I'm looking for a Lot Editor tutorial (LE)

[thegrindre 28]

Hi all,

It's been too many years since I've created anything and I can't remember a thing, sooooooo

Did anybody create an extensive LE tutorial? (I need the help)

Is there a link to it anywhere?

I'd like to add a few more lots to my account but I can't remember how I did it before. LOLOL

Thanks in advance,

[A Nonny Moose 8,262]

Did you try the Omnibus?  There is an extensive help file system for the LE.

 

One caution with the LE.  It has limited buffer space, and if your Plugin suite is too large to fit, it will crash.  The workaround is to reduce the size of your plugin folder while you work with the lots, then put things back as needed.  For example, simply putting the NAM in another folder (temporarily) will get you back a big piece of memory.

[thegrindre 28]

OK, thanks, Moose.

[Cyclone Boom 17,031]

I'd strongly recommend checking the Lot Editor's help manual. This has a good basic overview of the tools, and the keyboard shortcuts.

 

It should be located where the game is installed (e.g. "C:\Program Files (x86)\Maxis\SimCity 4 Deluxe\Lot Editor Manual.htm")

There may also be a handy shortcut from your start menu, under "Maxis".

 

As for other tutorials, here's a few from SC4D...

 

(Some are are shown on the Wayback Machine, as the images no longer appear in the live version):

 

The basics

Lot Editor for Beginners

Making a Lot From Model to Game

Clearing a lot in the LE

Good lot making for sharing with others

 

 

More advanced (using other tools)

Transit enabled lots - the easy way

Making growable lots larger than 6x6 - Megalots

Making Lots with Boats that Float on Water

True Transparent Lots

 

 

Hope these help!

[thegrindre 28]

BINGO! Thanks, Boom. Much appreciated.

[SimCoug 5,973]

BINGO! Thanks, Boom. Much appreciated.

 

You mentioned that it's been a while, so I'm going to point you to a useful tool called PIM-X.  It is a little more powerful than the Maxis LE and can make lot editing and moding a little easier (although you will sill need the iLives Reader tool for many modding functions).  

 

There are plenty of tutorials over on SC4D as well as a trouble shooting thread.  

 

It's not for everyone, but I find it very useful.  

[thegrindre 28]

OK, great! I got it and a few other things as well.

 

Thanks, SimCoug.

[thegrindre 28]

Well, now. The PIM-X seems to be missing a file and it will not load.

Not sure how to fix it.

[A Nonny Moose 8,262]

Did you get a diagnostic of any kind?  It might be a publicly available library.

[rsc204 21,863]

First post here details all the files needed for operation, and has links to download them.

[A Nonny Moose 8,262]

Yet another Python program, I see.  Python is all very well if you are running Linux, which includes it by default.  However, I see from that link there is a fix needed if you are running W7 SP1.

 

Python is all very nice for students of computer science, but really it would make more sense to write in C++ using the GNU compiler to make sure you don't get stuck with some Microsoft lock-in library, nor a missing Python run-time item.

 

The only advantage of Python is that it is positional with respect to structure and has a huge library of this and that, as does C++.  I don't like languages that are not context free, but that is a matter of personal taste.  As a C++ programmer, I've always managed to indent my code without a problem, and don't need something to enforce this.

[thegrindre 28]

Hi Moose,
Well, this is the message I get when trying to fire up the app, and I quote,
"This application has failed to start because MSVCP71.dll was not found. Re-installing the application may fix this problem."
(Re-installing it did not fix it.)

 

The second message says,
"See the logfile 'D:\apps\SC4PIM\SC4PIM.exe.log' for details."

AND, that log file says,
Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "SC4PIM.py", line 1, in ?
  File "SC4PIMApp.pyo", line 96, in ?
  File "wx\__init__.pyo", line 45, in ?
  File "wx\_core.pyo", line 4, in ?
  File "wx\_core_.pyo", line 12, in ?
  File "wx\_core_.pyo", line 10, in __load
ImportError: DLL load failed: The specified module could not be found.

So, there you have it. The complete error message sequence I get when trying to launch the PIM-X app.

 

Thanks,.

[rsc204 21,863]

This file is not something that should be part of the PIM-X installer, it's a library (think of it as a dependency) needed for the runtime of the application to work on your machine. Once you've installed the .dll file it's referring to, everything should work, link in my last post.

[thegrindre 28]

OK, got it, RSC204, and it now works as you said it would.

Now, to figure out how to use it.

Thanks!

[A Nonny Moose 8,262]

That diagnostic traceback basically says you are missing Microsoft's Python support library.  As a computer geek, I should think you'd recognize extensions like *.pyo as Python objects, and have acted accordingly.

 

Generally, I dabble in operating systems, compilers and the languages that go with them.  The academic crowd makes it hard to keep up.  One outfit I am aware of has a language called eh, mostly so they can say they support eh, B, and C.

 

You have a choice here.  You can download that library from MS, or download the Python Run-Time library from the Python site.  Either is free.

[thegrindre 28]

It was simpler then that, Moose. All I did was run a Google search for, MSVCP71.dll, found it and dropped it into the PIM X folder and everything worked just fine after that.

 

Thanks,

[A Nonny Moose 8,262]

Yep.  That's all it takes, but there are alternatives.  I think this library is mentioned as needed in the PIM-X help files.

 

If it had been me, Python (full, compiler and all) would have already been loaded.  Wounagaine seems to love Python.  I'm a reactionary, I like C++.

[rsc204 21,863]

I think this library is mentioned as needed in the PIM-X help files.

 

Or in the link I took the effort to post a few messages back, with a link to the download no less, ever feel ignored?

[A Nonny Moose 8,262]

 

I think this library is mentioned as needed in the PIM-X help files.

 

Or in the link I took the effort to post a few messages back, with a link to the download no less, ever feel ignored?

 

All the time.  We can but try.

 

When didacticism's duty's to be done [to be done],

A teacher's lot is not an 'appy one. ['appy one.]

With apologies to Sir William Shenk Gilbert.