sharing mods to sc4

[skaaater 0]

I downloaded 2 mods to my computer and they are in folders in my documents. How do I actually get them into my game?

[greyveil 37]

unzip the mods and place them in a subfolder of your "my documents/simcity4/plugins" folder, make sure to follow any readmes contained in the zip from proper installation

hope this helps...

[sim1234 62]

You extract (unzip) the download using Winzip,WinRAR etc. into your MyDocuments/SimCity4/Plugins folder or your Program Files/Maxis/SimCity4/Plugins folder and they should appear in game. If this doesn't work, the building you are trying to download must be a growable which means you have to zone some Residential, Commercial or Industrial zones and get to the required stage to make it grow or it could be a reward which means you have to meet some requirements before you can use it in your city. Some downloads have automatic installers in their zip file and if that's the case double click on it to open it and follow the instructions. If the building you downloaded comes with a ReadMe always read it as it contains useful information on how to get the building into the game. Hope this helps.

EDIT: My 1600th post!

[A Nonny Moose 8,261]

Do not unzip anything directly into your plugins structure.  Instead, unzip them where they are.  Since you have them in folders in my documents, just unzip them there.  Then read the documentation.

For example, if one of the mods you downloaded was the NAM, you need to choose which parts to install.  Some parts are mutually exclusive.

When you have read all the instructions, move the appropriate parts into your plugin structure.  I would avoid the plugins folder in the system's Program Files folder.  This should be reserved for plugins that are officially from Maxis, and kept clean of user stuff.  Place all user plugins in the My Documents\Simcity 4\Plugins structure.  You would be wise to have a separate folder there for each plugin author to give yourself good control over them.

It is important to test plugins one at a time.  Put in one, test the game.  If it doesn't work, delete it. etc.  I use a sandbox region (default flat region created for this) to test all downloads and new stuff.