Open Loader

Open Loader is a utility mod that makes it easier to load data packs and resource packs automatically across all saves for a given game instance. This mod can be used by mod packs and servers to define custom recipes and other features for a wide range of mods. It can also be used to change textures, override tooltips, and change other aspects of the game.

Data Packs

Data packs are a vanilla Minecraft feature that allows you to add and modify game data. Data packs are used for recipes, loot tables, world gen, and many other game mechanics. Many mods also use data from data packs for their custom recipe types and other mechanics. Normally data packs are installed per-world and are not enabled by default making them difficult to use in mod packs. Open Loader solves this issue by allowing the game to load data packs from a specified folder on all worlds.

Data Folder

Open Loader will load data packs from the /config/openloader/data folder. This folder will be generated for you the first time you run the game after installing the mod. Open Loader can load .zip archive packs and folder packs. An example data pack can be downloaded here.

Directory.minecraft
- Directoryconfig
  - Directoryopenloader
    Directorydata
    my-archive-pack.zip
    Directorymy-folder-pack
    Directorydata/
    …
    pack.png
    pack.mcmeta
    Directoryresources/
    …
- Directorylogs/
  - …
- Directorymods/
  - …
- Directoryresourcepacks/
  - …
- Directorysaves/
  - …

Resource Packs

Resource packs are a vanilla Minecraft feature that allows you to add and modify game resources. Resource packs are used for textures, sounds, models, fonts, and other game mechanics. Many mods also use resource packs for modded resources like skins and overlays. Normally resource packs are installed from the resourcepacks folder but Minecraft will not load them by default. Open Loader solves this issue by forcefully enabling resource packs that are loaded from its own folder.

Resources Folder

Open Loader will load resource packs from the /config/openloader/resources folder. This folder will be generated for you the first time you run the game after installing the mod. Open Loader can load .zip archive packs and folder packs. An example resource pack can be downloaded here.

Directory.minecraft
- Directoryconfig
  - Directoryopenloader
    Directorydata/
    …
    Directoryresources
    my-archive-pack.zip
    Directorymy-folder-pack
    Directorydata/
    …
    pack.png
    pack.mcmeta
- Directorylogs/
  - …
- Directorymods/
  - …
- Directoryresourcepacks/
  - …
- Directorysaves/
  - …

Configuration

Open Loader should work fine out of the box, however there are several config options that can be useful in special situations. Open Loader reads config options from the config/openloader/advanced_options.json file.

Directory.minecraft
- Directoryconfig
  - Directoryopenloader
    advanced_options.json
- Directorylogs/
  - …
- Directorymods/
  - …
- Directoryresourcepacks/
  - …
- Directorysaves/
  - …

Options

The advanced_options.json file is a simple text file that can be edited using any text editor like notepad, nano, or textedit. Inside the file you will find the following options.

{
  "resourcePacks": {
    "enabled": true,
    "additionalFolders": []
  },
  "dataPacks": {
    "enabled": true,
    "additionalFolders": []
  }
}

By default Open Loader will try to load data packs and resource packs. You can prevent Open Loader from loading a type of pack by setting the enabled option to false.

The additionalFolders option allows you to define new folders for Open Loader to search. These folders will be searched in addition to the built-in data and resources folder. By default paths will be relative to the game directory. A non-relative path can be defined by including the full path name, including the drive letter.

Relative Example

If you add "custom_packs" to the additionalFolders section Open Loader will try to load packs from the custom_packs folder inside of your game instance folder. Relative paths can be especially useful when you can’t control where the pack is. For example CurseForge mod packs download data packs to the resourcepacks folder and this can not be changed. You can still load these packs by adding "resourcepacks" to the additionalFolders option.

{
  "resourcePacks": {
    "enabled": true,
    "additionalFolders": ["custom_packs"]
  },
  "dataPacks": {
    "enabled": true,
    "additionalFolders": ["resourcepacks"]
  }
}

Directory.minecraft
- Directoryconfig/
  - …
- Directorycustom_packs/
  - your_pack.zip
- Directorylogs/
  - …
- Directorymods/
  - …
- Directoryresourcepacks/
  - curseforge_pack.zip
- Directorysaves/
  - …

Absolute Path Examples

If you want to load packs from a specific location on your computer you can use an absolute path. For example you may want to store all your data packs in your Windows Documents folder and load them in several different Minecraft profiles. This can be done by adding the full path to additionalFolders. For example "C:\Users\My Windows Account\Documents\My Packs" will load packs from the My Packs folder in your Windows documents.

{
  "resourcePacks": {
    "enabled": true,
    "additionalFolders": ["C:/Users/My Windows Account/Documents/My Packs"]
  },
  "dataPacks": {
    "enabled": true,
    "additionalFolders": []
  }
}

FaQ

Does this support mods like Patchouli or Botany Pots?

Yes, packs loaded by this mod will behave exactly like packs loaded through the vanilla system. Anything that works with the vanilla pack folders should also work with Open Loader folders.

My pack isn’t loading?

If your pack is not loading it is because you have placed the pack in the wrong folder or your pack is invalid. Please download the example data pack or resource pack and try to load it. If the pack is not loaded you are using the wrong folder. If it does load, the pack you made was invalid. Make sure you have included a pack.mcmeta file and check the log file for any errors related to your pack.

How does load order work?

When a new pack is loaded by Open Loader it will be loaded after vanilla and modded packs. Once a pack has been loaded Minecraft will lock the load order for future runs in order to maintain the stability of your world. This means that any new mods or packs installed at a later date will load on top of your Open Loader packs. To avoid this issue I recommend changing the name of your packs every time you update your mod pack.

I don’t get the resources when I join the server?

Open Loader and the packs you want to load must be installed on the client. Open Loader will not sync data to the client for you. This is not what the mod is intended for. The vanilla game already has a system to prompt players to download a resource pack when they join your server, you should use that instead.