Errors and issues when installing CAM [Solved]

[Thorx21 7]

I'm trying to install the Colossus addon mod for the first time in my life. I'm running on Windows 10 x64.
I'm in possession of a Ubuntu Xenial xerus partition also with which I could run this game in Wine in case the issue is OS compatibility. 

I get this when installing CAM.

Should there be a third window besides the Setup that the notepad window calls "SC4 Dat packer"
It isn't there, I don't know what it is asking of me. All I could do is close the notepad window with my fingers crossed and then this happened.

Log file is on the left.

Apparently I miss a DLL file. Right?
It would be handy if the log file could inform me what DLL file was missing.

Anyhow, what do I need to solve this matter?

Many thanks  in advance...

EDIT: This dood seems to have the exact same copy of my problem. He said he got it fixed but wasn't bothered to tell the rest of the world how he did it, what a shame. Anyway, I donwloaded the 3 DLL files. I don't have DAT packer installed because CAM didn't listed it as a dependency. Do I need Datpacker for CAM to install? I just installed it and dropped the DLL files into the Datpacker folder because it to failed to launch for which I had to download those 3 mentioned DLL files in the topic here under. But the CAM installation still gives the same errors. And I don't know how to fix it.

 

[rsc204 21,869]

There are some known issues which can prevent DATPacker from correctly running during install. It does seem the .DLL files are included in the installer, so I would have to assume that Windows is preventing the installer from reading/writing data needed to run this operation. That might be solved by right clicking the installer and using "Run as Administrator", but then again it may not. If you can't get it to work, then you'll have to manually install the CAM and DATPack the necessary files, instructions here:

[Thorx21 7]

Ah  

Manually datpacking simcity_1.dat did the trick.
It is working now

[jeffryfisher 2,176]

Glad you got it working. I had a similar problem. If I recall correctly, the CAM 2.1 installer could be opened in 7-Zip where I manually extracted some stuck files from it and then did the manual packing.

[MasterSim 24]

On 4/27/2018 at 4:00 AM, Thorx21 said:

Log file is on the left.

The "black screen" comes up I don't even get a log file, instead, I get an error that says it wasn't found, but I still get to continue the installation. Afterward, the installer kept telling me I was installing CAM and then also uninstalling CAM. I was able to still run SimCity 4, but I am not sure if the mod did apply or not? 

[CorinaMarie 29,926]

On 4/19/2022 at 9:20 AM, MasterSim said:

I was able to still run SimCity 4, but I am not sure if the mod did apply or not?

If you have Reader 0.9.3, then you can check these specific exemplars in SimCity_1.dat to see if they contain the modified CAM values:

6534284a-c7bb4816-00004001

^ Compared to vanilla, there will be 4 reps for SUMS instead of 3 and the values will be as shown.

 

6534284a-c7bb4816-00004000

^ Compared to vanilla, there will be 4 reps for SUMS instead of 3 and the values will be as shown.

 

6534284a-c7bb4816-00014000

^ Compared to vanilla, there will be 4 reps for SUMS instead of 3 and the values will be as shown.

 

6534284a-c7bb4816-00004800

^ This will be both the Satisfies and Contributes properties with 8 reps each instead of 6 and the values as shown.

 

6534284a-c7bb4816-00024000

^ Compared to vanilla, there will be 4 reps for SUMS instead of 3 and the values will be as shown.

 

6534284a-c7bb4816-00024001

^ Compared to vanilla, there will be 4 reps for SUMS instead of 3 and the values will be as shown.

 

6534284a-c7bb4816-00014001

^ Compared to vanilla, there will be 4 reps for SUMS instead of 3 and the values will be as shown.

 

And really, you'd need only check one single exemplar. If it is updated to match an above pic you can feel confident the others are updated as well.

Note: The above pics are for the CAM 2.1.0 Extended and the IR Fix Only as both make the same changes.

Then, also, you should have a folder in your Documents\SimCity 4\Plugins called a__CAM with a couple of folders and files in those.

[MasterSim 24]

On 4/27/2018 at 9:18 AM, Thorx21 said:

Ah  

Manually datpacking simcity_1.dat did the trick.
It is working now

What does manually datpacking simicity_1.dat actually mean? I used 7zip to open the CAM 2.1 launcher and copied the files too, but there was no Simcity_1.dat file, just what was in the regular Simcity4 vanilla file..

 

6 hours ago, CorinaMarie said:

If you have Reader 0.9.3, then you can check these specific exemplars in SimCity_1.dat to see if they contain the modified CAM values:

I checked using the Reader and they don't match what you showed...

[MasterSim 24]

Actually, I followed this thread: 

 on how to use the Datapacker and merge the dat files and then I was able to check if the exemplars matched and they did! I moved that Simcity_1.dat file to where the original file was and started up SimCity. When the region was loading the game crashed though

Update: I started the game and only one region is crashing the game, the other two are working well. The Region with the most industrial zoning is what's causing the game to crash for some reason

[CorinaMarie 29,926]

1 hour ago, MasterSim said:

Update: I started the game and only one region is crashing the game, the other two are working well. The Region with the most industrial zoning is what's causing the game to crash for some reason

I did a similar test and the only region I have where I expected it could have a problem didn't crash. It's a mere 3 million population spread out over 144 large city tiles with about 100 of those being mostly farms.

From another thread with questions about CAM:

On 12/11/2018 at 12:54 AM, rsc204 said:

On 12/10/2018 at 4:23 PM, Psiman said:

Is it easy to install and uninstall, i.e. like other mods that you can just move in or out of the Plugins folder?

If you've a pre-existing region without CAM, I would advise against adding it. Likewise, having created one with CAM, you shouldn't remove the mod either. The changes in CAM are so fundamental to the simulation, odds are changing this would simply wreck your region. Because the simulator would have to re-balance everything that exists around the change, which is a big ask. That's before considering that with CAM, Growth Stages and Demands exist which simply don't without it. There is no realistic way for the game to handle those changes and reliably harmonise everything.

He doesn't mention crashing, but that's likely not tested since the gist of the reply is: One should start a new region after installing CAM.

 

Back to your situation:

If you wanted to try troubleshooting, you could selectively move out some developed city tiles and try loading. Those you remove temporarily would show as blank green tiles in the region view, but the idea would be maybe you could determine if it's one particular city tile that is causing the crash with CAM installed.

 

Edit: From your other thread, I recall you are using IRM. Are you using this CAM version of it in your current tests?

I don't know if that'll make any difference, but it might be worth looking into.

[MasterSim 24]

Oh noooo, so my previous regions are unplayable now that I installed CAM? I actually don't care about CAM anymore, I just wish I could go back to my cities and just start playing again.

I do use IRM along with the new CAM version I downloaded. This is the IRM I am using: 

 

[MasterSim 24]

Also, this is what my industrial zone looks like right now in the city that doesn't crash:

https://imgur.com/a/N26wt22

I tried installing CAM last night and even though it was unsuccessful, the now crashing city also showed the industrial zones like that. 

  Edited April 20, 2022 by CorinaMarie  
Embedded image.

[CorinaMarie 29,926]

9 minutes ago, MasterSim said:

Oh noooo, so my previous regions are unplayable now that I installed CAM?

I don't know that for a fact, but based on what I've read is they might become very difficult to manage. (I don't personally use CAM. I've only explored which exemplars it changes when properly DatPacked into SimCity_1.dat.)

 

10 minutes ago, MasterSim said:

Also, this is what my industrial zone looks like right now in the city that doesn't crash: https://imgur.com/a/N26wt22

This looks to me like the CAM install is loading after the IRM.

[MasterSim 24]

Well my NAM options aren't working either actually. I think I officially broke my game  

[CorinaMarie 29,926]

How large is your Plugins folder? And is the crashing region Dogby or another?

[MasterSim 24]

13 minutes ago, CorinaMarie said:

How large is your Plugins folder? And is the crashing region Dogby or another?

I am sorry, I mixed up regions and cities. Dogby region works fine, but just the city Smog Town crashes in Dogby. The other cities work well without crashing.

My plugins folder is 1.95GB 

[CorinaMarie 29,926]

For Smog Town, that's the one which initially crashed for me. Once installing the proper functional seaport you linked to, it loaded fine. Perhaps in your plugins shuffling you have lost that or have something which is now loading later and overriding it?

To clarify the crashing, are you certain it crashes with the CAM DatPacked into SimCity_1.dat and does not if you use the original vanilla version of SimCity_1.dat? I find it difficult to imagine that in and of itself would be the cause of the crash. What about with or without the a__CAM folder? And with either version of the SimCity_1.dat with and without a__CAM? From what I can see, there shouldn't be anything CAM related to cause a crash.

I asked about the size of your plugins with the potential idea of you zipping them up and sending the linky privately so I could help troubleshoot.

[MasterSim 24]

I actually removed all CAM folders and have the original Simcity_1.dat file and it still crashes actually. So I was running the cities that do work and realized my power plants from the Power Package Mod aren't there anymore. I checked my plugins folder and that mod file is still there, but it won't show me in-game. I was playing Jitney Junction during this, then to give it one for a try I tried opening Smog Town and it worked!! It didn't crash. However I quit the game and started again, then Smog Town crashed again. So something is seriously wrong with my Plugins. First I noticed NAM and then the power plants...

If it's okay with you I can zip up my Plugins folder and upload to a google drive and share it? 

[CorinaMarie 29,926]

2 minutes ago, MasterSim said:

If it's okay with you I can zip up my Plugins folder and upload to a google drive and share it?

I believe we can do that since I'm offering technical support rather than asking you to share plugins to bypass the normal channels. It would be similar to me accessing your comp directly without actually doing that kind of a connection.

Ofc, send the linky in a Private Message (PM) so it's not something the public can get a hold of.

Then we'll continue the discussion in this topic as that part should be available to all as it might help someone later.

[CorinaMarie 29,926]

Oh!

I have a new idea before we try troubleshooting plugins. When CAM installs it does something to the SimCity 4.exe which might mean it lost the 4 GB Patch that NAM runs. It could very well be you are just at the verge of running out of memory the game can access. So, sometimes city tiles load and other times they don't.

[MasterSim 24]

I really appreciate the help! I was hoping to uninstall SimCity 4, delete all plugins and reinstall. This is a much easier way.

[CorinaMarie 29,926]

Ok. Good plan to do that first and see how it goes. Remember Smog City will crash without the functional seaport.

[MasterSim 24]

9 minutes ago, CorinaMarie said:

Oh!

I have a new idea before we try troubleshooting plugins. When CAM installs it does something to the SimCity 4.exe which might mean it lost the 4 GB Patch that NAM runs. It could very well be you are just at the verge of running out of memory the game can access. So, sometimes city tiles load and other times they don't.

Ohhh let me try reinstalling the 4gb patch again then. I'll see if that helps!

[MasterSim 24]

I tried installing the 4gb patch and it still didn't work. Even reinstalled NAM.. I will try uninstalling completely and try it all again.

[CorinaMarie 29,926]

Ok. All is well with your plugins and no crashes using the original Dogby files you sent and that is will full CAM installed.

While most likely not needed, I did rename a__CAM to 0 a__CAM to make sure it's loading first (since we want IRM to override it). Sure enough, without that CAM folder, the base textures all show properly in Pleasantville, but with it, they show the water bug as per your pic above. The reason is CAM has all the modified Lot Configurations exemplars in a .dat file, but IRM has them as .SC4Lot files.

What this means is even tho the IRM is set to load after CAM by its folder name, the game still prioritizes .dat files for last-er loading. The original CAM lots are being used in this case. Since you do want CAM and IRM, the easy solution is to also add the file I linked to.

I placed that downloaded IRM_ModifiedToWorkWithCAM_A.dat file in your IRM Base Pack folder. I didn't need to worry about making a subfolder there to load later because the file is a .dat and will load after @T Wrecks's files because those are the .SC4Lot type.

It seems the crash you are having really must be related to the SimCity 4.exe and the 4 GB Patchedness (or rather the lack thereof).

I also see a lot more NAM stuff in the transportation menu than I have with my own plugins so that seems fine too.

Edit: And Smog Town loads fine too!

[CorinaMarie 29,926]

1 hour ago, MasterSim said:

So I was running the cities that do work and realized my power plants from the Power Package Mod aren't there anymore.

I'm not sure which power plant that would be, but if it's this one, it's still there too:

^ I did give it more funding as it was set low and at 94% capacity.

[MasterSim 24]

15 minutes ago, CorinaMarie said:

Ok. All is well with your plugins and no crashes using the original Dogby files you sent and that is will full CAM installed.

While most likely not needed, I did rename a__CAM to 0 a__CAM to make sure it's loading first (since we want IRM to override it). Sure enough, without that CAM folder, the base textures all show properly in Pleasantville, but with it, they show the water bug as per your pic above. The reason is CAM has all the modified Lot Configurations exemplars in a .dat file, but IRM has them as .SC4Lot files.

What this means is even tho the IRM is set to load after CAM by its folder name, the game still prioritizes .dat files for last-er loading. The original CAM lots are being used in this case. Since you do want CAM and IRM, the easy solution is to also add the file I linked to.

I placed that downloaded IRM_ModifiedToWorkWithCAM_A.dat file in your IRM Base Pack folder. I didn't need to worry about making a subfolder there to load later because the file is a .dat and will load after @T Wrecks's files because those are the .SC4Lot type.

It seems the crash you are having really must be related to the SimCity 4.exe and the 4 GB Patchedness (or rather the lack thereof).

I also see a lot more NAM stuff in the transportation menu than I have with my own plugins so that seems fine too.

Edit: And Smog Town loads fine too!

Would you recommend still using CAM and IRM? Since CAM caused so many issues, I am more likely to not go through with it. Although when you tried it worked out well for you...

I am dreading uninstalling and redoing all my plugins actually haha, do you think I can do anything else to avoid doing this? I can follow what you did too with the plugin folders.

 

14 minutes ago, CorinaMarie said:

I'm not sure which power plant that would be, but if it's this one, it's still there too:

This particular power plant was still in my city, but it wasn't there anymore on the power utility list though to make a new one. It was replaced by the original power plants from the base game. 

[CorinaMarie 29,926]

11 minutes ago, MasterSim said:

Would you recommend still using CAM and IRM?

I've never personally used either tho having read things over the years, they are both highly regarded mods.

I believe it's simply a personal preference for whether or not you use them. And if Dogby is your main region, it's early enough in development I feel you can go ahead with them and not worry about things getting unbalanced. Just play each of the established cities for a while and it should all balance out. Watch your demand graphs and add amenities as needed.

 

14 minutes ago, MasterSim said:

Since CAM caused so many issues, I am more likely to not go through with it.

Well... Let me be Frank... No wait, I'd rather stay Cori, but anyhow I see it more as just the hassles of installing a complex mod rather than issues per-se. You've overcome all of that and if you get the CAM version of IRM and follow my post above, it should all be fine.

 

17 minutes ago, MasterSim said:

I am dreading uninstalling and redoing all my plugins actually haha, do you think I can do anything else to avoid doing this? I can follow what you did too with the plugin folders.

This will depend on whether or not you are still having crashes. Nothing seems inherently wrong for me using your exact plugins. The only thing I added was the Raise the UI mod since I run the game windowed.

 

19 minutes ago, MasterSim said:

This particular power plant was still in my city, but it wasn't there anymore on the power utility list though to make a new one. It was replaced by the original power plants from the base game. 

That's odd. With the setup as outlined I see it just fine and can plop as many as I want.

 

43 minutes ago, CorinaMarie said:

All is well with your plugins and no crashes using the original Dogby files you sent and that is will full CAM installed

I do want to clarify this inasmuch as everything shows up as it should and I had no crashes in Smog Town. However, one thing you could do is clean out all image and information files since those don't need to be in plugins. They just slow down load time.

Ideally when you download mods you save those to a separate folder outside of your Plugins so you always have the originals. Then place only the files the game uses in Plugins.

[MasterSim 24]

8 hours ago, CorinaMarie said:

I do want to clarify this inasmuch as everything shows up as it should and I had no crashes in Smog Town. However, one thing you could do is clean out all image and information files since those don't need to be in plugins. They just slow down load time.

I will try cleaning it up for sure. It all does look messy. Btw did the plugins folder I send you have CAM installed? I thought I removed it before zipping it up.

 

8 hours ago, CorinaMarie said:

That's odd. With the setup as outlined I see it just fine and can plop as many as I want.

This is so bizarre because that Coal Power Station doesn't show up for me. I even have the mods in the plugins folder too. I am guessing NAM is working well for you too. 

 

8 hours ago, CorinaMarie said:

You've overcome all of that and if you get the CAM version of IRM and follow my post above, it should all be fine.

Thank you. I will give this all one more try. If I do uninstall and reinstall the game, would just copying back the old Plugins folder give me back all the mods including NAM, etc? I would have to run the 4gb patch again of course. 

[CorinaMarie 29,926]

5 hours ago, MasterSim said:

Btw did the plugins folder I send you have CAM installed? I thought I removed it before zipping it up.

You did remove CAM. I first tested with your plugins exactly as sent. Then I added CAM.

For CAM I initially installed into a completely empty plugins (on a separate comp) then stored a copy of the updated SimCity_1.dat and the a__CAM folder so I can now manually set it up by simply swapping the SimCity_1.dat file in the install folder and dropping the a__CAM folder into regular plugins. That's what I did for the final tests with your setup.

 

5 hours ago, MasterSim said:

This is so bizarre because that Coal Power Station doesn't show up for me.

I'm confuzzled too. It's available here.

 

5 hours ago, MasterSim said:

I am guessing NAM is working well for you too.

It seems to be fine. I've only ever used some of the basic NAM features myself which is mostly the SAMs.

Here are a few pieces I plopped and used some draggables with your plugins:

^ So, I'll say yes, but I'm not familiar enough with the advanced features to even know how to test.

 

5 hours ago, MasterSim said:

If I do uninstall and reinstall the game, would just copying back the old Plugins folder give me back all the mods including NAM, etc? I would have to run the 4gb patch again of course. 

If I were doing a re-install to get back to what you have now I'd do the following:

1. Rename Plugins to Plugins Old (or anything other than plain Plugins).
2. Uninstall the game (Using its uninstaller.)
   1. Note: If you have an older version from Gog, make a complete back up of your Document folder before uninstalling.
   2. I believe there was an old bug where it wiped out the whole folder.
3. Install the game.
4. Install CAM - Make certain SimCity_1.dat is updated.
5. Install NAM - Make certain the 4 GB Patch is applied. (Use the batch file provided when installing and not just running the .jar file.)
   1. A good way to check the patch is applied is look at the updated time of SimCity 4.exe before the 4 GB patch runs then check again after.
   2. If the timestamp is unchanged then you'll know it didn't work.
   3. The presence of the SimCity 4.exe.Backup file is not enough to prove it worked since it makes the backup before attempting to patch.
   4. Also, the NAM installer batch file should check this and let you know. ( I coded 95% of said batch file. )
6. Test in the game in a new region or one of the Maxis ones.
7. Copy in all the remaining Plugins that are not installed by the above.
8. Copy in your Dogby region.
9. Test some more.

Btw, what Operating System do you have? And which version of the game (such as Gog or Steam)?

If the game is installed in an area the OS considers protected, that can thwart both CAM and the 4 GB Patch from running properly.

[MasterSim 24]

I honestly can't thank you enough for all the troubleshooting help and step-by-step procedures! I will do this and see what happens.

 

46 minutes ago, CorinaMarie said:

Btw, what Operating System do you have? And which version of the game (such as Gog or Steam)?

If the game is installed in an area the OS considers protected, that can thwart both CAM and the 4 GB Patch from running properly.

I am running on Windows 10 and through GOG. Windows is on my C:/ drive, but SimCity is on another D:/ drive. I still have a SimCity folder on my C:/Documents which contains the Regions I am playing, but the actual Plugins are still on my D:/ drive folder.