How do I unzip files?

[Pangonia98 2]

I already have WinRAR, but I need it to be specific in able for me to understand. I need help on how to unzip them.

  Edited December 13, 2014 by CaptCity  
Moved from other forum.

[Temeku 0]

Right-click the zipped folder, and find the option that should be called "Extract All" and click on that. Then let WinRAR do its thing. At least that's what I've always done. An unzipped copy of that folder will be created, and then just delete the zipped one. There are other "Extract" options as well, but I never bothered with any of them.

[Indiana Joe 1,750]

Right click on folder --> "Unzip" or "Extract Here"

 

You could'a typed this one into Google rather than waiting for a forums answer.  

[Pangonia98 2]

Right-click the zipped folder, and find the option that should be called "Extract All" and click on that. Then let WinRAR do its thing. At least that's what I've always done. An unzipped copy of that folder will be created, and then just delete the zipped one. There are other "Extract" options as well, but I never bothered with any of them.

 

Nope, I don't see the "Extract All" option when right-clicked. I see other extract options, but I'm afraid to use them.

[Temeku 0]

 

Right-click the zipped folder, and find the option that should be called "Extract All" and click on that. Then let WinRAR do its thing. At least that's what I've always done. An unzipped copy of that folder will be created, and then just delete the zipped one. There are other "Extract" options as well, but I never bothered with any of them.

 

Nope, I don't see the "Extract All" option when right-clicked. I see other extract options, but I'm afraid to use them.

Is there an "Extract here" option? If so, click that.

[Pangonia98 2]

After I extract them, where do I put it next?

[Temeku 0]

After I extract them, where do I put it next?

 

If it asks you where to put the folder/files, just put them in the same location as your zipped folder. Let me know if it works.

[Pangonia98 2]

 

After I extract them, where do I put it next?

 

If it asks you where to put the folder/files, just put them in the same location as your zipped folder. Let me know if it works.

 

 

Do I copy and replace or do I not copy?

[Temeku 0]

 

 

After I extract them, where do I put it next?

 

If it asks you where to put the folder/files, just put them in the same location as your zipped folder. Let me know if it works.

 

 

Do I copy and replace or do I not copy?

 

 

I would say copy and replace, but to be on the safe side, create a new folder first (where you will be copying the unzipped files to). Then extract the files to that new folder.

[Pangonia98 2]

 

After I extract them, where do I put it next?

 

If it asks you where to put the folder/files, just put them in the same location as your zipped folder. Let me know if it works.

 

 

What I mean is do I put in the plugins folder or just put into the SimCity 4 folders? I've tried the regions folder and it did nothing.

[Temeku 0]

 

 

After I extract them, where do I put it next?

 

If it asks you where to put the folder/files, just put them in the same location as your zipped folder. Let me know if it works.

 

 

What I mean is do I put in the plugins folder or just put into the SimCity 4 folders? I've tried the regions folder and it did nothing.

 

Oh I see, you're working with plugins. Yes, put the unzipped folder/files into the plugins folder. It should be noted that some plugins don't work if there are too many "folders within folders" for the game to access the plugin files. Just make sure that isn't the case with the plugins you're installing.

[A Nonny Moose 8,261]

Plugins 101.

 

Whether the file is a *.zip or *.rar it is a good policy to keep them around in a separate SC4Downloads folder under Documents.  [ ...\Documents\SC4Downloads]

 

After extraction, which creates a folder of the same name as the archive, you need to examine the contents of this folder.  If the folder contains an executable installer, simply execute it.  This should place your plugins properly.

 

If the folder contains files such as *.sc4lot, *.sc4desc, *.sc4model, and *.dat, follow any instructions on selecting the files (if any) and move them into your ...\Documents\SimCity 4\Plugins structure to an appropriate folder. 

 

Subfolders are recommended here to help identify the plugins.  When working manually, it is important to understand any instructions with respect to placement of the files and to ensure that you also have any dependency files (libraries) that may be called out.  Files that are not plugin data base files (the ones mentioned) can be omitted and or deleted.

 

Once you have dealt with placing the plugins, you can deleted the extracted folder, if you like, from your SC4Downloads area.  I recommend keeping the archive, so that if you need to change some option you need not download it again.  Keeping the archive also gives you an insurance policy and backup for the plugins.

[Pangonia98 2]

 

 

 

After I extract them, where do I put it next?

 

If it asks you where to put the folder/files, just put them in the same location as your zipped folder. Let me know if it works.

 

 

What I mean is do I put in the plugins folder or just put into the SimCity 4 folders? I've tried the regions folder and it did nothing.

 

Oh I see, you're working with plugins. Yes, put the unzipped folder/files into the plugins folder. It should be noted that some plugins don't work if there are too many "folders within folders" for the game to access the plugin files. Just make sure that isn't the case with the plugins you're installing.

 

 

Nope, didn't work.

[Indiana Joe 1,750]

Nope, didn't work.

 

 

Woah woah woah, make sure you read all the about installing mods before you dive right in.

[Pangonia98 2]

Well, I may be screwed because 1. most of the maps I've downloaded are .zip file and 2. According to CaptCity, the game won't read .zip files by putting them into the plugins folder. This is much harder than I thought.

[Lost Realist 762]

Well, I may be screwed because 1. most of the maps I've downloaded are .zip file and 2. According to CaptCity, the game won't read .zip files by putting them into the plugins folder. This is much harder than I thought.

 

It really isn't. There are many very simple tutorials out there to help you unzip files. I think a google search would do you a better service than the forum trying to explain it to you in twenty different ways.

[A Nonny Moose 8,261]

If you don't know how to use the elementary operations in the file system, you need to spend some time with the help files on this topic.  As I recall, the Windows Help files on the File System are fairly simple and comprehensive.

 

Archive files (*.zip, *.rar, *.tar, ...) are simply compressed to save transmission time.  This kind of file handling is elementary, and if you expect to do much with your computer you need to understand the way the storage system works.

[Cyclone Boom 16,875]

To extract zip files on Windows, you shouldn't even need any additional software. It's the files inside the archive that need to be in your plugins folder. This is the one located at:

 

"Documents\SimCity 4\Plugins"

 

File management utilities like WinRar may take control of file associations, and can change the context menu. This would mean WinRar replaces Windows Explorer for extracting zip files. In WinRar, you'll need to double click the file to open the archive. From there you can extract the contents to a temporary location, or directly into your plugins folder.

 

Here's a quick video I could find:

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2JjWMhghBlY

 

 

Installing maps is slightly different. The game can import and render a greyscale image (*.jpg) using Ctrl + Alt + Shift + R.

But you may need SC4Mapper if dealing with *.SC4M files, which saves them in rendered format.

[Pangonia98 2]

Well, I was able to download them into the game, but once I load the region, all of it is just flat squares.

The tutorial says I should see an hourglass (He claims it is normal), but I don't see it.

[A Nonny Moose 8,261]

To render a region you must first examine the files for it.

 

Please give the URL of the region you downloaded.

[Pangonia98 2]

To render a region you must first examine the files for it.

 

Please give the URL of the region you downloaded.

 

 

I forgot how do make a URL, so you're going to have to right-click it and it should say "go to (the name of the link above)"

[A Nonny Moose 8,261]

Well, I downloaded that file to my desktop. 

 

Lo and behold there is a file in that archive called readme_Houston.html.  You should do what it says, and open it in your browser (double clicking on the file should do it).  It has full instructions for installing this region using SC4Terraformer including links to get the software if you don't have them.

 

If you are unable to follow these instructions, I think you need on-site physical help.

[Pangonia98 2]

Well, I downloaded that file to my desktop. 

 

Lo and behold there is a file in that archive called readme_Houston.html.  You should do what it says, and open it in your browser (double clicking on the file should do it).  It has full instructions for installing this region using SC4Terraformer including links to get the software if you don't have them.

 

If you are unable to follow these instructions, I think you need on-site physical help.

 

Okay, I've downloaded the SC4Terraformer. Now I just need to know where to put or does it stay?

[rsc204 21,808]

Wow, you must be pretty new to the internet, welcome aboard...

 

When you register an account with many sites on the internet they want to verify that you are not providing a fake e-mail address. In this case an e-mail will be sent to the address you provided as part of the registration process, once you have received this e-mail, there is a link that you must click, then follow the instructions from there, if any. Once you have performed this task, your account activation will be complete and you can download files from (educated guess) the LEX.

[Cyclone Boom 16,875]

You should have done something similar when registering for this website. Or if logging in using a social media account.

 

Don't worry, it's nothing sinister. Just a basic security measure that helps sites combat automated registrations. It only needs to be done once.

[Pangonia98 2]

You should have done something similar when registering for this website. Or if logging in using a social media account.

 

Don't worry, it's nothing sinister. Just a basic security measure that helps sites combat automated registrations. It only needs to be done once.

 

Okay, its been done finally.

[Pangonia98 2]

Well, I have SC4Terraformer now, but I can't load it because of this: "ImportError: MemoryLoadLibrary failed loading tools3D.pyd". I'm not sure what to do about this.

 

Before anyone comments on this, do I need to open it so I can get the map working on SimCity 4 or do I not need to?

[rsc204 21,808]

If you've never encountered account verification that's a little unusual, I was not trying to be snidey, I was simply flabbergasted to find someone who was unfamiliar with the concept. We're all new to things at one time or another, if my intention was negative I wouldn't be trying to help.

Depending on the map files in the download, you probably will need to have either SC4 Terraformer or SC4 Mapper installed to create the region files in a format that SimCity 4 can read. In fact... as noted in the download description (and no doubt the readme too):
 

...it is accurate in scale and terrain and requires Wouanagaine's mapper or terraformer...

As for the error, I'm guess you might need an updated .DLL file if you are using Win7/8, although as this is from memory I can't be sure which one it was again, your best bet is the support forums for SC4 Terraformer as this problem is not uncommon you should be able to find the solution there.

[Indiana Joe 1,750]

Well, I have SC4Terraformer now, but I can't load it because of this: "ImportError: MemoryLoadLibrary failed loading tools3D.pyd". I'm not sure what to do about this.

 

Before anyone comments on this, do I need to open it so I can get the map working on SimCity 4 or do I not need to?

 

You do need some additional files ("dependencies"--never forget to check descriptions and ReadMes for those) to get SC4Terra to work on Windows 7/8.  It's a bit complicated; instead I suggest you use SC4Mapper for Windows 8.

[A Nonny Moose 8,261]

 

Well, I downloaded that file to my desktop. 

 

Lo and behold there is a file in that archive called readme_Houston.html.  You should do what it says, and open it in your browser (double clicking on the file should do it).  It has full instructions for installing this region using SC4Terraformer including links to get the software if you don't have them.

 

If you are unable to follow these instructions, I think you need on-site physical help.

 

Okay, I've downloaded the SC4Terraformer. Now I just need to know where to put or does it stay?

 

The terraformer is an external program.  You should unpack it into an area where you can launch it.  The desktop will do.  After you have unpacked it, you are required to read the documentation that comes with it.  Things like this don't run with by rote instructions.  You might find that you also need to download some library packs to make this program run including the Python run time.  Read the help files very carefully.