Overview of the app
3 minute read
Initial (first-time) setup
NOMM comes with a really simple onboarding experience.
It will ask you for basic information like where you want to store downlaods, and where you want to store your mods in staging.
Staging & Downloads folder selection
In modding spheres you will often hear about staging. To explain what that means we need to go through the steps of how mods get installed.
- First, you download the mod archive. This is generally a single file in an archive format like
.zip,.7zor.rar. - Then you extract the contents of that archive into an intermediary folder managed by the mod manager called the staging folder.
- Finally, you deploy the contents of what’s in the staging folder to the game files. This can be done via a simple copy, but generally to save space and avoid redundant files, most mod managers opt for some type of linking such as using symbolic links (this is what NOMM uses!)
Keep in mind that:
- Since NOMM uses symlinks, there is no obligation to keep the staging folder on the same drive as your games.
- NOMM will create its own game-specific folders in both the downloads and staging folders.
- NOMM will not create a parent folder in the folder you have selected. That folder will act as a parent folder
To clarify, this will be the file structure for downloads:
[download-folder-you-selected]
|-- Skyrim
| |-- mod_1.zip
| `-- mod_2.7z
|-- Warhammer 40K Darktide
| |-- mod_1.zip
| |-- mod_2.rar
| `-- mod_3.zip
`-- Final Fantasy XII
`-- mod_1.7z
And this will be the file structure for staging:
[staging-folder-you-selected]
|-- Skyrim
| |-- mod_1
| | |-- mod_1_files
| | `-- more_mod_1_files
| `-- mod_2
| `-- mod_2_files
|-- Warhammer 40K Darktide
| |-- mod_1
| `-- mod_1_files
| |-- mod_2
| `-- mod_2_files
| `-- mod_3
| `-- mod_3_files
`-- Final Fantasy XII
`-- mod_1
`-- mod_1_files
Nexus API key
You have the option to add your Nexus API key to NOMM to enable mod and metadata downloads.
This API key can be obtained from the Nexus website via this link and scrolling all the way down.
You may also obtain it yourself by following these steps:
- Click on your avatar top right,
- Select
Site Preferences - Select the
API keystab on the left
And then in the same way, you will have to scroll all the way down to obtain your API key.
Once you have copied it, you can simply paste it directly in NOMM.
Giving NOMM access
NOMM will need access to a few paths to work properly. The first thing NOMM will do once initial setup is over is scan your libraries that are configured on supported platforms.
Once it has done that, it will request that the user give it access to those libraries AND the previously selected paths for downloads and staging.
As much as NOMM will be able to continue functionning without the access to all libraries, NOMM will not be able to launch without write access to the downloads and the staging folder as that would directly impact its ability to mod literally any game.
Once you have used the command generated by NOMM, you will have to restart it for those new access rights to be provided to the app.
And that’s it, you’re done!
Launcher
The launcher is where all the library-based logic happens.
It has a library of games detected by NOMM.
To start modding simply select one of the game posters.
You can also refresh the list by using the refresh button top right.
Finally, there are some configuration options editable from this screen as well by selecting the cog wheel top right.
Dashboard
Once you’ve selected the game you want to mod, you will be greeted by the dashboard with three tabs.