Bat's Growable and lighting question

[danny30 1]

Hi all, I have a couple of questions that I would like to ask. Firstly, I have downloaded a lot of different bat's that are all compatible with maxis night but am still getting no lighting showing at night, is there anything that I can do to rectify this? My second question is regarding growable buildings. I have downloaded some growable lots including nice townhouses which are 1 x 2 lots. I want them to grow together so that I can have a section with them. A few started growing but I can't seem to get any more to grow. I have the demand but keep getting maxis's standard buildings growing, not only that but they keep changing the size of my lots to 2 x 2 or bigger. Is there a method to get only growable's to grow in a certain area or is this  a standard issue?

[Whte_rbt 1,431]

Okay, I can't help you with the nightlighting issue but you should be able to find something in the bugs n technical section of the forum, as to the townhouses growing together if you zone like this...

 

.. and make sure to download the If you stick all the residential blockers in this will stop ANY maxis buildings from growing while the files are present in your plugins folder, meaning that only the additional downloaded residentials will grow. When you have your area completed, make em all historical to stop them 'upgrading' themselves, and then remove the files from your plugins if you want to bring the maxis buildings back into the game later. Don't worry about maxis buildings that you already have inthe city, they'll be fine, those mod files only temporarily remove the buildings from the games build options list. Hope this helps.

[danny30 1]

Thanks for that. Really useful info. I have figured out that I need to install the SC4Update4BAT(1).zip, but should I place this in the C:\Program Files\Maxis\SimCity 4 Deluxe\Apps section or my plugins folder?

[Whte_rbt 1,431]

Main plugins folder, not the program files one.

[Cyclone Boom 16,851]

I have figured out that I need to install the SC4Update4BAT(1).zip, but should I place this in the C:\Program Files\Maxis\SimCity 4 Deluxe\Apps section or my plugins folder?

 

As this is a patch update, it'll need to be installed and not just placed in a plugins folder.

 

Inside the zip, first extract / copy the SC4Update4BAT.exe file to a temporary location (e.g. your desktop). Running this installer will attempt to apply the nightlights update to the game. If all goes well, the game's exe should then read version 1.1.640.0.

 

 

My second question is regarding growable buildings. I have downloaded some growable lots including nice townhouses which are 1 x 2 lots. I want them to grow together so that I can have a section with them. A few started growing but I can't seem to get any more to grow. I have the demand but keep getting maxis's standard buildings growing, not only that but they keep changing the size of my lots to 2 x 2 or bigger. Is there a method to get only growable's to grow in a certain area or is this  a standard issue?

A technique that's useful for these situations is precision zoning, allowing specific lot sizes to be built. This can be achieved by experimenting with a combination of the Alt and Ctrl keys. Holding Ctrl allows custom zone sizes to be placed, and the Alt key sets the direction.

[A Nonny Moose 8,261]

@danny30.  Danny, you need to understand the difference between a patch and a plugin.  A patch changes the text of the program called SimCity 4.exe and is usually in an executable form.  It does not ever get placed in the plugins folder, as it will just be ignored there.

 

Plugins are data base files for the program's use.  They contain the information necessary for the program to extend its tables to include new building models, props, and other graphic stuff.  While there are two directories, the only one you should use, unless you are a systems programmer, is the one in C:\Documents\SimCity 4\  The other one is for use by people who know why they are putting things there. 

 

Never put anything in C:\Program Files ...  unless you have been specifically directed to do so, or you have the knowledge to know why you are doing that.  This area is the system residency and is common to all users of the machine.  If you should happen to do a reinstall it will be replaced.

[Compdude787 916]

Thanks for that. Really useful info. I have figured out that I need to install the SC4Update4BAT(1).zip, but should I place this in the C:\Program Files\Maxis\SimCity 4 Deluxe\Apps section or my plugins folder?

The BAT Nightlighting update is just an executable program that will update your game to provide support for nightlights on custom BATs. It really doesn't matter where you place the ZIP file; just open it up and run the EXE file inside it, and it'll update the game automatically.

[A Nonny Moose 8,261]

There is no point in putting any *.zip or *.exe in either plugin folder.  They will be ignored there when the game loads.  The desktop is fine.

 

If you are a storage freak like me, you probably have a separate downloads folder in which you keep all downloaded files.  Mine looks like this:

 

Downloads

├── AnselmEikoff
├── Archi
├── Banished
├── BankStatements
├── Blender
├── Clam-av
├── CNet
├── C++ReferenceCard
├── Dropbox
├── Dynex
├── Fluendo
├── GamersGate
├── GOG
├── Grub2
├── HumbleBundle
├── irrlict
├── KernelDebug
├── Linux
├── memo
├── Microsoft
├── mspaint
├── muse score
├── NAM Team
├── NTCore
├── OpenGL
├── Oracle
├── PHP Tutorial
├── Rivit
├── SC4RelatedDownloads
├── Steve-Z
├── SunMicrosystems
├── Tony Leva
├── Tropod
└── Virtucity

34 directories, 0 files

 

No, the drive letter is not missing.  Linux doesn't use drive letters.

[danny30 1]

Thank you all for the replies.