Using my ME3 mod files blog - Getorex

The best way to acquire the svn version of ME3explorer, if you do not have an svn tool, is to download and install TortoiseSVN (http://tortoisesvn.net/downloads.html).Once you've installed the app, create a folder for ME3explorer (I created my ME3Explorer folder in my Documents folder). Right click on this new folder in your navigator window and there should now be TortoiseSVN entries in the context menu that appears. Select "SVN Checkout" and a window will appear. The top entry field will be "Url of repository". In that window enter: Svn.code.sf.net In the window below the Url of Repository window should be the location of the current ME3Explorer directory (plus "code" subdirectory added by TortoiseSVN). It is isn't then select the button at the right end and navigate to your ME3explorer directory.In the middle of the TortoiseSVN window will be a selector for "Checkout Depth". Select "Fully Recursive" if it isn't already showing. At the bottom of the window you want to make sure the button for Revision is selected for "HEAD revision".Select "OK". The directory will now load with all the ME3explorer code and binaries. After this first checkout, every few days to once a week you can (SHOULD) right-click on your ME3explorer directory and from the TortoiseSVN menu items shown select "SVN Update" so your copy of ME3explorer remains up-to-date.*****First, it is important that you backup your game files. I myself keep a backup copy of ALL the game's BioH*, BioD*, and BIOG*.pcc files (all within the game's CookedPCConsole folder). I also burned ALL the files in the CookedPCConsole folder to a DVD as an extra backup. If a mod screws up the game because it contains a bug then it is easy to fix by replacing all the modded pcc files. The alternative takes more time and requires you to do a "repair install" from Origin's game launcher.TO USE ME3Explorer to install mods:There are a lot of different tools avaialable in ME3explorer for modding the game or extracting objects, textures, soundfx, from the game. The tool you need to apply a mod is in the first Top Menu item on the far left called "Tools". Select "Tools" and about half-way down the list of apps is one called "Mod Maker". That is the one you want. When Mod Maker opens up, go to "File" and then open the mod file you've downloaded/want to install. A list of jobs will appear in the Mod Maker window letting you see all the mesh and/or texture changes that are included in the mod file. In the top menu you now select "Run" and then "Run All" to apply the full mod. ME3explorer will apply all the mods and then update the game's PCConsoleTOC.bin file. This file contains a list of ALL the game files in it plus their sizes. This file must be updated after a mod is applied or your game will either not start or will crash or will get stuck in an infinite load screen. Mod Maker automatically updates this file whenever it applies a mod so you can go right to starting the game and see the mod in action.
If a mod is buggy or in development, then it may either look like crap in the game OR the game may crash or lock up. This is why we keep a backup copy of the main game files. It is an easy way to reverse a mod without having to wait for a "repair install" to go through in the Origin game launcher (you right-click on Mass Effect 3 and one of the options that is offered is "repair install". This option is also available for each DLC you have installed. It takes a long time over the internet for the repair to take place and it eliminates any and all mods that you've applied, whether they work fine and you want to keep them or not. So, to avoid this you can copy your backup pcc files (those affected by any given mod) back into the CookedPCConsole folder, replacing the files there. You then start up ME3explorer, go to Tools menu, and about 2/3's down the list of apps is TOCbinUpdater. Click that and in the window that opens, go to File and select "Check PCConsoleTOC.bin" and navigate to your BIOGame folder under your Mass Effect 3 game folder. You will see a file called "PCConsoleTOC.bin". Select that and the app will automatically scan your game directory and update the file so you can start up again.