==Using the JoneSoft Generic Mod Enabler==
1. Ensure that you have a clean, unmodded installation of your game, preferably with the latest patch(es) installed, although this does not matter. If you are already running a prior version of the Generic Mod Enabler, disable all enabled mods.
2. Copy JSGME.exe (and JSGMEHelp.txt) to your game's root folder and run once. This will create the appropriate MODS and !BACKUP folders if they do not already exist. At this point you should also take a snapshot of your "clean" game files by selecting the "Generate snapshot of game files" task. This snapshot can be used to test the integrity of the game files at a later date, after you have installed and uninstalled mods.
3. After downloading mods, unzip them into a sub-folder under the MODS folder (call the sub-folder what you like, but use something that defines what the mod is). Note that the modder will usually setup the zip file and this step and the following step will be done for the user (see "Note for Modders" block below).
4. Ensure that the unzipped files replicate the game's folder structure. For example, with Rome Total War you should see something like:
\Rome Total War\
+ data
documentation
- MODS
- My Mod Folder Name <what you created at step 3>
- data
- Menu <etc...>
+ Support
Note that if you do not see a "data" folder immediately under your mod folder, it may not be unzipped correctly.
5. Run JSGME.exe and you should see the mod listed as an available mod. Simply select and press the ">" button, or click and drag from Available Mods to Activated Mods and the mod is installed. Note that you can also view a mod's readme documentation by selecting the mod and then right clicking. A list of all files contained in the mod's "documentation" folder will be displayed.
6. You disable mods by clicking on the enabled mod and pressing the "<" button, or clicking and dragging from Activated Mods to Available Mods. If an enabled mod has had files updated by subsequent enabled mods, you will not be allowed to disable the mod until the subsequent mods are disabled.
7. You can disable all mods in one action by pressing the "<<" button (useful for when patching your game or updating JSGME.exe).
8. You can remove available mods (not activated) from your computer by selecting and pressing the "Delete" button.
9. You can enable or disable multiple mods simultaneously by pressing the CTRL or ALT keys when selecting.
10. At any time you can check the integrity of your game files by selecting the "Compare game files to snapshot" task. This will compare the current game files against the original snapshot taken at step 2. Any discrepencies will be reported for your information and action.
11. To make sharing your mod lists with others easier, you can generate a text file listing by selecting the "Export activated mods list" task.
==How the Generic Mod Enabler works==
When you run the Generic Mod Enabler, all the sub-folder names under the MODS folder are collected and inserted into the "Available Mods" panel. Installing is simply done by clicking on a mod and pressing ">". This will copy the files across into the game folder structure, backing up any files that it overwrites by appending the mod's name to the file extension and moving to a backup folder. This is why it is important that the files under the MODS folder mirror the same structure as they would under the game folder structure. Also, once you enable a mod, you must make sure not to alter files in the source MODS folder. If you want to modify or update files in the MODS folder, disable the mod first then re-enable again after the files are updated (ie if a newer version of the mod is released).
The Generic Mod Enabler has been tested with European Air War, Panzer Elite, Silent Hunter III, Rome Total War and various other games, but should work with just about any moddable game. Simply follow the above instructions replacing "Rome Total War" with the name of the game that you wish to mod.
Enjoy!
Jaesen Jones
JoneSoft
Email
jonesoft@iinet.net.au if questions or feedback