Revision as of 09:32, 1 July 2011

	This article is written for The Sims 3. For the equivalent Sims 2 article, click here.

Getting Custom Content to Show Up

Is custom content, downloaded content, or other stuff you've gotten off the internets and installed to Sims 3 not working for you? Are you having any of the following issues?

Problem(s)

• Some custom content is not showing up in your game.
• All custom content is not showing up in your game.
• Lots don't show up.
• Worlds don't show up.
• Sims don't show up.
• Sims' content don't show up, ie items in CAS (Create-A-Screen).
• Sliders don't show up.
• Objects in Buy or Build mode don't show up
• Default Replacement skins are not applied to pre-existing Sims.
• Mods - script mods in particular do not have interactions for that mod.
• Any other content-type (not specified above) does not show up.

... if so, this is the FAQ for you!

Solution(s)

• This FAQ covers ALL KNOWN SOLUTIONS to custom content not showing up.
  • Follow the steps of this FAQ in order.
  • Don't just read it but DO THE STEPS as they are given!
  • If you follow this FAQ to the letter and not only read it but do everything it says, your content should work.
  • Please do not post on the forums if your content is not showing up - we will not have any additional suggestions and will only refer you back to this FAQ!

Tip: Open up these pages in a new window (CTRL+Click) so you can easily come back to this FAQ and continue the steps later, if need be.

Actions

• Backup your user files - This is especially important for saved files and any custom content that you do not want to redownload or reinstall.
  • Go to you user profile path in "Documents\Electronic Arts\", right-click "The Sims 3" folder and select "Copy".
  • Go to your desktop and Right Click and choose "Paste" - This will copy your folder to your desktop.
  • If your harddisk do not have sufficient space, paste it into a secondary drive, if you have one.
  • If you don't have enough space to copy the whole folder, right-click and archive (instead of "Copy") using your archiving program, thus creating a compressed .rar or .zip/.7z file.

Tip: If you need a more comprehensive guide on How to do Backups in The Sims 3, READ this!. There's also a wiki page on explaining the contents of each folder and purpose of the common files in the User Folders, if you want to backup selectively.

While you do these steps you are going to be loading the game, possibly repeatedly, without custom content. Loading the game without custom content can cause issues with your saved games, Sims, Lots and Households in the Bin.

Therefore, it is strongly advised that you back up your game before you do so. If anything goes wrong, you can restore your backed up files and continue playing without problems. Also, whenever you're prompted to load the game to TEST, do so with a game that you are willing to discard, or start a brand new game and save it, and use it throughout this testing exercise.

Next Step

Let's make sure the item is installed the correct way.