The difference between Skyrim and Skyrim SE plugins

	Notice Work in progress. If you have additional information, feel free to add it to the article.

The purpose of this article is to document the differences in plugin structure between Form 43 plugins used by Skyirm (2011) and Form 44 plugins used by Skyrim Special Edition.

 

(TES4) Headers

Fields
Skyrim	Skyrim Special Edition
Record Header: Signature: TES4 Datasize: Record Flags: ESM, Localized, Ignored FormID: NULL Version Control Info 1: None Form Version: 43 Version Control Info 2: 00 00 HEDR - Header: Version: 1.70000 Number of Records: Next Object ID: OFST - Unknown DELE - Unknown CNAM - Author SNAM - Description Master Files Master File MAST - FileName DATA - Unknown ONAM - Overridden Forms SCRN - Screenshot INTV - Unknown INCC - Unknown	Record Header: Signature: TES4 Datasize: Record Flags: ESM, Localized, ESL, Ignored FormID: NULL Version Control Info 1: None Form Version: 44 Version Control Info 2: 00 00 HEDR - Header: Version: 1.70000 Number of Records: Next Object ID: OFST - Unknown DELE - Unknown CNAM - Author SNAM - Description Master Files Master File MAST - FileName DATA - Unknown ONAM - Overridden Forms SCRN - Screenshot INTV - Unknown INCC - Unknown

Noteable differences

• ESL Flag: Light plugins were introduced in Skyrim Special Edition and Fallout 4
• Form Version: Incremental form version.

 

(AMMO) Ammunition

Fields
Skyrim	Skyrim Special Edition
Record Header: Signature: AMMO Datasize: Record Flags: Non-Playable, Deleted, Ignored FormID: [EDID] "[Full Name]" XX###### Version Control Info 1: YYYY-MM-DD User: ## Index: # Form Version: 40-43 Version Control Info 2: ## ## EDID - Editor ID OBND - Object Bounds X1 Y1 Z1 X2 Y2 Z2 FULL - Full Name Model MODL - Model FileName MODT - Texture Files Hashes MODS - Alternate Textures Icon ICON - Large Icon FileName MICO - Small Icon FileName Destructible DEST - Header Health DEST Count VATS Targetable Unknown Stages Stage DSTD - Destruction Stage Data Health Index Model Damage Stage Flags Cap Damage Disable Destroy Ignore External Dmg Self Damage per Second Explosion Debris Debris Count Model DMDL - Model FileName DMDT - Texture Files Hashes DMDS - Alternate Textures DSTF - End Marker YNAM - Sound - Pick Up ZNAM - Sound - Put Down DESC - Description KSIZ - Keyword Count KWDA - Keywords Keyword (*) DATA - Data Projectile Flags Ignores Normal Weapon Resistance Non-Playable Non-Bolt Damage Value ONAM - Short Name	Record Header: Signature: AMMO Datasize: Record Flags: Non-Playable, Deleted, Ignored FormID: [EDID] "[Full Name]" XX###### Version Control Info 1: YYYY-MM-DD User: ## Index: # Form Version: 44 Version Control Info 2: ## ## EDID - Editor ID OBND - Object Bounds X1 Y1 Z1 X2 Y2 Z2 FULL - Full Name Model MODL - Model FileName MODT - Texture Files Hashes MODS - Alternate Textures Icon ICON - Large Icon FileName MICO - Small Icon FileName Destructible DEST - Header Health DEST Count VATS Targetable Unknown Stages Stage DSTD - Destruction Stage Data Health Index Model Damage Stage Flags Cap Damage Disable Destroy Ignore External Dmg Self Damage per Second Explosion Debris Debris Count Model DMDL - Model FileName DMDT - Texture Files Hashes DMDS - Alternate Textures DSTF - End Marker YNAM - Sound - Pick Up ZNAM - Sound - Put Down DESC - Description KSIZ - Keyword Count KWDA - Keywords Keyword (*) DATA - Data Projectile Flags Ignores Normal Weapon Resistance Non-Playable Non-Bolt Damage Value Weight ONAM - Short Name

Noteable differences

• DATA - Weight: SSE includes a per-unit weight value stored as a float (0.100000).
• Form Version: Incremental form version.

 

(LENS) Lens Flare

Fields
Skyrim	Skyrim Special Edition
	Record Header: Signature: LENS Datasize: Record Flags: Deleted, Ignored FormID: [EDID] "[Full Name]" XX###### Version Control Info 1: YYYY-MM-DD User: ## Index: # Form Version: 44 Version Control Info 2: ## ## CNAM - Color Influence DNAM - Fade Distance Radius Scale LFSP - Count Lens Flare Sprites Flare DNAM - Lens Flare Sprite ID FNAM - Texture LFSD - Lens Flare Data Tint Red Green Blue Width Height Position Angular Fade Opacity Flags Rotates Shrinks When Occluded

Noteable differences

• Lens Flare records were introduced in Skyrim Special Edition

 

(LTEX) Landscape Texture

Fields
Skyrim	Skyrim Special Edition
Record Header: Signature: LTEX Datasize: Record Flags: Deleted, Ignored FormID: [EDID] "[Full Name]" XX###### Version Control Info 1: YYYY-MM-DD User: ## Index: # Form Version: 15-37 Version Control Info 2: ## ## EDID - Editor ID TNAM - Texture Set MNAM - Material Type HNAM - Havok Data Friction Restitution SNAM - Texture Specular Exponent Grasses GNAM - Grass (*) INAM - Unused	Record Header: Signature: LTEX Datasize: Record Flags: Deleted, Ignored FormID: [EDID] "[Full Name]" XX###### Version Control Info 1: YYYY-MM-DD User: ## Index: # Form Version: 15-44 Version Control Info 2: ## ## EDID - Editor ID TNAM - Texture Set MNAM - Material Type HNAM - Havok Data Friction Restitution SNAM - Texture Specular Exponent Grasses GNAM - Grass (*) INAM - Flags Is Snow

Noteable differences

• INAM - Flags: INAM is now an array consisting solely of the check for Skyrim Special Edition's new snow shader.
• Form Version: Incremental form version.

 

(MATO) Material Object

Fields
Skyrim	Skyrim Special Edition
Record Header: Signature: MATO Datasize: Record Flags: Deleted, Ignored FormID: [EDID] "[Full Name]" XX###### Version Control Info 1: YYYY-MM-DD User: ## Index: # Form Version: 18-39 Version Control Info 2: ## ## EDID - Editor ID Model MODL - Model FileName MODT - Texture Files Hashes MODS - Alternate Textures Property Data DNAM - Data DATA - Directional Material Data Falloff Scale Falloff Bias Noise UV Scale Material UV Scale Projection Vector X Y Z Normal Dampener Single Pass Color Red Green Blue Flags Single Pass	Record Header: Signature: MATO Datasize: Record Flags: Deleted, Ignored FormID: [EDID] "[Full Name]" XX###### Version Control Info 1: YYYY-MM-DD User: ## Index: # Form Version: 18-43 Version Control Info 2: ## ## EDID - Editor ID Model MODL - Model FileName MODT - Texture Files Hashes MODS - Alternate Textures Property Data DNAM - Data DATA - Directional Material Data Falloff Scale Falloff Bias Noise UV Scale Material UV Scale Projection Vector X Y Z Normal Dampener Single Pass Color Red Green Blue Flags Single Pass Flags Snow Unused

Noteable differences

• xEdit: Duplicate Flags entry appears in records in xEdit. Different UTF format, functions normally. Engine quirk?
• Flags: Implemented check for the Skyrim Special Edition's snow shader.
• Form Version: Incremental form version.

 

(MUSC) Music Type

Fields
Skyrim	Skyrim Special Edition
Record Header: Signature: MUSC Datasize: Record Flags: Deleted, Ignored FormID: [EDID] "[Full Name]" XX###### Version Control Info 1: YYYY-MM-DD User: ## Index: # Form Version: 30-43 Version Control Info 2: ## ## EDID - Editor ID FNAM - Flags Plays One Selection Abrupt Transition Cycle Tracks Maintain Track Order Unknown 4 Ducks Current Track Unknown 6 PNAM - Data Priority Ducking (dB) WNAM - Fade Duration TNAM - Music Tracks Track # (*)	Record Header: Signature: MUSC Datasize: Record Flags: Deleted, Ignored FormID: [EDID] "[Full Name]" XX###### Version Control Info 1: YYYY-MM-DD User: ## Index: # Form Version: 30-44 Version Control Info 2: ## ## EDID - Editor ID FNAM - Flags Plays One Selection Abrupt Transition Cycle Tracks Maintain Track Order Unknown 4 Ducks Current Track Doesn't Queue PNAM - Data Priority Ducking (dB) WNAM - Fade Duration TNAM - Music Tracks Track # (*)

Noteable differences

• Flags: "Doesn't Queue" implemented Skyrim Special Edition.
• Form Version: Incremental form version.

 

🚧 (STAT) Static 🚧

• DNAM - Direction Material - Flags
• DNAM - Direction Material - Unused

 

🚧 (VOLI) Volumetric Lighting 🚧

• New record type, copy and edit LENS

 

🚧 (WATR) Water 🚧

• FNAM - "Unknown 3" became "Enable Flowmap"
• FNAM - "Unknown 4" became "Blend Normals"
• DNAM - Visual Data - "Noise Properties - Flowmap Scale"
• NAM5 - Flow Normals - Noise Texture

 

🚧 (WEAP) Weapon 🚧

• CRDT - Critical Data - "Effect"

 

🚧 (WRLD) Worldspace 🚧

• Large References (array)

 

🚧 (WTHR) Weather 🚧

• HNAM - Volumetric Lighting
• GNAM - Sun Glare Lens Flare