Cyclone Boom

Verifier HQ File Verifying Info & Discussion Hiya, y'all! (As Cori would say.) You might be wondering, what exactly should a Verifier do? Well, that's what this post aims to clarify, and this thread serves as a place to ask anything A-to-Z about verifying. The basic principle is to check over what's already been uploaded. We realise with so many files to restore, there is always potential for a few mistakes to happen. We anticipate there will be a number of corrections we'll need to make, and that's all part of the process. No one will be held accountable for errors. We just need to focus on fixing anything which isn't quite right. ---------- By this point, we recommend reading the Restoration Tracker topic, which features an overview: On the Restoration Tracker, for a file to be marked as Verified, it must be checked by 2 volunteers. These don't have to be staff members, but just 2 independent people. The qualifying criteria is you must download all file entries first. This then makes the Mark Verified option available in "File Actions" on each tracker row. Additionally, you can use the checkboxes to mark multiple files as verified in one go (assuming you've downloaded to test them all). Here is a series of steps which we recommend you do to check each file: 1) Check all the images at the top. Click them each and use the arrow keys to navigate to them all. Ensure they each load fully. 2) Read the description and look for any missing images. If there are any attachment files, make sure they download. A description which has broken attachments won't prohibit us from verifying files, but if able to fix them we should attempt to do so. 3) Make sure any attachments aren't meant to be the actual files under the Download button. Otherwise we'll need to upload them properly. This applies to anything in the description, or even in the Changelog section. 4) Remove the message banner (if not already). This can be done via the Restoration Tracker under the "File Actions" menu. Alternatively you can remove message banners using the batch controls. Message banners may only be removed once a file has been restored to the entry. 5) Click the main Download button. If there is only a single file, it should download. Otherwise if multiple are available, you'll be shown a dialog panel where each individual file can be downloaded. Check that each file downloads fine. 6) Check to make sure the download(s) match what's expected from the file entry. For example, if there is a commercial set of midrise buildings, you shouldn't have downloaded a rural themed set of shanty houses. It's pretty common sense, but worth making sure. 7) If you've downloaded a zip, rar, or 7z archive, open it up (you might need 7-Zip for this task). The key is to ensure the file opens as expected, and if you can, make sure the file extension matches the archive format. A handy option 7-Zip has is the "Test archive" function when right clicking. This will then tell you whether the archive is indeed a zip file, or if it's been incorrectly named with another file extension (I've made that mistake before). 8) Should there be a Readme file, open it up and check to make sure the description matches (at least partially). Not all files will have such documentation, but for those that do it can be a handy way of cross-checking. ---------- At this point there's hopefully complete confidence the file is as it should be, and you can then click the Mark Verified option. If at any stage you notice issues with the file, stop and click Add Note for the file on the Restoration Tracker. This allows you to specify anything you've noticed which isn't right. It then can be the task of Processors to go through and make sure everything is in order before a file can be verified. Alternatively you can post in this thread to ask for a second opinion. Someone can then take a look and see what might need correcting. As with the other 2 threads, please post below if you've any queries or comments. Thanks everyone for the help!

Just adding to what @CaptCity said, you might find it helpful to search for your files using the author box. For example: https://community.simtropolis.com/restoration/stex/?filter=all&author=Kel9509 Then as you have done, it'll allow verifying any files you've downloaded.

@Kel9509 I used the batch feature I posted about here. Oh, I notice that one how the old file is still attached, so if you can re-upload it that'll be great! (We can remove these posts in here a bit later on.)

@nos.17 Thanks, good catch! I've fixed it now: And also on a few other confirmation dialogs which likewise weren't rendering the bold formatting.

(The above does not represent the current progress. It is a hypothetical representation only!) STEX Restoration Tracker Info & Discussion Good news! The real-time page to track restoration progress is now (finally) completed and available. Preview pic: It can be viewed at the following URL... https://community.simtropolis.com/restoration/stex/ This topic serves as a mini guide, and also as a place where you can ask questions about it, report any issues, or suggest improvements. It's taken a good couple of weeks to develop this, and during this time we've seen a remarkable number of files already been restored. This is actually a very good thing though, because what the tracker provides is a real-time overview of what's been completed, and what still needs to be done. The info on the tracker will be updated every 5 minutes, so it'll be an accurate snapshot of the current restoration efforts. Layout Overview Firstly at the top, there are summary panels which total how many files have been: Restored Verified Still Missing And then the "Tracked Total" which includes any STEX file uploaded or updated after June 17, 2024. (Which was the date of our last full STEX backup.) Pretty self-explanatory for those, and then we have several filter options: STEX Tracker Search & Filter Options Filter / Control Description Author Search for an individual author's file entries. Category Filter by a specific STEX category (the main ones are listed first). Restored by A dropdown menu to filter by any files restored by specific staff or volunteers. Thumbnail Allows choosing between Small, Medium (default), and Large thumbnail images, which show in the table. Display Switch between Full (default), or Compact for the table, which allows fewer columns to appear. Search Allows searching for any particular file entries. You can also use the id:# prefix to find a file by its ID number (e.g. entering id:26793 will find the NAM). "Filter by" Specific Criteria Sub-Filter Description Any Missing Entries which have anything missing on them (files or images). Missing Files Entries with only files missing. This is the default option. Missing Images Entries that have only images missing. Duplicate Files Lists any entries which are duplicates of others, or have the same file uploaded. All Restored Lists all files which have been restored (whether verified or not). Restored (Unverified) Lists only files which haven't been verified. Restored (Verified) Lists only files which have been verified. With Message Banner Entries which have a "file missing" message banner still. With File Notes Lists any entries in the tracker which have 1 or more notes added. With Files Claims Lists any entries in the tracker which have 1 or more file claims added. All Tracked Files Lists the complete selection of entries, corresponding to the overall Tracked Total. Note: See more info below about File Notes and Claims. Table Columns Each of the columns are sortable when clicking the headings. This allows viewing entries by most files/images missing, or other combinations. Here is a summary of the individual columns and what they represent: File Entry: The title, author, date uploaded, and status text of what's needs restoring. Files List: Totals of how many files and images there are. These will be colour coded for red if missing, orange for partially missing, and green once everything is orderly and restored. The Notes total will be orange if there are any which need responding to. Click each of these to view a dialog which show the precise files assigned to the entry. This lets us see what's present or still missing. Found: The total number of File Claims. This represents how many people have a file, who can help with restoring if needed. Clicking this opens up a dialog with a summary of who has claimed what (files and/or images). We may wish to contact any of these people to assist with sharing them. Files: Indicates with a green checkmark or red crossmark, whether downloadable files for an entry have been restored. If partially restored, it will represent the current live status for how many are available. Images: Similarly will represent the status of how many screenshots on the entry are valid or missing. Verified: Whether the file has been approved or not. Shows a green checkmark once confirmed. Updated: The date when the file has been restored. Hover over to see the precise time. Restored By: Displays who restored each file. This will only be shown once a file has all entries in place, since we anticipate partial restorations will represent a work in progress. If the author does this, it will say File Author as the name. Volunteer / Staff Only column: Manage: There is a "File Tools" option with a range of functions. This includes copying the file ID number, adding notes, marking files as verified, and clearing message banners. Options will be greyed out if unavailable, with a message shown when hovering over each. There are also checkboxes beside each row, which then allows performing batch actions on applicable file listings. Other Options There are also a few extras to mention... Sticky Header: Allows the table columns to always remain in view when scrolling down. (Default is checked) Export CSV: Saves the current filtered data to a CSV file, which allows it to be imported into a spreadsheet. Some of you might be interested in this. Activity Log: Opens a dialog window with a list of actions as part of the restoration efforts. Reset Filters: Clears any filters you've set or table sorting, so everything returns to the initial display view (filtered by Missing Files). File Notes On the "Files List" column there is a total of notes for each file. This allows anyone to add a comment about the file in question. Then staff or anyone part of the ST Recovery Team can "check off" a note to acknowledge what it says. Notes can only be added on files which haven't yet been verified. Also, files can only be verified once all notes have been checked off. In effect this system is a way to mention any important details about each file. Perhaps there are additional entries which need adding. Maybe there is a Dark Nite version the author originally added. Perhaps something in the description isn't quite correct. It's a way to make anything like this known, so then we can collectively fix up issues as part of the process. File Claims No, this is not an insurance claim. (It's a way to express how you have content which can be restored.) Sometimes certain files might be especially difficult to locate. Maybe you have an older version which is worth restoring to the previous versions. Perhaps you've got saved copies of images which used to be on the STEX file entry, or have taken some screenshots yourself. For any files you might have locally and wish to help restore, feel free to submit a claim. Upon clicking the button: It'll open up a dialog like this: Then check any files you might have, and click the Confirm button. Even files which are "Present" you can check too, since sometimes there might only be lower resolution images or thumbnails. Once doing this, your username will be added to a list at the bottom. You can always return to the dialog and uncheck any files, to then remove your claim to have them. Verifications What does it involve for a file to be Verified? It means 2 people as part of the ST Recovery Team (including staff) have checked over to make sure a file has been restored properly. We'll be following a process to do this the best we can, which adds assurance to the restoration efforts. A file which has been verified means at least 2 people have downloaded all files on an entry, and checked out to ensure everything is in tip-top shape. In the event a file still needs something addressing after being verified, please let us know and we'll take another look. ---------- So that concludes a brief overview of the Restoration Tracker. Given the first phase of the project is focused around the STEX specifically, for now we're only keeping track of missing file entries. In time I'll expand this for an Attachments Tracker and perhaps other site areas like the Gallery, etc. Feel free to reply with any comments or questions you may have, and I hope this will be a useful resource for the restoration efforts.

A little tip for removing message banners... Using the checkboxes on the right side, and then use the Clear Banner option. They'll then be removed in one click.

Processor HQ File Processing Info & Discussion Hi all! As part of your ST Recovery Team privileges, you have editing access to all STEX files which were lost. By now a number of these have already been restored, but there are still numerous which we need help to restore. Additionally, there might be some existing restorations which need an extra file, or more images, etc. For any file which has been restored and yet to be verified, you're most welcome to edit. I'll walk you through a series of steps to help with editing STEX files... Stage A: Preliminary Check 1) First determine what needs restoring: One or more downloadable files Any files and images Only images (no files) Note: You can use the Restoration Tracker to identify this per file (using the "All Missing" filter). Stage B: For Files (to be downloaded) 1) On a file entry, inside the "File Actions" menu, choose Upload New Version. 2) Keep the checkbox checked for saving the previous version. 3) Add a brief note into the changelog such as: Restored file entry for the Simtropolis Recovery Project. 4) Click Delete on any "0 bytes" files shown attached to the file. These would be old entries representing missing files. By deleting them from there, this ensures broken files won't appear under the Download button. Important Note: Keep any files which are intact and still worth being available. 5) If needing to restore images as well as files, proceed to Stage C below. 6) Otherwise, click Save to process the new version. Stage C: For Screenshots (images on the file entry) 1) Since you are uploading a new version, you can add images on the same upload page. 2) Click to Delete any images which have a missing main pic (thumbnail only), or for any images not displaying entirely. 3) Upload the new images in place. These can be originals from the upload, or ones you've gathered in game showing the item of content. 4) Once everything is uploaded, click Save to finalise the new version. Stage D: File Description Details 1) This won't always be necessary, but what we're looking for here are major oversights or omissions in a file's description. 2) Click Edit Details and open the editor, which allows you to edit the description. 3) Make any amendments as needed to the description text. 4) You may also replace attachments in this step, by deleting them at the bottom of the editor, and then re-uploading and inserting them in place. 5) Usually there won't be need to correct the title, but the option is there if necessary. Also you may add/remove tags too. 6) Once everything is finalised, click Save to confirm. You can repeat this process as needed, if worth editing again afterwards. Quick-ish Questions I want to add/replace images on a STEX file. Do I choose to Edit Details or Upload New Version? If only images are missing, Edit Details is the best option. A few weeks before we lost the old server, I added a new feature which allows managing images via the Edit Details page. This allows replacing images, and adding new ones, without needing the updated timestamp to change. The advantage of edit details is it becomes a silent edit, which is desirable unless we need to add a physical update to the files available to download. What's the difference between a thumbnail and a main image? Thumbnails show in the square boxes above a file's description. Main images appear when clicking a thumbnail, where they load in larger form. If a thumbnail only exists on a STEX file, it'll initially look fine. However, the placeholder image will show in place once viewing the main pic. I accidently created a duplicated version. What should I do? Yikes! That would be an absolute utter disaster. So in this scenario, there is only one option... You must quickly panic by running around in circles. Then as fast as you can, flee for the hills! I might not have much time to help due to RL stuff, but I can upload a few files now and then. Is this acceptable? Yes, that's completely fine! In fact, we imagine it's the case for many of you. There is no obligation of minimum needed to help out at all with anything. We appreciate every individual effort, which collectively will combine to completing the overall jigsaw puzzle. Even if you only want to post and discuss the logistics, that's fine too. Is there a timescale for when files must be restored by? No, there aren't any deadlines here. We also emphasise how speed isn't essential with the restoration process. It's more important to do an accurate job than a fast job, even though we've been amazed at the rapid process already from staff and file authors combined. So consider this a relaxed do-it-at-your-own-pace type project. Is there any limit to how many files I can restore? Yes, the exact limit precisely corresponds to the total files which need restoring. In other words, of the total available, there is no limit at all. The more the merrier. What about elsewhere than the STEX? Is there a way to restore forum image attachments for instance? There will be in a subsequent phase in the project. For now our focus is primarily on STEX files, to restore as many as we can within the next few months. However, attachment images and files will be a key priority. Any of your own attachments you're welcome to individually restore (see your list here). Understandably though, this process would be very tedious to do. As such in due course, my hope is to add controls onto the attachments list which allow you to easily replace files and images, without needing to individually edit items of content (e.g. forum posts or CJs). ---------- I'll stop rambling now. I think that's about everything. Do reply if you've any questions about the above (or anything related to uploading content). Thanks!

Yes, that's intentional. Anyone who is part of the Restoration Team (or staff) can verify their own files. Those who restore their own content should have a vested interest, and first-hand knowledge of what should be present. But as Capt said, it does require 2 people to verify before a file is marked as Fully Verified (and at which point it receives the in the list). In the event we need to later revisit a verified file, this can be done after discussing it.

Great to see all the continued progress being made. Yes, the 3 main topics should cover things as a starting point, and for any specific questions do let me know. There are no new "mod tools" involved with this, beyond what the tracker page allows for volunteers and staff. For editing files, it's the same method as doing so for your own STEX files. I hope the page UI is intuitive enough, but I'm still tweaking things here and there. For example, on the Activity Log it now jumps to the file when clicking the links. To find files by author, the box on the left allows this: I've also just added a new My Alerts feature, with the button on the top right: This will be highlighted when there are any alerts to view. Alerts can include replies to a File Note, new claims on a file, or when any of your files are fully verified.

Sharer HQ File Sharing Collaboration Hi everyone! This thread is a place to discuss sharing files ST may have lost due to the destruction of our old server. In here is a place to coordinate efforts to find certain items of content, particularly those which are harder to find. At some stage, we might need to make a public appeal for particular files, but it depends what we still need. This is to cover STEX files, attachments (files and images), or other images from the Gallery, CJs, or other site sections. Additionally, for anyone who might have saved posts or topics from the ST Dark Age (after 28 Feb), please post those below in a format which is easiest for you. You may share links to files collections you may have (e.g. to Google Drive, OneDrive, etc). If someone else has already uploaded the same files you have, no worries at all. In actual fact, we encourage doing so, especially for files that haven't yet been restored. We imagine for some, there will be older uploads which are harder to locate, since the ultimate aim is to restore previous versions of content along with the latest iteration. Anyone who shares files may proceed with the processing efforts, but there is no obligation. Thanks all.

Hi everyone! This is the official place to report any bugs and glitches you may notice with the site. When reporting issues, it always helps to be as descriptive as possible, such as by including the following info: A summary of the issue. Screenshots or a video to highlight what's wrong (with annotations if applicable). Note: Images are best uploaded to an online image host, and the direct link pasted into the editor. Your basic system info (e.g. browser version / operating system, device type). When the issue started, or how often it can be reproduced. Any error messages shown? This can help us to reproduce the problems, and then work on finding solutions. Thanks all for your help!

Hi everyone! Initial progress has been productive in restoring content, but we really need your help. We're seeking volunteers who are able to assist our recovery efforts in any capacity (big or small). We extend this invite to all active Simtropolis members. The Simtropolis Recovery Team (SRT) will be spearheaded by site staff (and led by Cori and me), but this will understandably be a task of mammoth proportions. At first it might seem like progress is slow, but then again we might surprise ourselves? There is absolutely no limit to the number of places on the team at any stage. Every little helps, and we'd be thankful for whatever you can assist with. What can volunteering involve? The main task will be to restore everything missing from after 17 June 2024 to March 01, 2026. That's 622 days of missing content. Logically, the primary focus will cover STEX content for SC4 and the other city-building games. SC3000 files won't be forgotten about here either, as there were a number of new uploads since the cut-off period (June 2024). There are also more niche files from Clubs, including for Banished. Depending on your comfort level and ability, you may request to help with any/all of the following: A) Sharing: Uploading content you have downloaded between the aforementioned time period. There are no worries about sharing files someone else might've already uploaded. It might be your copy is an older version which can later be restored. Having more files gives us a stronger baseline to work from. There might be clutter and chaos initially, but in time order will become more orchestrated. B) Processing: This will be the bulk of the work, spearheaded by staff. We'll be coordinating with volunteers to help physically upload files, ideally as the author originally had them. Instructions will be provided for anyone unfamiliar with the board software tools. C) Verifying: Making sure updates are valid, or if there's anything else which needs fixing or amending. Verifiers will have access to a "Verify" button added to the File Actions menu, which then marks a file as completely restored. I'll be developing a "Restoration Tracker" page to serve as a real-time index of progress. This way we can identify files which need finding, editing, and checking. Additionally, recovery efforts will extend to the forums, CJs, Gallery, and other areas. There will be a number of attachments (images, zip files, etc) which we'll be hoping to restore, many of which will require manual intervention. Every file is a small piece of the jigsaw puzzle. It's important to remember this will be a marathon not a sprint. For this reason, it'll be more important we restore files correctly and accurately as possible. Also we won't frown upon mistakes. This is a shared united effort, so we'll work as a team to ensure everything is done the best it can be. Please reply below, briefly explaining how you'd be able to help (as a Sharer, Processor, or Verifier), or even in other ways not listed. And it goes without saying, there are no rewards for volunteering, other than the humble moral satisfaction of helping rebuild our community. -CB & Cori

I've posted a general overview in the File Processing topic here: Adding a file would involve clicking "Upload New Version" and proceeding to upload it via the upload form. If keeping previous files, check they're valid and not 0 bytes, or it would still retain broken files which we don't want under the Download button. If unsure about which to keep, feel free to ask in the Processing thread, or add a File Note onto the file in question (via the tracker). And no worries about version numbering at this stage. I'll run a cleanup routine which will remove duplicate versions later on.

@CaptCity No worries! What I have in mind is an either/or check for name OR file size. If one of them matches, it can be considered the same download. Of course, we'd have to watch out for generic names like files.zip and also exclude config.bmp files. Maybe even a small margin of error for file size (as can happen if a zip is re-packaged with different compression). I'll figure something out...

That's a very good point actually. Files which have been restored will show as having an "Update Available". This is because the mechanism for file updates is simply a new file version, not cross-checking what used to be present. I'll see what I can do to correct this, since if the file size or file name matches, I can propagate the data. So then anything you'd downloaded which matches a new version, will still show as your latest downloaded release (green label).

Hi TMC, @CaptCity has already touched on most things, but I'll try to answer the best I can... As Capt said, this was a new feature I added shortly before the site crash. I didn't quite get around to formerly announcing it, and ironically the very day I was planning that, the old server was vaporised into cyberspace. Thankfully though, I kept local backups of all the edits I made to the board software code. I've added back most (if not all) these custom edits I made, including the downloads history feature. The data retained for downloads history will be missing from 01 March to 16 April, the day the site went down. So yes, any downloads you made between this period won't be logged. There is a separate "My Downloads" history table which I'll be unveiling in due course. Here's a sneak peek of that: So that's officially coming soon... Thankfully, the order of downloads won't be affected, since the history data was intact up to the cut-off (01 March). It sill goes back to October 2024 which was when I first implemented the downloads history. This is separate from the "Who downloaded this?" lists on each file. Your own downloads history is now stored indefinitely, unless clearing individual entries (or the whole list), which will be options available on the new My Downloads page. That sure is unusual, and indeed, there aren't restrictions on PNG images for file screenshots (although typically we do prefer JPG for gameplay type images). It makes me wonder if there's a lingering cache with the homepage feed sometimes, and perhaps editing the file helped to update that cache.

Just a FYI: On this new file for the game Banished, it shows the Install with sc4pac button: https://community.simtropolis.com/files/file/37420-fancy-axe-by-black-liquid/ This happens to be the same file ID as "SC4 Plop and Paint" used back before the site crash. Which was previously: https://community.simtropolis.com/files/file/37420-sc4-plop-and-paint/ I recall seeing some other reports of this, so figured best mentioning it too. I'd imagine it's a channel index on the GitHub side which needs correcting?

Thanks @AsimPika3172 also for reporting. I'm wondering if this is a glitch happening here, as it's occurring on quite a frequent basis (more than would be expected from genuine mistakes). I notice the More Demand DLL was uploaded about 60 seconds prior to Phantom Budget, so it makes me believe the site is copying over the 1st upload to the 2nd entry. Perhaps if having two tabs open and uploading files at once might be causing it. This shouldn't be a problem though once saving, so it sure is an oddity. This really underlines the importance of the verification phase in restoring content, to make sure each file entry has been updated correctly. Any glitches like this or unwanted files under the Download button can be identified, so we'll double check everything is in order. I'll see if I can reproduce the issue, as that always helps when trying to fix something.

@CaptCity Good catch, I've added it back onto the homepage. Turns out I disabled it intentionally the other day as only 3 files were being listed from a few months ago. You weren't seeing things when noticing it there! Now we've had more of the club files restored thanks to your efforts, the feed is displaying files fully again. There was an issue with IP addresses changing between IPv4 and IPv6 format while signing in, which upset the login security system. Apparently on Linux it favours IPv6 and that may have been causing the issue more often than on Windows. We've implemented a potential fix for this now, so let us know if it works.

I know toss me a bone is a figure of speech, but for fun I took it literally... Here's a zip containing the grayscale .jpg, along with the config.bmp, region.ini (and the above preview image): Boneland (Greyscale Map).zip The key part is to see if you can edit, or use it how you intend to.

Yeah, good news is I've made notable progress on the live Restoration Tracker, and hope to have something to present within the next day or two. The goal is to present what still needs restoring, and what's already been restored. The idea is it'll update in real-time, with a refresh every few minutes or so. Initially it'll be for the STEX only, but then it can be expanded to other site areas like attachments. Then too, it can be developed specifically aimed at recovering previous versions of files (and I know a number of people are concerned about those). What the tracker won't cover is for anything we have no record of whatsoever. As @simmering found, the Internet Archive hadn't saved much if anything from March and April, so it's a bit like the ST Dark Age with missing info. For items in that time period, we can aim to manually restore as possible, but it does seem especially challenging without any record of those. Thankfully the "void" period is only about 6 weeks, so it could've been way worse. Thanks all those who have continued to express interest in volunteering. Once the tracker is live, you'll be invited to take part however you wish to help.

Confirmed completed now. Here's a post with the details (inside the new info topic):

Selected Images Restored from the Internet Archive A little bit of good news. Thankfully the Internet Archive saved 6,607 images which were originally uploaded to ST between June 2024 and March 2026. So I developed a script which slowly downloaded these in batches, then copied them to the monthly subfolders. A preview of one STEX upload as its images were restored: (I created this GIF as a simulation which showed what actually happened in real time. The file is Allianz Arena.) And the terminal output confirming it... And here's a monthly summary of the files which have been restored per month, for each type: .stats-table { border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%; max-width: 800px; margin: 20px 0; border: 1px solid #e0e0e0; } .stats-table th { background-color: #1f4e78; color: #ffffff; font-weight: 600; padding: 12px 15px; border: 1px solid #173a5a; text-align: right; } .stats-table th:first-child { text-align: left; } .stats-table td { padding: 10px 15px; border: 1px solid #e0e0e0; color: #2c3e50; text-align: right; } .stats-table td:first-child { text-align: left; color: #333333; font-weight: 500; } .stats-table tbody tr:nth-child(even) { background-color: #f8f9fa; } .stats-table tbody tr:nth-child(odd) { background-color: #ffffff; } .stats-table tbody tr:hover { background-color: #f1f4f6; } .stats-table .total-row { background-color: #eaeded !important; font-weight: bold; border-top: 2px solid #bdc3c7; } .stats-table .total-row td { border: 1px solid #bdc3c7; } .stats-table tr[data-year-end="true"] td { border-bottom: 1.5px solid #5a6b7c; } Month Attachments Profile Pics Screens Storage Jun 2024 31 4 23 30 Jul 2024 195 21 62 27 Aug 2024 114 20 551 85 Sep 2024 66 11 127 15 Oct 2024 128 21 93 60 Nov 2024 133 12 89 11 Dec 2024 140 8 75 13 Jan 2025 221 25 86 38 Feb 2025 173 12 155 34 Mar 2025 91 31 105 39 Apr 2025 169 15 155 12 May 2025 140 11 168 8 Jun 2025 155 22 129 29 Jul 2025 96 17 228 15 Aug 2025 275 34 165 14 Sep 2025 107 9 64 24 Oct 2025 109 15 8 51 Nov 2025 132 8 109 9 Dec 2025 132 8 136 7 Jan 2026 229 9 216 12 Feb 2026 87 19 33 3 Mar 2026 7 4 0 28 Apr 2026 0 0 0 0 Total 2,930 336 2,777 564 I'd estimate this is perhaps 10-20% of the images uploaded per month. It's very much a partial restoration than anything close to complete, so it only represents a fraction of what's missing. Of course, we'd certainly much prefer to have these than not. It's worth mentioning, since the Internet Archive cannot physically see stored paths of STEX downloads, none have been added via this method. However, that doesn't mean none are archived. We'll need to use a different method for obtaining any, since it'll be based on the ?do=download URLs as used on STEX file entries. It's quite possible the Wayback Machine can help out in additional ways, so we'll have to see. Homepage features did quite well interestingly (from images in the /storage paths). I'd imagine because the Wayback regularly indexed them from the carousel slider. Thanks to the Internet Archive, plus anyone who ran manual Save Page Now requests during these months. I'm sure that made a big difference here.

A read-only topic to view FAQs, latest information, and key progress updates for the Simtropolis Recovery Project. Quick Links Simtropolis Returns! Initial topic commemorating the return of our beloved home. Calling All Volunteers! Interested in helping out with the project? If so, we invite you to post and join the SRT! Delete My File Message Banner! Have you updated a file and need the banner removing. Post here and we'll take care of it. Project Updates A list of posts noting important milestones about ST's road to recovery. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) Q: What measures are you taking to ensure such data loss never happens again? A: This is of utmost importance. Dirk has already setup a full daily SQL database dump which is copied externally. We will be implementing full backups of all site content, which is synced to an offsite cloud location I've purchased. Additionally, Cori and I will be making regular local copies of this, which we'll keep updated. We can assure you there are harsh lessons learned from this ordeal. We will not let this happen again. Q: So what data is missing, and what do we have preserved? A: To understand what's safe and what needs recovering, there are three time periods: All Lost: After 28 February 2026 to 26 May 2026: Unfortunately, because 28 Feb corresponds to our most recent database backup, any new member accounts, posts, or files created during these final three months are lost entirely. At best we'll be able to re-post files, and possibly some other site content. Text Only: 17 June 2024 to 28 February 2026: The text-based details of the site are safe. This means all forum posts, member accounts, and the actual STEX description pages are intact. However, the physical download files (e.g. zip) along with image attachments were lost, meaning we will need to restore them manually or programmatically. All Safe: Before 17 June 2024: Everything is completely intact. This includes all forum posts, member accounts, PMs, images, and STEX files. Q: How are we going to rebuild all the missing files? A: This is already in progress, but there's much more to do. Some authors have been diligently working to re-upload their own files, and we estimate ~20% of the files lost have been restored. Then for additional missing files, I'm currently working on a dynamic list known as the Restoration Tracker, which will help us view what still needs doing. This will be revealed soon, and we'll have a dedicated discussion topic where you can ask questions and post feedback. Q: If I see one of my own uploads missing from the STEX, should I just re-upload it myself? A: You're most welcome to re-upload your own content yourself, but please feel under no obligation to. The Recovery Team will be working to go through files and restore as much as we can. Other harder to find items we might need to make a community appeal for. If you do restore your own content, that all helps as part of the process. If you'd like any assistance or unsure what to do, please let us know! Q: I have backups of files but I'm not the original author. Can I still share them? A: Given these unprecedented times, yes. But best hold off for right now, as the Restoration Tracker will have a way to notify us of any files you have. Then as the volunteers begin the restoration, they will contact you if they need your copy. (We have big zips already offered which may or may not cover everything.) Q: Can you tell me about the new host? A: We've since acquired a new server from Hetzner (in Germany), which is at least 10 times more capable than our old one, with twice the RAM and a much more powerful processor. All this too for no more than our old host cost per month, which makes it excellent value for money. Additionally, Hetzner's tech support have been outstanding. When Dirk reported the instability issues, they presented a range of options. When we asked for the hardware replacement, the technicians completed the process within mere minutes (and free of charge). This gives us confidence we're on a much more robust platform. Q: How can we support Simtropolis financially to help cover costs of the new server? A: We want to emphasise how this isn't a crisis, but if you wish to help Dirk fund the hosting, there are 2 options: Donate via Gumroad which gives you access to download the STEX Collections. Donate via PayPal either as a one-off or recurring monthly amount. All donations are appreciated! They each help keep Simtropolis open and freely available.