Record file

A record file is a game data file used in the Gamebryo and Creation engines. Record files contain information about in-game items, characters, world spaces, and settings. Game data such as textures, models, sounds, and other assets are found in BSA files rather than record files. Record files come in two forms: master (ESM) files and plugin (ESP) files. Both master and plugin files are found in the Data subfolder of any parent game directory (i.e. where the game's .exe file is found).
Record files can be viewed using the G.E.C.K. or Creation Kit, or with third-party tools like xEdit.
==Master file==
A master file, using the .esm file extension, (also called an ESM file, short for Elder Scrolls Master) serves as the primary database of game files which plugin files can reference, modify, or add to. They are loaded prior to plugin files.GECK data files page
==Plugin file==
===ESP===
Plugin files, using the .esp file extension, (also called an ESP file, short for Elder Scrolls Plugin) are largely identical to master files in structure but are loaded after them, and are unable to modify other plugin files. They are intended for use with player mods, as base games and their DLC are both packaged with .esm master files.
===ESL===
The Light Master file, using the .esl file extension is a new optimized file format introduced in the patch 1.10 update. Using Light Master files will allow more plugins to be loaded than the previously possible due to the 8-bit plugin ID limit of 255. A Light Master does this by using more of the Form ID range for load order, while also sacrificing its maximum capacity for form records. It is primarily used for Creation Club content.
==Load order==
The load order of record files determines when changes the files make are applied. Files appearing lower in the load order will overwrite changes made to records by files earlier in the load order.GECK data files page: "Load order determines the order in which mods lay their cards down on the table. Fallout3 goes first, then the next mod in load order, up to the last mod. Whenever two mods conflict, the later loading mod will win."
==Record==
Records are the individual structures of information that makeup record files. Each record contains a record header, with information such as a signature, Form ID, Editor ID, data size, flags, and version control information.Bethesda GECK glossary: "A Record is any discrete unit of data that gets saved to an .esp file. Base Objects and References are both Records, as are other things such as Game Settings."
===Record signature===
The signature within a record's header is what denotes its type. Some common record signatures are shown below:
Signature	Record type
ACHR 	Character Reference ID
ACTI 	Activator
ALCH 	Consumable item
AMMO 	Ammunition type
ARMO 	Armor type
CELL 	World cell
CONT 	Container
LSCR 	Loading screen
MISC 	Miscellaneous item, weapon/armor modification
NPC_ 	Non-player character
QUST 	Quest
RACE 	Non-player character race
REFR 	Object Reference ID
WEAP 	Weapon type
WRLD 	World space
==Files present in games==
===Fallout 3===
* Fallout3.esm (Base game)
* Anchorage.esm (Operation: Anchorage)
* ThePitt.esm (The Pitt)
* BrokenSteel.esm (Broken Steel)
* PointLookout.esm (Point Lookout)
* Zeta.esm (Mothership Zeta)
===Fallout: New Vegas===
* FalloutNV.esm (Base game)
* DeadMoney.esm (Dead Money)
* HonestHearts.esm (Honest Hearts)
* OldWorldBlues.esm (Old World Blues)
* LonesomeRoad.esm (Lonesome Road)
* GunRunnersArsenal.esm(Gun Runners' Arsenal)
* CaravanPack.esm (Courier's Stash)
* ClassicPack.esm (Courier's Stash)
* MercenaryPack.esm (Courier's Stash)
* TribalPack.esm (Courier's Stash)
===Fallout 4===
* Fallout4.esm (Base game)
* DLCRobot.esm (Automatron)
* DLCworkshop01.esm (Wasteland Workshop)
* DLCCoast.esm (Far Harbor)
* DLCworkshop02.esm (Contraptions Workshop)
* DLCworkshop03.esm (Vault-Tec Workshop)
* DLCNukaWorld.esm (Nuka-World)
====Creation Club====
Plugin File 	CC Content
ccbgsfo4001-pipboy[black].esl 	Pip-Boy Paint Job - Onyx
ccbgsfo4002-pipboy[blue].esl 	Pip-Boy Paint Job - Blue
ccbgsfo4003-pipboy[camo01].esl 	Pip-Boy Paint Job - Desert Camo
ccbgsfo4004-pipboy[camo02].esl 	Pip-Boy Paint Job - Swamp Camo
ccbgsfo4006-pipboy[chrome].esl 	Pip-Boy Paint Job - Chrome
ccbgsfo4012-pipboy[red].esl 	Pip-Boy Paint Job - Red
ccbgsfo4014-pipboy[white].esl 	Pip-Boy Paint Job - White
ccbgsfo4005-bluecamo.esl 	Pip-Boy Paint Job - Aquatic Camo
ccbgsfo4016-prey.esl 	Morgan's Space Suit
ccbgsfo4018-gaussrifleprototype.esl 	Prototype Gauss Rifle
ccbgsfo4019-chinesestealtharmor.esl 	Chinese Stealth Armor
ccbgsfo4020-powerarmorskin[black].esl 	Power Armor Paint Job - Onyx
ccbgsfo4022-powerarmorskin[camo01].esl 	Power Armor Paint Job - Desert Camo
ccbgsfo4023-powerarmorskin[camo02].esl 	Power Armor Paint Job - Swamp Camo
ccbgsfo4025-powerarmorskin[chrome].esl 	Power Armor Paint Job - Chrome
ccbgsfo4033-powerarmorskinwhite.esl 	Power Armor Paint Job - White
ccbgsfo4024-pacamo03.esl 	Power Armor Paint Job - Aquatic Camo
ccbgsfo4036-trnsdg.esl 	TransDOGrifier
ccbgsfo4038-horsearmor.esl 	Horse Power Armor
ccbgsfo4041-doommarinearmor.esl 	Doom Classic Marine Armor
ccbgsfo4042-bfg.esl 	Doom BFG
ccBGSFO4044-HellfirePowerArmor.esl 	Hellfire Power Armor
ccbgsfo4050-dgbcoll.esl 	Border Collie
ccbgsfo4051-dgbox.esl 	Boxer
ccbgsfo4052-dgdal.esl 	Dalmatian
ccbgsfo4053-dggoldr.esl 	Golden Retriever
ccbgsfo4054-dggreatd.esl 	Great Dane
ccbgsfo4055-dghusk.esl 	Husky
ccbgsfo4056-dglabb.esl 	Black Labrador
ccbgsfo4057-dglaby.esl 	Yellow Labrador
ccbgsfo4058-dglabc.esl 	Chocolate Labrador
ccbgsfo4059-dgpit.esl 	Pitbull
ccbgsfo4060-dgrot.esl 	Rottweiler
ccbgsfo4061-dgshiinu.esl 	Shiba Inu
ccfsvfo4001-modularmilitarybackpack.esl	Modular Military Backpack
ccfsvfo4002-midcenturymodern.esl 	Modern Furniture Workshop Pack
ccfrsfo4001-handmadeshotgun.esl 	Handmade Shotgun
cceejfo4001-decorationpack.esl 	Home Decor Workshop Pack
ccrzrfo4001-tunnelsnakes.esm 	Tunnel Snakes Rule!
ccbgsfo4045-advarcab.esl 	Arcade Workshop Pack
ccfsvfo4003-slocum.esl 	Coffee and Donuts Workshop Pack
ccgcafo4001-factionws01army.esl 	Weapon Paint Job - Army
ccgcafo4002-factionws02acats.esl 	Weapon Paint Job - Atom Cats
ccgcafo4003-factionws03bos.esl 	Weapon Paint Job - Brotherhood of Steel
ccgcafo4004-factionws04gun.esl 	Weapon Paint Job - Gunners
ccgcafo4005-factionws05hrpink.esl 	Weapon Paint Job - Hot Rod Pink
ccgcafo4006-factionws06hrshark.esl 	Weapon Paint Job - Hot Rod Shark
ccgcafo4007-factionws07hrflames.esl 	Weapon Paint Job - Hot Rod Red Flames
ccgcafo4008-factionws08inst.esl 	Weapon Paint Job - Institute
ccgcafo4009-factionws09mm.esl 	Weapon Paint Job - Minutemen
ccgcafo4010-factionws10rr.esl 	Weapon Paint Job - Railroad
ccgcafo4011-factionws11vt.esl 	Weapon Paint Job - Vault-Tec
ccgcafo4012-factionas01acat.esl 	Armor Paint Job - Atom Cats
ccgcafo4013-factionas02bos.esl 	Armor Paint Job - Brotherhood of Steel
ccgcafo4014-factionas03gun.esl 	Armor Paint Job - Gunners
ccgcafo4015-factionas04hrpink.esl 	Armor Paint Job - Hot Rod Pink
ccgcafo4016-factionas05hrshark.esl 	Armor Paint Job - Hot Rod Shark
ccgcafo4017-factionas06inst.esl 	Armor Paint Job - Institute
ccgcafo4018-factionas07mm.esl 	Armor Paint Job - Minutemen
ccgcafo4019-factionas08nuk.esl 	Armor Paint Job - Nuka Cherry
ccygpfo4001-pipcruiser.esl 	Armor Paint Job - Cruiser
ccgcafo4020-factionas09rr.esl 	Armor Paint Job - Railroad
ccgcafo4021-factionas10hrflames.esl 	Armor Paint Job - Hot Rod Red Flames
ccgcafo4022-factionas11vt.esl 	Armor Paint Job - Vault-Tec
ccgcafo4023-factionas12army.esl 	Armor Paint Job - Army
ccawnfo4001-brandattire.esl 	Graphic T-Shirt Pack
ccswkfo4001-astronautpowerarmor.esm 	Captain Cosmos
ccswkfo4002-pipnuka.esl 	Pip-Boy Paint Job - Nuka-Cola
ccswkfo4003-pipquan.esl 	Pip-Boy Paint Job - Nuka-Cola Quantum
ccrzrfo4003-pipover.esl 	Pip-Boy Paint Job - Overseer's Edition
ccrzrfo4004-pipinst.esl 	Pip-Boy Paint Job - The Institute
ccbgsfo4062-pippat.esl 	Pip-Boy Paint Job - Patriotic
ccfrsfo4002-antimaterielrifle.esl 	Anti-Materiel Rifle
cceejfo4004-nuka.esl 	Nuka-Cola Collector Workshop
ccbgsfo4072-pipgrog.esl 	Pip-Boy Paint Job - Grognak
ccbgsfo4073-pipmman.esl 	Pip-Boy Paint Job - Manta Man
ccbgsfo4074-pipinspt.esl 	Pip-Boy Paint Job - Inspector
ccbgsfo4075-pipshroud.esl 	Pip-Boy Paint Job - Silver Shroud
ccbgsfo4076-pipmystery.esl 	Pip-Boy Paint Job - Mistress of Mystery
ccbgsfo4071-piparc.esl 	Pip-Boy Paint Job - ArcJet
ccbgsfo4079-pipvim.esl 	Pip-Boy Paint Job - Vim!
ccbgsfo4078-pipreilly.esl 	Pip-Boy Paint Job - Reilly's Rangers
ccbgsfo4077-piprocket.esl 	Pip-Boy Paint Job - Red Rocket
ccbgsfo4070-pipabra.esl 	Pip-Boy Paint Job - Abraxo
ccbgsfo4008-pipgrn.esl 	Pip-Boy Paint Job - Green
ccbgsfo4015-pipyell.esl 	Pip-Boy Paint Job - Yellow
ccbgsfo4009-piporan.esl 	Pip-Boy Paint Job - Orange
ccbgsfo4011-pippurp.esl 	Pip-Boy Paint Job - Purple
ccbgsfo4021-powerarmorskinblue.esl 	Power Armor Paint Job - Blue
ccbgsfo4027-powerarmorskingreen.esl 	Power Armor Paint Job - Green
ccbgsfo4034-powerarmorskinyellow.esl 	Power Armor Paint Job - Yellow
ccbgsfo4028-powerarmorskinorange.esl 	Power Armor Paint Job - Orange
ccbgsfo4031-powerarmorskinred.esl 	Power Armor Paint Job - Red
ccbgsfo4030-powerarmorskinpurple.esl 	Power Armor Paint Job - Purple
ccbgsfo4032-powerarmorskintan.esl 	Power Armor Paint Job - Tan
ccbgsfo4029-powerarmorskinpink.esl 	Power Armor Paint Job - Pink
ccgrcfo4001-pipgreytort.esl 	Pip-Boy Paint Job - Grey Totoise
ccgrcfo4002-pipgreenvim.esl 	Pip-Boy Paint Job - Vim Refresh
ccbgsfo4013-piptan.esl 	Pip-Boy Paint Job - Tan
ccbgsfo4010-pippnk.esl 	Pip Boy Paint Job - Pink
ccsbjfo4001-solarflare.esl 	Solar Cannon
cczsefo4001-bhouse.esm 	Charleston Condo
cctosfo4001-neosky.esm 	Noir Penthouse
cckgjfo4001-bastion.esl 	Settlement Ambush Kit
ccbgsfo4063-papat.esl 	Power Armor Paint Job - Patriotic
ccqdrfo44001_powerarmorai.esl 	Sentinel Control System Companion
ccbgsfo4048-dovah.esl 	Fantasy Hero Set
ccbgsfo4101-as_shi.esl 	Armor Paint Job - Shi
ccbgsfo4114-ws_shi.esl 	Weapon Paint Job - Shi
ccBGSFO4115-X02.esl 	X-02 Power Armor
ccrzrfo4002-disintegrate.esl 	Zetan Arsenal
ccBGSFO4116-HeavyFlamer.esl 	Heavy Incinerator
ccbgsfo4091-as_bats.esl 	Armor Paint Job - Bats
ccbgsfo4092-as_camoblue.esl 	Armor Paint Job - Aquatic Camo
ccbgsfo4093-as_camogreen.esl 	Armor Paint Job - Swamp Camo
ccbgsfo4094-as_camotan.esl 	Armor Paint Job - Desert Camo
ccbgsfo4097-as_jack-olantern.esl 	Armor Paint Job - Jack O'Lantern
ccbgsfo4104-ws_bats.esl 	Weapon Paint Job - Bats
ccbgsfo4105-ws_camoblue.esl 	Weapon Paint Job - Aquatic Camo
ccbgsfo4106-ws_camogreen.esl 	Weapon Paint Job - Swamp Camo
ccbgsfo4107-ws_camotan.esl 	Weapon Paint Job - Desert Camo
ccbgsfo4111-ws_jack-olantern.esl 	Weapon Paint Job - Jack O'Lantern
ccbgsfo4118-ws_tunnelsnakes.esl 	Weapon Paint Job - Tunnel Snakes
ccbgsfo4113-ws_reillysrangers.esl 	Weapon Paint Job - Reilly's Rangers
ccbgsfo4112-ws_pickman.esl 	Weapon Paint Job - Pickman
ccBGSFO4110-WS_Enclave.esl 	Weapon Paint Job - Enclave
ccbgsfo4108-ws_childrenofatom.esl 	Weapon Paint Job - Children of Atom
ccbgsfo4103-ws_tunnelsnakes.esl 	Armor Paint Job - Tunnel Snakes
ccbgsfo4099-as_reilysrangers.esl 	Armor Paint Job - Reilly's Rangers
ccbgsfo4098-as_pickman.esl 	Armor Paint Job - Pickman
ccBGSFO4096-AS_Enclave.esl 	Armor Paint Job - Enclave
ccbgsfo4095-as_childrenofatom.esl 	Armor Paint Job - Children of Atom
ccbgsfo4090-piptribal.esl 	Pip-Boy Paint Job - Tribal
ccbgsfo4089-pipsynthwave.esl 	Pip-Boy Paint Job - Neon Sunrise
ccbgsfo4087-piphaida.esl 	Pip-Boy Paint Job - Haida
ccbgsfo4085-piphawaii.esl 	Pip-Boy Paint Job - Hawaii
ccbgsfo4084-pipretro.esl 	Pip-Boy Paint Job - Corvega
ccbgsfo4083-pipartdeco.esl 	Pip-Boy Paint Job - Art Deco
ccbgsfo4082-pipprc.esl 	Pip-Boy Paint Job - Five-Star Red
ccbgsfo4081-pipphenolresin.esl 	Pip-Boy Paint Job - Phenol Resin
ccbgsfo4080-pippop.esl 	Pip-Boy Paint Job - Pop
ccbgsfo4035-pint.esl 	Pint-Sized Slasher
ccbgsfo4086-pipadventure.esl 	Pip-Boy Paint Job - Adventure
ccjvdfo4001-holiday.esl 	Holiday Workshop Pack
ccbgsfo4047-qthund.esl 	Quake Thundersbolt
ccfrsfo4003-cr75l.esl 	CR-74L Combat Rifle
cczsefo4002-smanor.esm 	Shroud Manor
ccacxfo4001-vsuit.esl 	Vault Suit Customization
ccbgsfo4040-vrworkshop01.esl 	Virtual Workshop
ccfsvfo4005-vrdesertisland.esl 	Virtual Workshop
ccfsvfo4006-vrwasteland.esl 	Virtual Workshop
ccFSVFO4007-Halloween.esl 	Halloween Workshop Pack
ccsbjfo4002_manwellrifle.esl 	Manwell Rifle Set
cctosfo4002-neonflats.esm 	Neon Flats
ccbgsfo4117-capmerc.esl 	Capital Wasteland Mercenaries
ccfsvfo4004-vrworkshopgnrplaza.esl 	Virtual Workshop
ccBGSFO4046-TesCan.esl 	Tesla Cannon
ccgcafo4025-pagunmm.esl 	Gunners vs. Minutemen
cccrsfo4001-pipcoa.esl 	Pip-Boy Paint Job - Children of Atom
ccSBJFO4003-Grenade.esl 	Makeshift Weapon Pack
ccOTMFO4001-Remnants.esl 	Enclave Remnants
===Fallout 76===
* SeventySix.esm (Base game)
* NW.esm (Nuclear Winter battle royale mode)
==References==
Category:Fallout 3 technical information
Category:Fallout: New Vegas technical information
Category:Fallout 4 technical information
Category:Fallout 76 technical information
Category:File formats