Fallout 76 Custom INI Creator

Automatically generates Fallout76Custom.ini files for .ba2 mod management with intelligent path detection and robust error handling.

About

This tool scans your Fallout 76 data directory and creates a properly formatted Custom.ini file that loads all installed .ba2 mods. Originally created by GrimTech and maintained with regular updates alongside Fallout 76 patches.

Nexus Mods: Fallout76CreateCustomIni

Quick Start

GUI Version (Recommended for Beginners)

1. Backup your existing Fallout76Custom.ini (if you have one)
2. Copy createCustomIniGUI.py to your Fallout76\Data directory
3. Run: py createCustomIniGUI.py
4. Use the interface to browse folders, scan mods, and create your INI
5. Verify the generated file using the "Open Output Folder" button

CLI Version (For Advanced Users)

1. Backup your existing Fallout76Custom.ini (if you have one)
2. Copy createCustomIni.py or createCustomIni.exe to your Fallout76\Data directory
3. Run the script:
   • Python: py createCustomIni.py
   • Executable: createCustomIni.exe
4. Verify the generated Fallout76Custom.ini in your Documents folder

Both versions automatically detect your Fallout 76 directory, including OneDrive locations.

Versions Available

GUI Version (createCustomIniGUI.py) - NEW!

Perfect for users who prefer a graphical interface:

• Visual Interface: Browse folders with buttons, no typing needed
• Mod Preview: See exactly which mods will be included before creating
• Real-time Validation: Visual indicators show if paths are valid
• Dark Mode: Toggle between light and dark themes
• Settings Memory: Saves your preferences for next time
• Drag & Drop: Drag folders directly onto input fields (optional)
• One-Click Access: Open output folder button after creation

See GUI_README.md for detailed GUI documentation.

CLI Version (createCustomIni.py)

Traditional command-line interface for power users:

• Fast Execution: Quick command-line operation
• Scriptable: Easy to integrate into batch files or automation
• Lightweight: No GUI dependencies
• Full Control: All options available via command-line flags

Key Features

Smart Path Detection

• Automatically locates your Fallout 76 directory across multiple possible locations
• No manual configuration needed in most cases

OneDrive Support

Seamlessly handles various OneDrive configurations:

• OneDrive Personal
• OneDrive Business
• OneDrive with redirected Documents folders
• Standard Documents folder as fallback

Intelligent Mod Organization

Automatically categorizes mods into the correct INI sections:

• sResourceStartUpArchiveList - Startup mods (BakaFile, IconTag, etc.)
• sResourceArchiveList2 - Core gameplay mods
• sResourceIndexFileList - Texture and map mods
• sResourceArchive2List - General mods (default category)

Robust Error Handling

• Validates data folder existence before processing
• Clear error messages with actionable solutions
• UTF-8 encoding support for international characters
• Permission issue detection with admin mode suggestion

Command Line Options

--datafolder <path>       Specify Fallout 76's data folder location
                          Default: current directory

--inifolder <path>        Specify where Fallout76Custom.ini should be created
                          Default: Auto-detected from Documents or OneDrive

--inifilename <name>      Specify the INI filename
                          Default: Fallout76Custom.ini

--runasadmin              Run with administrator privileges
                          Use when Fallout 76 is in a UAC-protected location

--copyinicontents <file>  Import contents from another INI file
                          Useful for preserving custom settings

-h, --help                Show help message

Usage Examples

GUI Version

# Launch the GUI
py createCustomIniGUI.py

# Then use the interface to:
# 1. Browse to your data folder
# 2. Click "Scan Mods" to preview
# 3. Click "Create Custom INI"
# 4. Click "Open Output Folder" to view result

CLI Version

Basic Usage

py createCustomIni.py

Custom Data Folder

py createCustomIni.py --datafolder "C:\Games\Fallout76\Data"

Custom INI Location

py createCustomIni.py --inifolder "D:\MyConfigs"

Run as Administrator

py createCustomIni.py --runasadmin

Import Existing Settings

py createCustomIni.py --copyinicontents "backup.ini"

How It Works

1. Detection: Scans multiple possible Fallout 76 directory locations
2. Scanning: Identifies all .ba2 files in the data folder (excluding official "SeventySix" files)
3. Categorization: Sorts mods into appropriate INI sections based on type
4. Generation: Creates a properly formatted Fallout76Custom.ini file
5. Validation: Confirms successful creation with console feedback

Troubleshooting

Permission Denied Error

If you see a permission error, try running with --runasadmin:

py createCustomIni.py --runasadmin

Data Folder Not Found

Manually specify your data folder location:

py createCustomIni.py --datafolder "C:\Path\To\Fallout76\Data"

INI File Not Created

Check that you have write permissions to your Documents folder and that the path exists.

Technical Details

CLI Version

• Language: Python 3
• Encoding: UTF-8 (supports international characters)
• Compiled Version: Built with PyInstaller for standalone execution
• Platform: Windows (primary), cross-platform compatible

GUI Version

• Language: Python 3 with tkinter
• Dependencies:
  • tkinter (included with Python)
  • tkinterdnd2 (optional, for drag & drop)
• Settings Storage: JSON file (createCustomIni_settings.json)
• Platform: Cross-platform (Windows, macOS, Linux)

Installation

Basic (Both Versions)

No installation needed - Python 3 is the only requirement.

GUI with Drag & Drop (Optional)

pip install tkinterdnd2

Notes

• The script excludes official Bethesda archives (files starting with "SeventySix")
• Mods are automatically sorted with HUDModLoader.ba2 placed last when present
• The tool creates necessary directories if they don't exist
• Console output shows progress and confirms successful creation

Files in This Repository

• createCustomIni.py - Original CLI version
• createCustomIniGUI.py - New GUI version with enhanced features
• GUI_README.md - Detailed documentation for GUI version
• requirements-gui.txt - Optional dependencies for GUI
• README.md - This file
• changelog.md - Version history and changes

Contributing

This is a community tool maintained for Fallout 76 modders. Feel free to report issues or suggest improvements on the Nexus Mods page.

Disclaimer

"I don't normally do python.. or windows... so sorry..." - Original Author

Despite the humble disclaimer, this tool has proven reliable for hundreds of Fallout 76 modders!