PSA: How to load a mission when you don't have a required MOD?

[Mistermann]

Everyone has been there.  You've downloaded a mission that sounds really cool, but you don't have all the mods required.  Sometimes mods are deprecated or disappear from the internet (bonus PSA, keep mods stored away on your hard drive/cloud account so you never lose them.  Update your mod manager to link the source so you can find it again, just in case).

Regardless of reason, we've all experienced the dreaded ED missing mod message when trying to load a mission.

But, you say, how can I get around this annoying limitation?  Its very easy and I'd suggest if you're playing around with mods you should familiarize yourself with this process.

Background

ED's mission editor is archaic and downright frustrating.  Its code originates in Lockon days and while it occasionally receives an update here or there, remains fairly predictable in how it behaves under the covers.  Ever notice that a .miz file is actually a .zip file?  Well it is.  Whenever you save a mission the ME generates a zip file with several lua files.  These files are called "mission", "options", "theatre" and "warehouses".  These lua files are loaded into DCS whenever you choose to run a mission.  Updates to how the ME works are simply new or changed sections in the lua files.  For this VERY easy change, we focus only on the "mission" lua file (note, there are no file suffixes on these files)

Steps to take

0)  Copy your mission and name it something new, just in case you stumble somewhere along the way.

1)  Using your favorite zip program open the .miz file of your mission.  For this example, I am using my Into The Jungle mission.  You will see something that looks like this below.  Remember, we ONLY care about the file named "mission".  Leave the zip program open.

.

2)  Drag the "mission" file onto your desktop so we can edit.  Editing from within the zip won't work.  

3)  Open the "mission" file with your favorite text editor.  I suggest/use Notepad++.  When you open this file, you're looking at the lua code that defines the mission.  Towards the top of the lua, you'll find a section labeled "requiiredModules".  This is the place to make changes.  DO NOT CHANGE ANYTHING ELSE.

4)  In my example, I perhaps cannot locate a couple of older, some might say "Jurassic" period, mods.  I will comment out the requirement by adding "-- " in front of the mod itself.  See below.  Save your work.  Do not add any extension or suffix to the file name.  Keep it "mission"

5)  Next drag your edited "mission" file back into the zip program and overwrite the existing mission file and then close the zip.

6)  Open the mission in DCS ME.  It now loads because you removed the requiredmodule binding in the "mission" lua in step4.

7)  Save the mission from the DCS ME.  It will remove those modules that were commented out.

QED

Hope this helps someone down the road.

@bignewy or @nineline, can you move this to the main ME forum.  I fat fingered this into scripting tips and tricks by mistake.  Thanks.

Edited 11 hours ago by Mistermann

[TheBiggerBass]

Thanks.

If you do not like editing .miz files manually you may also use MIZ_RML which does the same.

However this is just my last escape, if nothing else works. I prefer to use the missions as intended and try to find the required mods before.

btw: ME will still open the mission if only flyable aircrafts mods are missing. If tech mods or terrains are missing ME refuse to open the mission.

Edited 6 hours ago by TheBiggerBass