64" or "Script Extender".
  • Version - This is recommended, add the current version of the script extender, so you know if you need to update.
  • Mod Type - This is required change this to "dinput".

Now you can enable this mod. If you have automatic deployment turned off, you will need to click "Deploy Mods" to all the installation into the game folder.

Set up the shortcut

You have to edit the script extender settings. So check your dashboard where handly shortcuts to the script extender are already set up.

There you have to click the 3 dots on the Skyrim Script Extender App. Then click "Edit"

You have to delete the skse Version Folder skse64_2_00_10\ in yourSKSESettings, otherwise you could not start skse within vortex with skse running

Target: c:\games\steam\steamapps\common\Skyrim Special Edition\skse64_2_00_10\skse64_loader.exe

Start in: c:\games\steam\steamapps\common\Skyrim Special Edition\skse64_2_00_10\

Check it's working

To verify the script extending is working, check your dashboard where handly shortcuts to the script extender are already set up. Click the play button and if the game launches via the script extender it has been installed correctly.

You can set the script extender as default by clicking the menu icon next to the tool. This will mean when you click the launch button at the top of Vortex, the script extender will be started.

Tool Setup: Script Extenders - Nexus Mods Wiki (2024)

FAQs

How to get Skyrim script extender to work with Vortex? ›

First, you will need to download the archive. Even the files hosted at Nexus Mods will need to be downloaded manually. Next, in your mods tab on Vortex, click the "Install from File" button and select the archive you've just downloaded. This will add a new disabled mod entry for your script extender.

What do script extenders do? ›

It's in the name, Script Extender... think of it like an #include in your code to give you added functionality, either not possible, or requires much more lines of code to do it "Bethesda's way".

How do I add tools to Vortex mod Manager? ›

Click the dashboard and navigate to the tool list where the preconfigured tools are found. Press the “Add Tool” button to add a tool that is not preconfigured. If the tool is a regular Windows GUI application, then the “Target” needs to be set to the tool's executable file.

What does purge mods do in vortex? ›

If you want to take your game back to a default, unmodded state, you can use Vortex's Purge feature. Click the Purge Mods button from the Mods list and Vortex will undeploy all your enabled mods, leaving your game directory essentially unmodded.

How to tell if Skyrim script extender is working? ›

You can confirm SKSE is loaded and working by checking for the SKSE version number in faded gray text at the bottom-left corner of the pause menu.

Do I need to launch Skyrim script extender? ›

You need to launch using the SKSE loader each time you launch Skyrim. Just make a shortcut and place it on your desktop.

Where to put Skyrim script extender? ›

The most common default installation directory is: C:\Program Files\Steam\steammapps\common\skyrim\

What does the Skyrim script extender do? ›

The Skyrim Script Extender (SKSE) is a tool used by many Skyrim mods that expands scripting capabilities and adds additional functionality to the game.

Is Vortex mod Manager easy to use? ›

MODERN, EASY TO USE UI

Featuring a fully customisable interface, Vortex allows you to quickly and easily access tools and manage your games, plugins, downloads and save games.

Can you manually install mods with Vortex? ›

Simply download the mod you want and install it by dragging and dropping the archive into the Vortex window or use the "Install From File" option. Wait for the installation to finish and deploy the mods. All options for these mods (if they have any) and for the Middle Earth Mod Loader itself can be modified in-game.

Is there a faster way to delete mods on Vortex? ›

make bulk uninstallation of mods on vortex simpler
  1. Ctrl + A to select all mods.
  2. Shift + Click to select all mods between the last mod you clicked before pressing Shift and the mod you just clicked.
  3. Ctrl + Click to add the mod you clicked to your selection.
Oct 15, 2023

Can you hide mods in Vortex? ›

Broom allows you to automatically hide or delete files from various mods in your list. To achieve this, Broom reads a configuration file that is also installed as a mod in your list. In the config file you can specify a set of rules (file names, patterns etc.) that Broom then uses to hide/delete mod files.

Is Vortex safe for modding? ›

Vortex now features an updated security sandbox for mod installations to protect your PC against potentially malicious mod installers. This means that any mod installer that runs a custom C# script will be blocked from accessing areas of your system that are outside of the scope of a mod installation.

Why is SKSE64 loader not launching? ›

Fix: If SKSE64 fails to launch, it might be due to conflicts with other software, such as anti-virus or firewall programs. Temporarily disable these programs, launch SKSE64, and then re-enable them. Make sure to add SKSE64 as an exception if necessary.

References

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