Tutorial:Understanding CAS Modding/Glossary

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Glossary

There are a lot of terms and acronyms used in modding, and it can be easy to get lost and confused sometimes. Don't worry! All the terms you need to know are listed here.

Some resource types will be included here, however if you're after a more technical glossary of the resource types including technical information, see Sims 3:PackedFileTypes.

Click on the arrow buttons to sort by category, or alphabetically. You can also press Ctrl-F to search for a particular term.

Category Term Short for/aka Meaning Links
Meshing BGEO Blend Geometry The resources which contain data telling the game how a mesh should change when the fat/fit/thin sliders are used. BGEO Generator
Meshing GEOM Geometry, aka Simgeom (Sim Geometry) A mesh file format used by all Sims 3 CAS items.
Meshing LOD Level of Detail The different meshes the game uses depending on how zoomed in the camera is. The further you zoom in, the higher the LOD used by the game. A smaller number means a higher LOD, so LOD0 is the highest, then LOD1, LOD2 and finally LOD3. Sometimes also used to refer simply to meshes.
Meshing Mesh 3D Model, Model The shape of clothes, hair etc., underneath the texture Game Help:Meshes and Recolors
Meshing VPXY Visual Proxy Model Links The resources which link meshes to their BGEOs, other LODs, and textures. VPXY Editor
Texturing DDS DirectDraw Surface An image file type used by almost all of the game's textures. Instructions for use.
Texturing Texture Images which are painted onto meshes by the game, giving them colour and details. Game Help:Meshes and Recolors
Tools CTU CAS Texture Unitool A CAS modding program created by Delphy and jonha, capable of working with clothes, shoes, accessories, makeup, and hat hairs. Download page
Tools DABOOBS Delphy's Acronym Bending Original Output Barber Shop A CAS modding program created by Delphy, capable of working with hairs. Download page
Tools GIMP GNU Image Manipulation Program A free graphics package, with many of the same features as Adobe Photoshop. Official website
Tools Graphics Editor Graphics package, graphics program, image editor Any program which can be used to alter images or pictures. Not all graphics editors are created equal, and some are more powerful than others.
Tools PS Adobe PhotoShop A very powerful graphics package, which is used by professional graphics artists, and can be used to make Sims 3 textures. Photoshop is very expensive, but student discounts are often available. Official website
Misc BG Base Game, Basegame The basic Sims 3 game with no Expansion Packs, Stuff Packs or Custom Content. When clothes, hairs etc. are described as being basegame, that means that they came with the basic game, and don't need any EPs or custom content to work.
Misc CAS Create-A-Sim The part of TS3 which allows you to make sims, and choose and customise their hair, clothes, makeup etc.
Misc Clone The process which changes all of the ID numbers/Resource Keys of a custom content item, so that it doesn't conflict with or override the original item.
Misc EP Expansion Pack, SP, Stuff Pack Add-ons for the Sims 3, such as World Adventures, or High End Loft Stuff.
Misc Mod Modification, aka CC, Custom Content Any downloadable content which adds to or changes Sims 3. "Mod" is sometimes used only to refer to hacks, excluding other types of content, such as clothes and hairs.
Misc Reskey Resource Key, TGI The unique ID numbers used by the game to tell which resource is which. The reskey is made up of an Instance ID, a Type (which symbolises the type of resource, such as a DDS texture, a mesh or a text file) and a Group (which tells the game which EP the resource is from). Reskeys are often given in one of two formats: either type:group:instance, or type_group_instance. The Type and Group are always 8 characters long, and are made up of numbers and letters, while the Instance is always 16 characters long. An example of a reskey is 319E4F1D:18000000:0000000000989ED8.
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