Effects Directory (.effdir)

Effects Directories are files that contain multiple effects. In order to create your custom effects, you have to create custom effect directories as well.

Effect directories can be found in the gameEffects_3~ (base game), ep1_effects_3~ (GA) and bp1_Effects_3~ (C&C). There are also _2 and _1 folders, with lower-quality versions. By default they are .effdir files and are unreadable; with right click you can unpack them, and you can also check the option to do it automatically when you unpack the .package file.

Your custom effdirs must go in the ep1_effects_3~ folder. SporeModder FX will automatically replicate them to the _2 and _1 folders, so they are available for games with lower quality; you can also change them manually if you want, however. Your custom effdirs should use distinctive names, preferably with your mod name in them, in order to avoid conflicts with other mods.

To create an effect directory, just create a folder inside ep1_effects_3~; the folder name must end with .effdir.unpacked. Then, just place the .pfx files that contain your effects inside, and done! SMFX will automatically pack your effdir when you pack the mod.