Custom Replace Maxis Trees Mod

[timoman 50]

Are there any tutorials on making my own custom tree controller mod?

 

I want to replace all the maxis trees with already-available props that are currrently only in Mayor-Mode plobbable addons (specifically the SimFox trees and the VIP MMP trees)

 

 

 

[Magneto 316]

From what I understand, you want to create a tree replacement mod such as not a tree controller (which dictates flora used when plopping god mode trees). Those are 2 different things. Can't really help for the latter.

 

As for creating a tree replacement mod, it's rather easy. Actually I have one that is ready for release but one of the trees I wish to use isn't available atm..Anyway, you can use Marsh's mod as a base, it contains almost all exemplars related to Maxis trees.

 

1. Open the mod with reader (preferably version 0.9.3)

2. Select the exemplar corresponding to the tree you wish to replace (here I chose exemplar ID 16600000). To figure out which tree is what, you can use the Lot Editor as a reference (use the # ID to locate the item under the prop or flora tab). Here you can see the exemplar type is Flora, so you have to look under Flora.

 

 

3. Once you identified the tree and know what its replacement will be, you'll have to locate the exemplar of the tree used for replacement. Again, use the LE and note the ID used so you know which exemplar you have to look after. When located, you need to copy its Resource Key Type property, which is the property that refers to the model used.

 

 

Simply hover your mouse and right click, then chose copy property. ALternatively you can use Ctrl+C

 

4. Now you have the RKT property, go back to the Maxis exemplar (in the example, the one with ID=16600000) and delete it's RKT, then paste (Ctrl+V) the RKT you copied previously.

 

5. Congrats! You made your first prop/flora replacement.

 

Beware though that the RKT you copy must be of same type than the one you replace. Do not replace a RKT1 by a RKT4 (timed prop, used for seasonal trees) or your mod can cause prop pox. All the Maxis flora and props uses RKT1, so only use RKT1 properties as replacement (the infamous palm tree uses RKT5, but this is an exception, you can replace it for an RKT1 without trouble).

 

Good luck.

[timoman 50]

Thanks for the tutorial, very helpful ! 

How though would I go about making most of the trees seasonal, the RKT4? is that even possible?

[Magneto 316]

It is technically possible to make them semi-seasonal, but if you replace a non-seasonal maxis prop by a seasonal prop, you basically force the game to store extra data in the network subfile each time you save your game, causing an overflow. This is due to RKT4 requiring additional information compared to a RKT1. And this leads to prop pox (great article on this here)

 

The only possibility to have seasonal trees is to replace them manually one by one, on every lot and in every T21 file they are used.

[timoman 50]

I understand, I can do without seasonal trees.

 

However I'm a bit stuck, as I can't figure out how to find the IDs of SimFox's Tree Pack 2. The iLive Reader has an error and fails to open the .dat file

[Magneto 316]

Strange, I have no problem opening it... Are you using version 0.9.3? Try to rename the file, reader does have problem to open files with special characters in them... If that still fails you can use the lot editor to get the IDs

 

Silly me, you need the RKT, not the IDs...

 

Here you go

 

 

[timoman 50]

It seemed so easy, but after I replaced the Oak Tree's RKT1s with the ones for SimFox Maple trees, I get graphical errors throughout my city. I double checked the copy+paste, and double checked that I had his tree props downloaded...

 

maybe I had better head to the Mod request forum... 

[Magneto 316]

Graphical errors? Would you mind to attach the modified exemplar(s) to this post, I'll have a look