Installing to Plug Ins

[Easy Matthew 0]

Do you have to unzip and add the individual files to the Plugins folder? Or do you unzip the main file and then add the total file with all the sub-files to the Plugins folder?

[Jack³ 291]

Every BAT and lot you see must be unzipped and installed to the My Documents/Simcity4/Plugins folder, or a sub folder in the plugins folder. It is also very important to read the READ ME file that might come with the BAT and or lot you download to the plugins folder, because it might have different instructions to install it otherwise.

-From ST Help Squad

So you need to extract all files to My Documents/Simcity4/Plugins.

[jacksunny 741]

However, files such as images and read-mes (which are usually in html or txt format) should be removed and placed in a separate folder for future reference. This folder should not be placed in your plugins folder.

  Edited October 12, 2011 by jacksunny  

[A Nonny Moose 8,261]

Quite true. Here is a list of the file extensions that belong in plugins, and only these.

.dat A merged group of files

.sc4lot The lot image that is used by the game

.sc4desc A properties description file used by the lot in-game

.sc4model The graphic model used in-game by the lot to produce the building

.dll Of which there is only one, and it must be directly under the Plugins folder

Everything else is either leftovers (.sav) that can be dropped, or documentation.

You will only see the descriptor and the model files if the lot was created using the Building Architect Tool (BAT) and sometimes the descriptor is pre-merged into the lot file. Quite often a lot maker will merge his BAT files into a .dat.

[Easy Matthew 0]

Shouldn't they go in my programs file not my documents?

Every BAT and lot you see must be unzipped and installed to the My Documents/Simcity4/Plugins folder, or a sub folder in the plugins folder. It is also very important to read the READ ME file that might come with the BAT and or lot you download to the plugins folder, because it might have different instructions to install it otherwise.

-From ST Help Squad

So you need to extract all files to My Documents/Simcity4/Plugins.

[Yarahi 1,816]

Shouldn't they go in my programs file not my documents?

Nope. Only backgrounds (as far as I know) goes in Program Files.. Buildings and mods loads from Documents folder

[CaptCity 4,756]

Shouldn't they go in my programs file not my documents?

Just an FYI...

The game will load from both Plugins locations (and some do use only the Program Files location). However, since the Program Files are loaded first, there could be issues involving items that need to be loaded in a certain order. Using both locations could create these types of issues in such a situation. It is best to use only one location to keep such issues from occurring. And, since items using an installer will automatically load to the Documents folder by default, it is recommended using the Documents folder - unless, of course, you're into file management.

[A Nonny Moose 8,261]

Shouldn't they go in my programs file not my documents?

Just an FYI...

The game will load from both Plugins locations (and some do use only the Program Files location). However, since the Program Files are loaded first, there could be issues involving items that need to be loaded in a certain order. Using both locations could create these types of issues in such a situation. It is best to use only one location to keep such issues from occurring. And, since items using an installer will automatically load to the Documents folder by default, it is recommended using the Documents folder - unless, of course, you're into file management.

And, if you have more than one account playing the game, which works very well, by the way, putting stuff in Program Files imposes them on every player. This generally defeats individual customization.

Also, if the game is reinstalled, the plugins folder in Program Files is not preserved.