FAQ: FileJuicer and .exe installers Been meaning to post this for a while, finally have time to get it up. This should answer most questions anyone would have re: FileJuicer. If you have other questions/issues, please post here. I know there are a couple other threads out there, as well as numerous posts in the BSC Mac Archive thread, but I think I have everything gathered together in here now, should make things a little easier. What does FileJuicer do? In relation to SimCity 4, FileJuicer does one thing, it extracts SimCity 4 game files from within PC .exe installers that Macs can not run. Version 3.8 and above includes the capability to extract SC4 game files. (As of this date, the current version is 4.6.1) Just for clarity, it DOES NOT convert SC4 files from PC formats to Mac formats, the reason being that there is NO SUCH THING as a PC SC4 file and a Mac SC4 file. The SC4 game files, ,dat, .sc4lot, .sc4model, and .sc4desc, work exactly the same on PCs and Macs. What are the system requirements for FileJuicer 3.8 and up? FileJuicer requires at least fully updated Panther (i.e. 10.3.9). If you are using Jaguar (10.2.X), File Juicer 3.8 and above will not work. Will FileJuicer 2.9.3, which is compatible with Jaguar, extract SC game files? Unfortunately no. I asked if the SimCity code could be added to the Jaguar version, but it couldn't for technical reasons (way over my head), not because Henrik didn't want to. This leaves some Mac users here in the cold. Again, I hope those in the Mac community who can use FileJuicer will help out those who can't. Should I check or uncheck any file formats in the FileJuicer preferences? There are only 3 file formats that need be checked when extracting SimCity game files from a BSC or Pegasus .exe:     ZIP, CAB (which will get the SC4 game files), and     HTML and PDF (for "Read Me" files) You MAY also check "JPG" to extract pictures (though I would recommend not doing so) and "ASCII" and "RTF" to extract text, which is the format CSX and some BLS "Read Me" files are in. The problem is File Juicer will extract all text it can find, and you may end up with numerous "TXT" files in the "TXT" folder. It's not difficult to find the "Read Me" file, it will be the only one that makes any sense when you open and look at it, the rest will look like code. DO NOT check the "PNG" file format in the Preferences. PNG files are used for in game menu icons and are included within .dat files, which go into the game. If you check PNG in the preferences, File Juicer will extract "PNG" files from .dat files, and then those icons will not show up in the SC game menus. Of course, File Juicer can be used to extract lots of other types of files besides SC game files, so if you use it on other .exe files, check the preferences you need, but be sure to reset them when extracting for SimCity. There are a ton of files extracted, which ones do I need? The files you need will be the same files you are used to seeing in Zip files; .dat, .sc4lot, .sc4model, and .sc4desc (rarely, if ever used by BSC); and of course the "Read Me" files, which are in HTML, PDF, and TXT file formats. These files will come out with the proper names and file formats you are used to seeing (except the TXT "Read me" files, which may or may not, you will have to look for them). The other files are not needed. IGNORE THEM, they are just leftovers from the process, and there is no need to put them in your plugins folder (and I would recommend you don't, but it's your computer). Do I have to pay the $12 for FileJuicer? There is a trial period with FileJuicer, so you can try it out before purchasing. Please bear in mind, Henrik, the creator of FileJuicer, literally spent 3 days straight adding the code to allow FileJuicer to extract SC4 game files, and he didn't do it because I asked him nicely. I know it's frustrating to have to pay for things that PC users don't, but that's the "Mac Tax," the price we pay for using a better computer. So please show Henrik that you appreciate his efforts. Will FileJuicer work on all .exe installers? In relation to SC4, FileJuicer was specifically coded to extract SC4 game files from the Clickteam installer used by the BSC team and PEG of Pegasus Productions. It's my understanding that some other BAT/Lot/Mod creators are using a different .exe installer on the STEX, FileJuicer MAY OR MAY NOT work on that installer. FileJuicer was not coded to work on other installer programs that other BAT/Lot makers may be using. Quirks, Bugs and Glitches: There does seem to be the occasional problem with certain files when using FileJuicer. Don't know why, not sure they can be fixed, but I'll list the known problems here: Strange file names: I have noticed with some files, particularly BSC Mega Prop packs, that the names don't always "juice" properly, for example, when juicing     BSC MEGA Props MBEAR Vol02, the file comes out named:     "Install BSC MEGA Props MBEAR Vol02 [197643]-5.dat" which isn't correct, but the file is fine. If you want it to have the proper name, just rename it, taking out "Install" and "[######]-#" (they seem to come out with different numbers), the proper name being the underlined section (be sure to keep the ".dat"), leaving you with: "BSC MEGA Props MBEAR Vol02.dat" Mods won't extract: For some reason, certain mods from Jeronij and Cycledogg aren't juicing at all. I have no idea why, mods are usually .dat files, and are no different than other game files. If you juice a mod and nothing comes out at all, post here (be specific, if I don't know which package you're talking about, no one can help). IF I CAN NOT get it to work either, I'll post a Zip file of the mod at the BSC Mac Archive, but as Zelgadis mentioned in another thread (and as I explained months ago in the BSC Mac Archive thread), neither of us are going to use our .Mac sites to post every BAT/Lot/mod out there. PLEASE USE THIS FORUM FOR POSTING QUESTIONS/ISSUES RE: FILEJUICER