HELLLLLLLLLLLLLLPPPPPPP!!! DEPENDENCIES!

[spectrumtech 15]

I am going to scream! Every single lot I download has a list of 40 dependency prop packs that I cannot find, cannot download, or get!!!! It's enough to drive a perfectly sane person crazy!!! Helllllpppp! THere needs to be a megamegamega prop pack with everything in it so I don;t have to spend a half hour searching for the CSBADHE or whatever **** prop pack and find out it "is locked for administrative purposes"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Especially I need the BSC prop pack that I can't find anywhere!!! HELP!

[ilikehotdogsalot 307]

You can find the prop packs over at sc4devotion.com since they chose to move all of them there.

[JSNK000 1]

I feel your pain. I uninstalled SC and deleted everything because I was bored,getting impatient waiting for SC5 and frustrated with some of the issues with the game.

But,over a few months I started to miss it....and there is nothing else to fill the void....I like SC Societies but it's about 3 expansion packs short of being playable....CityLife was complete crap and I figured I had to go back crawling to SC4.

Then it hit me as I set out to redownload all of the old lots I had accumulated over the past 5 years.

Hunting down all of those dependencies is maddening esp. when they are on 2 or 3 sites and the pack listed on a BAT might not be what is currently in existence so you have to dig through MEGA packs...it's enough to make you say 'scr-w it".

However...this link should help you alot.

https://www.sc4devotion.com/dependencies.html

Good luck!

[JakeMD 107]

Yeah, this is the worst thing about custom content for SimCity. Just visit the dependencie list given above and all your problems will be solved!

[offamychain 0]

Originally posted by: JSNK000 I feel your pain. I uninstalled SC and deleted everything because I was bored,getting impatient waiting for SC5 and frustrated with some of the issues with the game.quote>

 

 Yup.....almost the same right here. Dependencies have the potential to RAPIDLY make the game completely unenjoyable. While I truly do appreciate the efforts of the ones who build content, relying on dependencies to make content has the potential to quickly become self-destructive. There is simply NO easy way to download dependencies.....even if you put common ones in "MegaPacks". 

 These MegaPacks seem to change about every month or so, there's often a half-dozen DIFFERENT MegaPacks from the same source, & each separate artist seems to release his own Mega-Pack, completely different than any others. It's a vicious cycle & doesn't have to be that way.

 It would be GREAT in my opinion if each person who commonly designs content would come together with each other & vote on about 100Megs of textures, trees, water, props, etc....that they liked the most & put this all together in one pack....the ONLY dependency pack!!!! One big download & you'll never have another brown box show up. 100Megs is tiny compared to the dozens of separate dependency packs I have downloaded the last few days trying to make something work. And often, 90% of each pack is the same....just 1 or 2 files are different.....the ones that I need. 

 If a decent prop or texture can't be found in a 100Meg pack, then it probably doesn't really need to be built. Is it really THAT important that the sidewalk be 1/2 of a shade greyer than the next guys......no. Please THINK about what you are publishing before you do it. If the largest part of your readme is a dependency list, then most likely you need to re-think what you just did & make it easier on the community. And if the dependencies that are required to download are 10X bigger than your file itself, then it's probably not a good idea to publish that particular addition.

[SgtJoeDes 0]

Dido, I'm with you offamychain.

[JSNK000 1]

Another thing people could do is make a basic lot with just the building and some stock maxis props that is 100% game ready on the spot.

Then if they want to express some creativity make a 'deluxe' version with custom trees and people and all of that jazz and IF and only IF you want that then you can proceed to hunt down the packs neccessary.

But at least give people a core version if they don't want to waste thier afternoon hunting for some obscure tree pack from 2004 that may not even exist anywhere anymore.

I've had to pass on some outstanding work because when you open a BAT and see a list of 9 packs all on various sites it just kills your spirit.

When I have made stuff in the past I have used 100% Maxis stuff because I know what it's like to be on the flip side. If somebody wants to take what I made and redo the lot with some odds n ends...by all means but a person shouldn't have to suffer a migraine to use your cr-p.

[blesavidanac 0]

Indeed - this has been my biggest headache as well. But at the end of the day (after spending the whole day huunting down these packs) it's really a pleasure to see the complete lot in game. I only started to play sc4 a few months ago, and last i went over my plugins folder it was only a few mb short of 1gb. There are still a few lots that wont appear in my menus, and i suppose i am still missing some props... However, it's easy to get confused if you download, say 10 different lots in a day (i've had days downloading closer to 100 lately) and have to find every dependency for each one. Especially if it's outdated and the former download link doesn't provide info on where to get the new pack or which mega pack it was merged into. The search functions on the sites (i have to admit that the search here is among the worst i can think of - counting all kinds of sites) often don't do much to help either.

The dependency list on sc4devotion has helped me out a great deal, though... And yea - after all, i go for the most possible realism, so i guess the custom props are necessary... Who said life had to be easy

EDIT: Oh yea - i just came to think of what cars would look like today, if they still used the same standard components as 50 years ago

[spectrumtech 15]

CHeers to everyone, but sc4devotion won't let me log on. I created my account, activated it, and theye still won't let me on the exchange. "You have entered a invalid logon name . Please try again" I mean GOD! All of the lots I have made have had NO dependencies. Why! Why! Oh, the humanity!

[masochist 111]

The login at SC4LEX takes a different registration. They did that so that people who only wanted to use the exchange didn't have to register to the forums...and it's also easier to regulate that way.

[Yoman3 5]

You don't want to find the dependencies? Don't use the lots.....or maybe make some of your own, you should be thankful to the people who create great custom content for you for free.

[offamychain 0]

Originally posted by: spectrumtechAll of the lots I have made have had NO dependencies. Why! Why! Oh, the humanity!quote>

 

 I looked at some of your lots & they are rather good.....comparable to any out there. This shows that massive amounts of dependencies AREN'T necessary to make good content. That type of considerate thought for the person who will be using the content is very much appreciated.

[PhilsCafe 8]

I tried to put together a thread with resources where to find these things now... maybe that helps.

[nihonkaranws 88]

In my honest opinion, SC4 Devotion is a horribly pitiful site. I mean, what the *bleep* were they thinking when they chose to move all the BSC stuff to a site where you can't find anything? Jeesh!

[GMT 389]

Originally posted by: nihonkaranws In my honest opinion, SC4 Devotion is a horribly pitiful site. I mean, what the *bleep* were they thinking when they chose to move all the BSC stuff to a site where you can't find anything? Jeesh!quote>

Are there different sc4 devotion sites on the web?

cuz with the one I frequently use I have exactly no problems finding what I'm looking for...

[jadebullet 0]

THANK YOU SOOOO FREAKING MUCH FOR THE LINK. i have been frustrated by this for a while now but now i have the dependencies that i need. thank you

[ReikaKalseki 51]

When I use the "NDEX GLR to Subway Transition" it does not look right, and Sim City gives me a message saying "Plugin Pack 835407318" is missing. How do I find this? I searched SimZone and Simtropolis, and the SC4Devotion BSC is down. Help!

[CaptCity 4,684]

RadicalOne...

The NDEX GLR to Subway Transition calls for the NDEX Global Essentials pack to be installed. Could explain the missing pack.

Hope this helps...

.. and as far as the dependency debate goes... here's some good readin'...

... and here's a good cross-reference listing of many, many, many dependecies...

[Trackman20 0]

At some point I'd actually like to play the game.

I've been trying to figure out these freaking dependencies all weekend long.  There has to be someone on the MAXIS payroll that can do this crap in a large file doesn't their?!

[njdevi66 12]

I have to agree as well guys, i know i can safely say that everyone is very very grateful for all the awesome mods/lots and bats you guys put out, i cant get enough of them, but the fact remains the same, the dependencies are getting way out of hand and very hard to keep up. I know many times it has ruined my wanting to play b/c of dependencies.

I think it would be very beneficial to all for all the great minds who bring us the great work you all do to come up with a mega master of all dependencies for all work and update it every 3-6 months for everyone.

Again, i love everyones work, you batters and modders do awesome work and bring a lot to SC4, but we do need a fix to these dependencies. I know b/c i cant seem to get any of the lots i have DLed that have parking lots to work, i get nothing but grass instead of the parking lot and everything else is fine, yet i dl what it tells me to dl. I know you guys can do this, just need to all get together and work it all out so then everyone can truly enjoy your work without any hassle's.

Keep up the great work modders/batters

[Trackman20 0]

I started from scratch last night and downloaded all of the major dependencies according to Dweds master file last night.

I had a lot of things missing and even had a lot of boxes pop up. 

I'm going to start OVER AGAIN tonight and just go through the STEX finding the files that I want and if they require Dependencies I will download them one by one and see how that works.

One problem I've had (not sure if this is because I use Vista) is after a download a lot of dependencies and lots I get a box that states I might not have installed the file correctly (how in the world do you mess up hitting next a few times?!?). 

Does anybody else have a problem with that?

[Trackman20 0]

One other question I have.....

A lot of the people that create these wonder files have "Vol 1" "Vol 2" etc.......do you have to download all of the volumes or does the latest volume cover all previous versions as well?

[nihonkaranws 88]

It depends, they are not robots...

[BIWDC 2,296]

You might find a dependency on simpeg aswell here:

 http://74.220.207.76/~simpegco/forum/index.php

You''ll need to register there too.

[CaptCity 4,684]

Trackman20...

As a general rule, different volumes will contain different files, and you would need the specific volume number required. So, if something required 'Pack Volume 2', getting a 'Pack Volume 3' would not contain the needed files. As an additional note for dependency seekers, be careful with the Pack names. a 'Pack Vol 3' is not the same as a 'Mega Pack vol 3'. 

As for a King-Sized Super Mega Pack of dependencies, I can see a couple issues with it. One, it would be huge and could seriously bog down the game for many players. Two, not everyone installs all possible files, so most would not need everything in a Super Mega Pack.

Also, I know that having various locations of these dependencies, now, has made it a bit more complicated to find them, but if someone is really struggling to get a lot working after a serious effort to do so, a request for assistance can be made here. There are many helpful people here to offer aid.

Trackman and njdevi, if you posted a few specifics about your issues, perhaps someone could help.

Hope this helps more than confuses... and these are just my own ramblings... not meant to start any kind of trouble...

[Trackman20 0]

I just had to slow down.

I was downloading dependencies and lots so quickly that I had no idea what I had and what I needed. So I'm now just going lot by lot and figuring out their dependencies and going from there. It slows things down quite a bit, but it's worth it if you really value a real life simulation.

Although if you could point me to the cul-de-sac download that would be helpful.  Suburban SimNation just doesn't work with deadend roads haha.

[CaptCity 4,684]

Trackman20...

Here's one option... Here's another (be sure to check the Readme)...

Also, might want to check out this thread if you haven't... a couple good suggestions.

And I know what you mean by going 'download crazy' . I don't even remember how long it took for me to wise up and get organized, but it was sure worth it .

[Ladymame 3]

For new lots...is there a way to "include" the dependancy in the download instead of downloading the dependacy separately? I've seen this done by people who create both the lot and dependancies, but can it be done with someone else's dependancy (instead of an out-of-date link)? How about folks like PEG and SG? They link us to their prop packs for the lots they make, but can they include those prop packs as files within the new lot? What are the possibilities of someone taking the time to update SC4 devotion lots to be this way? (Wow! That would be mind boggling project!) I'm sure I'm not the first to have this idea, and it would probably have already been the trend if it was possible, but can the idea, at least, be rehashed? I love the SC4 lots but am unable to use them because of the extreame number of depencancies required for nearly each and every one.

[Neddiggis 1]

Originally posted by: nihonkaranws In my honest opinion, SC4 Devotion is a horribly pitiful site. I mean, what the *bleep* were they thinking when they chose to move all the BSC stuff to a site where you can't find anything? Jeesh!quote>

 

I think they left because of threads like this popping up every day.   The reality is there is a very good (albiet not quite up to date) list available at SC4D with every prop pack and texture pack up untill around november last year linked.   As long as you keep a record of what you have it's not that hard.

Ladymame:  The short answer is yes.  If SG wanted to include the props he created in a lot he made he can.  But he can't include any that you or I created as that would be plagerism.  

The long answer is if SG used the same prop on 4 seperate lots and included them with the download then you would have 4 copies of the same prop.  If everyone did this then there would be a large drain on your system as start up as is tried to load 4 copies of everything (for example)

By putting his most commonly used props in a pack he allowed anyone to use his great custom content by linking to it, and allowed himself to use it without doubling up on files.

[Sam 163]

Please remember there is an official stickied thread at the top of this forum for discussion of The Dependency Debate. If you want to talk about the pro's and con's then please do so there.

However I ask you to also remain considerate to our custom content makers in your discussions. They do not deserve a hard time or put-downs just because you personally may disagree with the way dependencies are handled. If you don't like the dependencies then you may have to compromise and download something else with fewer.