Packaging is sensitive to file structure

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By now, you may already be miles ahead learning the content structure of the .xml files and filling up a folder with all manner of .xml.append files ready to pack up and release as a mod. However, you might not yet know howthey need to be arranged to be accepted by FTL. This is a pretty straightforward task, but easy to miss or mix up if you're not very organized with your files.FTL will only accept mods packed inthe same way as they're found in the unpacked folders. So, for example, any .xml.append files must be placed in a folder named data, any edited images must be placed in a folder named img (and whichever subfolder it may have come from, if it did).Nevertheless, these folders themselves may be placed in a folder of your naming, without issue. So data and img may be in a folder named SPIDERS ARE PEOPLE TOO, or whatever you choose to name your mod, and this will be a-okay. Alongside this, outside of the data and img folders you may want to create another folder named mod-appendix and copy over Slipstream's default metadata.xml files (which may be found in the sample mods provided, i.e. Beginning Scrap Advantage/Engi Scrap Advantage) into the folder and adjust it for your mod, as this will provide information as to what your mod is within Slipstream itself, making it easier for those that choose to run with many mods to keep track of what exactly each mod is.Once you've got everything in the right places, you merely need to zip up your mod, and change the file extension to .ftl. To do all of this, under Windows you right click and either send to compressed folder or 7zip -> add to [filename].zip. To access the file extensions, you'll want to hit alt within the explorer window* and go to Tools->Folder Options->View->untick the box next to Hide Extensions for Known Filetypes**. Then you'll be able to see .zip and readjust it to .ftl.If you would prefer to avoid having to readjust the extension, however, you may also go into Slipstream's preferences via File->Settings and tick the box for allowing .zip files, but since its default is set to .ftl, it may be easier to simply adjust your extension instead of hoping others have adjusted their Slipstream settings.*(Minor pro tip, to avoid having to hit alt to bring up the menu bar each time, if you select organize in the explorer window and go to layout, you may enable the menu bar by default.)**(Additional protip, for almost any version of Windows or recent versions of Mac OS X, you may find instructions on how to reveal file extensions here and for Mac users of Moutain Lion or Mavericks here .)To recap, once your mod's done, you'll want to do the following:Place all your files within the appropriate folders within your main mod folder. So:[Mod folder name, e.g. Spiders are people too]-mod-appendix-data-img--ship--etc.Ensure all files within the data folder that affect the core .xml files are .xml.append.Zip up the mod folder and change the file extension to .ftl for ease of use with Slipstream for others.Upload the mod to your trusted file host and shoot the link out to others to let them try out your mod from there!