diff --git a/MODEL_COMPILATION_ON_BUILDTIME_CONTRACT.md b/MODEL_COMPILATION_ON_BUILDTIME_CONTRACT.md
index a720dd7..2db9a43 100644
--- a/MODEL_COMPILATION_ON_BUILDTIME_CONTRACT.md
+++ b/MODEL_COMPILATION_ON_BUILDTIME_CONTRACT.md
@@ -423,7 +423,7 @@ Minimum messages:
 - `Preparing model compiler...`
 - `Preparing model compilation workspace...`
 - `Compiling model 12/324: part/belt/pfa0_belt018.mdl`
-- `Reusing compiled model: vfxs/head_accessories/hfx_bandana.mdl`
+- `Reusing compiled model: vfxs/headaccessory/hfx_bandana.mdl`
 - `Skipping binary model source: creatures/foo.mdl`
 - `FAILED model compile: placeables/broken_model.mdl`
 
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 8da2371..27c431c 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -414,12 +414,19 @@ For `head_visualeffects` autogen, producers can publish the group-to-row policy
 in `autogen.producers[].head_visualeffects`, and consumers can override or
 extend it in `autogen.consumers[].head_visualeffects`. The toolkit uses
 compatibility defaults for older configs and manifests, but YAML can own the
-group prefixes, model stem prefixes to strip, key/label formats, model column,
-and default row values. Individual groups can override the model column with
-`model_column` or write the discovered model stem to several columns with
-`model_columns`, which is useful for root-node visualeffects. Supported format
-tokens are `{dataset}`, `{group}`, `{prefix}`, `{stem}`, `{stem_upper}`, and
-`{model_stem}`.
+group token source, category source, delimiter, case policy, legacy group
+mapping, model stem prefixes to strip, key/label formats, model column, and
+default row values. `group_token_source: folder_name` uses the manifest folder
+group directly instead of a prefix mapping, and `category_from:
+immediate_parent` can expose the model's category folder in keys and labels.
+`legacy_groups` maps released manifest group names to current folder groups,
+and `legacy_key_format` preserves row IDs when migrating older generated lock
+keys. Individual groups can override the model column with `model_column` or
+write the discovered model stem to several columns with `model_columns`, which
+is useful for root-node visualeffects. Supported format tokens are `{dataset}`,
+`{group}`, `{group_raw}`, `{prefix}`, `{category}`, `{category_upper}`,
+`{category_segment}`, `{category_segment_upper}`, `{subgroup}`, `{stem}`,
+`{stem_upper}`, `{model_stem}`, and `{delimiter}`.
 
 For `parts_rows` generated assets, `parts_rows.acbonus` can normalize final
 ACBONUS values before module overrides are applied. The
diff --git a/internal/pipeline/pipeline_test.go b/internal/pipeline/pipeline_test.go
index 2b6988c..ba32dbe 100644
--- a/internal/pipeline/pipeline_test.go
+++ b/internal/pipeline/pipeline_test.go
@@ -2178,10 +2178,10 @@ func TestPlanHAKsWritesManifestWithoutArchives(t *testing.T) {
 func TestBuildHAKsWritesConfiguredHeadVisualeffectsAutogenManifest(t *testing.T) {
 	root := t.TempDir()
 	mustMkdir(t, filepath.Join(root, "src"))
-	mustMkdir(t, filepath.Join(root, "assets", "vfxs", "chest_accessories"))
-	mustMkdir(t, filepath.Join(root, "assets", "vfxs", "head_accessories"))
-	mustMkdir(t, filepath.Join(root, "assets", "vfxs", "head_decorations"))
-	mustMkdir(t, filepath.Join(root, "assets", "vfxs", "head_features", "hair"))
+	mustMkdir(t, filepath.Join(root, "assets", "vfxs", "chestaccessory"))
+	mustMkdir(t, filepath.Join(root, "assets", "vfxs", "headaccessory"))
+	mustMkdir(t, filepath.Join(root, "assets", "vfxs", "headdecoration"))
+	mustMkdir(t, filepath.Join(root, "assets", "vfxs", "headfeature", "hair"))
 	mustMkdir(t, filepath.Join(root, "build"))
 
 	mustWriteFile(t, filepath.Join(root, "nwn-tool.json"), `{
@@ -2200,7 +2200,7 @@ func TestBuildHAKsWritesConfiguredHeadVisualeffectsAutogenManifest(t *testing.T)
       {
         "id": "head_visualeffects",
         "root": "vfxs",
-        "include": ["chest_accessories/**/*.mdl", "head_accessories/**/*.mdl", "head_decorations/**/*.mdl", "head_features/**/*.mdl"],
+        "include": ["chestaccessory/**/*.mdl", "headaccessory/**/*.mdl", "headdecoration/**/*.mdl", "headfeature/**/*.mdl"],
         "derive": {
           "kind": "model_stem",
           "group_from": "first_path_segment"
@@ -2212,7 +2212,7 @@ func TestBuildHAKsWritesConfiguredHeadVisualeffectsAutogenManifest(t *testing.T)
         },
         "head_visualeffects": {
           "groups": {
-            "head_accessories": {
+            "headaccessory": {
               "prefix": "headaccessory",
               "model_columns": ["Imp_HeadCon_Node", "Imp_Root_H_Node"]
             }
@@ -2233,10 +2233,10 @@ func TestBuildHAKsWritesConfiguredHeadVisualeffectsAutogenManifest(t *testing.T)
 }
 `)
 
-	mustWriteFile(t, filepath.Join(root, "assets", "vfxs", "chest_accessories", "tfx_sash.mdl"), "sash")
-	mustWriteFile(t, filepath.Join(root, "assets", "vfxs", "head_accessories", "hfx_bandana.mdl"), "bandana")
-	mustWriteFile(t, filepath.Join(root, "assets", "vfxs", "head_decorations", "hfx_laurel.mdl"), "laurel")
-	mustWriteFile(t, filepath.Join(root, "assets", "vfxs", "head_features", "hair", "hfx_hair_bangs.mdl"), "hair")
+	mustWriteFile(t, filepath.Join(root, "assets", "vfxs", "chestaccessory", "tfx_sash.mdl"), "sash")
+	mustWriteFile(t, filepath.Join(root, "assets", "vfxs", "headaccessory", "hfx_bandana.mdl"), "bandana")
+	mustWriteFile(t, filepath.Join(root, "assets", "vfxs", "headdecoration", "hfx_laurel.mdl"), "laurel")
+	mustWriteFile(t, filepath.Join(root, "assets", "vfxs", "headfeature", "hair", "hfx_hair_bangs.mdl"), "hair")
 
 	p, err := project.Load(root)
 	if err != nil {
@@ -2267,16 +2267,16 @@ func TestBuildHAKsWritesConfiguredHeadVisualeffectsAutogenManifest(t *testing.T)
 	text := string(headRaw)
 	for _, want := range []string{
 		`"id": "head_visualeffects"`,
-		`"group": "chest_accessories"`,
+		`"group": "chestaccessory"`,
 		`"model_stem": "tfx_sash"`,
-		`"group": "head_accessories"`,
+		`"group": "headaccessory"`,
 		`"model_stem": "hfx_bandana"`,
 		`"head_visualeffects": {`,
 		`"model_columns": [`,
 		`"Imp_Root_H_Node"`,
-		`"group": "head_decorations"`,
+		`"group": "headdecoration"`,
 		`"model_stem": "hfx_laurel"`,
-		`"group": "head_features"`,
+		`"group": "headfeature"`,
 		`"model_stem": "hfx_hair_bangs"`,
 	} {
 		if !strings.Contains(text, want) {
@@ -2285,6 +2285,103 @@ func TestBuildHAKsWritesConfiguredHeadVisualeffectsAutogenManifest(t *testing.T)
 	}
 }
 
+func TestBuildHAKsWritesFolderCategoryInHeadVisualeffectsAutogenManifest(t *testing.T) {
+	root := t.TempDir()
+	mustMkdir(t, filepath.Join(root, "src"))
+	mustMkdir(t, filepath.Join(root, "assets", "vfxs", "headfeature", "sinfar", "ears_plt"))
+	mustMkdir(t, filepath.Join(root, "build"))
+
+	mustWriteFile(t, filepath.Join(root, "nwn-tool.json"), `{
+  "module": {
+    "name": "Test Module",
+    "resref": "testmod",
+    "hak_order": ["group:core"]
+  },
+  "paths": {
+    "source": "src",
+    "assets": "assets",
+    "build": "build"
+  },
+  "autogen": {
+    "producers": [
+      {
+        "id": "head_visualeffects",
+        "root": "vfxs",
+        "include": ["headfeature/**/*.mdl"],
+        "derive": {
+          "kind": "model_stem",
+          "group_from": "first_path_segment"
+        },
+        "manifest": {
+          "release_tag": "head-vfx-manifest-current",
+          "asset_name": "sow-head-vfx-manifest.json",
+          "cache_name": "sow-head-vfx-manifest.json"
+        },
+        "head_visualeffects": {
+          "groups": {
+            "headfeature": {
+              "model_columns": ["Imp_HeadCon_Node", "Imp_Root_H_Node"]
+            }
+          },
+          "group_token_source": "folder_name",
+          "category_from": "immediate_parent",
+          "delimiter": "/",
+          "case": "preserve",
+          "strip_model_prefixes": ["hfx_"],
+          "key_format": "{dataset}:{group}{delimiter}{category_segment}{stem}",
+          "label_format": "{group}{delimiter}{category_segment}{stem}"
+        }
+      }
+    ]
+  },
+  "haks": [
+    {
+      "name": "core",
+      "priority": 1,
+      "max_bytes": 0,
+      "split": false,
+      "include": ["vfxs/**"]
+    }
+  ]
+}
+`)
+
+	mustWriteFile(t, filepath.Join(root, "assets", "vfxs", "headfeature", "sinfar", "ears_plt", "hfx_Ear_EL_L.mdl"), "ear")
+
+	p, err := project.Load(root)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("load project: %v", err)
+	}
+	if err := p.ValidateLayout(); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("validate layout: %v", err)
+	}
+	if err := p.Scan(); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("scan: %v", err)
+	}
+
+	if _, err := BuildHAKs(p); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("build haks: %v", err)
+	}
+	headRaw, err := os.ReadFile(filepath.Join(root, "build", "sow-head-vfx-manifest.json"))
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("read head visualeffects manifest: %v", err)
+	}
+	text := string(headRaw)
+	for _, want := range []string{
+		`"group": "headfeature"`,
+		`"subgroup": "sinfar/ears_plt"`,
+		`"category": "ears_plt"`,
+		`"model_stem": "hfx_Ear_EL_L"`,
+		`"source": "headfeature/sinfar/ears_plt/hfx_Ear_EL_L.mdl"`,
+		`"group_token_source": "folder_name"`,
+		`"category_from": "immediate_parent"`,
+	} {
+		if !strings.Contains(text, want) {
+			t.Fatalf("expected head visualeffects manifest to contain %q, got:\n%s", want, text)
+		}
+	}
+}
+
 func TestBuildHAKsGeneratesParts2DAAssetsFromLocalModels(t *testing.T) {
 	root := t.TempDir()
 	mustMkdir(t, filepath.Join(root, "src"))
diff --git a/internal/project/project.go b/internal/project/project.go
index a7f96ab..7343324 100644
--- a/internal/project/project.go
+++ b/internal/project/project.go
@@ -388,9 +388,15 @@ type AutogenConsumerConfig struct {
 
 type HeadVisualeffectsConfig struct {
 	Groups             map[string]HeadVisualeffectGroupConfig `json:"groups,omitempty" yaml:"groups"`
+	GroupTokenSource   string                                 `json:"group_token_source,omitempty" yaml:"group_token_source"`
+	CategoryFrom       string                                 `json:"category_from,omitempty" yaml:"category_from"`
+	Delimiter          string                                 `json:"delimiter,omitempty" yaml:"delimiter"`
+	Case               string                                 `json:"case,omitempty" yaml:"case"`
 	StripModelPrefixes []string                               `json:"strip_model_prefixes,omitempty" yaml:"strip_model_prefixes"`
 	KeyFormat          string                                 `json:"key_format,omitempty" yaml:"key_format"`
 	LabelFormat        string                                 `json:"label_format,omitempty" yaml:"label_format"`
+	LegacyGroups       map[string]string                      `json:"legacy_groups,omitempty" yaml:"legacy_groups"`
+	LegacyKeyFormat    string                                 `json:"legacy_key_format,omitempty" yaml:"legacy_key_format"`
 	ModelColumn        string                                 `json:"model_column,omitempty" yaml:"model_column"`
 	RowDefaults        map[string]string                      `json:"row_defaults,omitempty" yaml:"row_defaults"`
 }
@@ -1807,15 +1813,45 @@ func validateGeneratedConfig(cfg GeneratedConfig) []error {
 
 func headVisualeffectsConfigConfigured(cfg HeadVisualeffectsConfig) bool {
 	return len(cfg.Groups) > 0 ||
+		strings.TrimSpace(cfg.GroupTokenSource) != "" ||
+		strings.TrimSpace(cfg.CategoryFrom) != "" ||
+		strings.TrimSpace(cfg.Delimiter) != "" ||
+		strings.TrimSpace(cfg.Case) != "" ||
 		len(cfg.StripModelPrefixes) > 0 ||
 		strings.TrimSpace(cfg.KeyFormat) != "" ||
 		strings.TrimSpace(cfg.LabelFormat) != "" ||
+		len(cfg.LegacyGroups) > 0 ||
+		strings.TrimSpace(cfg.LegacyKeyFormat) != "" ||
 		strings.TrimSpace(cfg.ModelColumn) != "" ||
 		len(cfg.RowDefaults) > 0
 }
 
 func validateHeadVisualeffectsConfig(fieldPrefix string, cfg HeadVisualeffectsConfig) []error {
 	var failures []error
+	groupTokenSource := strings.TrimSpace(cfg.GroupTokenSource)
+	switch groupTokenSource {
+	case "", "prefix", "folder_name":
+	default:
+		failures = append(failures, fmt.Errorf("%s.group_token_source %q is not supported", fieldPrefix, cfg.GroupTokenSource))
+	}
+	categoryFrom := strings.TrimSpace(cfg.CategoryFrom)
+	switch categoryFrom {
+	case "", "none", "immediate_parent", "full_subgroup":
+	default:
+		failures = append(failures, fmt.Errorf("%s.category_from %q is not supported", fieldPrefix, cfg.CategoryFrom))
+	}
+	if strings.TrimSpace(cfg.Delimiter) == "" && cfg.Delimiter != "" {
+		failures = append(failures, fmt.Errorf("%s.delimiter must not be only whitespace", fieldPrefix))
+	}
+	if strings.ContainsAny(cfg.Delimiter, " \t\r\n\x00") {
+		failures = append(failures, fmt.Errorf("%s.delimiter must not contain whitespace or NUL bytes", fieldPrefix))
+	}
+	caseMode := strings.TrimSpace(cfg.Case)
+	switch caseMode {
+	case "", "preserve", "lower", "upper":
+	default:
+		failures = append(failures, fmt.Errorf("%s.case %q is not supported", fieldPrefix, cfg.Case))
+	}
 	for group, groupCfg := range cfg.Groups {
 		group = strings.TrimSpace(group)
 		if group == "" {
@@ -1824,7 +1860,7 @@ func validateHeadVisualeffectsConfig(fieldPrefix string, cfg HeadVisualeffectsCo
 		}
 		failures = append(failures, validateTreeRootPath(fieldPrefix+".groups["+group+"]", group)...)
 		prefix := strings.TrimSpace(groupCfg.Prefix)
-		if prefix == "" {
+		if prefix == "" && groupTokenSource != "folder_name" {
 			failures = append(failures, fmt.Errorf("%s.groups[%s].prefix is required", fieldPrefix, group))
 		}
 		if strings.ContainsAny(prefix, " \t\r\n\x00") {
@@ -1852,6 +1888,21 @@ func validateHeadVisualeffectsConfig(fieldPrefix string, cfg HeadVisualeffectsCo
 			}
 		}
 	}
+	for legacyGroup, group := range cfg.LegacyGroups {
+		legacyGroup = strings.TrimSpace(legacyGroup)
+		group = strings.TrimSpace(group)
+		if legacyGroup == "" {
+			failures = append(failures, fmt.Errorf("%s.legacy_groups contains an empty legacy group key", fieldPrefix))
+			continue
+		}
+		if group == "" {
+			failures = append(failures, fmt.Errorf("%s.legacy_groups[%s] must not be empty", fieldPrefix, legacyGroup))
+		}
+		failures = append(failures, validateTreeRootPath(fieldPrefix+".legacy_groups["+legacyGroup+"]", legacyGroup)...)
+		if group != "" {
+			failures = append(failures, validateTreeRootPath(fieldPrefix+".legacy_groups["+legacyGroup+"]", group)...)
+		}
+	}
 	for index, prefix := range cfg.StripModelPrefixes {
 		if strings.TrimSpace(prefix) == "" {
 			failures = append(failures, fmt.Errorf("%s.strip_model_prefixes[%d] must not be empty", fieldPrefix, index))
diff --git a/internal/project/project_test.go b/internal/project/project_test.go
index e0dec09..74e3ad2 100644
--- a/internal/project/project_test.go
+++ b/internal/project/project_test.go
@@ -1332,7 +1332,7 @@ func TestValidateLayoutRejectsInvalidAutogenConsumerConfig(t *testing.T) {
 						Dataset:  "visualeffects",
 						Mode:     "unsupported",
 						Root:     "vfxs",
-						Include:  []string{"head_accessories/**/*.mdl"},
+						Include:  []string{"headaccessory/**/*.mdl"},
 						Derive:   AutogenDeriveConfig{Kind: "model_stem", GroupFrom: "first_path_segment"},
 						Manifest: AutogenManifestConfig{
 							ReleaseTag: "head-vfx-manifest-current",
@@ -1416,6 +1416,66 @@ func TestValidateLayoutRejectsInvalidHeadVisualeffectsConfig(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 }
 
+func TestValidateLayoutRejectsInvalidHeadVisualeffectsNamingConfig(t *testing.T) {
+	root := t.TempDir()
+	mkdirAll(t, filepath.Join(root, "src"))
+	mkdirAll(t, filepath.Join(root, "build"))
+
+	proj := &Project{
+		Root: root,
+		Config: Config{
+			Module: ModuleConfig{Name: "Test", ResRef: "test"},
+			Paths:  PathConfig{Source: "src", Build: "build"},
+			Autogen: AutogenConfig{
+				Consumers: []AutogenConsumerConfig{
+					{
+						ID:       "head_visualeffects",
+						Producer: "head_visualeffects",
+						Dataset:  "visualeffects",
+						Mode:     "head_visualeffects",
+						Root:     "vfxs",
+						Include:  []string{"headfeature/**/*.mdl"},
+						Derive:   AutogenDeriveConfig{Kind: "model_stem", GroupFrom: "first_path_segment"},
+						Manifest: AutogenManifestConfig{
+							ReleaseTag: "head-vfx-manifest-current",
+							AssetName:  "sow-head-vfx-manifest.json",
+							CacheName:  "sow-head-vfx-manifest.json",
+						},
+						HeadVisualeffects: HeadVisualeffectsConfig{
+							Groups: map[string]HeadVisualeffectGroupConfig{
+								"headfeature": {},
+							},
+							GroupTokenSource: "unsupported",
+							CategoryFrom:     "unsupported",
+							Delimiter:        " ",
+							Case:             "unsupported",
+							LegacyGroups: map[string]string{
+								"head_features": "",
+							},
+						},
+					},
+				},
+			},
+		},
+	}
+
+	err := proj.ValidateLayout()
+	if err == nil {
+		t.Fatal("expected head visualeffects naming validation error")
+	}
+	for _, needle := range []string{
+		"autogen.consumers[0].head_visualeffects.group_token_source",
+		"autogen.consumers[0].head_visualeffects.category_from",
+		"autogen.consumers[0].head_visualeffects.delimiter",
+		"autogen.consumers[0].head_visualeffects.case",
+		"autogen.consumers[0].head_visualeffects.legacy_groups[head_features]",
+	} {
+		if !strings.Contains(err.Error(), needle) {
+			t.Fatalf("expected validation error to mention %s, got %v", needle, err)
+		}
+	}
+}
+
 func TestValidateLayoutAcceptsGeneratedTopData2DAConfig(t *testing.T) {
 	root := t.TempDir()
 	mkdirAll(t, filepath.Join(root, "assets"))
@@ -1460,7 +1520,7 @@ func TestValidateLayoutAcceptsGeneratedTopData2DAConfig(t *testing.T) {
 							ID:      "cachedmodels",
 							Mode:    "cachedmodels_rows",
 							Root:    "vfxs",
-							Include: []string{"head_accessories/**/*.mdl", "head_features/**/*.mdl"},
+							Include: []string{"headaccessory/**/*.mdl", "headfeature/**/*.mdl"},
 							Derive:  AutogenDeriveConfig{Kind: "model_stem", GroupFrom: "first_path_segment"},
 						},
 					},
diff --git a/internal/topdata/autogen.go b/internal/topdata/autogen.go
index f666277..93bb549 100644
--- a/internal/topdata/autogen.go
+++ b/internal/topdata/autogen.go
@@ -29,6 +29,7 @@ type autogenManifestEntry struct {
 	Source    string `json:"source"`
 	Group     string `json:"group,omitempty"`
 	Subgroup  string `json:"subgroup,omitempty"`
+	Category  string `json:"category,omitempty"`
 	ModelStem string `json:"model_stem,omitempty"`
 	RowID     int    `json:"row_id,omitempty"`
 }
@@ -319,6 +320,7 @@ func deriveAutogenManifestEntry(rel string, derive project.AutogenDeriveConfig)
 		entry.Group = parts[0]
 		if len(parts) > 2 {
 			entry.Subgroup = strings.Join(parts[1:len(parts)-1], "/")
+			entry.Category = parts[len(parts)-2]
 		}
 	}
 
@@ -740,10 +742,25 @@ func augmentWithAutogeneratedHeadVisualeffects(collected []nativeCollectedDatase
 
 			rowID, ok := lockData[key]
 			if !ok {
+				var migratedLegacyKey string
 				if preservedRowID, preserved := historicalLockData[key]; preserved {
 					rowID = preservedRowID
 				} else {
-					rowID = allocateNextID()
+					preservedLegacyID := false
+					for _, legacyKey := range headVisualeffectLegacyKeys(dataset.Dataset.Name, entry, policy) {
+						if preservedRowID, preserved := historicalLockData[legacyKey]; preserved {
+							rowID = preservedRowID
+							preservedLegacyID = true
+							migratedLegacyKey = legacyKey
+							break
+						}
+					}
+					if !preservedLegacyID {
+						rowID = allocateNextID()
+					}
+				}
+				if migratedLegacyKey != "" && migratedLegacyKey != key {
+					delete(lockData, migratedLegacyKey)
 				}
 				lockData[key] = rowID
 			}
@@ -772,9 +789,15 @@ func nextAvailableAutogenID(used map[int]struct{}) int {
 
 type headVisualeffectsPolicy struct {
 	Groups             map[string]headVisualeffectsGroupPolicy
+	GroupTokenSource   string
+	CategoryFrom       string
+	Delimiter          string
+	Case               string
 	StripModelPrefixes []string
 	KeyFormat          string
 	LabelFormat        string
+	LegacyGroups       map[string]string
+	LegacyKeyFormat    string
 	ModelColumn        string
 	RowDefaults        map[string]string
 }
@@ -798,11 +821,13 @@ func applyHeadVisualeffectsConfig(policy *headVisualeffectsPolicy, cfg project.H
 	for group, groupCfg := range cfg.Groups {
 		group = strings.TrimSpace(group)
 		prefix := strings.TrimSpace(groupCfg.Prefix)
-		if group == "" || prefix == "" {
+		if group == "" {
 			continue
 		}
 		groupPolicy := policy.Groups[group]
-		groupPolicy.Prefix = prefix
+		if prefix != "" {
+			groupPolicy.Prefix = prefix
+		}
 		if columns := normalizeHeadVisualeffectsModelColumns(groupCfg.ModelColumn, groupCfg.ModelColumns); len(columns) > 0 {
 			groupPolicy.ModelColumns = columns
 		}
@@ -812,6 +837,18 @@ func applyHeadVisualeffectsConfig(policy *headVisualeffectsPolicy, cfg project.H
 		mergeStringMap(groupPolicy.RowDefaults, normalizeHeadVisualeffectsRowDefaults(groupCfg.RowDefaults))
 		policy.Groups[group] = groupPolicy
 	}
+	if strings.TrimSpace(cfg.GroupTokenSource) != "" {
+		policy.GroupTokenSource = strings.TrimSpace(cfg.GroupTokenSource)
+	}
+	if strings.TrimSpace(cfg.CategoryFrom) != "" {
+		policy.CategoryFrom = strings.TrimSpace(cfg.CategoryFrom)
+	}
+	if cfg.Delimiter != "" {
+		policy.Delimiter = cfg.Delimiter
+	}
+	if strings.TrimSpace(cfg.Case) != "" {
+		policy.Case = strings.TrimSpace(cfg.Case)
+	}
 	if len(cfg.StripModelPrefixes) > 0 {
 		policy.StripModelPrefixes = append([]string(nil), cfg.StripModelPrefixes...)
 	}
@@ -821,6 +858,22 @@ func applyHeadVisualeffectsConfig(policy *headVisualeffectsPolicy, cfg project.H
 	if strings.TrimSpace(cfg.LabelFormat) != "" {
 		policy.LabelFormat = strings.TrimSpace(cfg.LabelFormat)
 	}
+	if len(cfg.LegacyGroups) > 0 {
+		if policy.LegacyGroups == nil {
+			policy.LegacyGroups = map[string]string{}
+		}
+		for legacyGroup, group := range cfg.LegacyGroups {
+			legacyGroup = strings.TrimSpace(legacyGroup)
+			group = strings.TrimSpace(group)
+			if legacyGroup == "" || group == "" {
+				continue
+			}
+			policy.LegacyGroups[legacyGroup] = group
+		}
+	}
+	if strings.TrimSpace(cfg.LegacyKeyFormat) != "" {
+		policy.LegacyKeyFormat = strings.TrimSpace(cfg.LegacyKeyFormat)
+	}
 	if strings.TrimSpace(cfg.ModelColumn) != "" {
 		policy.ModelColumn = strings.TrimSpace(cfg.ModelColumn)
 	}
@@ -834,6 +887,10 @@ func defaultHeadVisualeffectsPolicy() headVisualeffectsPolicy {
 			"head_decorations": {Prefix: "headdecoration"},
 			"head_features":    {Prefix: "headfeature"},
 		},
+		GroupTokenSource:   "prefix",
+		CategoryFrom:       "none",
+		Delimiter:          "_",
+		Case:               "preserve",
 		StripModelPrefixes: []string{"hfx_", "vfx_"},
 		KeyFormat:          "{dataset}:{prefix}_{stem}",
 		LabelFormat:        "{prefix}_{stem_upper}",
@@ -882,11 +939,104 @@ func mergeStringMap(target map[string]string, source map[string]string) {
 }
 
 func headVisualeffectIdentity(dataset string, entry autogenManifestEntry, policy headVisualeffectsPolicy) (string, string, string, headVisualeffectsGroupPolicy, bool) {
+	entry = normalizeHeadVisualeffectEntry(entry, policy)
 	group, ok := policy.Groups[entry.Group]
 	if !ok || strings.TrimSpace(entry.ModelStem) == "" {
 		return "", "", "", headVisualeffectsGroupPolicy{}, false
 	}
 	modelStem := strings.TrimSpace(entry.ModelStem)
+	stem := stripHeadVisualeffectModelPrefix(modelStem, policy)
+	stem = strings.TrimSpace(stem)
+	if stem == "" {
+		return "", "", "", headVisualeffectsGroupPolicy{}, false
+	}
+	category := headVisualeffectCategory(entry, policy)
+	groupToken := headVisualeffectGroupToken(entry.Group, group, policy)
+	values := map[string]string{
+		"dataset":                dataset,
+		"group":                  applyHeadVisualeffectCase(groupToken, policy),
+		"group_raw":              entry.Group,
+		"prefix":                 applyHeadVisualeffectCase(group.Prefix, policy),
+		"category":               applyHeadVisualeffectCase(category, policy),
+		"category_upper":         strings.ToUpper(category),
+		"category_segment":       headVisualeffectDelimitedSegment(applyHeadVisualeffectCase(category, policy), policy.Delimiter),
+		"category_segment_upper": headVisualeffectDelimitedSegment(strings.ToUpper(category), policy.Delimiter),
+		"subgroup":               applyHeadVisualeffectCase(entry.Subgroup, policy),
+		"stem":                   applyHeadVisualeffectCase(stem, policy),
+		"stem_upper":             strings.ToUpper(stem),
+		"model_stem":             modelStem,
+		"delimiter":              policy.Delimiter,
+	}
+	key := expandHeadVisualeffectsFormat(policy.KeyFormat, values)
+	label := expandHeadVisualeffectsFormat(policy.LabelFormat, values)
+	if strings.TrimSpace(key) == "" || strings.TrimSpace(label) == "" {
+		return "", "", "", headVisualeffectsGroupPolicy{}, false
+	}
+	return key, label, modelStem, group, true
+}
+
+func headVisualeffectLegacyKeys(dataset string, entry autogenManifestEntry, policy headVisualeffectsPolicy) []string {
+	if strings.TrimSpace(policy.LegacyKeyFormat) == "" {
+		return nil
+	}
+	entry = normalizeHeadVisualeffectEntry(entry, policy)
+	group, ok := policy.Groups[entry.Group]
+	if !ok || strings.TrimSpace(entry.ModelStem) == "" {
+		return nil
+	}
+	modelStem := strings.TrimSpace(entry.ModelStem)
+	stem := strings.TrimSpace(stripHeadVisualeffectModelPrefix(modelStem, policy))
+	if stem == "" {
+		return nil
+	}
+	groupToken := headVisualeffectGroupToken(entry.Group, group, policy)
+	values := map[string]string{
+		"dataset":    dataset,
+		"group":      applyHeadVisualeffectCase(groupToken, policy),
+		"group_raw":  entry.Group,
+		"prefix":     applyHeadVisualeffectCase(group.Prefix, policy),
+		"stem":       applyHeadVisualeffectCase(stem, policy),
+		"stem_upper": strings.ToUpper(stem),
+		"model_stem": modelStem,
+		"delimiter":  policy.Delimiter,
+	}
+	legacyKey := strings.TrimSpace(expandHeadVisualeffectsFormat(policy.LegacyKeyFormat, values))
+	if legacyKey == "" {
+		return nil
+	}
+	return []string{legacyKey}
+}
+
+func normalizeHeadVisualeffectEntry(entry autogenManifestEntry, policy headVisualeffectsPolicy) autogenManifestEntry {
+	entry.Group = strings.TrimSpace(entry.Group)
+	if mapped, ok := policy.LegacyGroups[entry.Group]; ok && strings.TrimSpace(mapped) != "" {
+		entry.Group = strings.TrimSpace(mapped)
+	}
+	if strings.TrimSpace(entry.Group) == "" && strings.TrimSpace(entry.Source) != "" {
+		parts := strings.Split(filepath.ToSlash(entry.Source), "/")
+		if len(parts) > 1 {
+			entry.Group = parts[0]
+			if mapped, ok := policy.LegacyGroups[entry.Group]; ok && strings.TrimSpace(mapped) != "" {
+				entry.Group = strings.TrimSpace(mapped)
+			}
+		}
+	}
+	if strings.TrimSpace(entry.Subgroup) == "" && strings.TrimSpace(entry.Source) != "" {
+		parts := strings.Split(filepath.ToSlash(entry.Source), "/")
+		if len(parts) > 2 {
+			entry.Subgroup = strings.Join(parts[1:len(parts)-1], "/")
+		}
+	}
+	if strings.TrimSpace(entry.Category) == "" && strings.TrimSpace(entry.Source) != "" {
+		parts := strings.Split(filepath.ToSlash(entry.Source), "/")
+		if len(parts) > 2 {
+			entry.Category = parts[len(parts)-2]
+		}
+	}
+	return entry
+}
+
+func stripHeadVisualeffectModelPrefix(modelStem string, policy headVisualeffectsPolicy) string {
 	stem := modelStem
 	for _, prefix := range policy.StripModelPrefixes {
 		prefix = strings.TrimSpace(prefix)
@@ -895,24 +1045,46 @@ func headVisualeffectIdentity(dataset string, entry autogenManifestEntry, policy
 		}
 		stem = strings.TrimPrefix(stem, prefix)
 	}
-	stem = strings.TrimSpace(stem)
-	if stem == "" {
-		return "", "", "", headVisualeffectsGroupPolicy{}, false
+	return stem
+}
+
+func headVisualeffectGroupToken(groupName string, group headVisualeffectsGroupPolicy, policy headVisualeffectsPolicy) string {
+	if policy.GroupTokenSource == "folder_name" {
+		return groupName
 	}
-	values := map[string]string{
-		"dataset":    dataset,
-		"group":      entry.Group,
-		"prefix":     group.Prefix,
-		"stem":       stem,
-		"stem_upper": strings.ToUpper(stem),
-		"model_stem": modelStem,
+	if strings.TrimSpace(group.Prefix) != "" {
+		return group.Prefix
 	}
-	key := expandHeadVisualeffectsFormat(policy.KeyFormat, values)
-	label := expandHeadVisualeffectsFormat(policy.LabelFormat, values)
-	if strings.TrimSpace(key) == "" || strings.TrimSpace(label) == "" {
-		return "", "", "", headVisualeffectsGroupPolicy{}, false
+	return groupName
+}
+
+func headVisualeffectCategory(entry autogenManifestEntry, policy headVisualeffectsPolicy) string {
+	switch policy.CategoryFrom {
+	case "immediate_parent":
+		return strings.TrimSpace(entry.Category)
+	case "full_subgroup":
+		return strings.TrimSpace(entry.Subgroup)
+	default:
+		return ""
+	}
+}
+
+func headVisualeffectDelimitedSegment(value, delimiter string) string {
+	if strings.TrimSpace(value) == "" {
+		return ""
+	}
+	return value + delimiter
+}
+
+func applyHeadVisualeffectCase(value string, policy headVisualeffectsPolicy) string {
+	switch policy.Case {
+	case "lower":
+		return strings.ToLower(value)
+	case "upper":
+		return strings.ToUpper(value)
+	default:
+		return value
 	}
-	return key, label, modelStem, group, true
 }
 
 func expandHeadVisualeffectsFormat(format string, values map[string]string) string {
@@ -997,9 +1169,15 @@ func formatAutogenManifest(root string, producer project.AutogenProducerConfig,
 
 func autogenHeadVisualeffectsConfigConfigured(cfg project.HeadVisualeffectsConfig) bool {
 	return len(cfg.Groups) > 0 ||
+		strings.TrimSpace(cfg.GroupTokenSource) != "" ||
+		strings.TrimSpace(cfg.CategoryFrom) != "" ||
+		cfg.Delimiter != "" ||
+		strings.TrimSpace(cfg.Case) != "" ||
 		len(cfg.StripModelPrefixes) > 0 ||
 		strings.TrimSpace(cfg.KeyFormat) != "" ||
 		strings.TrimSpace(cfg.LabelFormat) != "" ||
+		len(cfg.LegacyGroups) > 0 ||
+		strings.TrimSpace(cfg.LegacyKeyFormat) != "" ||
 		strings.TrimSpace(cfg.ModelColumn) != "" ||
 		len(cfg.RowDefaults) > 0
 }
diff --git a/internal/topdata/topdata_test.go b/internal/topdata/topdata_test.go
index bc8d03a..c3e8311 100644
--- a/internal/topdata/topdata_test.go
+++ b/internal/topdata/topdata_test.go
@@ -7409,12 +7409,150 @@ func TestApplyAutogenConsumersAugmentsHeadVisualeffectsFromLocalOverride(t *test
 	}
 }
 
+func TestApplyAutogenConsumersUsesFolderDrivenSlashHeadVisualeffectsNames(t *testing.T) {
+	root := testProjectRoot(t)
+	overrideRoot := filepath.Join(root, "autogen-assets")
+	mkdirAll(t, filepath.Join(overrideRoot, "vfxs", "headfeature", "sinfar", "ears_plt"))
+	writeFile(t, filepath.Join(overrideRoot, "vfxs", "headfeature", "sinfar", "ears_plt", "hfx_Ear_EL_L.mdl"), "mdl\n")
+
+	p := testProject(root)
+	p.Config.Autogen.Consumers = []project.AutogenConsumerConfig{
+		{
+			ID:                "head_visualeffects",
+			Producer:          "head_visualeffects",
+			Dataset:           "visualeffects",
+			Mode:              "head_visualeffects",
+			Root:              "vfxs",
+			Include:           []string{"headfeature/**/*.mdl"},
+			Derive:            project.AutogenDeriveConfig{Kind: "model_stem", GroupFrom: "first_path_segment"},
+			Manifest:          project.AutogenManifestConfig{ReleaseTag: "head-vfx-manifest-current", AssetName: "sow-head-vfx-manifest.json", CacheName: "sow-head-vfx-manifest.json"},
+			LocalOverrideRoot: "autogen-assets",
+			HeadVisualeffects: project.HeadVisualeffectsConfig{
+				Groups: map[string]project.HeadVisualeffectGroupConfig{
+					"headfeature": {
+						ModelColumns: []string{"Imp_HeadCon_Node", "Imp_Root_H_Node"},
+					},
+				},
+				GroupTokenSource:   "folder_name",
+				CategoryFrom:       "immediate_parent",
+				Delimiter:          "/",
+				Case:               "preserve",
+				StripModelPrefixes: []string{"hfx_"},
+				KeyFormat:          "{dataset}:{group}{delimiter}{category_segment}{stem}",
+				LabelFormat:        "{group}{delimiter}{category_segment}{stem}",
+				LegacyKeyFormat:    "{dataset}:{group}_{stem}",
+				RowDefaults: map[string]string{
+					"Type_FD":          "D",
+					"OrientWithGround": "0",
+					"OrientWithObject": "1",
+				},
+			},
+		},
+	}
+
+	collected := []nativeCollectedDataset{
+		{
+			Dataset: nativeDataset{Name: "visualeffects", Kind: nativeDatasetBase},
+			Columns: []string{"Label", "Type_FD", "OrientWithGround", "Imp_HeadCon_Node", "Imp_Root_H_Node", "OrientWithObject"},
+			Rows:    nil,
+			LockData: map[string]int{
+				"visualeffects:headfeature_Ear_EL_L": 11030,
+			},
+		},
+	}
+
+	got, err := applyAutogenConsumers(p, collected, nil)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("applyAutogenConsumers failed: %v", err)
+	}
+	if len(got) != 1 || len(got[0].Rows) != 1 {
+		t.Fatalf("expected one autogenerated visualeffects row, got %#v", got)
+	}
+	row := got[0].Rows[0]
+	if row["key"] != "visualeffects:headfeature/ears_plt/Ear_EL_L" {
+		t.Fatalf("expected folder-driven key, got %#v", row)
+	}
+	if row["id"] != 11030 {
+		t.Fatalf("expected legacy lock id to be preserved, got %#v", row)
+	}
+	if row["Label"] != "headfeature/ears_plt/Ear_EL_L" {
+		t.Fatalf("expected preserve-case slash label, got %#v", row)
+	}
+	if row["Imp_HeadCon_Node"] != "hfx_Ear_EL_L" || row["Imp_Root_H_Node"] != "hfx_Ear_EL_L" {
+		t.Fatalf("expected configured model columns, got %#v", row)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestHeadVisualeffectsConsumerMapsLegacyManifestGroupsToFolderDrivenNames(t *testing.T) {
+	collected := []nativeCollectedDataset{
+		{
+			Dataset: nativeDataset{Name: "visualeffects", Kind: nativeDatasetBase},
+			Columns: []string{"Label", "Type_FD", "OrientWithGround", "Imp_HeadCon_Node", "Imp_Root_H_Node", "OrientWithObject"},
+			Rows:    nil,
+			LockData: map[string]int{
+				"visualeffects:headfeature_ear_el_l": 11030,
+			},
+		},
+	}
+	entries := []autogenManifestEntry{
+		{
+			Group:     "head_features",
+			Source:    "head_features/sinfar/ears_plt/hfx_ear_el_l.mdl",
+			ModelStem: "hfx_ear_el_l",
+		},
+	}
+	consumer := project.AutogenConsumerConfig{
+		Dataset: "visualeffects",
+		HeadVisualeffects: project.HeadVisualeffectsConfig{
+			Groups: map[string]project.HeadVisualeffectGroupConfig{
+				"headfeature": {
+					ModelColumns: []string{"Imp_HeadCon_Node", "Imp_Root_H_Node"},
+				},
+			},
+			GroupTokenSource: "folder_name",
+			CategoryFrom:     "immediate_parent",
+			Delimiter:        "/",
+			Case:             "preserve",
+			StripModelPrefixes: []string{
+				"hfx_",
+			},
+			KeyFormat:       "{dataset}:{group}{delimiter}{category_segment}{stem}",
+			LabelFormat:     "{group}{delimiter}{category_segment}{stem}",
+			LegacyGroups:    map[string]string{"head_features": "headfeature"},
+			LegacyKeyFormat: "{dataset}:{group}_{stem}",
+			RowDefaults: map[string]string{
+				"Type_FD":          "D",
+				"OrientWithGround": "0",
+				"OrientWithObject": "1",
+			},
+		},
+	}
+
+	got, err := augmentWithAutogeneratedHeadVisualeffects(collected, entries, consumer, nil)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("augmentWithAutogeneratedHeadVisualeffects failed: %v", err)
+	}
+	if len(got) != 1 || len(got[0].Rows) != 1 {
+		t.Fatalf("expected one autogenerated row, got %#v", got)
+	}
+	row := got[0].Rows[0]
+	if row["key"] != "visualeffects:headfeature/ears_plt/ear_el_l" || row["id"] != 11030 {
+		t.Fatalf("expected migrated slash key with preserved ID, got %#v", row)
+	}
+	if _, exists := got[0].LockData["visualeffects:headfeature/ears_plt/ear_el_l"]; !exists {
+		t.Fatalf("expected new slash key in lock data, got %#v", got[0].LockData)
+	}
+	if _, exists := got[0].LockData["visualeffects:headfeature_ear_el_l"]; exists {
+		t.Fatalf("expected legacy key to be removed from active lock data, got %#v", got[0].LockData)
+	}
+}
+
 func TestBuildNativeUsesConfiguredHeadVisualeffectsGroups(t *testing.T) {
 	root := t.TempDir()
 	mkdirAll(t, filepath.Join(root, "src"))
 	mkdirAll(t, filepath.Join(root, "build"))
 	mkdirAll(t, filepath.Join(root, "topdata", "data", "visualeffects"))
-	mkdirAll(t, filepath.Join(root, "autogen-assets", "vfxs", "chest_accessories"))
+	mkdirAll(t, filepath.Join(root, "autogen-assets", "vfxs", "chestaccessory"))
 	mkdirAll(t, filepath.Join(root, "autogen-assets", "vfxs", "head_jewels"))
 	writeFile(t, filepath.Join(root, "topdata", "base_dialog.json"), "{}\n")
 	writeFile(t, filepath.Join(root, "topdata", "data", "visualeffects", "base.json"), `{
@@ -7422,7 +7560,7 @@ func TestBuildNativeUsesConfiguredHeadVisualeffectsGroups(t *testing.T) {
   "columns": ["Label", "Type_FD", "OrientWithGround", "Imp_HeadCon_Node", "Imp_Root_S_Node", "Imp_Root_M_Node", "Imp_Root_L_Node", "Imp_Root_H_Node", "OrientWithObject"],
   "rows": []
 }`+"\n")
-	writeFile(t, filepath.Join(root, "autogen-assets", "vfxs", "chest_accessories", "tfx_sash.mdl"), "mdl\n")
+	writeFile(t, filepath.Join(root, "autogen-assets", "vfxs", "chestaccessory", "tfx_sash.mdl"), "mdl\n")
 	writeFile(t, filepath.Join(root, "autogen-assets", "vfxs", "head_jewels", "hfx_circlet.mdl"), "mdl\n")
 	writeFile(t, filepath.Join(root, "nwn-tool.yaml"), `
 module:
@@ -7442,7 +7580,7 @@ autogen:
       mode: head_visualeffects
       root: vfxs
       include:
-        - chest_accessories/**/*.mdl
+        - chestaccessory/**/*.mdl
         - head_jewels/**/*.mdl
       derive:
         kind: model_stem
@@ -7454,7 +7592,7 @@ autogen:
       local_override_root: autogen-assets
       head_visualeffects:
         groups:
-          chest_accessories:
+          chestaccessory:
             prefix: chestaccessory
             model_columns:
               - Imp_Root_S_Node
@@ -7499,16 +7637,16 @@ autogen:
 
 func TestBuildGenerated2DAAssetsAppendsCachedModelsFromHeadVisualeffects(t *testing.T) {
 	root := testProjectRoot(t)
-	mkdirAll(t, filepath.Join(root, "assets", "vfxs", "chest_accessories"))
-	mkdirAll(t, filepath.Join(root, "assets", "vfxs", "head_accessories"))
-	mkdirAll(t, filepath.Join(root, "assets", "vfxs", "head_decorations"))
-	mkdirAll(t, filepath.Join(root, "assets", "vfxs", "head_features", "hair"))
+	mkdirAll(t, filepath.Join(root, "assets", "vfxs", "chestaccessory"))
+	mkdirAll(t, filepath.Join(root, "assets", "vfxs", "headaccessory"))
+	mkdirAll(t, filepath.Join(root, "assets", "vfxs", "headdecoration"))
+	mkdirAll(t, filepath.Join(root, "assets", "vfxs", "headfeature", "hair"))
 	mkdirAll(t, filepath.Join(root, "topdata", "data", "cachedmodels"))
-	writeFile(t, filepath.Join(root, "assets", "vfxs", "chest_accessories", "tfx_sash.mdl"), "mdl\n")
-	writeFile(t, filepath.Join(root, "assets", "vfxs", "head_accessories", "hfx_bandana.mdl"), "mdl\n")
-	writeFile(t, filepath.Join(root, "assets", "vfxs", "head_accessories", "hfx_existing.mdl"), "mdl\n")
-	writeFile(t, filepath.Join(root, "assets", "vfxs", "head_decorations", "hfx_laurel.mdl"), "mdl\n")
-	writeFile(t, filepath.Join(root, "assets", "vfxs", "head_features", "hair", "hfx_hair_bangs.mdl"), "mdl\n")
+	writeFile(t, filepath.Join(root, "assets", "vfxs", "chestaccessory", "tfx_sash.mdl"), "mdl\n")
+	writeFile(t, filepath.Join(root, "assets", "vfxs", "headaccessory", "hfx_bandana.mdl"), "mdl\n")
+	writeFile(t, filepath.Join(root, "assets", "vfxs", "headaccessory", "hfx_existing.mdl"), "mdl\n")
+	writeFile(t, filepath.Join(root, "assets", "vfxs", "headdecoration", "hfx_laurel.mdl"), "mdl\n")
+	writeFile(t, filepath.Join(root, "assets", "vfxs", "headfeature", "hair", "hfx_hair_bangs.mdl"), "mdl\n")
 	writeFile(t, filepath.Join(root, "topdata", "data", "cachedmodels", "base.json"), `{
   "columns": ["Model"],
   "rows": [
@@ -7530,7 +7668,7 @@ func TestBuildGenerated2DAAssetsAppendsCachedModelsFromHeadVisualeffects(t *test
 				ID:      "cachedmodels",
 				Mode:    "cachedmodels_rows",
 				Root:    "vfxs",
-				Include: []string{"chest_accessories/**/*.mdl", "head_accessories/**/*.mdl", "head_decorations/**/*.mdl", "head_features/**/*.mdl"},
+				Include: []string{"chestaccessory/**/*.mdl", "headaccessory/**/*.mdl", "headdecoration/**/*.mdl", "headfeature/**/*.mdl"},
 				Derive:  project.AutogenDeriveConfig{Kind: "model_stem", GroupFrom: "first_path_segment"},
 			},
 		},