I'm trying to make a custom side (quite tedious) and added the thermal detonator to my soldier. I open up the odf and it says "all_weap_inf_grenadethermal.msh". I search for this but only have a .tga file and the option file to go with it. Do I use the all_weap_inf_thermaldetonator files in the all side or not? And do I add the all_weap_inf_grenadethermal tga and option file?
EDIT: When I am adding the award shotgun's com_weap_award_shotgun do I add the tracer file also along with the regular odf and the ordinance file?

Those are all "common" files so you don't have to worry about them being in your custom side's msh/odf folder.

Oh, so I understand that the common files begin with com, but how am I supposed to know that when it begins with all, like the thermalgrenade?

A lot of files are automatically loaded by the stock ingame.lvl. You can open up the ingame.req to see which files these are. They can be found in the data_***\Common folder.

Ok, I figured i would post this here instead of creating a new topic. I am making a custom side with a soldier that i named pms_inf_dog. (original, I know.) I followed the tutorial and added all the lua scripting right and making text docs, stuff like that. I am unaware of what to add regarding the trooper's msh files. Here is my "pms_inf_dog" odf file. Here is my msh folder And here is my odf folder If I did this right I would know there was something wrong on the scripting.

Add GeometryName = "all_inf_trooper.msh" under ClassParent.
And add GeometryName = "all_inf_trooper" under Properties

Well, I added them to my pms_inf_dog odf but to no prevail. The troop never shows up in the class, so I guess its in the scripting. Or not?

Both ClassParent = "all_inf_trooper.msh" and UnitType = "all_inf_trooper" are invalid. Those would have resulted in a crash so it must be a problem with your script then since your unit isn't showing up. Your original ODF didn't specify a model (or GeometryName as PilotX pointed) to use. That's a definite must. I'm not sure why you decided to change the ClassParent and UnitType as they were just fine. Also your original ODF was inheriting from all_inf_default, an ODF that isn't in your odf folder according to your screenshot.

Should be:
[GameObjectClass]
ClassParent = "com_inf_default"
GeometryName = "all_inf_trooper.msh"

[Properties]
UnitType = "Trooper"
GeometryName = "all_inf_trooper"

I am at a standstill with creating a custom side. I cannot figure out which files to add for my trooper. I have added the Alliance desert rifleman odf, and it says the parent is all_inf_default_rifleman, so I add that, but its parent is all_inf_default. I have no idea what this means. And all_inf_rifleman_desert says the 1st person model is all\alltroop;all_1st_trooper. I looked in the all side and found two option files: all_1st_inf_trooper_hands.tga and all_1st_inf_trooper_arms.tga. I am assuming these need a msh file, but I see none. I am utterly confused. The custom sides tutorial doesn't help at all with this part of making a custom side.

First of all, those option files go to the corresponding tga files.
The first person model you are looking for is all_1st_trooper.
It is also asking for the odf all_inf_default

Ok, I added that all_1st_trooper after I searched and I added all_inf_default. My orignal class is the rebel desert rifleman, which I named pms_inf_soldier. Its parent was all_inf_default_rifleman, and all_inf_default_rifleman's parent was all_inf_default. So I added all three. Will that be good enough for the soldier's odfs, not including weapons?

Except for weapons, that's all you need

Ok, I looked at the custom sides tutorial and I found that my pms.lvl was not in C:\Program Files\LucasArts\Star Wars Battlefront II\GameData\AddOn\ABC\Data\_lvl_pc\SIDE\. How do I know this exists and do I just copy and paste it in the folder?

Have you created a folder for your side in ...\BF2_ModTools\data_modID\_BUILD\Sides and copied the munge.bat and clean.bat from another side's folder into it?

Yes, I did. After it munged I got more files, though, mostly text docs.

Does your side have a req file (pms.req in this case) in ...\BF2_ModTools\data_modID\Sides\PMS?

Yes the whole side and the soldier.