# How do I load a mod other than "stonehearth.smod"?

**URL:** <https://discourse.stonehearth.net/t/how-do-i-load-a-mod-other-than-stonehearth-smod/6844>\
**Category:** Modding\
**Created:** [August 10, 2014, 2:35pm UTC](https://discourse.stonehearth.net/t/how-do-i-load-a-mod-other-than-stonehearth-smod/6844 "2014-08-10T14:35:20Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![sir\_ghost](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex022/user_avatar/discourse.stonehearth.net/sir_ghost/32/71470_2.png) [@sir\_ghost](https://discourse.stonehearth.net/u/sir_ghost)\
**Post date:** [August 10, 2014, 2:35pm UTC](https://discourse.stonehearth.net/t/how-do-i-load-a-mod-other-than-stonehearth-smod/6844/1 "2014-08-10T14:35:20Z")

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I am attempting to make a mod, and I have 2 simple questions:

1. How can I make a mod **without** directly changing the _stonehearth.smod_ file? What are the necessary steps?
2. If I have the mod in a separate file (separate from _stonehearth.smod_), how can I load it? Or will it load automatically?

I was unable to find the answers to these questions elsewhere, but if you have a link please share it.  
Thanks in advance

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**Author:** ![GhostF](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/91b2a8/32.png) [@GhostF](https://discourse.stonehearth.net/u/GhostF)\
**Post date:** [August 10, 2014, 2:42pm UTC](https://discourse.stonehearth.net/t/how-do-i-load-a-mod-other-than-stonehearth-smod/6844/2 "2014-08-10T14:42:26Z")

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1: You will have to make your own manifest. In there you will need to add the necessary aliases, mixinto’s and overwrites (depending on what you are adding). I suggest you take a look at some of the mods that already have been released to see the structure of the manifest.  
After that, just zip all the files and make it a smod file.  
2: It will be loaded automatically.

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**Author:** ![SteveAdamo](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex022/user_avatar/discourse.stonehearth.net/steveadamo/32/13955_2.png) [@SteveAdamo](https://discourse.stonehearth.net/u/SteveAdamo)\
**Post date:** [August 10, 2014, 3:00pm UTC](https://discourse.stonehearth.net/t/how-do-i-load-a-mod-other-than-stonehearth-smod/6844/3 "2014-08-10T15:00:44Z")

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these may not address your specific question, but they have a wealth of modding related information (although, some of it is out of date at this point)… so, in hindsight, this might be a complete bust! 😄

[http://stonehearth.net/2014/01/14/desktop-tuesday-a-peek-inside-the-modding-api/](http://stonehearth.net/2014/01/14/desktop-tuesday-a-peek-inside-the-modding-api/)

[http://stonehearth.net/2013/11/12/behind-the-scenes-with-bush-4/](http://stonehearth.net/2013/11/12/behind-the-scenes-with-bush-4/)

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**Author:** ![RepeatPan](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex022/user_avatar/discourse.stonehearth.net/repeatpan/32/46418_2.png) [@RepeatPan](https://discourse.stonehearth.net/u/RepeatPan)\
**Post date:** [August 10, 2014, 4:58pm UTC](https://discourse.stonehearth.net/t/how-do-i-load-a-mod-other-than-stonehearth-smod/6844/4 "2014-08-10T16:58:13Z")

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> [@sir\_ghost](#):
>
> 1. How can I make a mod without directly changing the stonehearth.smod file? What are the necessary steps?

Just create a new directory and work inside that. The only thing really required is a manifest, which itself can be pretty plain. [For a bunch of manifests (of outdated mods) you can check mine.](https://github.com/Quit/RP-Mods). Ignore the `steve_cannon` entry.

> [@sir\_ghost](#):
>
> 1. If I have the mod in a separate file (separate from stonehearth.smod), how can I load it? Or will it load automatically?

SH will attempt to load any .smod and any directory inside of mods/. If there is a directory and a smod with the same name, the smod is preferred.