Newbie question on dependencies

[Judge1984 11]

I've been playing SimCity since its first release. I never used mods or add-on packs and things like that; I guess you could say in 'vanilla' mode. I came across the site and like what I see. My question is two parts. First, when a download list dependencies, do I need to download all dependencies listed? And second, where do you place those dependencies? In the root SC4 file? In plug-in? I'm confused. Any help is very much appreciated.

[gwada971 1,891]

Hi and welcome to the incredible world of "Custom Content" ! To answer the first question:
Yes you need to download all the dependencies listed in the file (to avoid big brown boxes).
And for the second one, all dependencies and downloaded files must be put in the user's Plugins folder (ex: My documents\SimCity 4\Plugins) after decompression of course, only .batch, .desc, .dat, .model files I attach a small file to clean up your Plugins folder ( to be used regularly) with BSC Cleanitol ( https://www.sc4devotion.com/csxlex/lex_filedesc.php?lotGET=97 )
I hope I've helped you. Don't hesitate to ask your questions, many members will answer you without any problem. (Sorry for my poor english!!)

Have a good day (with Simtropolis)

files cleanitol.txt

[Judge1984 11]

Thank you.Yes it does help a lot. I was trying to figure this out myself by reading some of the posts here in the forum, but it got a little confusing. Especially when I started looking at dependencies with volume 1,2,3,4. I was thinking that volume 4 would be the only one I needed as it would be the latest, but I then read that's not the case. Again, thank you so much for clearing that up

[SIM-ple Jack 17,444]

Some dependencies are just trees(usually explicitly listed),  and wont show brown boxes if you don't have them. I usually just use the lot and dress it up myself with MMP's if I think it needs it.

[Judge1984 11]

Thank you. I will keep that in mind.

[jeffryfisher 2,176]

4 hours ago, Judge1984 said:

when a download list dependencies, do I need to download all dependencies listed?

You must download either:

1) All dependencies listed, or

2) Replacements for all dependencies.

Beware of the age of the mod in question. Some of the ancient wonders depend on small packs of props. Over time in the early days, those small packs were superseded by "MegaPacks". If you download (and install) a megapack, then you'll never need any of the basic packs that it replaces (there's usually a cleanitol file included in the magapack that will help remove the obsolete packs replaced).

Dependencies, like mods, are installed in (or under) your plugins folder. Some mods/dependencies contain installers you must run (I hate them because they often install manuals and other "junk" in my plugins, and I must move those files to my manuals folder tree). Most mods are simple zips.

Never drop a whole zip into your plugins folder.

You must extract the contents, follow directions, and then place some of the files into plugins. Some other files might go into a text / manuals area, and still others might be alt versions/styles of what you installed -- keep them (or the whole zip) somewhere you can fetch those other versions if/when you want. Each mod's readme will tell you what to do.

Also, some packs have versions. If old enough, a mod might call for an inferior version of a dependency. Sometimes it really needs that inferior version, but usually it can live with the latest version.

After any mod downloading binge, run DataNode to discover what's overriding what. Then you have (at least) two tasks:

1) Be sure your folders are named to control load-order so that your preferred mods override deprecated / unpreferred mods/settings. Then...

2) After achieving desired load order, uninstall any pack or mod that is 100% overridden by other mods.

[Judge1984 11]

Very helpful information. Thank you very much for clarifying all of this. 

[CT14 2,486]

What @jeffryfisher said, in addition, if you have missed something:

Missing building models = brown boxes

Missing props = empty, lonely lots

Missing textures = water bug

And you can use the Dependency Checker tool in SC4tool to help find problems.

https://community.simtropolis.com/files/file/21368-sc4tool-english/

[Judge1984 11]

Yes! Huge help. Thank you!