Terrain mod not working after reinstalling CAM

[Zeticulij 3]

Hello! I've been using the CPT Missouri Breaks terrain mod for quite some time now, and didn't have a problem with it. I was having problems with CAM, so I uninstalled then reinstalled it. However, while CAM is working now, my terrain mod no longer is. I tried removing it then reinstalling it as well, but nothing. Does anyone know what I can do?

[rsc204 21,869]

Could you define the symptoms that occur, it's pretty hard to know what "no longer working means". Is the terrain mod simply not appearing, or is it causing problems opening your cities?

[Zeticulij 3]

It's simply not appearing. On the map, the regions I have not played since the problem still show it, although if I were to click on them it would then appear as the natural terrain; much like when you first install a terrain mod. In my city, it's just showing the plain terrain.

[rsc204 21,869]

I'm really unsure why installing CAM should cause a problem here. Is there any chance you either accidently DAT Packed the terrain files into SimCity 1.DAT or removed some terrain mod files?

The bulk of the terrain mod is simply replacement textures. If they are in your plugins folder, but not appearing, that points to load order issue.

Probably easiest to just ditch any remaining files from the terrain mod and install it once more from scratch. Something's gone wrong and often it's quicker to start over than track down the cause.

[Zeticulij 3]

I'm not sure why CAM would cause a problem, either. It may not, although I didn't notice this problem until after re-installation. 
I did not pack the terrain mod DAT with any other, and I just reinstalled the terrain mod again. However, the problem is still there.

Also, another mod I have, god terraforming in mayor mode, no longer works either. I'm assuming this problem started at the same time, since the last time I need it was before re-installation.

[matias93 7,535]

Can you show us your plugins folder structure? Sometimes very long filenames, strange (or non Latin) characters, or to much deep folder structures cause the game to be unable to read some files. Try moving the troubled plugins to the root folder and check the filenames for unusual characters, just to discard this thesis.

[Tarkus 6,935]

I've seen some cases of people having a full SimCity_1.dat file end up in their Plugins folder after installing the CAM, which would absolutely block a terrain mod that came before it in alphabetical order.  I helped out a user on Reddit last month who had a "SimCity_1" folder in their Plugins, and moving that out fixed an issue they had with the NAM not working at all.  Based on the CAM 2.1.0 installer's normal operations, this folder is actually a temporary folder that is created and removed during installation.  Its existence in the Plugins folder after installation would indicate that the CAM was not installed properly.  I'd remove the folder if it exists, and reinstall the CAM, being careful to follow the directions.

I know InvisiChem had been working on an update to streamline installation, but RL has almost completely waylaid him for the past few months.

-Tarkus

[Zeticulij 3]

There was a folder called SimCity_1, I have since removed it but the terrain mod isn't working still. In fact it looks... different. The surface of the water is a very dark grey and the ground had a grey tint to it as well, like there's little colour to the map.

[CorinaMarie 29,934]

10 hours ago, matias93 said:

Sometimes very long filenames, strange (or non Latin) characters, or to much deep folder structures cause the game to be unable to read some files.

^Bold added.

Just a side note on this. I had some zipped lots I'd downloaded and placed in a sub folder of My Documents (which is actually several layers down in the real folder structure) and two different problems occurred. 

1. Very long named zips popped up a request for a password.
2. Very long named sub files in the zip got clipped such that part of the file extensions were chopped off.

The solution to both of these was I made a new folder off of C:\ and unzipped them in there and then moved them to my plugins folder.

[matias93 7,535]

Just to be sure, try searching the forest for:

SimCity_*.dat

Move those files outside the plugins folder, if there are.

After, find the folder where your terrain mod is, and change its name to assure you it loads the last. Add

z____

To the beginning of the name (four understrokes), replacing if some chain of Z's or understrokes were present. Then tell us what you found.

[rsc204 21,869]

If all stopped working the day you installed CAM, then my guess is something went wrong with the DAT Packing, making it most likely some Maxis files have made their way into your plugins folder, where they shouldn't be. As @Tarkus pointed out, you need to find these files and remove them. Realistically we're looking at one of two scenarios:

• The terrain mod is not correctly installed.
• Maxis files are loading after the terrain files, so it effects are cancelled out.

One thing that's often required for mods to work is placing them in the correct load order. However, due to the way the game works, the SC DATs will always load first, then the Plugins folder in Program Files and lastly the user Plugins folder in My Documents.

What this means is that to override the Maxis content, a file only needs to be in your plugins folder. I.e. load order doesn't apply here, unless you've more than one of a given type of file. So if it is installed correctly, you must have Maxis files in your plugins folder which shouldn't be there.

11 hours ago, matias93 said:

Sometimes very long filenames, strange (or non Latin) characters, or to much deep folder structures cause the game to be unable to read some files

This is really a Windows issue. I think there is an ultimate limit on the file name, which includes the entire path. So extraordinarily long file/folder names are extremely bad practise.

[Zeticulij 3]

So I have placed 'z____' in the terrain mod folder's name, and also removed two files I had with odd lettering, and gave the mods within those files their own new folder. However, the problem persists. How can I check to see if maxis files are in my plugin folder? If I can do that I will remove them. 

[rsc204 21,869]

If you check the date stamp (last modified) for SimCity 1.dat, that should instantly tell you if CAM updated the intended file or not. Since either the I-HT fix or CAM fixes are pretty much the only reason to edit this file.

Again, by looking at which files have been modified since the date of CAM's install, that should help you track down any unintended SC data that made it's way into your plugins folder. Logically, though, if they have, either you moved them, or it happened as part of the CAM installation/ SimCity 1 datpacking. So if the dates don't help you narrow it down, try to find anything CAM related and remove it.
 

 

[Zeticulij 3]

This is what comes up when I search for SimCity_1 in my plugins folder, he 29th corresponds to the date I reinstalled cam. Does this show anything?

[matias93 7,535]

Try cutting and pasting the z_CAM... File outside the plugins folder (to the desktop or anywhere) and to test again

That is, in fact, the only file that matches the name pattern and is inside the plugins folder. All others are on cleanitol backups or seemingly unrelated folders.

 

[Zeticulij 3]

The file has been removed and put on my desktop, however the problem remains. 

[matias93 7,535]

Just to be sure, What happens if you backup your plugins folder and create a new folder with only the terrain mod and the tree controller? (this last one because if is not present the game will CTD solidly)

[rsc204 21,869]

Top folder in your screenshot. I bet that's the problem part. Remove it and report back.

Note the other 3 SimCity 1 related files are all outside of your plugins folder and won't affect the game.

[Zeticulij 3]

Even with all the other plugins removed, the problem is still there.

[rsc204 21,869]

Well that leaves two options:

Start over - as in uninstall SC4 and start again with a clean plugins folder.

Find / Fix the fault - It's hard to know what else to advise. I'm sure the problem resides in your plugins folder. But if you can't locate the files behind the trouble, it's very difficult to diagnose remotely.

[matias93 7,535]

Before that option, ¿Did you try to download the terrain mod again and replace its files? Maybe they went corrupt and you don't need to uninstall the game entirely

[Zeticulij 3]

So I went and re-downloaded the mod again and installed, it finally works!

[matias93 7,535]

Well, that was at the same time easier and harder than it should...

[Zeticulij 3]

I agree, I believe the file I downloaded possibly became corrupted and that's what caused the problem.

[rsc204 21,869]

21 hours ago, rsc204 said:

Probably easiest to just ditch any remaining files from the terrain mod and install it once more from scratch.

Just saying...