-
Announcement
-
Simtropolis Returns! 05/26/2026
See here for details about our site recovery efforts.
-
Search the Community
Showing results for tags 'recovery team'.
Found 3 results
-
Verifier HQ: File Verifying Info & Discussion
Cyclone Boom posted a topic in The Planning Commission
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!- 39 Replies
-
- 9
-
-
-
- simtropolis
- community
- (and 5 more)
-
Processor HQ: File Processing Info & Discussion
Cyclone Boom posted a topic in The Planning Commission
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!- 22 Replies
-
- 7
-
-
- simtropolis
- community
- (and 5 more)
-
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.
- 9 Replies
-
- 5
-
-
- simtropolis
- community
- (and 5 more)
