Just use a regular text editor like Notepad. Here is the one that I use so you can copy and paste. Goes 5 deep.
Priority 500
PackedFile *.package
PackedFile */*.package
PackedFile */*/*.package
PackedFile */*/*/*.package
PackedFile */*/*/*/*.package
PackedFile */*/*/*/*/*.package
If you want to go deeper, then just copy the last line and add another */ (star slash) for each additional subfolder level you want.
Hope this helps.
When you said you tried compressing the cc, I'm assuming you're talking about keeping the file path as short as you can. But if you do mean using compressed files in the folders, the game won't see them at all. The only files that it loads and reads are package and ts4script files. If your file names end in zip, rar, or 7z, you have to uncompress them before the game will even see them.
But to answer what I think you are asking, for files that have the package extension, being several folder level down should work fine. For mods with scripts, with the ts4script extension, they should be as near the top as you can get them. Some will run fine further down the path but some won't. Most creators will tell you to put them no more than one folder down. So my advice to anyone using script mods is to read the directions and put them where the creator tells you.
I like to put mods where I can locate them easily since most of them get updated with just about every game update or on a more or regular basis. All my mods are in their own folder. For example:
MCCC is a script mod. Its folder location is Mods>MCCC. It the same for the other script mods I use. Just one level down. I've never had a problem with them being too deep.
Weerbesu's More Columns in CAS mod is just a package, not a script mod. Its folder location is Mods>Weebesu-More Columns. Again just one level down. It could go deeper in the path but since it gets broken by game updates more often than not, I have it where I can find it to update it easily so I just keep it up top.
I separate my CC by general categories, then by where I got them and creator. I combine the site and creator names into a single folder.
For CAS items, the path looks like this: Mods>CAS Clothes-Female>MTS-Creator Name (some have subfolders like undies, swim, etc,) or Mods>CAS-Makeup>Lipstick>Creator Name. It depends on how many downloads I have for a given creator whether they have subfolders or not. Generally though, it's usually no more than 4 layers deep.
For a Painting, the path looks like this: Mods>Objects-Paintings & Artwork>MTS-Creator Name. I have folders for all the different object types. i.e. surfaces, plumbing, etc.
Within those general folders, I may or not have another folder which is simply the uncompressed download file name if it downloaded as a zip, rar, 7z, etc. For files that were downloaded as a package file, then they don't usually get a separate folder and just go in the Creator's folder.
All in all, how you organize things is up to you. My advice is to keep it simple and use as few folder levels as you can but still be able to find things easily. Keep all the script mods as high up in the path as you can. You never know when something will break and you have to hunt down something. Being organized is a very good thing that leads to a smooth running game and a whole lot less trouble in the long term.
Hope this helps.
