STEX Issues - Community Report Thread

[Cyclone Boom 16,875]

On 18/09/2022 at 2:16 PM, Zasco said:

This is not really an issue, but I didn't want to start a new thread for this and this one was related. I was wondering if there is some kind of standard or convention for publishing content that I'm not aware of? As much for the naming and the description text as for the content's structure. I think this would deeply help the whole community.

Previously in years past, I'm aware the SimCity 4 Devotion LEX used to have a scrutineering process for content uploads. That hasn't been applied to the STEX up to now, and so there aren't any official conventions here other than what's covered in the Site Guidelines and STEX Code of Conduct (which has a few redundant rules). Listing any dependencies instead of bundling them is one community custom still applicable. As in for prop or texture packs a created lot requires, to state them in the description and/or readme documentation. Both the STEX and LEX are open exchanges nowadays in how anyone can freely upload. In this way it leads to a progression once learning the tools, and then asking specifics of the creation process when unsure of what to do. That's where as a community we're here to help. Opening up a project thread is one way to seek feedback on creations before releasing them. There's no set protocol for how one must do this or that however, so that's where there's the freedom to be creative.

One big tip I know for lotting is only include items in your Plugins folder intending to use on the lot itself. This prevents there becoming unwanted dependencies, and allowing the choice of what custom props and textures are worth adding. I know too the PIM-X is a highly useful tool, which has been designed to streamline the creation of lots. It applies properties proportionally based on the lot size and coverage area of a building known as the filling degree.

There are guides available like MGB's My First Mod Tutorial which might help to learn the ins and outs of lot creation. Perhaps as you're saying it could benefit for having steps any aspiring content creator can take to start out in an aspect of BATting, lotting, modding, or mapping.

[catty-cb 4,392]

5 hours ago, Cyclone Boom said:

Previously in years past, I'm aware the SimCity 4 Devotion LEX used to have a scrutineering process for content uploads.

Used to be a LEX scrutineer and we didn't have a written process as such, we basically checked each upload ie did it show up in game, all dependencies were listed, did it look ok at all zoom levels and also from all directions, did it make sense re occupancy, could you delete it, if it was a bus stop, etc was it used and did the transit costs made sense .... and so on

[Ulisse Wolf 4,412]

Modder and NAM member.

There is no standard format that we are obliged to use. Although being a NAM member involves using an internal standard format, as a modder there is no such thing. Anyone is free to publish material but there are small exceptions where there are guidelines that you must follow although you are free not to follow.

These exceptions are two

1 You created a BAT in Dark Nite and Maxis Nite mode. In this case you will have to manage an organization of the folders to match the .sc4desc files with the .sc4model files of the Maxis Nite and Dark Nite versions as they use the same TGI

Example: 

 

2 You are creating a lot that has transit capacity (Rail, Bus, Subway, Monorail, GLR etc ...)

In this case it is recommended that you follow the guidelines that have been published by MTA (Mass Transit Authority) which is a branch of the NAM that deals with stations. When you create these stations you can follow these guidelines

 

LEX regulations were born to separate quality content from poor quality content but it is a thing of the past. The current situation is this

 

1 You are free to publish any material and use any writing format

2 If you are creating a TE Lot you can follow the MTA/NAM guidelines

3 Always publish the dependencies of your mods 

[simmering 2,637]

I am not sure if this is the right topic. Moderators, please move this post if there is a more suitable one.

My question is about a larger number of STEX files that have been recently marked as updated. That includes files by e.g. dk1, Mandelsoft and others. The updates do not seem to create new versions and the original authors have not logged in for a long time.

Are these substantial updates? Should I download the updated files and replace my older ones or are the updates just website admin work?

[Ulisse Wolf 4,412]

23 minutes ago, simmering said:

I am not sure if this is the right topic. Moderators, please move this post if there is a more suitable one.

My question is about a larger number of STEX files that have been recently marked as updated. That includes files by e.g. dk1, Mandelsoft and others. The updates do not seem to create new versions and the original authors have not logged in for a long time.

Are these substantial updates? Should I download the updated files and replace my older ones or are the updates just website admin work?

I have personally performed the update of many STEX files lately that introduces submenu support and a new file organization to facilitate datpacking. So if you use windows and linux you have to upgrade to use the new submenu while if you use MAC you cannot use the submenu but at least you can upgrade if you want a consolidated structure for datpacking.

[CorinaMarie 29,605]

23 minutes ago, simmering said:

... just website admin work?

I took a peek at the most recent edit to one of dk1's files and see: Staff Edit: Added File Descriptor. -CF, 09/11/2024. and also see a corresponding entry in the moderator actions log.

So yeah, that's just for organizing and to help searching. Had it been a substantial update, there should be info to reflect that.

 

1 minute ago, Ulisse Wolf said:

I have personally performed the update of many STEX files lately that introduces submenu support and a new file organization to facilitate datpacking.

And, can we presume you also add a note so peeps know why it was edited?

[Ulisse Wolf 4,412]

4 minutes ago, CorinaMarie said:

And, can we presume you also add a note so peeps know why it was edited?

In the What's New section, I have added the new features compared to the previous version. So the change is documented