SkyBC Dictionary

SkyBC Dictionary was created to open terms, abbreviations and acronyms we use. It is a work in progress, getting updated when ever time allows and need requires.

A

Appcache
Appcache folder is located in <InstallationPath>\Steam folder. It is are repository folder for Steam.exe, used to store downloaded information and game data for quick access. This folder makes it unnecessary for Steam to go trough the process of loading and comparing data from games and downloads each time user logs in. As a downside, the data in the folder is not always refreshed properly and may prevent Steam from detecting problems with Skyrim master files, during file verification process. Deleting the folder is safe for this purpose, but it is recommended to log out of Steam first. Steam will create a new one, with fresh information, the next time client loads.

B

BAIN
A type of installation wizard similar to FOMOD. It is used exclusively by Wrye Bash to install mods through its Installers tab.
See: FOMOD.
See: Wrye Bash.

BOSS
BOSS stands for "Better Oblivion Sorting Software". It was used to manage the load order for Bethesda games: Oblivion, Skyrim, Fallout 3 and Fallout: New Vegas. It is now considered as obsolete and replaced by LOOT.
See: Load Order.
See: LOOT.

BSA
BSA stands for "Bethesda Softworks Archive" file. It is a resource file used in conjunction with ESM and ESP files, acting as archive file for resources they may require. BSA's do not obey installation order, and instead get loaded into the game in the same order as the ESPs, as defined by the load order, however BSAs always get overriden by loose files in the case of a conflict.
See: Installation Order
See: Loose Files

Biped Slot
A tag that is added onto equipable items to define what part of the body they are attached to, and also to tell the game what part of the body shouldn't render when equipped. Examples of biped slots are "30 - Head", "35 - Amulet" and "40 - Tail". Only one item can be equipped to each biped slot at a time. Some mods that need usage of a new biped slot can be incompatable with others. Some mods allow you to customise the biped slot for their item, or download alternate versions for that purpose to avoid compatability problems.

C

Corruption (save file)
State of save file, where Skyrim can not load it. The game will inform player about every corrupted file. Crashing save is not the same thing than corrupted save. Speaking about "corrupted save file" should be reserved only for occasions when game has actually detected one.

Crash to Desktop (CTD)
This is event, when game stops working and quits to desktop. Reasons for CTD can be plenty, starting from standard memory issues to inability to missing master file. Community has mods and guides to prevent most cases of CTDs.

Creation Kit
Creation Kit (CK) is a SDK - Software Development Kit - for Skyrim. It is an official tool, released from Skyrim development team for the gaming community. It is used to add third part content for the game. Creation Kit is a free tool and available for all Skyrim owners from "Tools" section of Steam client Library tab.

D

DLC
DLC stands for Downloadable Content. For Skyrim this means Dawnguard, Hearthfire and Dragonborn.
See: Skyrim master file.

E

ENB
Game specific binary back series, developed by Boris Vorontsov and published trough enbdev.com. It is a 3d graphic modification for several games, including TES: V Skyrim. It adds additional effect options for the game and works by changing rendering calls. It also contains optional patch for ENBoost and is required to use it. ENB binaries are also used to create ENB presets, for graphic enhancement mods.
See: ENBoost
See: ENB Preset.

ENBoost
CTD and memory patch that requires ENB binaries to function. This patch will reduce memory usage of the game it is installed to, allowing players to install more mods and/or prevent CTDs caused by excessive memory usage. Patch is available from Nexus, but ENB preset users should use files from their presets instead.
See: CTD
See: ENB

ENB Preset
Graphic enhancing presets for Skyrim, made by using ENB binaries as their base. Presets are often build around predetermined mod combination. Most ENB presets are optimized for visual benefits and can be heavy to run. Some of them have more performance friendly options, or are optimized with better performance in mind. Users can create their own presets or download them from community file sharing sites.

ESM
ESM stands for "Elder Scrolls Master" file. ESM files can be official Skyrim master files or third party mod author made master files.
See: ESP
See: Master file (modding)

ESP
ESP stands for "Elder Scrolls Plugin" file. ESP files can not function alone. Each will requires an ESM to work. This master file can be the main file, Skyrim.esm. Files are used in modding, to include third party content to Elder Scrolls series of games.
See: ESM.
See: Master file (modding)

F

FOMOD
File extension and installer type, to install mods for Skyrim. It was used by Fallout Mod Manager (FOMM) and made it's way to Skrim modding as well. Both Nexus Mod Manager and Mod Organizer are capable of using FOMOD installers.

I

Identical To Master Records (ITM)
A type of record that appears in esps when the information for a given item, area or other type of record, is functionally identical to that in its master file. This type of record can be accidental through an error in modding practices, caused by the Creation Kit, or nessisary for the rest of a mods data to function.
See: Creation Kit
See: Master file

Infinite Loading Screen (ILS)
A state of infinite loading that can happen, primarily due to an excess of textures and models trying to be loaded into memory by the game, that results in being unable to progress to the next area. Can often be fixed by the SKSE memory ini.
See: SKSE

Installation Order
Also known as Priority. Similar to Load Order, but looking at how the loose files are loaded into the game. Where Load Order focuses on internal game data included in the ESP files, Installation Order focuses on what textures, meshes, scripts and sounds the game can see and load. Where mods have replaced the same loose files, the last installed mod will override all of the others.
See: BSA
See: Load Order
See: Loose Files
See: Priority

L

Legendary Edition
Legendary Edition, often called just "LE", is a collection including the base game The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim and DLC expansions Dawnguard, Hearthfire and Dragonborn. Legendary Edition includes the full collection in one buy. It does not grant any extra copies for content that was already owned by the account that activated it.

Levelled Lists
The type of data record that Skyrim uses to spawn in certain elements of the world around you, including vendor inventories, quest item rewards, container contents and NPCs. As you level, information is drawn from different lists in order to keep the rewards and world around you appropriate to your level, maintaining difficulty and consistancy. Mods that edit these lists are incompatable without a Bashed Patch.
See: Wrye Bash

Load Order
Load order determines the order how data in your Elder Scroll Master and Plugin files (ESM and ESP) is loaded in to your game. This is important, because all official Skyrim master files and third party mods require that data is included in proper order against files that would otherwise conflict with them. Load order can be set and managed manually from default launcher Data Files view, but it is recommended to use tool like LOOT instead. Load order manages only files with Elder Scrolls extensions (ESM and ESP). Other mods rely to the order of priority between them.
See: Priority.

Loose Files
A phrase covering files that come with mods that the author has not packaged into a BSA. This includes textures, meshes, sounds, scripts, interface files and more. Loose files are loaded into the game according to Installation Order and are overriden by other mods installing the same files.
See: BSA
See: Installation Order

LOOT
Loot stands for "Load Order Optimization Tool." It has replaced the it's predecessor BOSS as a main load order sorting tool. LOOT does not rely to load order master list as much than BOSS did and is able to detect and sort all properly created load order items, without them being included to any downloadable lists. Not all mods follow the rules that are used by LOOT, so tool has a master file for it's own for exceptions and conflicting files. While LOOT is more accurate and considered up to date tool, the list containing exceptions may not be properly date with all mods out there, so reading about possible exceptions from mod description page is still recommended. LOOT was originally introduced as BOSS v3 beta. This is no longer the case and tool is a stable standalone, despite that BOSS v3 status still occasionally may still appear in old information - misleading new users about the state where the tool actually is.
See: BOSS.
See: Load order.

M

Master file
See: Skyrim master file.
See: Master file (modding).
See: ESM.

Master file (modding)
File acting as a parent (master) file for a child mod. Parent file holds main resources for child mod to work. Usually this is ESM/ESP relation, but not always. Each plugin (ESP) file requires a master file (ESM) to work. While this is true, not all master files set for a plugin are necessarily in ESM form, despite that each of them does require at least 1 ESM file to work. Some times ESP files can also be designed as a master file for others. This is rare as a whole, but more with patch files made for other mods or the main game.
See: ESM
See: ESP

Mod Configuration Menu (MCM)
A menu that comes packaged with SkyUI mod, enabling more advanced and precise control over mods and their various settings. An essential system in many advanced and complicated mods. SkyUI requires SKSE to function.
See: SKSE

Mod Manager
Tool to use install and manage mods for the game. Popular tools include Mod Organizer, Nexus Mod Manager and Wrye Bash.
See: Mod Organizer
See. Nexus Mod Manager
See: Wrye Bash

Mod Organizer (MO)
Advanced mod manager tool from Tannin. A free tool is available from Skyrim Nexus and is used to download, install and manage mods. Mod Organizer allows users to directly download and install mods from Nexus. It also allows installing any mod that has been downloaded to hard drive. Mod Organizer has a query button to see if some of installed mods have update in Nexus. It can not currently use detect updates from other mod sharing sites, so users have to follow those themselves. Mod organizer has several powerful features, including profiles, ability to manually manage the priority order of files, visually see what information is overwritten from load order/priority files and quickly change what versions and features from some mods are used, without the need to reinstall them. MO uses a virtual Data folder, leaving your actual Data folder clean from all mods. It installs all mods as separate under "mods" folder in it's own installation. That way no file is actually overwritten during modding, but manage by file priority.
See: Mod Manager
See: NXM
See: Priority

N

Nexus mods and community
Nexus mods and community (usually just "Nexus" or "<GameName> Nexus" is a community site. Nexus stores and shares user made mods for games that have released their Software Development Kit for the community use. Nexus is a free site for all standard users, including all mod authors and mod users. Site offers more advanced services for member paying a fee from the services. Fee is paid by different forms of memberships, including the possibility for a life time premium membership.
See: Creation Kit
See: SDK

Nexus Mod Manager (NMM)
A free tool to download and manage your mods. NMM is available from Nexus and can be used to directly download and install mods from the site. When connected, NMM will also inform about updates to files in Nexus. NMM is not restricted to Nexus alone. It can be used to install mods that are downloaded manually to hard drive from any location. However, NMM only detects file updates from Nexus, so users will have to follow updates for mods from other sources themselves.
See: Mod Manager.
See: NXM.

NXM
File and URL extension used by internet browsers and mod manager applications to detect and manage files from Nexus mods and community. Changing the NXM file association may be required, if your mod manager and internet browser can not function together. This feature is changed from internet browser options, usually under Applications.

O

P

Parent file
See: Master file (modding).

Priority (Under Work)
Priority determines how the information from skyrim master files and mods is included to the game. Not to be confused to load order, priority is usually used to set the loading order for files that do not have Elder Scrolls extension. This mostly affects to custom character and item data, like meshes, textures and skeleton files. With Nexus Mod Manager and manual installation, priority is managed by order of installation, where the last file installed has the highest number of priority. This means that it loads after everything below it and overwrites all the data that would conflict with it. More advanced tools, like Mod Organizer, allow users to manually move items in priority view, including items that are already sorted in load order view.

Also known as Installation Order. The order in which loose files are overriden by other files. In MO this is managed in the left pane, while other methods of installation or mod managers do it by the order in which they are installed. Only applies to loose files.
See: Installation Order
See: Loose Files

S

Save (file)
Save files store your character progress. In Skyrim, they also store script data from game and mods. This makes removing scripted mods from the active game dangerous for it's stability. Neither Betehsda or community can provide reliable support or tools for problems rising from removed scripted mods. Previous data will be transported for every new save made with the same character, but starts from 0 when starting a new game. Saves are stored in Documents > My Games > Skyrim. They are not removed when game is unintalled, or affected by file verification process.

SDK
SDK stands for "Software Development Kit." These tools are released by official developer teams. They are used by gaming communities to include third party content (mods) for the game.
See: Creation Kit

SkyProc (Patcher)
A .jar file that comes with some mods that allows for the creation of a dynamically generated patch that forms as an esp file. Often used by more complex mods in order to achieve compatability with other mods in a load order, and the generated esp usually sits very low in the load order. SkyProc patchers can be used as individual tools, or combine them with SUM (SkyProc Unified Manager) to run them all at once.

SKSE - Skyrim Script Extender
An alternate skyrim launcher that enables more advanced and diverse scripts to be loaded into the game to be used by mods, most notably the SkyUI MCM which allows direct control over mod settings
See: MCM

Skyrim master file
Skyrim master files are the main game + DLC files, with ESM extension. These files include Skyrim.esm, Update.esm and DLC files Dawnguard.esm, HearthFires.esm and Dragonborn.esm.
See: ESM.

Skyrim Nexus
Area of Nexus site, reserved for Skyrim mods and discussion.
See: Nexus mods and community.

T

TES5Edit
Tool that is derived from Creation Kit. Displays only data records and no visual editor, but allows for some advanced features such as the merging of plugins and easy creation of patches and mod editing, as well as basic mod creation. Also has several functions for cleaning errors from .esp and .esm data useful for mod creators.
See: Creation Kit
See: Esp
See: Esm

U

Undeleted and Disabled Record (UDR)
An error which appears when a file removes all traces of an item, NPC or other type of record from the world. Can result in CTDs and other errors when present in files as mods are unable to find this item again resulting in loose scripts and problematic functions happening in the background of the game. Fixed by cleaning out the deletion and replacing it with a disabled tag in TES5Edit.
See: TES5Edit
See: Crash To Desktop (CTD)

USLEEP - Unofficial Skyrim Legendary Edition Patch
Upcoming merged patch from Unofficial Skyrim Patch team. This will merge following mods: Unofficial Skyrim Patch, Unofficial Dawnguard Patch, Unofficial HearthFire Patch and Unofficial Dragonborn Patch. USLEEP is not going to contain Unofficial High Resolution Patch for official High Resolution Textreus DLC; it will remain as a standalone patch.

Unofficial Skyrim Patch (USKP)
Unofficial Skyrim Patch is a mod file, attempting to fix bugs from the game. Despite being in ESP-form, it is a master for all other mods in the Unofficial Patch series and also several other mods. In addition to USKP, series has a patch mod for each DLC. Load order between them is important and explained in the description page of the main file.

V

Vanilla (game)
Unmodified base The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim game.

W

Workshop
File sharing platform for Steam, allowing players of Valve and Steamworks-enabled games to source user-created content under it. It has limited file size and it's autoupdate feature is often considered problematic for Skyrim that stores script data in to game saves. Workshop still has plenty of users and it also shares money to some of it's content creators.
See: Save (file).

Wrye Bash
Powerful mod manager application, used either standalone or together with other mod manager applications. Wrye Bash is a tool that allows users to install, merge and mange mods. It has a special feature that allows creating so called "Bashed Batch" that can be used to merge levelled lists for the game. This feature can be used with other mod managers. Wrye Bash also allows you to exceed the limit for items in load order, although it is not exactly recommended to do so, without proper knowledge about mods user intends to merge.
See: Levelled lists.
See: Mod Manager.

Credits

Contributors:
Ilja
Nazenn

Credits:
Delta 1038

[Ilja]

USLEEP information has been updated to SkyBC Dictionary.

[plastic]

This is very good

[Kelvy]

This is looking more like it IIja, more to what I said ages ago. Well done.

[Ilja]

I am back working with this guide. RL has been keeping me busy, but project has not been abandoned.

I just fixed a problem with sections O and P. Content from P was posted to O. Now entery "Priority" was there in to places, both with different explanation. I have mereged them, but am too tired to work with them properly right now. I will see it trough tomorrow.

[Hamsterbytes , bits and nibbles]

Thanks to Nazenn also.

[Hamsterbytes , bits and nibbles]

Thanks for the great INFO IIja.

[Ilja]

Thanks.
This is not 100% my own project. I am trying to add Nazenn as a contributor, but so far it shows him as "pending." Guide system is quite strange.

[Miku Cat]

this is good stuff