Tes3Mod:File Format

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Contents 1 Summary 2 Notes 2.1 CELL 2.2 INFO 2.3 NPCC (NPC Contents) 2.4 SCPT (Global Script)

[edit] Summary

Morrowind mod and save files use the same basic format of records and subrecords.

• Dave Humphrey wrote a fairly detailed description of the file structure: Format of Morrowind's ESM Plug-In File.
• The most up to date encoding of the file structure can be found in ESTemplate.ini file for Enchanted Editor.
• Jim Adam has an older, but more readable version of the Morrowind File Format, but it does not address save game records.

[edit] Notes

Following is a collection of rough notes on file format records and subrecords.

• Organization is by Record, then subrecord, the subrecord notes.

[edit] CELL

• CNAM (Cell Name)
  • Used after a MVRF
• MPDT (Map Data: x,y,z floats) [ESS]
• MPNT (Map Note, String) [ESS]
• MVRF (Move Reference) [ESS,ESP]
  • Signifies that the reference has been moved to another cell.
  • If moved to an interior cell is followed by CNAM. (And other times? I forget.)
  • Found frequently in ESS files as creatures and NPCS move (or are moved) from their original.
  • Can also be found (very rarely) in an esp if the esp moves a reference from a master file.
• NAM8 (Visibility Map) [ESS]
• NAM0 (Normal Objects Count, Long) [ESM,ESP]
  • ESM/ESPs only.
  • Corresponds to __TEMP_REFS___ line
  • Count of non "reference persists" objects in cell
  • Appears between "persistent" and non-"persistent" objects
• ZNAM (Disabled: 1 byte) [ESS?]
  • Probably presence is enough.
  • Byte always == 0?

[edit] INFO

• NAME: NOT zero terminated!
• BNAM: NOT zero terminated!

[edit] NPCC (NPC Contents)

• NPDT
  • Bytes 0-1: Base disposition
  • Bytes 2-3: Flag? values: {0,2,4,8,10,14}
  • Bytes 4-8: Index number
• SLCS (script variable ?)
• WIDX (Wear index: index of items within the list that are worn)
  • But why 8 bytes???
• XCHG (Charge? float)
• XIDX (Subindex of NPCO, precedes greater detail)
• XHLT (Health)
  • Format (integer or float) depends on type of item.
• XSOL (Soul gem contained creature, zero terminated string creature id)

[edit] SCPT (Global Script)

• SCHD (Script Header)
• SLCS (?: 3 ints?)
  • Always present?
• SLFD (Float Data: 4 bytes x num of floats)
• SLSD (Short Data 2 bytes x num of shorts)
• RNAM (Reference)
  • Reference object for global script. Same format as CELL.FRMR.