SC4Tool - Reference and Visual Editor for BATs and Lots

[Mystyx 0]

Thanks, Twrecks and Andreas

Ill learn a bit more about the structure before going through those.

definately a chore, about half will be easy thanks to neatness

 

took me about 3 days to figure out the prop packs and megas and sort em.  no doubles on those definately helped game speeds.

Problem buildings definately have a negative effect on game speeds. (lot can show in game, but if settings or desc arent right I seem to get a choppy effect, take that one out and its all good again. hehe

 

hopefull in the end ill have enough info to sort and/or fix the downloads I like most

for sure if the SC4 tool keeps going in the direction it is, great program

 

Im still confused as to why Maxis didnt release a program to do this with instructions on settings ect.

their setup seems messed up and is definately hard to navigate at first they are sleeping over there, I see another expansion here and several fixes / adds they could do. maybe not enough sales.

 

Mystyx

[T Wrecks 10,209]

The reader is very useful when it comes to determining what a desc file is actually for. Just open the file, select the exemplar file inside, and if you read something with Landmark and YIMBY, you know it's for the landmark or ploppable version.

If you see something like Building: Office; Building: CO$$; Style: Chicago; Style: New York etc., it's the desc file for the growable version.

If the desc file is for a prop, it will say Prop somewhere, and the list of properties will be considerably shorter.


Now these three paragraphs were terribly imprecise and simplified, but it ought to enable you to tell apart a growable from a ploppable version without reading 20 Reader tutorials - or so I hope.

[sorchin 18]

Hello everyone.

Is there by any chance a Tutorial around on how to use the Transit Enabler for us new guys I would like to use it but it looks rather.um...well intimidating I guess is the right word. I'm not sure relly where to start with it.

Anyway, I'm going on and on here Thanks for your help

[Andreas Roth 614]

There is a (admittedly short) tutorial included. Just open the installation folder and look into the Tutorial subfolder.

[sorchin 18]

Ahh yes I see it. Thanks AR.

[Mystyx 0]

Yea thanks Twrecks, I have noticed some features now while I got familar with the reader checking all those train cars

Im betting ill go though them again for structure, maybe some cars are missing something that makes overlapping trains.

or data for train crashes not right, if someones played with that

 

tackling the coding is fun, went through the BSC texture info they figured out....  anyone know anyplace theres a better list of the structure files associated with creating all the necessary requirements for a lot?

basically a meaning of them, whats in them?

I do have a couple of Tutorials still to go, but for creating things it looks like alot of info needs piecing together into a process

some process has been setup here, lotsa info to know I like to have a list to start out to run through

[Mary Maurine Mayo 984]

hello I need a favor from anyone who wants to help me out...

 

 

I am trying to do a R$$ stage 1 lot

 

and I looked in the reader under the building tweaker to find out what the garbage and pollutions stuff is set to for a similar lot and they all say 0...

 

 

so Coud someone use this tool the sc4tool and get me a screen shot for those settings.....

 

Thanks

 

Lynks

 

[Mary Maurine Mayo 984]

https://www.simtropolis.com/idealbb/files//coplyhouse_Redone.jpg align=baseline>

2x2 lot

R$$

Stage1

 

What I need to know is what would be ballanced for the pollution

 

Water

Garbage

 

Power usage

Water usage

 

if someone could get me a screen shot of a Maxis similar lot size and buildingsize that will show the above info I would appreciate it very much...

 

I can figure out the capcities I just need the rest of the info and My computer had a missing file that prevents me from using the 1st option in the sc4tool

 

Lynks

 

[jeronij 13]

Hallo Simrolle und Andreas,

I have been using the TE utility and I want to say THANKS for making our lives much easier, and CONGRATULATIONS for a well done tool !!!

 

Now, I just miss a pathing utility....

[T Wrecks 10,209]

@pmiller15974:

Are you sure you're going to make this stage 1? I'm asking because most default medium-density 2x2 lots are stages 4-6. Then again, I don't know what density you're going for.

It would have been good if you had added how many occupants you're having in mind, since I based my reference database on capacity (influenced by default parent cohorts).

Let's see... if you're going for lower density, 30-40 occupants, you should have:

Consumption: 1 P / 10-15 W
Pollution: 3 A / 3 W / 4 G
Worth:

[Mary Maurine Mayo 984]

well I thought it would hold somewhere around

 

R$ 2000

R$$ 1000

 

If this is to many for a R$$ then let me know... I am used to farms so this is rather new to me and I want the lots to be ballanced and grow...

 

This is a 5 story building so I thought the above numbers would work...

 

Please advise and I thank you very much for helping...

 

Lynks

 

[T Wrecks 10,209]

1000 residents on a stage 1, 2x2 lot???!? Now I'm not familiar with the other SimMars buildings, but in regular SC4 terms, this would be way off.

As a rule, low-density single houses are stage 1-3 (up to ~30 occupants), rowhouses stage 3-5 (up to ~80 inhabitants), medium apartment blocks stage 4-6 (up to ~400 inhabitants), dense medium- and high-rises stage 7 (up to ~3,000 inhabitants, and the biggest highrises stage 8 (up to ~7,000 inhabitants).

If you can't use SC4Tool, why don't you just browse this page: http://www.malupage.de/eng/ix/ix_sc4.htm
Please bear in mind that some occupant numbers are pre-RH, and hence, much lower than with RH. However, you can still use the site to find a bulding of similar size and get some general idea of its footprint and occupant number. Then, when you have thought of an appropriate occupant number and growth stage, I can provide you with good stats. I wouldn't cram more than 300 people into that building, and I would certainly make it stage 5+ and put it either on a bigger lot (there are not many 2x2 buildings in SC4) and/or into high density zoning.

[Mary Maurine Mayo 984]

Date: 10/22/2005 2:22:25 PM Author: T Wrecks 1000 residents on a stage 1, 2x2 lot???!? Now I'm not familiar with the other SimMars buildings, but in regular SC4 terms, this would be way off. As a rule, low-density single houses are stage 1-3 (up to ~30 occupants), rowhouses stage 3-5 (up to ~80 inhabitants), medium apartment blocks stage 4-6 (up to ~400 inhabitants), dense medium- and high-rises stage 7 (up to ~3,000 inhabitants, and the biggest highrises stage 8 (up to ~7,000 inhabitants). If you can't use SC4Tool, why don't you just browse this page: http://www.malupage.de/eng/ix/ix_sc4.htm Please bear in mind that some occupant numbers are pre-RH, and hence, much lower than with RH. However, you can still use the site to find a bulding of similar size and get some general idea of its footprint and occupant number. Then, when you have thought of an appropriate occupant number and growth stage, I can provide you with good stats. I wouldn't cram more than 300 people into that building, and I would certainly make it stage 5+ and put it either on a bigger lot (there are not many 2x2 buildings in SC4) and/or into high density zoning.

quote>

 

Thanks this is very helpfull indeed more into than I have gotton before....

 

I was going to put it on a larger lot but was inoformed by the Prev Building Team leader than all the bats were to be tightly fited... so thats what I did even though I do disagree with that fully. But I will def check out the link you gave and thank you for being willing to give me some advise as I said doing Residential lots is new to me so getting things right will take some time. Thank you again for the advise.

 

I thought I would ask for help this time as I have been unable to get the lots to grow and del them to start over....

 

Lynks

 

[Mary Maurine Mayo 984]

Ok after seeing your post above and checking the site you mentioned this is what I want to do

 

 

R$$

 

R$300

R$$ 150

 

Stage 5

 

Now all I need is the water power Garbage pollution

 

and the water and power usage

 

Thanks

Lynks

 

[T Wrecks 10,209]

150 R

[Mary Maurine Mayo 984]

thank you T Wrecks I appreciate it very much...

 

Lynks

 

[Josh007CL 0]

How come it won't let me save edited stuff in the buildings database

[Andreas Roth 614]

Because it's a database and not an editor. The next version of SC4Tool will have editing capabilities, too, but you can't edit in-game Maxis stuff without creating a copy of the necessary files first. This has to be done with other modding tools, such as the Reader or DatGen.

[Josh007CL 0]

Hmm I think I get it. You can't edit with sc4tool yet, until next version. But, you can edit with Microsoft Access?

 

Yes Microsoft Access works when editing.

[Andreas Roth 614]

Well, you can edit the data that is displayed with Access, but that certainly won't change the values in the game, if you had that in mind; and obviously it would be pretty pointless, since the database was compiled to show the values that Maxis used for their buildings. But if you want, you can edit the building names to match them with a localized version of SimCity 4, and you can change the screenshot or add a note into the appropriate field.

[Josh007CL 0]

Yea I had that in mind. Ok thanks. So not til next version will we be able to change

values. I guess we all just have to wait.

[aldara6166 109]

Just out of curiosity, how long do you guys predict until the next version is released?  I know you guys work as hard as you can and real life can get in the way and all...but I was just curious if you had an estimated time frame.

 

Oh yeah...you guys do great work... Keep em coming...

[Andreas Roth 614]

The next release shouldn't be too far away; it looks like the new features work quite well. There are some minor bugs and glitches here and there, but I think the next public version chould be ready in the first half of november.

[NicolaiS 8]

Thats excellent news Andreas ... with this fantastic tool an entirely new world withing the game has been opened for me ... I couldn't thank you and the entire team enough.

[simrolle 18]

Please remember: Testing and bugfixing takes the same or even more time as developing.

Better to test a week longer than having corrupted data. Several members of the BSC-Team 

try hard to test the three new tools and even make suggestions how i can make the interfaces

more user-friendly and easier to handle. This takes time, so please be patient. I think it is worth making

the effort.

 

As with the former tools, Andreas will create several tutorials for the new ones. Let me say, that isn't easy

and can't be done before the user-interfaces are completly ready.

So i think the first or second week of november will be a realistic date for release.

 

simrolle 

[buckbeach 8]

Date: 10/22/2005 2:22:25 PM Author: T Wrecks  If you can't use SC4Tool, why don't you just browse this page: http://www.malupage.de/eng/ix/ix_sc4.htm  .

quote>

 

Off topic a little but I really liked the above site, informative and some nice stuff.  Is any of it downloadable, if so where?  I got lost with the german and couldn't even post a comment to say that I like the site.

 

Buck

[aldara6166 109]

Guys,

 

I first tried the tool a few days ago to TE a BAT that I was making.  I have never attempted this before, either manually or with the tool.  I must say, this was probably the easiest task of the entire BAT.  It was so easy it only took about 30 seconds to TE a lot for 4 rail tiles AND 5 road tiles.  It was great!

 

I was so impressed with the TE capability, that I decided to make my custom textures for my BATs.  Here is where I have run in to a problem though.  I have created the textures and they look fine in the tool and in the lot editor.  But, when I plop the lot in-game, here is what I get.

 

 

The one texture that isn't highlighted in red is correct, the others highlighted in red are the wrong textures.  I am not sure what is going on here.  If someone could help me please I would appreciate it.

 

Here is a picture of how it looks in the lot editor...you can tell it looks fine here.

 

 

One question...the .DAT file is in the plugins directory in My Documents...should it be in the Program Files pluggin directory? (just thought of this)

 

Help please...

[Andreas Roth 614]

Did you make the textures with SC4Tool as well? Maybe something went wrong during the creation process, perhaps you should try it again with other IDs. The placement of the DAT file shouldn't matter, though.

[aldara6166 109]

Adreas Roth,

 

I created the .BMP files in Paint Shop Pro.  I then used the SC4Tool to create the .DAT file with the textures.  I'll re-create them with different ID's and see what happens.  If it is still messed up, I'll be back. 

[aldara6166 109]

Andreas Roth,

 

Sorry for the double post, but I have a completely new problem with the tool.  First off, yes, I have the most recent Net installed.

 

I tried to use the reader today to add values to the database for a few of my custom lots.  Each lot I tried I got this error.

 

hspace=5 src= align=baseline>

 

Here is the text for the error details:

 

See the end of this message for details on invoking
just-in-time (JIT) debugging instead of this dialog box.

************** Exception Text **************
System.IO.EndOfStreamException: Unable to read beyond the end of the stream.
   at System.IO.__Error.EndOfFile()
   at System.IO.BinaryReader.FillBuffer(Int32 numBytes)
   at System.IO.BinaryReader.ReadUInt16()
   at sr_SC4Lib.MainReader.LeseLTextFile(Byte[] ByteListe)
   at SC4Tool.FormBAT.LeseDaten(String LeseDatei, String SuchTGI_B, String SuchTGI_L)
   at SC4Tool.FormBAT.ToolButton2_Activate(Object sender, EventArgs e)
   at TD.SandBar.ButtonItemBase.OnActivate()
   at TD.SandBar.ButtonItem.OnActivate()
   at TD.SandBar.ToolBar.OnItemRelease(ToolbarItemBase item, Point position)
   at TD.SandBar.ToolBar.OnMouseUp(MouseEventArgs e)
   at System.Windows.Forms.Control.WmMouseUp(Message& m, MouseButtons button, Int32 clicks)
   at System.Windows.Forms.Control.WndProc(Message& m)
   at TD.SandBar.ToolBar.WndProc(Message& m)
   at System.Windows.Forms.ControlNativeWindow.OnMessage(Message& m)
   at System.Windows.Forms.ControlNativeWindow.WndProc(Message& m)
   at System.Windows.Forms.NativeWindow.Callback(IntPtr hWnd, Int32 msg, IntPtr wparam, IntPtr lparam)

************** Loaded Assemblies **************
mscorlib
    Assembly Version: 1.0.5000.0
    Win32 Version: 1.1.4322.573
    CodeBase: file:///c:/windows/microsoft.net/framework/v1.1.4322/mscorlib.dll
----------------------------------------
SC4Tool
    Assembly Version: 1.0.0.0
    Win32 Version: 1.0.0.0
    CodeBase: file:///C:/Program%20Files/SC4Tool/SC4Tool.exe
----------------------------------------
System.Windows.Forms
    Assembly Version: 1.0.5000.0
    Win32 Version: 1.1.4322.573
    CodeBase: file:///c:/windows/assembly/gac/system.windows.forms/1.0.5000.0__b77a5c561934e089/system.windows.forms.dll
----------------------------------------
System
    Assembly Version: 1.0.5000.0
    Win32 Version: 1.1.4322.573
    CodeBase: file:///c:/windows/assembly/gac/system/1.0.5000.0__b77a5c561934e089/system.dll
----------------------------------------
System.Drawing
    Assembly Version: 1.0.5000.0
    Win32 Version: 1.1.4322.573
    CodeBase: file:///c:/windows/assembly/gac/system.drawing/1.0.5000.0__b03f5f7f11d50a3a/system.drawing.dll
----------------------------------------
SandBar
    Assembly Version: 1.1.0.0
    Win32 Version: 1.1.0.0
    CodeBase: file:///C:/Program%20Files/SC4Tool/SandBar.DLL
----------------------------------------
SandDock
    Assembly Version: 1.0.6.1
    Win32 Version: 1.0.6.1
    CodeBase: file:///C:/Program%20Files/SC4Tool/SandDock.DLL
----------------------------------------
System.Data
    Assembly Version: 1.0.5000.0
    Win32 Version: 1.1.4322.573
    CodeBase: file:///c:/windows/assembly/gac/system.data/1.0.5000.0__b77a5c561934e089/system.data.dll
----------------------------------------
System.Xml
    Assembly Version: 1.0.5000.0
    Win32 Version: 1.1.4322.573
    CodeBase: file:///c:/windows/assembly/gac/system.xml/1.0.5000.0__b77a5c561934e089/system.xml.dll
----------------------------------------
Microsoft.VisualBasic
    Assembly Version: 7.0.5000.0
    Win32 Version: 7.10.3052.4
    CodeBase: file:///c:/windows/assembly/gac/microsoft.visualbasic/7.0.5000.0__b03f5f7f11d50a3a/microsoft.visualbasic.dll
----------------------------------------
sr_SC4Lib
    Assembly Version: 1.0.2066.17015
    Win32 Version: 1.0.2066.17015
    CodeBase: file:///C:/Program%20Files/SC4Tool/sr_SC4Lib.DLL
----------------------------------------
Eyefinder
    Assembly Version: 1.0.4.2
    Win32 Version: 1.0.4.2
    CodeBase: file:///C:/Program%20Files/SC4Tool/Eyefinder.DLL
----------------------------------------
sr_SourceGrid
    Assembly Version: 2.2.0.0
    Win32 Version: 2.2.0.0
    CodeBase: file:///C:/Program%20Files/SC4Tool/sr_SourceGrid.DLL
----------------------------------------
SourceLibrary
    Assembly Version: 1.2.3.0
    Win32 Version: 1.2.3.1
    CodeBase: file:///C:/Program%20Files/SC4Tool/SourceLibrary.DLL
----------------------------------------
FSHLib
    Assembly Version: 0.3.2.41616
    Win32 Version: 0.3.2.41616
    CodeBase: file:///C:/Program%20Files/SC4Tool/FSHLib.DLL
----------------------------------------

************** JIT Debugging **************
To enable just in time (JIT) debugging, the config file for this
application or machine (machine.config) must have the
jitDebugging value set in the system.windows.forms section.
The application must also be compiled with debugging
enabled.

For example:

<configuration>
    <system.windows.forms jitDebugging=true />
</configuration>

When JIT debugging is enabled, any unhandled exception
will be sent to the JIT debugger registered on the machine
rather than being handled by this dialog.

Hope that helps.