Lot Editor - Help

[Sam 163]

Hi Powl,

If the building button is not active then there are probably no suitable buildings in your plugins folder. The LE only shows you buildings that are suitable for the lot you choose. If you created your "building" as a prop in the PIM, then you won't find it in the buildings list. You must also match the type of building you created in the PIM to the type of lot you open in the LE.

If you want your building to be a police station, then in the PIM drag it over the Police Station option in the PIM. Then you must choose the police station lot (preferably maxis lot) in the LE. Then make your lot big enough to hold your building. It should then appear in the buildings list (and your buildings tab should not be greyed out)

If you want it to be a landmark, then in the PIM drag your model file over the Landmark option. Then in the LE open an existing (preferably maxis) landmark. Make the lot the big enough for your building and it should be in the buildings list.

If this doesn't solve the problem then could you please post a picture of your lot in the LE showing the problems you are having?

[powl 12]

Hey Sam. As usual, i am very grateful for your advice. I think i tried too early to replace the maxis police building in the LE and i think why it stayed grey was because i made the building way too big in gmax. No i've rendered my model in the perfect size, so i will try again to replace the police station. Hopefully it'll work this time. But there is one more thing that bothers me: If i want to use, let's say one specific mega prop pack from one of you guys, to make the dependencies easy. how do i find out, which prop belongs to which pack? powl

[Sam 163]

Powl, when I make lots, I usually first make a prop lot. I clean up a maxis park (remove everything except one base texture), then I put on it a few props I like the look of, then Save As. Then in Ilive's reader or sc4 tool I look at the dependencies of that new lot. If I'm really doubtful of where a prop comes from, I just put the one prop on it. Then I can see it's dependency.

Also, most of the BSC members use a tag that identifies them, and this appears on their prop names. Many other creators also use this system. For example, D66 is dolphin66, SG is simgoober, csx is Vlakhaas/csx. This tag narrows down the possibilities, eg if I see a d66 prop, I know its probably in one of Dolphin's packs, and I would probably start looking in her mega pack as that is the most likely place to find it.

If you have a fair idea of what you are looking for, eg you know its name, you can also use the exemplar analyser in Ilive's Reader to search through each prop pack more easily. For example, I may have a prop by RT, but I may have to look through three packs to find it. The analyser's tree structure makes it a bit easier.

[cityhawk 12]

First of all, I'm really sorry if the info that I'm about to ask for is somewhere in these forums, but I really don't have the time to go looking. With that said...

First of all, what's the point of having an overlay texture when you already have a base texture?

Second of all, how do you make it to where you don't have to use an overlay texture? I just want to give a fence lot I'm editing a different color grass on all of that one tile; therefore, I don't need an overlay texture (unless you LE experts say otherwise).

My problem is that I set the base texture to the base that I wanted, and I didn't fool with the overlay texture, and after I saved the lot, the base texture reverted back to the one it started with, and it shows up in the game with that start base that I don't want. How do I fix this?

I appreciate any help I can get! Thanks!

[Sam 163]

Cityhawk, you must delete the base texture already on the lot before you put your new one on it. If you just plop it over the top of the old one, the lot actually has two base textures, and it will show them randomly in the game.

And no, you don't require an overlay texture if all you want is a solid grass square. If the lot already has one, and you don't want it, then just delete it and it should be ok.

Overlay textures are actually really useful for adding detail and realism to lots. For example, I could make a plaza with a nice squeaky clean tile texture, but if I add an overlay that has some patchy grime, wouldn't that look more realistic? With overlays I can use any base texture I like, eg grass, tiles etc, but then I can add overlays such as paths, garden beds, rail tracks etc.

As another example, if I wanted a a rail texture going over grass for a lot, I could make a picture of green grass with a rail pattern on it and turn it into a base texture. But wouldn't it be more useful if I made the rails as an overlay, (ie the rails only showing and everything else transparent). That way I could use the rails later on a dirt base, or concrete base as well. ie it is a lot more flexible.

What I could not do however is make a rail overlay, then make a gravel overlay (for under the rails) and use them both on the lot. In the game the two overlays would be shown in random order, ie sometimes the gravel would be on top, covering the rails, and sometimes the rails would be on top, as it should be. Instead I would have to make one overlay with the gravel and the rails in one image. Then it would display correctly in the game.

[kinmulder 0]

Hello talents

I wish to edit a lot that I downloaded from STEX with Lot Editor, but when I tried to install the programme it gives me the following pop-up messages in choronical order:

1. Unable to process [EnsureDirectory] command.

2. Unable to process [makeshortcut] command.

3. Unable to process [makeshortcut] command. (yes, again)

4. The SimCity 4 Lot Editor has been successfully installed

5. Unable to process [makeshortcut] command. (3rd time)

I looked at the Sim City 4 folder but I can find no file related to LE except the folder Lot Editor_Manual_files, Lot Editor Manual.html and LotEditor.dat. Nothing else.

What appears to be the problem and how can I get over this and have LE installed? Thanks in advance!

[paulg 0]

I start to learn the lot-editor and I am already stuck at step 4 of the beginners-tutorial. In that step you have to edit a turn. That is no problem, but when I want to turn the lot so I can edit a secund turn in a different direction everything turns, the turn also rotates with the lot. How can you rotate something seperate from the lot =

( https://www.simtropolis.com/forum/messageview.cfm?catid=140&threadid=76187&enterthread=y )

[paulg 0]

don't answer the last question, I already got it. keyboard does strange things...

[Cuahtemoc 0]

Ok, Im doing a test upload to the Lot editor, and for some reason it wont show up there. This is what i did:

1. Made the model (no textures, just a simple model within 16x16 metres in gmax)

2. saved it, followed by a high quality export

3. opened the PM, modified its stats (it said "plug-in saved successfully)

4. Opened the lot editor, and wouldnt show up.

Help please!

[Bonnakorv 1]

Is there a way to organize the props alphabetically? They're just a mess right now and it's impossible to find anything.

[Frankie_Grove 33]

Originally posted by: Cuahtemoc Ok, Im doing a test upload to the Lot editor, and for some reason it wont show up there. This is what i did:

1. Made the model (no textures, just a simple model within 16x16 metres in gmax)

2. saved it, followed by a high quality export

3. opened the PM, modified its stats (it said "plug-in saved successfully)

4. Opened the lot editor, and wouldnt show up.

Help please!quote>

Try making the lot 2x2...it only displays props that will actually fit on the current lot size...

[Sam 163]

Originally posted by: Bonnakorv

Is there a way to organize the props alphabetically? They're just a mess right now and it's impossible to find anything.

quote>

I think the only way is to change the exemplar name property for each prop.

But the system is not unorganised, if you understand the system you can find things. The props are sorted by exemplar name. The names of the Maxis props are systematic, for example the prop Ut5x24_ferry_dock_2bd1000 is:

U = utility

t = transport

5x24 = the size of the prop

ferry_dock = the name

2bd10000 = the prop instance id

So if you know what you are looking for, you can find it easily.

Different prop creators usually prefix their content with their creator code, for example:

sg = simgoober

D66 = dolphin66

mjb = couchpotato

This way you can easily stick to props by a certain creator if you want to (handy for keeping dependency lists short and a consistant theme to your lots)

[Ranaldo20 0]

Is there a thread somewhere that tells me what to do with downloads FROM THE VERY BEGINNING, ie, for someone who has never used any of this stuff before, ever? I downloaded a traffic control pak, extracted it into mydocs/plugins, and am now clueless about what to do next. It seesm everything I find on ST so far picks up on about step 8 or 9...

[gt6282 3]

I'm encountering some problems with my LE.. How come my LE does not have the "Replace Item" button at the Building Tab. It only has the "Add Family" Button.. Could someone help me on this. thanks

[Sam 163]

Originally posted by: Ranaldo20 Is there a thread somewhere that tells me what to do with downloads FROM THE VERY BEGINNING, ie, for someone who has never used any of this stuff before, ever? I downloaded a traffic control pak, extracted it into mydocs/plugins, and am now clueless about what to do next. It seesm everything I find on ST so far picks up on about step 8 or 9...quote>

Ranaldo, try this: How To Install STEX BATs, Lots and Maps

If you are a mac user also try this: Getting Started on the STEX for Macintosh Users

If you have managed to extract it to your plugins, it should be available to use as the creator intended, but you may need to look at the documentation (eg a readme of STEX description) that may have come with it. As you did not name the download you were trying to use, I can't really think of what else might help.

Originally posted by: gt6282 I'm encountering some problems with my LE.. How come my LE does not have the "Replace Item" button at the Building Tab. It only has the "Add Family" Button.. Could someone help me on this. thanksquote>

I don't really know what the problem might be without more information. It could be that you have no suitable buildings available to place on the lot. I would need to know what type of lot, what type of building you had made etc.

If you have used the lot editor successfully before to change buildings on a lot, then this is most likely the problem.

However, if you have not used LE before, there may be somehting wrong with the installation. You may need to try reinstalling or check that you have the right version, eg if you are using BATs have you got the LE for BAT?

[gt6282 3]

This is my first time using LE.. The building I currently working on is the building in the "Bat Essentials" tutorial. Well, I followed all the directions in that tutorial (except that I didn't do the texturing and lighting part of the tutorial). When I tried placing the said building(As far as I know it is a 4x3 building and the lot is 4x4) on the lot, the "Replace Item" Button is no where to be found. As far as I know (and base on what I read on the LE readme), there will be instances that certain buttons like "save as" button are not accessible or functional but the button is still visible. In my case, the "Replace Item" button is not visible. I don't have an idea if there are other versions of LE but mine is ver 1.1..

[Sam 163]

There is an unfortunate catch when using the BAT (at least that I found). When you start, it is zoomed a fair way out, and if you don't zoom in before you start to make your model, you can end up making it ten times the size it should be. Then when you get to the LE the bat is too big to fit on the lot.

The thing to remember is:

The LE will only show you buildings that are suitable for teh lot.

It won't show buildings that are too big.

It won't show buildings that are the wrong kind (ie you must put a Co$$ on a Co$$ lot, not in power station lot)

If there are none suitable, it tends to gray out the relevant button.

But I'm puzzled as to why you still have a family button available. Unless your installation was corrupted.

If you click on the family button, what do you see in both the left and the right panes of the family screen?

What kind of descriptor did you make for your model in the Plugin Manager (eg prop, R$, Landmark etc) Did you make a descriptor in the PIM?

What kind of lot did you use in the Lot Editor as your starting point?

[gt6282 3]

I followed everything the tutorial says. "Calibrated" the BAT so that the building is in the right size. After using the BAT, I transferred the model in the Plugin Manager and put it in the CO$$ descriptor. After that, LE's turn. I use the CO$$ 4x4 Lot for my building model. Now comes the problem. The "Replace Item" button does not show up..

I did encounter some problems during the installation.. I think something to do with "Shortcuts"(I can't recall what the error message said. Anyway, I'll post once I reinstalled the LE *if the error shows up* .)..

Well, base on the LE readme, there is a family button in the building tab. I haven't check that button yet. I'll check it out maybe later.

[Sam 163]

If the button is not there, then it sounds like an installation problem. I would suggest re-downloading and re-installing. Error messages during installation are generally a bad sign.

[gt6282 3]

ok. Thanks sam. I've already redownloaded and reinstalled LE. It is now working fine. The "replace item" button showed up (Thank God!).

[Sam 163]

Good to hear you got it working Good luck with the lot making.

[sirgeoj2 1]

I know the answer to this question is probably no....but.....is it possible to make a single tile lot that something can be placed over...for example, placing a cement tile underneath a monorail without having to use overhanging lots. I dont know if I was dreaming or what, but I seem to remember a while ago placing a ped mall tile underneat a rail line, it was only one ped mall tile that would do that tho, that was a few years back and now none of them do that. 

[towtruck2007 0]

Hey all,

Question, is it possible to build a Power Station bigger then 6 x 6.

I have exported my BAT into plugin manager!

I find that in LE it won't allow me creat a workable power station, can someone help?

Towtruck

[nofunk 1,933]

Hi towtruck2007! You've totally posted this in the wrong forum, but that's OK.

In the LotEditor, choose a power plant lot (they'll be near the bottom of the list with the prefix "Up"). Once you've chosen one, click on the Lot tab, and in the Size box, change the width and depth to your desired dimensions.

[towtruck2007 0]

Sorry that i have posted this in th wrong area, 

i have selected an Up file in LE and won't allow me to change it higher then 6 x 6

Towtruck

[Jasoncw 11,840]

The above 3 posts were moved by me from the BAT - Open Discussion. 

[beto_080480 0]

Hello. Does anyone know if diagonal filler lots can be made with the Lot Editor? I would like to make some diagonal fillers with the regular sidewalk texture, but I have no idea how to make an overhanging lot. Thanks

[tungston 19]

That can't be done with the Lot Editor. You can make overhanging models with gMax.

[Hordijk 18]

What key do I need to press again to: lay multiple overlay textures on eachother in one square?

[FissileBread 0]

Im having a problem replacing base textures. I've tried to open custom lots I've downloaded on the stex and replace their base textures in the lot editor. I then press the save button, and switch to another file or close the program. When I reopen the lot in the le or when i place it in the game, it still has its original base textures. It keeps reverting back. how can I change them permanently?