Game Help:TS3 User Folders Explained

Purpose of the files and folders in the User folder

This guide will explain the function of folders and files found in the User folder. Most of these folders and files are not there by default. They will be created as and when needed.

Single files

Cache Files

Delete those when you add new CC or remove unwanted CC. They will be recreated.

• CasPartCache.package: CAS parts that appear in Create-A-Sim
• compositorCache.package: New objects that would appear in Buy/Build mode
• scriptCache.package: Mods or Hacks
• simCompositorCache.package: New Sims, default skins

Options.ini

Contains your game and graphic options set in the game. Save this file if you update your drivers and put it back after the update or all your Option settings will be lost because the game would reset it automatically. This also occurs when you install new Expansion or Stuff Packs.

This file may also become corrupted. If you get any graphical or sound glitch, removing this file would restore the Options and Lessons to "factory defaults" and you can then re-tweak the options as you desire, again.

Log Files

• DeviceConfig.log
• Sims3Logs.xml
• Sims3LauncherLogFile.log

ScriptErrors

Errors produced by the game that were caught by one of Twallan's Mods. They are not needed in the game. Delete or post at Twallan's forum, if requested. They contain information that were caused by one of his mods and would assist him in troubleshooting the bugs that trigger the error.

UserPresets.package

Colors and patterns that you saved in the Create-a-Style (CaST) pallette in Create-a-Sim (CAS) or Build/ Buy Mode.

xcpt*.mdmp & xpct*.txt

Crash logs that where written when your games crashes. You can have them analyzed with the Crash Log Analyzer or just delete.

Most non-hardware-related crashes can be resolved by doing the Game Help:Sims 3 Game Problem FAQ and other FAQs linked within that wiki page.

Version.tag

Info about the version of your game. This file only contains the gameversion of the last installed pack. Delete this file if you have troubles patching or Launcher is reporting errors. Should be recreated on game / Launcher start. If you have Launcher issues, see Game Help:Launcher Issues.

The folders

CurrentGame.sims3

This contains the data used in the currently loaded Save game, when The Sims 3 is running. During a save procedure this folder would be renamed as you specified and transferred to the Saves folder.

If at any time, the Save procedure results in an error or is stalled, you can simply copy this whole folder into the Saves folder yourself before exiting the game, and rename it to <Current>.sims3 or something that you'll be able to identify later. It just needs to be different from the actual name of the Save that you loaded.

After quitting the game, ensure the contents of this folder is empty before starting the next game.

Custom Music

Contains your custom music that is played on the custom music channel. Don't delete the files that are already in there for it can lead to problems with patching. If you don't want them in there, move them to some temp folder and put it back before patching.

If these default mp3 files get corrupted, you can simply replace this folder's contents by copying the originals from the Program Files path.

It has been reported, however that the Custom Channel won't work properly if the default game's Custom Music are not present, so YMMV. The files need to be in .mp3 format and in 128kb bitrate.

DCBackup

Contains all package files that get unpacked when you install a sims3pack. This folder is bound to have many files if you install and test out a lot of content, for the files in here will not get deleted when you uninstall or delete something in your Launcher. The names in here are just numbers so you won't know which is which. To find out, you can open them in s3pe and find the picture (Type: THUM or ICON).

If you export a Sim / Household / House from your game, the game only packs the stuff used that is actually in this folder. Meaning if you used a window in your house but deleted the corresponding Package file in this folder, the window will not get packed with the house. Some Downloads don't need to be used to get packed. They just do, but only if you have them in this folder.

Files in this folder have the extension .package.

DCCache

Contains all installed Custom Content/Exchange/Store items that you installed through the Launcher. Shows up in Launcher's Installed Content tab. This tab may list more content than you had downloaded and installed, as there are many Sims3Packs that have lots of files getting packed with it.

There are 3 different file types in this folder:

• *.dbc: All third party content
• *.ebc: Store content
• missingdeps.idx: Probably some kind of Cache file for it gets recreated when deleted.

The files are getting compressed together and unfortunately one does not know what CC item is in which numbered file. The size of the files can be changed in the Default.ini in your \Game\Bin folder. If a file reaches this value, a new one is created and files are named incrementally, from *0.dbc or *0.ebc onwards.

A first file is created the first time you installed ANY sims3pack. If it's a houses/household/Sims/Worlds the file will only be 1 kb big. No actual info is stored there. If you uninstall something, the file size does not seem to be reduced at all although the content is gone from your Launcher & game.

The content of these files is what you see in the Installed Content tab in your Launcher. If you delete them, ALL of your CC/Store item will be gone from your game (this does not include the houses/household/Sims/Worlds itself). Sometimes it's the best thing to do, if you have lots of corrupted stuff.

You can use Delphy's Dashboard to scan those files but it will only tell you, IF something faulty is installed. It can't be repaired. If there is, you will need to delete the file and reinstall all your downloads.

Houses(Lots), Households, Worlds and Sims are installed in different folders.

Downloads

If you install a sims3pack via the Launcher, or Download from the Sims Store or Exchange via a web browser, the original file will be downloaded first into this folder.

If you copy them here without installing, they will not show in your game and if you delete it from here but not uninstall via Launcher, they will still show in your game and the Launcher. This is basically just a backup and can be used for installing many sims3packs at once. To do so, copy your downloaded sims3Packs into this folder (if not already located here), open your Launcher and just check them all to install.

If the Launcher takes ages to load, you can move all installed sims3packs into a subfolder within this folder and the Launcher will ignore them and also load much faster.

Files in this folder have the extension .sims3pack and will show in the tab Downloads in the Launcher.

Exports

Everything you export from the Game (CAS or Edit Town).

The files in this folder shows have the extension .sims3pack and show in Uploads in the Launcher.

InstalledWorlds

Custom Worlds you installed like Riverview. The Town that came with the Base Game or an Add-Ons can't be found in here.

Files in this folder have the extension .world and show in Installed Content in the Launcher.

Library

Houses and households that you installed through your Launcher. Every house and household has it's own file. Unfortunately the names are cryptic. If additional content came with the Sims3Pack that will be installed in your DCCache files.

The files in this folder have the extension .package and will show in your library in game and also in Installed Content in the Launcher. They can be either deleted in-game or uninstalled through the Launcher.

If you use a house or household in your game and delete the file in this folder, the house will still be in your game for it is saved with your savegame. Deleting the file will only result in the house/household not showing in the Library/Bin anymore.

Mods

Your downloaded user-created content in .package format. Not present by default. You have to create this folder yourself.

See Game Help:Installing Sims 3 Package Files/Setup and Files for instructions on how to set up this folder.

Recorded Videos

Videos you recorded in your game. The Content of this folder shows in Uploads (Tab: Video) in the Launcher.

SavedSims

Sims that you installed through the Launcher or saved in CAS. Every Sim has it's own file. Unfortunately the names are cryptic. If additional content came with the Sims3Pack that will be installed in your DCCache files.

If you use a Sim in your game and delete the file in this folder, the Sims will still be in your game for it is saved with your savegame. Deleting the file will only result in the Sim not showing in CAS anymore.

The files in this folder have the extension .Sim and will show in CAS (premade Sims) ingame and also in Installed Content in the launcher. They can be either deleted ingame or uninstalled through the Launcher.

Some Sims you download from other sites are NOT Sims but households (see above). If the Launcher pic only shows a head, it's a Sim, if it shows the whole Sim, it's a Household.

This folder cannot be organized into subfolders. .sim files stored in subfolders will not be recognized by the game and Launcher.

Saves

Your savegames. Back those up regularly. For every game you start there will be a separate folder. They have the name you gave the save. For every game there is also a folder called <yoursavegame>.backup. That is your second last savegame.

If you used the Save As command instead of Save, no .backup folder will be created.

Sometimes you will also find folders called <yoursavegame>.bad. Those are usually created when you have an Error 12, 13 or 16 and should be deleted right away. You don't need to keep those.

If you want to try to salvage your game progress after a Save Error occured before you quit, see #CurrentGame.sims3. If you want to restore a .backup save, after you have quit the game, go to Game Help:Restoring Backup Saves.

Screenshots

Pictures taken ingame. The Content of this folder shows in Uploads (Tab: Screenshots) in the launcher.

SigsCache

Information about activities in EADM and the Store. Files will be created again, if deleted.

• platform.bin: Probably some info about your Computer/OS
• igs.bin: Login-Data for the store.

Thumbnails

Cached thumbnail pics. Saved here for faster loading the next time you start your game. If you have any trouble with strange thumbnails ingame, delete these. They will be recreated next time you start the game, albeit a slightly slower game when it is first loaded, after the contents of this folder had been deleted.

WorldCaches (not Mac)

Cache files for your installed worlds. There are no WorldCache files for worlds that came with the game and were not installed through the Launcher like Sunset Valley, Twinbrooks or Bridgeport.