Difference between revisions of "Game Help:Installing Sims 3 Package Files/Setup and Files"
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=Installing Sims 3 Package Files: Setup & Files= | =Installing Sims 3 Package Files: Setup & Files= | ||
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| + | {|cellspacing="2" cellpadding = "6" style="border-style:solid; border-color:red; border-width:2px;" width="70%" align="center" | ||
| + | | [[Image:Warning.gif]][[Image:TS3 Monkey icon.png|right]] <span style="font-size:12px; color:red"><b><big><big>Read before proceeding!</big></big></b><br> | ||
| + | <font color=black>If you have ever had your custom content in Program Files (either manually or using the Helper Monkey/Monkey Bars), you must uninstall Monkey Bars/Helper Monkey, and remove the old framework files from Program Files path <b>first</b>! If you don't, some of your custom content may not work!<br><br>You must also get updates from the creator(s) for any hacks/mods before putting them in the Documents path shown below. <br><br>For full instructions on switching over from the old way to the new way, see: '''[[Game Help:Installing Sims 3 Package Files/Old Way to New Way|Installing Sims 3 Package Files: Old Way to the New Way]].''' Do this first, then come back here for instructions on installing to Documents.</font><br><br> | ||
| + | [[Image:Warning.gif]] <font color="green"><b>Also make sure you have read [[Game Help:TS3 CC Basics|TS3 CC Basics]] so you know how to extract from rar/zip/7z files and how to identify file types before continuing with this page.</b></font> | ||
| + | |} | ||
==Setup Folders & Files== | ==Setup Folders & Files== | ||
| − | Before you can put the .package files in your game, you'll need to set up your game to accept custom content. | + | Before you can put the .package files in your game, you'll need to set up your game to accept custom content. From patch 1.12 and up, this is very easy! |
| + | 1. [[Image:TheSims3Folder.jpg|right|thumb|450px|The ''Documents\Electronic Arts\The Sims 3\'' folder - note the contents are folders like DCBackup, DCCache, InstalledWorlds, Saves, etc. (click the image for full size)]]'''Go to The Sims 3 Folder in My Documents:''' NOT in Program Files!<br><br> | ||
| + | * '''Windows XP:''' C:\Documents and Settings\<user name>\My Documents\Electronic Arts\The Sims 3\ | ||
| + | * '''Windows Vista/7:''' C:\Users\<username>\Documents\Electronic Arts\The Sims 3\ | ||
| + | * '''Mac OS:''' /Users/<username>/Documents/Electronic Arts/The Sims 3/ <br clear="all" \> | ||
| − | + | 2. '''Download the ready-made FrameworkSetup.zip''' This file contains everything you need to set up your game for custom content. Right-click on the download link below and choose "Save link as." Save it into your '''Documents\Electronic Arts\The Sims 3\''' folder (the same folder you just opened). | |
| − | [[Image: | + | <center>[[Image:Down btn.jpg|link=http://chii.modthesims.info/FrameworkSetup.zip]]</center><br clear="all" \> |
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| − | : | + | 3. [[Image:ModsFolder2.jpg|right|thumb|450px|The '''Documents\Electronic Arts\The Sims 3\''' folder with the new folder, called "Mods" highlighted.]]'''Extract the framework:''' Right-click on the ''FrameworkSetup.zip'' file and choose ''Extract Here'' (You will get this option if you have properly installed 7-Zip as advised in the [[Game Help:TS3 CC Basics|TS3 CC Basics FAQ]]). A new folder will appear, called "Mods". Double-click on it to open the "Mods" folder.<br clear="all" \> |
| − | : | + | 4. [[Image:InsideModsFolder.jpg|thumb|450 px|Inside the ''Documents\Electronic Arts\The Sims 3\Mods'' folder]]'''Check Mods Folder:''' Your ''Documents\Electronic Arts\The Sims 3\Mods\'' folder should look like the picture, with three items inside... two folders, one called "Overrides" and one called "Packages" and one file called Resource.cfg. Double-click on the folder called "Packages" to open it.<br clear="all" \> |
| − | : | + | 5. [[Image:InsidePackagesFolder.jpg|thumb|449 px|Inside the ''Documents\Electronic Arts\The Sims 3\Packages'' folder]]'''Check Packages Folder:''' Your '''Documents\Electronic Arts\The Sims 3\Mods\Packages''' folder should have two files inside it: NoBuildSparkles.package, and nointro.package |
| − | :: | + | [[Image:RightArrow.gif]]Note: The picture shows them with a little green plumbbob icon, and "Sims3 Package" under Type. It's okay if your icon looks like a Sims 2 package icon, a monkey, a white sheet of paper, or anything else, and the type may say "PACKAGE" or something else. Icon and exactly what it says for "type" are irrelevant as far as working in the game is concerned - what matters is that it ends with .package. |
| + | <br clear="all" \> | ||
| − | + | 6. '''Everything okay?''' Do your folders look as they should in step 4 and step 5, with all the right files/folders in place? | |
| + | * '''Yes!''' Good! Proceed. | ||
| + | * '''No!''' You must have done something wrong. Delete the ''Documents\Electronic Arts\The Sims 3\Mods'' folder and start try again from step 1. | ||
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<br clear="all" \> | <br clear="all" \> | ||
| − | == | + | ==Test!== |
| − | + | Now if you run the game, your .package files should be fully working in-game! You already have two package files installed, so you can tell right away whether things are working properly. | |
| − | + | * '''nointro.package:''' The [http://www.modthesims.info/download.php?t=342922 No Intro] will eliminate the EA Intro video before the game starts loading, which makes it very quick and easy to see if things are setup properly. If the plumbob animation and intro videos no longer play (you go straight to the loading screen), then you know your .package file content is working! | |
| + | * '''NoBuildSparkles.package:''' [http://www.modthesims.info/download.php?t=343257 Nobuildsparkles] will show that your custom content is actually working in-game. Go into build mode and build a wall, or a room. If no sparkles appear, then other package format content should work as well! | ||
| + | Both of these files work for any patch level and any/all expansions/stuff packs. | ||
| − | + | <br>'''If you still get the intro movie and build sparkles showing when you test in-game, you must have done something wrong.''' Delete the ''My Documents\Electronic Arts\The Sims 3\Mods\'' folder and try again from Step 1 of "Setup Folders and Files" above. It will work this way if done properly! | |
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| − | + | ==Placing Package Files== | |
| − | + | Now that you know that package files are working right in your game, you can start downloading custom content yourself! | |
| − | + | ||
| + | Of course, you'll need to have read about any special instructions or compatability (make sure everything you get works with your patch level and expansion/stuff packs!), download the files, and extract them from their archives. All of that is explained in detail on: [[Game Help:TS3 CC Basics|TS3 CC Basics]] - go there and read about it if you don't know how to do that! | ||
| − | + | Then, you just put any .package files you've extracted into your ''Documents\Electronic Arts\The Sims 3\Mods\Packages\'' folder - that's the same place as the NoBuildSparkles.package and nointro.package files are. You can cut and paste them into the folder - just move them from whereever you extracted them, or extract them straight into that folder. | |
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| − | Then, you just put any .package files you've extracted into your ''Documents\Electronic Arts\The Sims 3\Mods\Packages\'' folder | + | |
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| − | + | You can, of course, delete the NoBuildSparkles.package and nointro.package mods if you want your intro/build sparkles back - they were just there to show you where to put the files, and to verify that packages are working in your game. | |
Latest revision as of 06:21, 20 March 2013
| Sims 3 Game Help Categories: | |
|---|---|
|
Custom Content | Installation | Gameplay Guides | Technical & Graphics Issues | Miscellaneous Issues | |
| MTS Help Q&A Forums | |
Contents |
[edit] Installing Sims 3 Package Files: Setup & Files
  If you have ever had your custom content in Program Files (either manually or using the Helper Monkey/Monkey Bars), you must uninstall Monkey Bars/Helper Monkey, and remove the old framework files from Program Files path first! If you don't, some of your custom content may not work! |
[edit] Setup Folders & Files
Before you can put the .package files in your game, you'll need to set up your game to accept custom content. From patch 1.12 and up, this is very easy!
1.
- Windows XP: C:\Documents and Settings\<user name>\My Documents\Electronic Arts\The Sims 3\
- Windows Vista/7: C:\Users\<username>\Documents\Electronic Arts\The Sims 3\
- Mac OS: /Users/<username>/Documents/Electronic Arts/The Sims 3/
2. Download the ready-made FrameworkSetup.zip This file contains everything you need to set up your game for custom content. Right-click on the download link below and choose "Save link as." Save it into your Documents\Electronic Arts\The Sims 3\ folder (the same folder you just opened).
4.
5.
Note: The picture shows them with a little green plumbbob icon, and "Sims3 Package" under Type. It's okay if your icon looks like a Sims 2 package icon, a monkey, a white sheet of paper, or anything else, and the type may say "PACKAGE" or something else. Icon and exactly what it says for "type" are irrelevant as far as working in the game is concerned - what matters is that it ends with .package.
6. Everything okay? Do your folders look as they should in step 4 and step 5, with all the right files/folders in place?
- Yes! Good! Proceed.
- No! You must have done something wrong. Delete the Documents\Electronic Arts\The Sims 3\Mods folder and start try again from step 1.
[edit] Test!
Now if you run the game, your .package files should be fully working in-game! You already have two package files installed, so you can tell right away whether things are working properly.
- nointro.package: The No Intro will eliminate the EA Intro video before the game starts loading, which makes it very quick and easy to see if things are setup properly. If the plumbob animation and intro videos no longer play (you go straight to the loading screen), then you know your .package file content is working!
- NoBuildSparkles.package: Nobuildsparkles will show that your custom content is actually working in-game. Go into build mode and build a wall, or a room. If no sparkles appear, then other package format content should work as well!
Both of these files work for any patch level and any/all expansions/stuff packs.
If you still get the intro movie and build sparkles showing when you test in-game, you must have done something wrong. Delete the My Documents\Electronic Arts\The Sims 3\Mods\ folder and try again from Step 1 of "Setup Folders and Files" above. It will work this way if done properly!
[edit] Placing Package Files
Now that you know that package files are working right in your game, you can start downloading custom content yourself!
Of course, you'll need to have read about any special instructions or compatability (make sure everything you get works with your patch level and expansion/stuff packs!), download the files, and extract them from their archives. All of that is explained in detail on: TS3 CC Basics - go there and read about it if you don't know how to do that!
Then, you just put any .package files you've extracted into your Documents\Electronic Arts\The Sims 3\Mods\Packages\ folder - that's the same place as the NoBuildSparkles.package and nointro.package files are. You can cut and paste them into the folder - just move them from whereever you extracted them, or extract them straight into that folder.
You can, of course, delete the NoBuildSparkles.package and nointro.package mods if you want your intro/build sparkles back - they were just there to show you where to put the files, and to verify that packages are working in your game.
[edit] More Info?
Need more information about .package files and custom content?
|
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| Sims 3 Game Help Categories: | |
|---|---|
|
Custom Content | Installation | Gameplay Guides | Technical & Graphics Issues | Miscellaneous Issues | |
| MTS Help Q&A Forums | |
