Issue with installing CAM

[HORSEY 17]

Im recieving a message when i install cam telling me that datpack1 failed to update simcity4. Pretty sure ive not experienced this before. Unsure if its normall. Anyone know what it is? =/ *Sighs*

[rsc204 21,867]

It's all explained in the included documentation. In order for CAM to work, it must update one of the original SimCity files. With v1 of CAM, this needed to be done manually using an application called the DAT Packer. But with v2, the installer can usually handle it for you. The error simply tells you that it failed to do this automatically, so you will need to manually DAT Pack the file. Again full instructions on how are in the readme.

[HORSEY 17]

Thanks for you support rsc. ill use the installer V2 for cam on the LEX....is this ok to do as i noticed its not LEX certified? =(

The little more i have to do manually,..the better =/ lol

 

[matias93 7,535]

27 minutes ago, HORSEY said:

.is this ok to do as i noticed its not LEX certified?

LEX certification comes with several uploads to the LEX and some citeria from the site administration; as InvisiChem has only uploaded the 2.1 version of the CAM, his account cannot be certified yet. In any case, it doesn't imply that the CAM 2.1 is broken.

[HORSEY 17]

Im a little confused by the manual process adfter reading the read me.  I had a look, and was just to drop a copy the text doc 'datpaker exe' over the top of the Sim city1-dat in my docs or the directory in windows c drive. Is this correct? .... i dont trust myself after my recent escapades, ..Maybe ill wait for LEX to let me download it as i reached my limit at the moment. =( 

[rsc204 21,867]

Inside the package you downloaded for the CAM is a file that includes the fixes. But it must be "merged" into the original SimCity_1.dat file to work. Using DAT Packer just do the following:

1. Create a new Folder in the Root of your Plugins folder, name it "SimCity_1".
2. Move your original SimCity_1.dat file into this folder. Also place the CAM file " z_CAM_2.1.0_Stand_Permanent Merge.dat" there too.
3. Run Dat Packer, tell it to dat pack the folder SimCity_1.
4. When finished, inside a newly created folder, "Plugins Compressed" will be one file, "SimCity_1.DAT" (Note: The name of the file is the same as the folder name we used for DAT Packing).
5. Move the newly updated SimCity_1.DAT to it's original location.
6. Lastly, you'll have to remove the folder we created. You should keep the original "unmodifed" SimCity_1.DAT file, rename the extension from .DAT to .BAK, then it can be safely kept in it's original location in case you need to restore it for some reason.

[HORSEY 17]

thanks ill give this a shot now.. ..Hopefully ill do it correctly =) 

[HORSEY 17]

Ive just downlaoded from stex..opened it and theres only 1 application to run with nothing else there...read me states ive got to do the manula patch before running it..Im stil confused, excuse me for being dumb if thats the case... =( 

Sorry not the Stex...The LEX V2 installer for windows

2.1.0 to be precise =)

 

[rsc204 21,867]

Let's just quickly clarify a few points to make sure we're on the same page...

• SimCity_1.DAT is part of the files installed with SC4, usually you can find this in C:\Program Files (x86)\Maxis\SimCity 4 Deluxe (defautlt install dir).
• z_CAM_2.1.0_Stand_Permanent Merge.dat is part of the CAM files, it should have been installed as per the readme.
• DAT Packer is a 3rd Party application, which you will need to have separately installed to merge the two files above.

I'm not talking above about installing the CAM itself, that's a separate thing. As part of the CAM install, you must merge the two files in red mentioned here, using the instructions in my last post.

I hope that clarifies things, but if not, it would be helpful to know exactly which part you are having problems with.

[HORSEY 17]

Youll have to excuse me but this isnt straight forward at all... I ran the installer for CAM which didnt work at first..it didnt give me the permannnt merge file until i had ran the installer once (which obviuosly didnt set up CAM properly..so itried your instructions and now seemsd to have created configuration settings which are in the place of where my Sim City-dat1 was in C drive. Now that file does not exist. Also...a Sim city1_dat folder was created automaticly for me and puit into my documents plugins, I didnt have to make one. Totally confused as the installer asks if i would like to install anyway. This is the log i recieve when i run cam "See the logfile 'C:\Program Files (X86)\SC4DatPacker 2008\SC4DatPacker.exe.log' for details. 

Ill try to get some photos uploaded ..

Hope you dont think im bing rude but i tihink i need a step by st walkthrough while im trying it. Ive failed to achive this multiple times.

Still trying to get the install to work. Think ill just ignore CAM until theres a better (Easier instalation guide. Have you ever thought of doing Installation helper videos on here? These instructions are not straight forward for the average PC user, and leave alot of room for Human error. =(

 

[HORSEY 17]

Ive just read this over and over again. And cant see what i did wrong, ...But ive read the part about the V2 installer and how it can usually handle it,..so my question is...although it tho it says it failed automatically it has actually installed??? 

As a note aswel. Ive just noticed i do not have a copy of Simcity_1dat in the folder just outside of my plugins in my docs which ive always noticed has been there before. This is the only dat.1 file im missing, The one in my programs/Cdrive/Steam/steamapps/Simcity, is there along with 4 others. Sim city_2dat, 3 ,4 and 5 aswel

 

[rsc204 21,867]

The thing is, it's hard to give you more step by step instructions than I have already done. The process of DAT Packing a file is pretty much as I described. I think the confusion here is because the installer is trying (and failing) to do this for you, which is muddying the waters. However, that doesn't mean CAM hasn't installed correctly, the main CAM files I'm sure are there as they should be. The only part that's not working, is a single update needed for it to work properly to the SimCity_1.DAT file.

If you don't have SimCity_1.DAT, SC4 will no longer work, it's absolutely essential to the proper operation of the game. I don't and have never used the CAM myself, but one of the things Invisichem tried to do was automate the process of DAT Packing this file as part of the installer. However, depending on your system, that may or may not work properly. It's impossible to simply release a modified version as part of the installer for two reasons. Firstly, it's illegal to do so, since that file is copyrighted EA proprietary content. Secondly, the file is very large, making for a strain on bandwidth/hosting resources. It's also very difficult to write an installer that works with every setup, I know for example access permissions in Win10 cause problems here.

Best guess, the installer has moved the SimCity_1.DAT file, but it must be inside the plugins folder or SC4 would not find it. Have you tried simply searching your hard drives for "SimCity_1.DAT"? Windows will then locate it for you. If that search comes up negative, I'm afraid you'll need to re-install SC4. Assuming it finds it though, place it in the folder and follow the instructions given previously. All DAT Packer does is take all the files in a given folder and merge them into a single file, named after the folder you chose to "pack". These new file/(s) are then placed into a new folder "Plugins Compressed" when it's finished.

I know sometimes Video tutorials help to visualise what's happening, but they are also a lot of work to make. Not to mention, they tend not to be so visible, since they always need hosting off-site somewhere, well let's face it, on YouTube. I can't help you here, my recording software can record games, but never works when I try to record my desktop. Not to mention that right now my computer is about as unstable as Donald Trump on Twitter. As such, I'm not in the mood to fight it to try and put together something that can be explained.

As someone who's worked in computer support for many years, without being disrespectful, saying generic things like "it doesn't work" is of no help to narrow down where the problem comes from. If you tell me "I got to step 3 but X happened instead of the expected result", then we have something to go on. I'm sure working through your problem we can get to the bottom of it. In much the same way as you ask for step-by-step answers, I need a step-by-step progress report to really help further.

[jeffryfisher 2,176]

I ran into this same situation. My help search turned up this golden factoid that set me free:

The CAM 2.1 installer EXE is itself a zip file. If you're really stumped but above average intelligence, use a tool like 7-zip to open it up and copy out the pieces to where they belong. The bulk go to a CAM folder under your real plugins folder (the one that is renamed something else while dat packing other things). The dat file to be merged is handled with the dat packer as described above.

Be sure to keep a permanent backup of the vanilla SimCity_1.DAT file somewhere you can always go back to it.

If these suggestions seem cryptic and unhelpful to you, then call your local pc guru (the friend or family member you turn to when something goes horribly horribly wrong) and offer half a pizza for that person to read this thread and solve this problem for you.

[HORSEY 17]

I am still getting my head around this in honesty...but would like to think i have my head together. Its possible ive already messed up ages ago when my knowledge was somewhat worse than now. My Sim City 1 Dat seems to be intact. I tried to follow the instructions but it seemed to work for me... but upon closer inspection the result that i should have achieved wasnt matching up to what RSC said would happen. i know its an error of mine along the lines somewhere, However,..I'm not experiencing any problems in game from it. That being said...some things are still cryptic to me, so for now i will stsy away from this process unless it becomes entirely detrimental to me being able to play the game =) 

[rsc204 21,867]

Does running the DAT Packer create a new folder called Plugins Compressed? Note, when you run DAT Packer, a Window appears, with a list of folders inside the Plugins folder. You must be using the Plugins folder in My Documents for this to work. All the files in the folder you select to DAT pack will be combined into one file, which will be given the name of the folder you packed and placed into this new folder Plugins Compressed. So done correctly, you will end up with a new modified SimCity_1.DAT file in Plugins Compressed. Replace the original file with this one and the fix is applied.

The thing is, whilst it might not seem important, this fix really is. You are just storing up problems for later if you ignore it. Potentially you may not be able to undo any damage caused later, because some of these changes are quite wide-ranging.

[HORSEY 17]

Im not sure i did it correctly. Its possible that my Dat packer wasn't installed properly so ill get that now and keep you posted on my progress, I wont go near the game until this is done after what you have just said now. I install now.

When i ran the installer before i remember having problems with it (or so i thought). I tried the instructions and think i messed up somewhere but im really unsure. All i know is i have a rouge Sim_City 1 folder in my plugins at the moment which was created somehow by the CAM V2 install. i don't have a plugins compressed anywhere at the moment. and have installed cam again. 

I believe that i have a Z cam permananent merge file somwhere in plugins, and i noticed it didnt create the a_CAM file. .....Anyway..ill get the datpacker now

 

Is it 6.0 Datpacker?

[HORSEY 17]

Got datpacker workimg now...Now just to clarify. i understand what i need to do..move these files into the root of my plugins in the main install location in a folder named SimCity_1 With the CAM z file and Sim city_dat. All good until now, i just want to be sure as ive seen 2 ways of doing this reported for windows 10. perhaps the other jdatpacker? Anyway...Ive found 2 files that are SimCity 1_dat. One is in the Directory. One is in my documents just before id click into my other plugins file. Thanks in advance for support and your continued effort to helpme with this...Im on the right track? =)

 

Im running the steam version incase this helps you answer, The 2nd file is located in a folder just outside my plugins named 'Original Sim City Files'... My geuss is its this one i need to dat-pack.. not the one in my driver with a NO 2, 3 ,4 and 5 aswel as SimCity_dat 

 

Oh god excuse the large photo

 

  Edited February 1, 2017 by HORSEY  
The 2 files

[rsc204 21,867]

STEP 1

DAT Packer will ONLY work with files in the folder within My Documents (2nd photo). However, the folder you need is NOT called Original SimCity Files, you must find one called Plugins, i.e.

\Documents\SimCity 4\Plugins

So simply from the folder in the 2nd photo, go back one level/folder, then you should see another called Plugins which you should open.

The CAM installer creates a folder inside Plugins, named a_CAM. This is not a file, it's a folder, it may contain many files. But, it MUST exist. However, we do not need to touch this folder, if it's there and has installed correctly, leave it alone.

===========================================================================================================

STEP 2

Once more, start off in the Plugins folder from Step 1:

\Documents\SimCity 4\Plugins - This is NOT the folder inside Program Files (1st Photo), do NOT change anything there.

So in the same place we have the a_CAM folder, should be another folder named SimCity_1? This should have the following path:

\Documents\SimCity 4\Plugins\SimCity_1

Now you take the original file SimCity_1.dat that was installed with the game (that's located in the Install DIR, shown in your 1st Photo with the other numbered DAT files). We need to move or copy that one file to the folder listed above \Documents\SimCity 4\Plugins\SimCity_1 

Quote

NOTE: Ignore the files shown inside the Original SimCity Files folder, DO NOT USE THESE, keep them, they are backups in case you need to restore them.

You also need to find the file "z_CAM_2.1.0_Stand_Permanent Merge.dat", that also needs to be placed into this folder:

\Documents\SimCity 4\Plugins\SimCity_1.

However, if you have the folder a_CAM, the folder SimCity_1 should already exist too. If so, the file should already be inside this folder.

Now open the folder SimCity_1. Only the two files written in green above should be in there, nothing else. I.e:

SimCity_1.dat
           &
z_CAM_2.1.0_Stand_Permanent Merge.dat

Assuming that's true and also that the folder a_CAM exists from Step1, we can proceed from here. But let's make sure we've got that all correct before proceeding.

Quote

NOTE: For added clarity, I've listed FOLDERS using Orange and FILES in Green.

===========================================================================================================

If something isn't right here, I need to know the following:

• Does the folder listed in Step 1, a_CAM, exist in the correct location?
• Does the 2nd folder, SimCity_1, exist in the correct location?
• Please list the complete contents of the SimCity_1, folder if you have it.

 

[HORSEY 17]

I have a Z cam permanant merge file in the Sim City_1 within my plugins in my documents yes. But the a_ Cam does not exist on my PC. its possible i deleted this by accident. everything else i correct

[rsc204 21,867]

Then all you need to do is run the CAM installer again. It will likely give the same error as before, but will restore the a_CAM folder. Once that's finished, check through my last instructions once again, verify all is in place... then we'll run through DAT Packing things.

[HORSEY 17]

I have ran the installer twice for CAMnow selected IR fix only both times & No file was created in the plugins by the name of a_ cam...

...

  Edited February 2, 2017 by rsc204  
Mod Edit: Tidying up

[rsc204 21,867]

Hold on a mo, need to check something...

@HORSEY - Which option did you select from the list box when insalling CAM, was it IR Fix Only?

[HORSEY 17]

Yes i  did,..this is incorrect?

do you mean the first time round? if thats the case i choose the 2nd option. exteneded..but after the problems i hard restsrted my PC .wiped everything . started over 

 

[rsc204 21,867]

I think I'm starting to unravel the problem...

Yes, the IR Fix only installs an update for SC4, it doesn't include the main CAM package. You need to select one of the other CAM install types. But this may not help you, if you are like me, you'll just end up in an endless loop where the installer fails to run DAT Packer, but instead of realising that, it just sits there waiting for the DAT Packer to tell it it's finished. Since it's not running, that can't happen, so you basically can not install the files you need using the installer.

PLAN B:

I could talk you through extracting the files from the installer using 7zip, but frankly I don't think that's a good idea.

Quote

Given that the installer is really properly broken, I will report back to @InvisiChem and see if we can resolve this issue. Because I know I'm not the only one having it. However I've not seen him around for some time, so I think that might be unlikely.

If you are having the same problem, use 7zip to extract the files from the installer. Right click, select 7Zip / Open Archive. Find the fifth folder in the list, then copy the folders contained into Plugins. Then follow the instructions below for setting that up correctly. And DAT Pack the SimCity_1 folder as per the previous posts in this thread.

Place the folder from the included zip file into your plugins folder. Done, we have a_CAM now. The installer lists the following options:

• Extended
• Standard
• Rural
• MidRise
• Skyscraper

You need to decide which of these options you wish to use. Find these files inside the folder a__CAM\a__Core, in total you will have seven. You MUST keep the following:

CAM_2.1.0_Main_Controller.dat
                         &
CAM_2.1.0_Rural_Farm_Demand_Override.dat

Of the remaining 5 file, each has the word "PlayStyle" in the file name. There is one for each of the listed options in PURPLE above. Remove all but one of the PlayStyle folders, keeping just the one you want to use. This step is VERY important.

=======================================================================================================

Now run the DatPacker application you downloaded. Select the folder SimCity_1 from the list that appears. Then click Start/Run to combine the files. Now you should have a new folder Plugins_Compressed. Take the newly modified SimCity_1.dat file from there and place it in the install folder:

C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steampapps\common\SimCity 4

Note: Windows will ask you if you want to overwrite the original, which you do. Remember, we've a copy safely backed up from before, so this is safe.

The last step, back in the Plugins folder. Delete the following two folders:

Plugins_Compressed
          &
SimCity_1

And with that, we're done here. You should be able to test CAM in your game. Please confirm if this is all working OK now.

 

[HORSEY 17]

Good news, Just ran the installer for extended and it worked. it automatically uninstalled what what allready there and installed the file . I now have a_cam file in my plugins.. ..So ignore your plan b? 

Excuse the writing im a bit tired. Ill probably complete these steps tomorrow 

 

[rsc204 21,867]

1 minute ago, HORSEY said:

Good news, Just ran the installer for extended and it worked. it automatically uninstalled what what allready there and installed the file . I now have a_cam file in my plugins.. ..So ignore your plan b? 

Yup, if you've got the files, it's not necessary. You just need to DAT Pack the files now, assuming that part still failed?

2 minutes ago, HORSEY said:

Excuse the writing im a bit tired. Ill probably complete these steps tomorrow 

No worries, I think we're on the home stretch now .

[HORSEY 17]

Yep all files are there and it failed to update simcity dat. Cam was a succes tho 

...

I think ive got i from here,, Gessing to tell datpaker to only pack that folder not the entire plugins folder. So hit force repacking on that folder 

...

Just when i thought i was there and it was all done. Once id completed the merge i renamed the file that i copied in my photo number 1,.. to SimCity1_BAK,  put the new merged file here deleted the other folders the packer created ..ie.. simcity 1 and plugins compressed, But im now recieving an application load error. Specifried path could not be found =/

...

Not to worry actually..i set the path from the wrong place... EVERYTHING WORKS!!! thank you so much for your continued support. Without it id be tearing my hair out =) I hope this guide helps others in the future. Note: The coloured writing at crucial steps really helps =)

Quote

Mod Edit: I've just merged these four posts together. In future, if you want to update a thread, but no one else has posted, please use the "Edit" button to keep everything in a single post. It helps make the forums easy to read for everyone .

[rsc204 21,867]

4 hours ago, HORSEY said:

The coloured writing at crucial steps really helps =)

I'm glad it was useful... it's a bit of a PITA to do, but sometimes it helps to better visualise things.

Happy we got there in the end. Hopefully we can see about getting the installer problems resolved. Otherwise, if I don't hear back from Invisichem, I'll write this up in more detail so at least those who run into problems will know how to resolve them.

Thank goodness the installer uses NSIS, most won't allow you to open them, so if the installer fails, it's basically the digital equivalent of a paperweight.

[HORSEY 17]

4 hours ago, rsc204 said:

I'm glad it was useful... it's a bit of a PITA to do, but sometimes it helps to better visualise things.

Happy we got there in the end. Hopefully we can see about getting the installer problems resolved. Otherwise, if I don't hear back from Invisichem, I'll write this up in more detail so at least those who run into problems will know how to resolve them.

Thank goodness the installer uses NSIS, most won't allow you to open them, so if the installer fails, it's basically the digital equivalent of a paperweight.

Thanks lot again. Its probably worth mentioning that once i had installed this it gave my menus a bug. Streets and road (Basic maxis transport pieces) Doubled in the menus...So i removed the Sim-City1 BAK i renamed and moved it out its original location into a safe place. It fixed the problem. Seems the installer doubles your menu items aswell as your RCI. =/ lol

[rsc204 21,867]

8 hours ago, HORSEY said:

Thanks lot again. Its probably worth mentioning that once i had installed this it gave my menus a bug. Streets and road (Basic maxis transport pieces) Doubled in the menus...So i removed the Sim-City1 BAK i renamed and moved it out its original location into a safe place. It fixed the problem. Seems the installer doubles your menu items aswell as your RCI. =/ lol

Yeah, duplicate files will do this. SC4 doesn't just read the SC4 file formats, it will read, index (and where compatible) load every file inside it. So if you have .zip files, .exe installers, or pretty much any non-SC4 file format inside them, SC4 will try to load it, slowing the startup time. Too many of these files can make the game very unstable too. So best to keep the Plugins folder clean of them and keep them elsewhere. This applies to Image files, Document files (readmes etc).

I.e. pretty much any file that does not end in either .SC4Lot, .SC4Model, .SC4Desc or .DAT as a file extension. One small addition, as @MeMyself&I pointed out, there are also .DLL files which are used by SC4. But unlike the other formats, don't assume all .DLL files are for SC4, only keep those designed for use with the game.