Tutorial: Growing Empty Lots and How to correct them

[wouanagaine 83]

Unfortunatly, you have to find the lot in the city, because those kind of data are saved with the city, no matter if you change the lot file, the game will still retain the data when the lot grown

Now you know why savegame are so big

Ripplejet, I will PM you a list as soon as I replay the game ( not in the near future unfortunatly )

[Emerikol 0]

It would be excellent if we had a program that would allow us to modify or remove lots in a saved city.

[RippleJet 36]

Correcting the parent cohorts will not correct any of those that have already grown in your cities. That will only keep them from growing in the future. The only way to get rid of them is indeed to bulldoze them.

If you corrected the parent cohort, the only change in game would be that the number of workers / residents in those lots will be zero. One possible way to find them would be to click every lot in the zone view, till you find the ones to delete.

[Bobbo662 23]

I can't believe the unbelievable work you have done here!!  Thank you so much for pointing this out to me, and I have Locked all my files - and now I'm gonna go through and redo them.  Again, thank you - Merry Christmas!

[PoseidonST 0]

Perhaps the thread should be stickied in the SimCity General Discussion board as more members will look there for information.

-Earthshaker

I think this is too technical for the general group as a sticky, but I stuck it here, and stuck a reference to it in general.  N_O_Body.

[RippleJet 36]

Update 2

The lists of ploppable buildings growing on empty lots have been updated with lots made by six creators; ah123ah123, jeeper767, pda, Ryanr, sk8zim17 and tragicomicus1.

EDIT 01/15/2007: Park Avenue Plaza Building by skyscraper added to the lists.

Bobbo662 is in the process of updating all his files to correct the building family association. He is also correcting some texture conflicts, adding description texts, adjusting pollution values and making some general upgrading. I'm adding links to all his uploads in the lists above. If the file on STEX is still locked, that means the upgrade is not yet uploaded.

While helping Bobbo662 correct his lots, I've also realized some other issues requiring attention. First of all, the building exemplars of RalphaelNinja's Blank RCI Ploppable Lots contain the property Building/prop Family, which in fact is the property that associates the building with an in-game building family. Thus, removing the link in the Parent Cohort is not enough if the Bulding/prop Family property still remains. As a final confirmation, this weekend I managed to get the Lucky Shmails Casino & Hotel to grow on an empty lot, despite having a Parent Cohort of only zeroes.

The guidelines in section 3a have been updated to take this into account.

Another thing noted is that two important properties might get lost when removing the building family association. The properties Exemplar Type and Purpose are (in RalphaelNinja's Blank RCI Ploppable Lots) both inherited from the Parent Cohort. When that association is broken, the landmarks stop functioning. Thus I've added instructions in section 3b on how to add these missing properties.

[wouanagaine 83]

Thx for the hard work again

Still sorry to not have a new one to add as I recently wreck my plugins and start redownloading everything,

That list really help me skip some download while digging into STEX

[SoulStealer 12]

tytyty! been struggling with this problem since custom content has made its way into my PC. So far, I just bulldozed the lot as soon as I could find it, not an easy task in a forest of skyscrapers.

knowing this is only half solution, now on to fix them all. I got so many of the above lots, it isn't not going to be a quick fix.

I wish there was some quality control as of what goes into your plugins folder, something like a checkpoint software that can analyze the files for bugs and errors before it allows them to be installed. (Perhaps an idea for a tool)

One Q though, The examplers I looked into had occupant size 0.5,0,0.5 isn't it part of the problem? The game thinks its a small building then tries to grow it on a too small lot?

[RippleJet 36]

Originally posted by: SoulStealer One Q though, The examplers I looked into had occupant size 0.5,0,0.5 isn't it part of the problem? The game thinks its a small building then tries to grow it on a too small lot?quote>

That size of the building is the way RalphaelNinja set it. That is the size of the little scaffolding appearing on those lots that are based on his empty lots. Since the building itself is missing (Resource Key Type # is missing), it doesn't really matter what size the Occupant Size tells it to be. The "building" itself is a prop anyways.

The size of all in-game lots is defined within simcity_1.dat, where each lot contains one reference to a building family and (usually) several references to prop families. It is when the game randomly chooses a building within that family that the "empty building" of any landmark set up to be part of that family might grow. However, in that case, of course, the empty building appears on the in-game lot (with its props) instead of the landmark's lot (where the prop of the landmark "building" is included).

It is quite possible that setting the Occupant Size larger than the size of the lot might stop it from growing on empty lots. However, that would be a much more difficult way to solve the problem, since it is rather tedious to find the size of the lots on which the building family might appear. Besides, not all landmarks growing on empty lots are bigger than the in-game lots they might grow upon.

Written while on vacation some 12000 km from home

[High5flyier 7]

Very interesting stuff here. I'am glad I just got into the downloading game back in December after lurking for many years and reading and studying everything. My experience has been pleasant and not too many unsolvable issues. Regarding the plopable landmarks issue the only one I noticed was "RLM CS$ U Store It. It cost $2400 a month. I removed the plop file and now just use the Plop Lot menue under the cheats menue and place the growable version. In fact to keep the in game menues as small as possible I removed most plopables and just put them in the game by using the plop Lot method with the growable version. So far it works great and it gets me the right building in the spot that I want. Its great that you bring these articles out front now and then for us to read them. I did read it before but then you get busy and don"t go looking for articles like this so I also now bookmark these items so I can spot them in my own folder. Thankx for all this neat technical stuff; it really helps solve problems at my end without bugging you guys about something that has been already posted.

[RippleJet 36]

Thank you, High5flyier!

For ploppable buildings that do not provide any additional benefits the way landmarks do (in the form of landmark effect, park effect, mayor rating or CAP relieves), I would indeed recommend to use the cheat code PlopLot instead of filling the landmarks menu with them.

The first version of the U Store It that RebaLynnTS uploaded had indeed some faults in the modding. However, he updated the U STore It only 3 days later (December 3rd, 2005), removing the high monthly cost at the same time.

[BattleField-2142 9]

Thank you for the list and explanation, but I have a new building to add; Burj Al Arab is another one of those lots that usually grows on a 2x3.

[RippleJet 36]

Thank you, BattleField-2142!

The Burj Al Arab by ks is a tricky one. Its Parent Cohort is indeed set to 0x0,0x0,0x0. However, the building exemplar contains the property Building/prop Family = 0x4000003B, which needs to be deleted.

I have also added the 21st Century Tower by ks.

Neither of these lots are available at STEX. They are both available only in the BAT Showcase by ks.

[crazyyaya 4]

looks complicated

[High5flyier 7]

Its good to see this subject back. The lot that I here "plop" itself in my commercial areas is 0x0002a90 CS$$$ 2x3. Its titled 0x0d53e129 BlankS$$$. The VW Dealerships resides under this file. So I have been just bulldozing these lots when I see them after I have hear the "Plop". So there is a way to correct this problem? Also I am wondering if I go to a region (before I started using plugins)and do some stuff to it will this problem start in these regions also? Thank you

[RippleJet 36]

Originally posted by: High5flyier The lot that I here "plop" itself in my commercial areas is 0x0002a90 CS$$$ 2x3. Its titled 0x0d53e129 BlankS$$$. The VW Dealerships resides under this file. So I have been just bulldozing these lots when I see them after I have hear the "Plop". So there is a way to correct this problem?quote>

Yes, if you have some basic knowledge of the Reader, you can correct them by following sections 3a and 3b.

Mikeseith's VW Dealership was his first ploppable with jobs, and, like everybody else back then, he was using RalphaelNinja's Plopable RCI Blank Lot Set.

The file you need to open in Reader is VW Dealership_0d53e129.SC4Lot.

The building exemplar is the fifth file in there (out of six):

LD file

Exemplar file

PNG file

PNG file

Exemplar file

DIR file

Within the building exemplar you need to reset the ParentCohort to 0x0,0x0,0x0, delete the Building/prop Family property, add the property Exemplar Type = 0x02 (Building) and the property Purpose = 0x02 (Commercial Service).

While you're at it, you probably also want to correct the Exemplar Name from Blank_CS$$$ to eg. VW Dealership.

---

Originally posted by: High5flyier Also I am wondering if I go to a region (before I started using plugins)and do some stuff to it will this problem start in these regions also?quote>

You will always face the problem with landmarks growing on empty lots if you have any of them in your plugins folder, without fixing them according to sections 3a and 3b first.

[High5flyier 7]

Thank you RippleJet for your reply. I have the ilives reader now I just need to understand it to use it so give me time. Its incredible that simcity works as will as it does concidering all the people around the world who have all contributed to adding custom content.

[RippleJet 36]

Update 3

The lists of ploppable landmarks growing on empty lots have been updated with two recent lots; the Nexis Electronics Headquaters by mrbisonm and the Jamison Steel Mill by Fukuda.

I've also compiled a list of all landmarks made by Japanese batter NOB that grow on empty lots. Since these lots have Japanese names, they won't appear if your version of the game isn't Japanese. Instead the title bar will be displayed as blank, having no name at all.

Since the forum software here won't allow Japanese characters, I can't post that info for Japanese visitors either. If you want more information about these Japanese files, please consult the corresponding thread at SC4Devotion where these are listed: 

https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/index.php?topic=907.0

For those wanting to remove all such landmarks growing on empty lots, below is a list of all 53 SC4Lot files by NOB that in that case should be deleted (or edited, if you still want to keep them in the landmarks menu):

A-Bomb-Dome_ae119dde.SC4Lot

A_Bomb_Dome_6edf08b5.SC4Lot

Dock_01_2f8982c7.SC4Lot

Dock_02_ef942d55.SC4Lot

Dock_03_ef9bfe12.SC4Lot

Dock_04_6f9c02e6.SC4Lot

Dock_05_8f9e8a97.SC4Lot

Dock_06_0fa05a89.SC4Lot

Edo_Apartment_52100679.SC4Lot

Edo_kaisen01_f1dbfe24.SC4Lot

Edo_kaisen02_d1dbfec7.SC4Lot

Edo_kaisen_Left_b1dc0088.SC4Lot

Edo_kaisen_Right_f1dc015a.SC4Lot

Edo_Kanban01_71dc06c2.SC4Lot

Edo_Kanban_Left_31dc05be.SC4Lot

Edo_Kanban_Right_d1dc068f.SC4Lot

Edo_Machiya01_d1dc0367.SC4Lot

Edo_Machiya02_71dc03a3.SC4Lot

Edo_Machiyax2_01_91e107bb.SC4Lot

Edo_Machiyax2_02_d1e106f1.SC4Lot

Edo_Machiyax2_03_31e163e7.SC4Lot

Edo_Machiyax2_Left_f1e10544.SC4Lot

Edo_Machiyax2_Right_11e103c0.SC4Lot

Edo_Machiyax3_01_f1e16029.SC4Lot

Edo_Machiyax3_02_31e15ffd.SC4Lot

Edo_Machiyax3_Left02_d1e16346.SC4Lot

Edo_Machiyax3_Left_51e15f07.SC4Lot

Edo_Machiyax3_Right02_91e16299.SC4Lot

Edo_Machiyax3_Right_d1e1614c.SC4Lot

Edo_Machiya_Left_11dc0430.SC4Lot

Edo_Machiya_Right_91dc0316.SC4Lot

Edo_Nagaya_2x2_L_b205d8db.SC4Lot

Edo_Nagaya_2x2_R_b205e104.SC4Lot

Edo_Nagaya_2x2_S01_b205e77b.SC4Lot

Edo_Nagaya_2x2_S02_11ff9548.SC4Lot

Edo_Nagaya_2x2_S03_b205e592.SC4Lot

Edo_Nagaya_2x2_S04_3205e8e4.SC4Lot

Edo_Nagaya_2x2_S05_d205eb84.SC4Lot

Edo_Nakamura_za_31e8b75f.SC4Lot

fishing-marcket_efe5f922.SC4Lot

FujiwaraTofu-Shop_ee550bd4.SC4Lot

Gojunotou_ceec581e.SC4Lot

Hiroshima_Peace_Park_N_ced8ebe5.SC4Lot

Hiroshima_Peace_Park_South_8edbe5f2.SC4Lot

Hirsohima CityHall_ceae2bb1.SC4Lot

Itsukushima-shrine_6e3be8a1.SC4Lot

LNG_Plant_4f20e934.SC4Lot

Seaport01_6ee5fece.SC4Lot

Seaport02_2ee61c21.SC4Lot

Seaport03_2ee62a4d.SC4Lot

Seaport04_2ee63a70.SC4Lot

Seaport05_cef82ccb.SC4Lot

Yu-ya_b04e08b8.SC4Lot

[RippleJet 36]

Update 4

All versions of the Madison Square Garden by AndisArt have been found to grow on empty lots, and have been added to the CS$$ table:

Building Exemplar Name	Jobs		Container file where Building Exemplar can be found
Madison Square Garden	2400		MSG-Regular-Version_f1b87560.SC4Lot
Madison Square Garden	2400		MSG-Regular-Version_f1b87560.sav
Madison Square Garden	2400		MSG-Rolling-Stones_Version_f1b87560.SC4Lot
Madison Square Garden - Confessions Tour Edition - Version 2	2400		MSG-Confessions-Tour-Edition_v2_f1b87560.SC4Lot
Madison Square Garden - Gay Pride Version	2400		MSG-Regular-Version_f1b87560.SC4Lot
Madison Square Garden - NBA Draft Edition	2400		MSG-NBA-Draft-Edition_f1b87560.SC4Lot
Madison Square Garden - Sumo Exhibition Version	2400		MSG-Sumo-Exhibition-Version_f1b87560.SC4Lot
Madison Square Garden - Wrestlemania XX Edition	2400		MSG-Wrestlemania-XX-Edition_f1b87560.SC4Lot

[RippleJet 36]

Update 5

The lists of ploppable landmarks growing on empty lots have been updated with 10 lots made by morhavoc and 14 made by altuditu.

[RippleJet 36]

Update 6

I only now realised that the additions made in updates 3, 4 and 5 disappeared with the restore after the crash in March 2008. I have now added those in again.

I have also added two four recent uploads by darknono35, covering four eight files:

     LM7x4_40thWallStreet_7587b7e9.SC4Lot

     LM7x4_40thWallStreet_7587b7e9.sav

     LM6x4_AmericanInternationalBuilding_15d014a8.SC4Lot

     LM6x4_AmericanInternationalBuilding_15d014a8.sav

     LM6x5_ChicagoCNAplaza_95801c2e.SC4Lot

     LM6x5_ChicagoCNAplaza_95801c2e.sav

     LM4x5_TimeSquareTower_5641bbe4.SC4Lot

     LM4x5_TimeSquareTower_5641bbe4.sav

[crazymonkay 0]

Im having a problem where lots will be bare,

i started a thread here: https://www.simtropolis.com/forum/messageview.cfm?catid=24&threadid=104316

[chris0101 8]

Good work as always!

[nemesis I 0]

I AM GOING CRAZY is there any patch related to this bug!!!!

[RippleJet 36]

Originally posted by: nemesis I

I AM GOING CRAZY is there any patch related to this bug!!!!

quote>

No, but there is a Cleanitol file available as an attachment to this post.

If you download Cleanitol and open that txt file in it, you will find all landmarks growing on empty lots and have the option to remove all of them from your plugins folder.

[amerello 0]

Hi everybody!

I have this problem of blank lots but I'm italian and I don't understand really well what is said in this post: I don'tunderstand what to download and what to do...

Could anyone explain to me in poor words what I have to do???

Thankyou very much

[andygee33 2]

8a. Ploppable Low-Wealth Commercial Service

Crack house by pooty! 

 

Where do I get myself one of those, then?

[BlackFrancis 4]

Unfortunately they just left these screwed up buildings in the CAM starter packs, so I run into this semi-regularly.  Why don't they remove them if they're not working correctly?  Anyway my eyes glaze over when I try to read this, and when I'm done I'm still not sure what to delete and what to edit.  I just bulldoze and hope something else grows in its place.

[A Nonny Moose 8,261]

Seems that the CAM maintainers are no longer active at SC4Devotion.  I suggest you take this problem up in the CAM threads over there.

[CorinaMarie 29,605]

As part of our ongoing reorganization, this topic has been unpinned. You can still post in it and the master list is the Crashes and Problems - Look Here First thread.

-Cori