Needing help installing mods

[maximan11 11]

Hi everyone, I'm about to download SimCity 4 Deluxe via steam. FYI, I used to play between 2004-2006 so I know all the basics, but little about "SimCity 4.5 Community Edition" so to speak. Pretty sure I never downloaded any mod for my game then. 

 

I've read all the pages on the Omnibus which I found really helpful. 

 

So, I've been going through STEX, LEX and even the Japanese sites collecting mods, lots and BAT's for the past few weeks. I've complied a 38 page Word document with URL's which comes out to around 950 items I want to install.     

 

So, my question is, how to go about this? I'm guessing just diving in and trying to install everything at once would be the fastest way, but not the safest (if 1 file was corrupting my game, I'd never be able to find out which 1 of the 950 it was). Saying that, I don't really want to download 1 file, then check it, then move onto the other. By the time I've finished that EA could release a decent SimCity 4 successor :kitty: . Also, I've seen a few downloads that I believe arrange your installed mods, is this right?

 

Basically, what I'm asking is if you had to download all your files again, how would you personally do it?  

[Metalpuritan 160]

Well, I am actually in that situation as we speak.  This is either my second or my third, sadly I lost all my files once, I didn't think I would ever be coming back yet here I am.

 

What I do is I will have my plugin folder and my storage folder and my downloads folder.

 

I download a plugin and it starts in my download folder.  I will then create a new folder in my plugins folder, the name of this folder will be named after the author of the plugin(there are a few exceptions like craig-abcvs's plugins that belong in the PEGPROD>SPAM folder, exceptions like that)

 

Then I will create yet another folder under the name of the author in my storage folder, my storage folder is located elsewhere on my PC(on my computer is a completely separate hard drive, a slower larger one different than my main drive which is small but very fast(you didn't actually need to know that, I have a tendency to ramble)

 

Okay back to my downloads folder, I will either install(if I can do that without unzipping it, you can just install without zipping if there is no file that the installer needs outside of the installer, like if you see inside the zip file that it contains only the readme and the installer application you can just install it without unzipping straight from inside the zip file)....Or in the other case where there is no installer and just files, I will unzip the file right there inside my downloads folder.

 

If the file had an installer(about half of them do) the plugin is already where it belongs(my opinion) right where it installed to and I delete the folder I created for it, I then take the zip folder I downloaded and cut/paste copy/paste it to the folder I created named after the author of the plugin inside of the storage folder.

 

If the plugin is just zipped, I will unzip it and I will delete anything that is not necessary, I will read then delete the readme and delete any pictures and any other useless files that do not belong(if it has a couple versions like it has a commercial and residential file or perhaps a landmark I do not want I will get rid of it here, whatever I do not want ends right here, once the file is ready to go I will copy/paste cut/paste it to the file folder I named after the author in my plugins folder.  I will then take the original zip file and copy that too to the folder I created named after the author in my storage folder.

 

Once the plugin has been installed and the the original zip file is safely stored away I will then return to my downloads folder and clean it out.

 

 

You can do other things too to get even more organized, like, plugins you have installed, we will use Nofunk and Zero7 as an example, you can create another folder called "lots" if you wish and drop the two author folders in there, this will declutter your plugins folder, it will have no effect on performance of the game but will be more organized.  Personally I just keep the author's folder straight in my plugins folder.

 

Hmmm...I also datpack my plugins folder when I am done with it, THAT does have an effect on how well the game runs.  I currently have a 3 gigabyte plugins folder, if I do not datpack it, I can scroll to zoom in or out and it will be a second or two before the game will respond to it, another thing that happens when my folder is not datpacked is when I open my parks or landmarks menus or any menu for that matter it will be a moment before it responds as well.  Once my plugins folder is datpacked however the game runs smooth with no hiccups.  The datpacker can be found here: https://www.sc4devotion.com/csxlex/lex_filedesc.php?lotGET=26, likely you already know but I will state anyway, you need to be logged into the lex before you click that link or you will not be able to download it.

 

Other than that all I can say is don't go crazy downloading stuff and install it all at once, there are many plugins that do not work lurking around out there.  Some will cause instant crash to desktop or perhaps become immortal lots which cannot be destroyed once something grows next to them, there is a way to kill the immortal lots though, that plugin is here: https://www.sc4devotion.com/csxlex/lex_filedesc.php?lotGET=2356  This thing works I have used before.

 

Try to think of a style you want to build and actively seek things out for that goal.  Use this thread to find things, some of these people are bloodhounds when it comes to finding files, even the most obscure of files.  Link to thread here:   I got that link book marked and I "follow" it so that I get emails about every new post.  It is like "the obscure plugin daily news" for me.  I also have several of the "show us your" threads followed as well for daily inspiration(pft who needs a bible when you got Simtropolis?! I kid I kid no offense intended)  Simtropolis spams my E-mail, this is the only site I allow to do so I even marked facebook as spam and IGN too.

 

Oh yeah one last thing, for maximum creativity use google maps for inspiration, you might be surprised at what you make following google maps, it is practically impossible to copy due to limitations the game has but when you...erm, when I try to copy it I come up with some crazy designs that look really fantastic.

 

That is all I got right now, sorry for super long post.

 

Edit:  Oh crap i almost forgot, once I install a lot, if it is commercial or residential, once I have installed all of that particular authors lots, I will go into SC4PIM and edit them to make sure they are "standard" so they do not grow like weeds.  Like if you got a stage 1 or stage 2 commercial building that is low wealth but can have like 150 occupants this building will grow everywhere and choke everything else out, in 6-6X6 blocks you could have 30 of them growing completely choking everything else out, Nofunk's renaissance books books is...was like that.  I also take this moment to edit what tileset they grow on to make sure I can maintain control of when and where a building will grow.  I create whole neighborhoods of nothing but row houses using this technique.  Because the buildings that can grow are limited to a certain tileset, I can deactivate 3 tilesets and leave the one I want on so I can grow a certain building and because the amount of buildings that can grow is now restricted, I can zone and grow them, I will destroy whatever pops up I do not want and make historical those lots I do want to stay.

 

I usually just let my commercial run free, but I cannot have my residentials running out of control.

 

For my commercials I go for a "gritty city", think Cincinnati or Detroit or Pittsburgh, Atlanta, you get the point, so I only download and install buildings that look like they belong there and I am more concerned about mid-rise and low-rise than tall buildings as you make a tall building fit in, but if your low-rise and med-rise buildings don't fit they stick out like nasty.  Things that are situational like a named building, say krogers grocery store or something I will have that a ploppable, who wants a krogers on every corner?  I get stuff like that from SimGoober.  I look to my local suburban shopping districts for placement of such things and use them sparingly as they are in suburban settings.

 

I do ramble don't I...I need to work on that.  Good luck.

[maximan11 11]

What you've said is great Metalpuritan, it's wayyyyyyyy more than I was expecting for one response  . I for one think your rambling is useful haha! I've already done some of the things you're suggesting (i.e download things that will see yourself using & using the 'find this' thread). I think I'll follow almost word for word what you're doing, however, arranging my plugins by function rather than author. based on what you've said, I think the datpacker will be my first download. 

 

My first of probably several more questions (no doubt I'll get lost when I get the game) is:

 

1: How many plugins would you download 'in a block?' I'm thinking I'll add functional and beautification mods first. Would you say download/plugin/arrange/readme maybe 5 at a time, then go into the game and see how they're working?

 

2: What do you mean by storage folder, a separate folder on a separate hard-drive in case you lose the original file/s?

 

3: Is this the most tedious and time consuming process to ever have existed? 

[A Nonny Moose 8,261]

Relax and take your time.  None of the exchanges are going away anytime soon, so there is no rush.

 

Get your game from Steam, which is fully patched and ready to fly (version 641.1.1 actually).

 

As to custom content, play without any at first.  Get the feel of the (rather broken) game. 

 

Then add just one piece of custom content, the Network Addon Mod (V31.1) and take some time out to study it.  It is a huge set of fixes and an expansion pack to boot.  It has a lot of features and an installer that will let you customize and add features gradually as you learn to use them.  This should keep you entertained for at least a week if not months.  This package fixes the very broken transportation network, then goes on to add several packages which can be selected or deselected at install time.  You can rerun the installer at will to add and subtract things at any time the game is not running.

 

Other custom content can be added at will, as you go along.  Be very selective and test with each add.  Keep your plugins directory organized by author or source for easy maintenance and do put your downloads in a separate directory.  This method of handling this is used by several other members, and I find it very workable.

 

I have two directories (folders if you prefer): <me>/documents/SimCity 4/Plugins and <me>/Downloads/SC4RelatedDownloads

 

When I download a new piece of custom content it goes in the SC4RelatedDownloads directory.  I unpack it there, and look to see what actions are necessary. 

 

If an executable installer is present, I simply run it, but if it consists of a collection of files I move the plugin part (only) to the Plugins directory.  This may include any or all of the following file types *.dll, *.sc4lot, *.sc4desc, *.sc4model, *.dat.  Of these only the first (*.dll) must be directly under the Plugins header.  The rest can be in a sub-directory. 

 

Use sub-directories in both the Plugins directory and the Downloads directory in parallel as much as possible, but pay attention to any instructions (readme files) as to where some files must be placed. 

 

Also, if you find more than one of each type of file in an expanded download, be sure you understand whether to take them all or to select certain ones.  Some custom content contains options which may actually conflict with each other if all are loaded.

 

To handle this kind of content you must have set up windows explorer to display file types (extensions) so you can clearly see what you have.

[Metalpuritan 160]

1:  There is no limit to the number of plugins I will download at once.  The only stipulation to that is I must be able to tell the difference between one author's and another author's    content.  This means that if I am to download several different plugins from several different authors I must create in my downloads folder corresponding folders to put them in.  At all cost I must maintain organization.  Due to the way I do things by author name, I can install every file from any particular author at once, if something crashes my game, I will remove all that author's content and install back each one, one by one, load my game and repeat until I find the offending plugin, once found, I will remove it from my storage, I will remove it from any other location and forget it even existed and because it is entirely likely that I just downloaded all that particular author's content, I will never have a reason to see it ever again.  I have found many by the way, though, I can't tell if they are just not good, or if they just conflict with something I already have installed, either way they got to go

 

2:  Yes, when I said storage folder, I did mean a separate folder on another drive safe and sound where nothing will ever touch it.  I have also been considering getting a flashdrive to put them onto as well, just to be double safe.  I don't know about you, but I don't want to ever have to download all this stuff ever again.  Of note, I have almost 3 gigabytes of plugins installed, I actually have nearly 11 gigabytes of plugins in my storage folder, all of them are zip files, nothing there unpacked, there is a definite need for organization.  With all this I can re-assemble my plugins folder should anything happen(Heaven forbid it please.)  I can also create a secondary plugins folder or more so that I can have multiple looks for multiple regions.  I am building an American gritty industrial city right now(Think Cincinnati or Pittsburgh or New York.), if I wanted to switch to my UK region I could just grab my Euro plugins folder and trade them places(I could swear I saw an application that would allow for choosing which plugins folder you wanted to use before you load the game, I don't recall the name of the app. though)

 

The examples:

 

Main drive: C:\users\myname\documents\simcity4\plugins\(my plugins organization)  <Plugins unpacked and installed here

 

Storage drive: E:\Simcity4\(author named folders with all their plugin zipped files inside)  <All files downloaded go here regardless of any situation

 

3:  My process is tedious and time consuming, indeed.  However, keeping my plugins organized and maintained is extremely rewarding in that if I want something I just go and grab it, well worth the time and effort, I say.