Noob Mod Question: Change Height of Hole Digging Lot

[Sunrader 41]

Hi, all -

I'm very new to SC4, have done modding on Sims 2 only. I need a hole digging lot to raise the terrain about 7.75 (currently there are 7.5 and 8m lots). This would be a very useful terraforming tool for me because it would match a height needed frequently in Sims 2. I thought to just tweak the 7.5 one if possible. This seems like a simple change, but I just don't know my way around tools and plugins in this context. Can someone kindly direct me?

[CorinaMarie 29,934]

Until now, I'd never even wondered how that magic happens.

I've taken a peek inside a few of the Raiser lots and it looks to me like you could edit \Documents\SimCity 4\Plugins\Network Addon Mod\Hole Diggers and Ground Raisers\Standard Lots\7.5m Raiser_3e008837.SC4Lot to accomplish 7.75 meters.

In property 0x88edc900 (LotConfigPropertyLotObject) try changing the 5th rep to 0x0007C000.

Btw, I've moved this topic into the Modding forum since it's about modding.

 

[Sunrader 41]

Ok, thank you! That sounds great. What do you guys use to edit sc4lot files?

[BartonThinks 3,418]

For this kind of work, I believe you'd need iLive's Reader:

There are some other programs that allow limited editing of lot files, but I don't think they're equipped to handle this kind of editing. (Someone feel free to correct me if I'm wrong.)

[CorinaMarie 29,934]

9 hours ago, Sunrader said:

What do you guys use to edit sc4lot files?

As Barton linked, that is the tool for this sort of technical edit. Check out The Reader, Beginners Guide if you need help getting started with it.

Ofc, ideally, you'd make a new lot with new IIDs, new menu icon, and such. However, if you just want a quick down and dirty lot, editing the existing one is the easiest way. Then you just need to remember that the 7.5m Raiser is really 7.75m.

And this is presuming my suggested edit is the correct one. (Logic says it is, but this is the first time I ever peeked in one of those type.)

[Sunrader 41]

Thank you both. @BartonThinks, I had heard of this reader, so I'll take a look. Thank you for the link. Yes, @CorinaMarie I'll probably end up with the rather ham-fisted approach on this first attempt, if I get it to work at all.

[CorinaMarie 29,934]

3 hours ago, Sunrader said:

I'll probably end up with the rather ham-fisted approach on this first attempt, if I get it to work at all.

Since I happen to be familiar with Reader, I've done the test and made an override file for you.

Using the TerrainQuery in the game shows that the 7.75 meter is correct, but the display is rounded to one decimal place . (The first hill on the left was with the original raiser.)

You can drop this file in the same folder as the original and this one will override it.

7.75m Raiser_3e008837 - Test.SC4Lot

[Sunrader 41]

Wow! @CorinaMarie! Thank you so much. That's very kind of you!

[Cyclone Boom 17,033]

@Sunrader

I've done a bit of xyzzy editing to modify the menu icon for you so it displays as 7.75 now for clarity:

(And here we see how NOT to use hole digging and raising lots! )

Just place this file in the same location as the SC4Lot file Cori edited so it overrides the default one:

7.75m Raiser_Lot Icon.dat

 

[Sunrader 41]

@Cyclone Boom, I'm honored! Thank you so much. And, I totally gotta try that method now.

[Sunrader 41]

Just wanted to show you guys that it works a treat! This is the result of the tool matching the terrain and very popular deco in Sims 2. I'm sure the entire Sims 2 community would be grateful. Do you mind if I share it? Either way, I'm thrilled to pieces. Thank you again.

[Cyclone Boom 17,033]

6 minutes ago, Sunrader said:

Do you mind if I share it? Either way, I'm thrilled to pieces. Thank you again.

Glad it worked, and it's cool how you've adapted the modding to use in The Sims 2 there.

You're most welcome to share it, and best just give credit to @smoncrie as the original creator from their set.

[CorinaMarie 29,934]

3 hours ago, Sunrader said:

This is the result of the tool matching the terrain and very popular deco in Sims 2.

Whoa! Hold the phone. This mod works in Sims 2 too?

(And as CB said, feel free to share it.)

[Sunrader 41]

No, not really. We use terrains made in SC4 for Sims 2, but the conversion between grid sizes and heights and such is not 1:1, so most people would use a cheat in the game to modify the terrain again to match these slope and bridges and such, but the cheat's fussy and, if you use it, the terrain will no longer match the one that's editable in SC4, so I messed around to find the height that would work in SC4 and you made the hole-digger-raiser lot match that fairly closely. Thank you for sharing it. I know some others will find it useful, too.