[2014] Lot Editor and Plug-in Manager - Forum Archive

[BrandonThomason 0]

Civic Modded Lots

I'm trying to figure out what anemities and jobs are.

 

I'm creating a group of ploppable civics where they have Lite, Small, Normal, Large, and Deluxe sizes. The higher up you go, the better they become. Higher up civics generate more desirability for that group.

 

Education, specifically Elementary, High School, and College; generate anemities.

Airports, specifically Landing Strips, Municipal Airports, and International Airports; generate jobs.

Seaports, specifically Docks, Marinas, and Seaports; generate Industry (I don'[t know what catagory they fit under)

 

$ is low desirability. Elementary Schools, Landing Strips, and Docks generate these.

$$ is medium desirability. High Schools, Municipal Airports, and Marinas generate these.

$$$ is high desirability. Colleges, International Airports, and Seaports generate these.

 

I'm also creating the following in the sizes as well:

 

Police_A (Lite Police Station, Small Police Station, Police Station, Large Police Station, Deluxe Police Station)

Police_B (Police Kiosk, Police Office, Police Department, Police Administration Building, Department of Justice)

Police_C (Detainment Facility, Detention Center, Jail, Prison, Department of Corrections)

Fire_A (Lite Fire Station, Small Fire Station, Fire Station, Large Fire Station, Deluxe Fire Station [6x6])

Fire_B (Fire Kiosk, Fire Office, Fire Department, Fire Administration Building, Department of Safety)

Fire_C (Field, Runway, Landing Strip, Airstrip, Fireport)

Health_A (Lite Paramedic Station, Small Paramedic Station, Paramedic Station, Large Parametic Station, Deluxe Paramedic Station)

Health_B (Doctor's Office, Family Clinic, General Hospital, Medical Center, Department of Health)
Health_C (Pharmaceuticals, Psychiatrist's Office, Psychiatric Hospital, Disease and Research Lab,  Department of Wellness)

 

As a bonus, I'm adding these following perky buildings as a complete-package-only download:

 

Education_A (Local Branch Library [2x2] (Alt), Main Library [3x3] (Alt), Downtown City Library [6x6])

Education_B (Art Museum [2x2], City Museum of Natural History [3x3], National Museum of Art and History [6x6])

Education_C (Branch University [2x2], City University [3x3], Simtropolis National University [6x6])

 

Also note that these buildings are based on the in-game city buildings and no second-hand plug-ins/bats.

 

The lots' exemplars will be entirely overhauled and edited to fit these catagories. But none of the original lots will be changed... only new content added.

 

My question is: What are amenities and what are jobs? What is the general bases of each? And what about the other of the three? What is it?

[MandelSoft 2,775]

Hi there,

I was wondering, before i fill up another 10 slots in the menu.. Is there any guide on how to make your lot/bat building having a tab function like the NAM has?

 

Short answer: no, this is not possible.

 

Long answer: Transit items work differently in the menu than lots. Lots can work seperately, while all transit non-dragable transit items need RUL0 entries to work. The RUL0 is capable of creating TAB rings, but it only works with transit items. Therefore, this method cannot be applied on lots and therefore, you cannot use TAB rings for lots.

 

Best,

Maarten

[SimCoug 5,976]

RippleJet created some great tutorials, take a look at this one here.

I would also suggest you search through SC4 devotion, as there are many posts that delve into the inner working of SC4 over there (again, RippleJet authored many interesting articles, so I would take a look at most of his posts first).  

 

Keep in mind, this game is over 10 years old, so much of the information you are looking for has already been written down in tutorials, omnibus articles and such, you just have to do a bit of digging to find it.  Good luck.

[Jataro 0]

Creating a University

I understand the basic operation of the PIM, like how to drag models to create exemplars and also how to create lots from them. However, I had a question regarding colleges vs. universities.

 

In the PIM the city college and university share a group (education/college) but have different stats (colleges mostly educate older sims, while universities educate a broader range of ages; also there are different workplace capacities satisfied by each IIRC). I'm trying to create a custom college building, but it's a bit too "grand" to simply be a city college. Is there any way to get University-like stats on a simple college ploppable?

 

In addition, is it possible to create a lot/exemplar with more than one category? For instance, a large building that functions as both a college and a library?

[metasmurf 705]

The abillity to add mmp's to a lot, where to change this setting?

I made some lots based on someone elses for personal use. I want to add mmps to them but I can't. I know there is a setting somewhere, probably in Ilive reader to change this. The answer is probably already on this forum but I've been unable to find it. Any ideas?

[T Wrecks 10,210]

So you're trying to plop some MMP stuff on an existing lot? If so, then enabling/disabling some magical setting in the Reader is not what determines whether you'll be able to do so. AFAIK, overlay textures can be a problem. Would you have a picture of the lot(s) in question, or any other helpful details?

 

TBH, I've never really conducted any concise tests in this respect, but I seem to remember (my last time of actually playing SimCity probably dates back to approx. 2 yrs now!) that it works best on tiles with only a base texture on them, and out of the LOD shells of buildings and props.

[metasmurf 705]

The lot indeed has an overlay texture, so that might be the problem then. I'm at work now so I'm unable to post a picture but will do so later tonight. Thanks for the input.

[kergelen 769]

A way to MMPing on a lot is reducing the property "occupant size" of the props and building exemplars in the Reader. You can reduce it to 1,1,1. It works for me.

As far as I know where there is a big prop (or a prop with a big "occupant size" ) you are not able to MMPing over the prop. 

For example you can't MMPing over CP Trees props because have a big "occupantSize", while you can MMPing over Girafe trees props which often have a 1,1,1 "OccupantSize" or so.

 

Didn't know about that overlay textures can also prevent to MMPing on a Lot.

[metasmurf 705]

Yeah it was indeed the building size that kergelen suggested. Overlay texture doesn't seem to be a problem.

 

Here's the result of my attempts

 

[kergelen 769]

Nice pedestrian/bike lane.

From which prop pack is the fence? Fits well near the railway.

[metasmurf 705]

Nice pedestrian/bike lane.

From which prop pack is the fence? Fits well near the railway.

 

, they're also slope conforming.

[Ernestmaxis 232]

Paengs Grunge/brickstone alleys overhanging basetexture

Hello Community

I have download Paeng Alleys to get brickstones and concrete above city roads.

Most of these are 1x1 but when i plop they are 3x1 long because of overhanging basetexture.

All overhanging texture will be deployed over the street, but with the 1x1 version i get many zots and the buildings will become unfunction of abandoment.
Is it possible to change these alley-lots to extent them even longer with the basetexture?

I checked the forums for how to plop base texture outside the lot of 1x1 but couldnt find anything.

Example of overhanging basetexture

Can someone give me hint.

Greetings Ernest
 

[47ply 1,100]

if they are the ones I'm thinking of you must first draw your streets or roads and then plop them over to give the look of concrete alley ways the roads under them supply the pathway. I hope this helps  

[Ernestmaxis 232]

Yes i know that but i want to extend to lot with longer overhanging basetextures (so not the orginal 1 lotplop with 2 overhanging sides)

But 1 lotplop with 4 or even more overhanging sidetextures. Is it even possible to customize it i make them longer with the reader or lot editor?

[Ernestmaxis 232]

Stex

I have reloted a stex lots, that i have used for my site This is the original one

This is my reloted one
https://drive.google...dit?usp=sharing

I would like to share the lot with the community but I can't open the Sc4Tool.

I have tried for a while but i can't run the Sc4Tool on my Windows 8.

It keeps crashing all the times so I gues this may cause compatibility issues on my newer system.
I have look all simcity sites but can't find a other program like the dependencies scanner

Can someone help? If it wurth sharing it..

Greeting Ernest

[T Wrecks 10,210]

I know that this is not a direct answer to your particular question, but I'd still like to offer the following as a general piece of advice from someone who has learnt all that from ten years' experience:

 

If dependencies are your problem, I recommend NEVER to rely on scanners. Scanners can tempt you to use horribly inefficient and non-user-friendly methods instead of applying good practices and keeping your stuff user-friendly right from the start.

 

If I may venture a guess: You probably made the re-lot using your full plugins folder, took any props that looked good, and now you have no idea which prop and/or texture pack would be required to display everything properly? Does that describe the problem?

 

If so, I'd recommend a different approach - it's the one I've been recommending throughout all my years in this community:

 

1. Make a new, totally empty plugins folder. You'll have better overview, the Lot Editor will load faster, the prop and texture lists will be shorter and easier to handle.
2. Add the lot that you want to modify.
3. If you think you need an external dependency, add one. You probably have something in mind. Something like "Those trees that Cycledogg made would look great!". Fine. Then add Cycledogg's prop pack.
4. If you found everything you need, go to step 7. Else continue.
5. If you think you need some more stuff, try e.g. another prop pack. Poke around in the list of props, see what this pack contains. Useful? Then keep it. Not so useful? Then remove it from your current plugins folder immediately so you don't use it accidentally. Repeat until you have found everything you need.
6. Try to focus on a handful of packs rather than using a new pack for every unimportant detail. Let's face it: One tiny potted plant doesn't look that different from another tiny potted plant. You don't need to add another prop pack just for a potted plant. Instead, you may find a similar potted plant in one of the packs you're already using. Or even among the Maxis default props! The same applies to all small and simple objects like benches, bushes, lamps, trashcans, phone boxes, and so forth. The lot design won't suffer much, but the dependency list will be far, far shorter.
7. Very important: TEST your lot in game with absolutely NOTHING in your plugins folder but the lot itself and all dependencies that you think are needed. If everything shows up correctly, you are ready to go! If something is missing, you need to go back and check what you missed.

 

This may sound tedious at a first glance. But trust me, in the long run it is very efficient, and you will learn your prop/texture packs this way. You will soon be able to tell beforehand which packs you'll need. You'll be familiar with their content, and you'll be able to make better use of what you have. Last but not least, you will create stuff that looks good with fewer dependencies. These have a fair chance of being more popular because few people like to download a single lot - and then 12 dependencies after that! (just an example, of course.)

 

 

As regards your current problem, if iLive's reader works on your system, you can open the lot file and check the LD file inside. It should contain a list of prop dependencies. It does not, however, list texture dependencies.

[Ernestmaxis 232]

Thanks this helps alot I see what I can do!

[rsc204 21,866]

The middle tile of these lots is Transit Enabled and therefore you can not zone 1-tile wide adjacent to the center of these lots.

 

To get around the problem zone two tiles wide adjacent to the center of these lots and road access will work correctly.

 

If you wanted to make them longer, it can be done; Take a copy of the existing overhanging prop, giving it a new IID. Then offset the new prop by an additional 16m (1 SC4 tile) using Model Tweaker. With mirroring one such prop will make a section 5 tiles long instead of three if used in both directions.

[KonstantinII 1,106]

Lot Editor impossible to use

Lot Editor usually works normally for me. Tody, I opened it and I see glitch pixelieted patterns that randomly and sporadically change shape. This happens with every lot. I can't use this program.

[nos.17 5,255]

Lot Editor usually works normally for me. Tody, I opened it and I see glitch pixelieted patterns that randomly and sporadically change shape. This happens with every lot. I can't use this program.

 

 

This issue just happened to me a few weeks ago. Changing the Lot Editor to work in software mode by adding -d:soft in the command line prompt for the shortcut fixed the issue for me. More info here.

[Hotwheeler 409]

Another thing you might try is to let LE only run on one CPU like SC 4.

This happens to me every time i open the LE.

It starts flickering and twitching bur after i assigned only one CPU via Task Manager, LE runs fine.

[KonstantinII 1,106]

I think the problem has to do with Win 8.1 It installed itself on my previously Win 8 PC.

[MandelSoft 2,775]

It may be the fact that Windows 8.1 is not playing along with the graphics drivers well for legacy games like SimCity 4. You'll probably notice it in-game too, since the Lot Editor and SimCity 4 use the same graphics engine.

[Thin White Duke 4,072]

Ah, that one. It worked fine on my old computer, but now I have a multi-core one with a separate graphics card running on Win 8.1. The simple fix for me was to right click the shortcut and run it with the graphics card instead of the standard integrated graphics. Works for me everytime.

[KonstantinII 1,106]

It may be the fact that Windows 8.1 is not playing along with the graphics drivers well for legacy games like SimCity 4. You'll probably notice it in-game too, since the Lot Editor and SimCity 4 use the same graphics engine.

 

 

Ah, that one. It worked fine on my old computer, but now I have a multi-core one with a separate graphics card running on Win 8.1. The simple fix for me was to right click the shortcut and run it with the graphics card instead of the standard integrated graphics. Works for me everytime.

 

Ever since Win 8.1 installed on my computer, I've been having graphical problems in SC4 and Lot Editor. You say that for Lot Editor to  work I need to right click the shortcut. Do you have a screenshot for this? I right clicked it, but I did not see any options for graphics card or anything. Does your method also work for SC4? Because, I also have graphical glitches in SC4.

[Thin White Duke 4,072]

 

It may be the fact that Windows 8.1 is not playing along with the graphics drivers well for legacy games like SimCity 4. You'll probably notice it in-game too, since the Lot Editor and SimCity 4 use the same graphics engine.

 

 

Ah, that one. It worked fine on my old computer, but now I have a multi-core one with a separate graphics card running on Win 8.1. The simple fix for me was to right click the shortcut and run it with the graphics card instead of the standard integrated graphics. Works for me everytime.

 

Ever since Win 8.1 installed on my computer, I've been having graphical problems in SC4 and Lot Editor. You say that for Lot Editor to  work I need to right click the shortcut. Do you have a screenshot for this? I right clicked it, but I did not see any options for graphics card or anything. Does your method also work for SC4? Because, I also have graphical glitches in SC4.

 

 

In SC4, you can change the the graphics processor from hardware to software in graphics menu. It takes effect next time you start the game. The shadows will be blurry and some third-party automata might have messy textures, but other than that, it will be fine.

 

The screenshot you requested:

 

 

As you'll notice, my computer is set to swedish, but the menu should look about the same for you. If you're still confused, try Google Translate.

[KonstantinII 1,106]

 

 

It may be the fact that Windows 8.1 is not playing along with the graphics drivers well for legacy games like SimCity 4. You'll probably notice it in-game too, since the Lot Editor and SimCity 4 use the same graphics engine.

 

 

Ah, that one. It worked fine on my old computer, but now I have a multi-core one with a separate graphics card running on Win 8.1. The simple fix for me was to right click the shortcut and run it with the graphics card instead of the standard integrated graphics. Works for me everytime.

 

Ever since Win 8.1 installed on my computer, I've been having graphical problems in SC4 and Lot Editor. You say that for Lot Editor to  work I need to right click the shortcut. Do you have a screenshot for this? I right clicked it, but I did not see any options for graphics card or anything. Does your method also work for SC4? Because, I also have graphical glitches in SC4.

 

 

In SC4, you can change the the graphics processor from hardware to software in graphics menu. It takes effect next time you start the game. The shadows will be blurry and some third-party automata might have messy textures, but other than that, it will be fine.

 

The screenshot you requested:

 

 

As you'll notice, my computer is set to swedish, but the menu should look about the same for you. If you're still confused, try Google Translate.

 

 

Strangely, when I right-click it, I do not have the graphics processor option. This is what pops up.

 

Open

Shred

Open file location

Shredder

Run as administrator

Troubleshoot compatibility

Pin to Start

Scan

Pin to Taskbar

Add to McAfee Online Backup

Send to

Cut

Copy

Create shortcut

Delete

Rename

Properties

 

[Thin White Duke 4,072]

Strangely, when I right-click it, I do not have the graphics processor option. This is what pops up.

 

 

Open

Shred

Open file location

Shredder

Run as administrator

Troubleshoot compatibility

Pin to Start

Scan

Pin to Taskbar

Add to McAfee Online Backup

Send to

Cut

Copy

Create shortcut

Delete

Rename

Properties

 

Strange. Try going to properties and run it in compatibility mode. I have no idea whether it will work or not, but I think it's worth a try.

[KonstantinII 1,106]

 

Lot Editor usually works normally for me. Tody, I opened it and I see glitch pixelieted patterns that randomly and sporadically change shape. This happens with every lot. I can't use this program.

 

 

This issue just happened to me a few weeks ago. Changing the Lot Editor to work in software mode by adding -d:soft in the command line prompt for the shortcut fixed the issue for me. More info here.

 

 

That worked!

[deanva 70]

lot editor question

I used Lot Editor and took out an  (Boeing 707) effect and used the saved button. It shows up in plug ins folder, but what menu would it be under? Also is there anyway to make the menu icons larger I am using a high resolution setting ing the game but not the highest setting.