@IAmJFry Thanks for the reply. I'm just getting started and having fun in the process. This week I created about a dozen prop mods for myself, just .dds texture replaces but with maps (normal, roughness/specular, and base). Tonight I wrote my first 3 super simple scripts - adapted from tutorials. One to spawn an entity, one to play a wav file, and one to display a message (subtitle).

Do you know any good tutorials to combine ped animations? They would be my next step. I need to find documentation on all the animations if that exists even though Visual Studio stores them from ScriptHook....that's ok for syntax but doesn't help identifying what they are and what is available.

I just started scripting in C# to create some simple animations etc.
I followed a simple tutorial where the author, on completion, just dumped the .cs file into the Scripts folder.
I did the same and it worked exactly as expected, spawing a ped who attacked me with a crowbar.
So I checked out some more GTA V script tutorials, again very simple ones, and this time the authors were compiling and placing the .dll instead.
There were no external libraries in either case.
So when do you need to build solution to create a .dll and when can you just dump the .cs file?
thanks

@a63nt-5m1th Thanks again Agent Smith. That one had me puzzled. I'm quickly moving from total noob to noob apprentice.
So I finally managed to change the texture, just a proof of concept, on this table prop that was not cooperating.
Thanks for your tip of using .odr.
One interesting thing. When I did the first pass importing back in OpenIV it went smoothly.
The second time it created an error with a missing file, wrong path. Inspecting the files path was correct and file was there??
So in frustration I just dragged and dropped the .odr into OpenIV. Loaded perfectly. Go figure.
Once more I really appreciate all your help and tips and clarifications.
I doubt I'll ever be in a position to returrn the favour though.

Table in back is standard prop. Table in front is just test, replaced texture in PS and created addon.

Ok. So after getting some sleep I realized what might be the issue and I was right.
I used a different approach this time.

1. Extract files as .odr rather than .ydr
2. The open format files are all text files, editable in notepad, except for the textures
3. Looking at the files i realized it must be a path issue because i'm renaming my .ydr so it doesn't conflict with Rockstar game file
4. I renamed all references in the open format files to be consistent with the new name.
5. From Open IV i brought the .odr file back in
6. Opened Game, spawned object, PERFECT!
   next step is to modify the texture file and redo process

I haven't used LML but I can tell you, as a newbie myself, that the less addons you have the better.
I've learned how to do as much as I can manually, much of it by trial and error.
My game now runs flawlessly whereas before certain addons crashed it.
I keep my Win 10 system the same way, no app autostarts, not a single app runs in background, except defender.

@a63nt-5m1th Something still puzzling me. I played with the .odr file in both blender and also just with notepad ++. I can see where you saw the reference to the missing texture:
Shaders
{
default.sps
{
DiffuseSampler Prop_Wood_Fine_02
HardAlphaBlend 1.00000000
UseTessellation 0.00000000
}

But where did you find that texture to embed it in the ydr? I did a hdd search as well as an archive search with OpenIV and can't find it.

I'm having a similar issue with a prop, prop_table_04 but in this case all files seem to be accounted for based on its .odr.
I repackaged the .ydr, without changing the textures, created an addon, and it failed as well.
So I've encountered 3 types of addons so far:

1. Embedded texture which can be replaced without any issues
2. Missing texture, the one with Prop_Wood_Fine_02 missing - which you so kindly fixed but I don't know where you found the texture.
3. Prop_table_04, which at least based on its .odr file, is not missing any textures or files yet will not allow me to create an addon.
   (again regardless of whether i change a texture or just leave it intact)
   The .odr is shown below.
   There are 3 texture files with 3 corresponding .otx files
   1 bound file, 1 skel file, and the mesh itself.
   Every file referenced in the .odr (below) is accounted for yet I'm unable to create an addon.
   In passing I can do the addon process in my sleep now, having done about 20 (successful) iterations - but obviously I'm completely missing the boat on this one.

@a63nt-5m1th

The .odr opened nicely in Blender. Don't know where the texture files can be exported to see the texture that was missing when the .ydr was extracted.

@a63nt-5m1th Thanks. That was the strangest embed I've ever done.

@a63nt-5m1th I know there is a plugin for blender (as in free) for .odr but not sure about ydr.

https://github.com/LendoK/Blender_GTA_V_model_importer

Just another word of thanks for your help. Really appreciated.
It's very hard to get any specific support on GTAV modding so much of what I've learned has been by trial and error - not the most efficient way to learn, but I"m progressing.
Cheers and stay healthy!

@a63nt-5m1th Fantastic! Thank you so much!
I had problems with PS, crashing Texture Toolkit. Had to open it with mipmaps and then rearrange the layers so that my background and text were a the top....etc.....but now I know how do it.

One question for you. Obviously I never saw the second texture, what did you use for the .ydr, 3ds Max?

!(https://i.imgur.com/q516u5F.jpg)
have no idea how to embed this pic