I'm not sure if this is the right place for this question. Please be patient and kind because I'm not bright but trying. I am trying to clone a simple in game bookcase with SimPE. Since I've been having trouble I have tried several versions of SimPE. I have set all paths correctly following directions through MTS and other sites. No matter what object I choose to clone everything seems to load except GMDC. I have not used SimPE in years and Legacy is also new to me. So any advice would be great for an ignorant Sims 2 player.

Can you show a picture of what your cloned object looks like in SimPE?

Sending Screen shot(I think)

Sending Screen shot(I think)

Hmm, you don't seem to have texture options either. What setting did you use in Object Workshop?

Make sure "Reference original mesh" is NOT ticked when you clone the item.

There are explanations to what the different cloning options do here: https://modthesims.info/t/71411

Tutorial said to uncheck all options

I'm using a tutorial from MTS by Lethe Object making with Blender

You're not getting the textures either, so something's off. Are you sure you're extracting a standalone item? Some items share textures.

If you just want the mesh (and not any of the function), tick "create standalone item". This should pull the textures and mesh even if the item shares some of them with another item.

If you untick everything, you get a "default file", and depending on the project you might have to clone again to fix some issues.

Tick 1, 2, 3, 4, (5 if the mesh/textures aren't properly pulled - but leave unticked for beds and other maxis-repo'd items), (6 if you don't want the full set of textures in the file), (7 if you're making anything with wallmasks - doors/windows...), (9 for multi-state items like lamps). Leave the others unticked (unless you need those functions in particular, read the link above).

I tried with check marks in places still no GMCD. But I'll read and follow the handbook link you sent completely and hopefully figure out what I'm doing wrong.

Is this the tutorial? https://modthesims.info/showthread.php?t=78555

This does look a bit strange.

That's what shows for me. I'm using this tutorial https://modthesims.info/wiki.php?ti...ng_with_Blender

Well, it is a somewhat outdated tutorial, considering both SimPE and Blender has been updated a lot since 2005, including the full interface of Blender having been redone several times (the differences from 2.x to 4.x are those of almost different programs).

I think there are a few newer Blender tutorials, but most of them are for CAS projects (the difference isn't too big, though - if you can do a CAS project like a piece of clothing or hair, you can also figure out an animated object, at least the meshing/bone weights, and the export/import is the same for GMDCs. Non-animated objects just need OBJs, and those are usually easy to export from Blender or other programs, though the export settings may need some tweaking (objects tend to turn out with weird issues otherwise).

For extracting from SimPE and for setting up the file, you can use any tutorial that shows the steps, it doesn't have to be a Blender-spesific tutorial. What you do need to know are which filetype is the correct one to use for your project, and how to properly extract/import it (OBJ can be used for non-animated stuff. GMND/5GD for CAS projects, animated objects, and objects with morphs - but it can be used instead of OBJs, too).

You do need a Blender-spesific one for the Blender steps (importing into and out of Blender correctly, plus all the modeling/UVmap/etc. parts). I'd recommend using a Blender version that has GMND/5GD plugins, and finding a spesific Blender tutorial that shows the use of the plugins, or just using OBJ meshes for objects (anything non-animated). You can also look up various beginner low-poly modelling tutorials on Youtube for that Blender version (most aren't sim-spesific, but are beginner friendly).

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Anyway - did you try the tip with ticking "standalone object"? Ticking the first four boxes might help, too.

(For most projects where I make standalone items, I usually keep 1-7 and 9 ticked, while 8, 10 and 11 are unticked. This makes the file standalone and also enables stuff whenever the file needs it. I can extract the mesh + textures just fine, and already have a base for my new object. If I need anything more, I extract with the Finder).

I tried extracting with the settings I normally use, and the Craftmeister bookshelf extracted just fine, so those settings should in theory work for you, too.

If all else fails, you should be able to extract the item directly from the game files, using the "Finder" tab (or by browsing the game files for the pack the item is found in - it is best to make a copy of the files on the desktop and browse the copies). You need to figure out the internal name of the item (the Craftmeister bookshelf is named "bookcasecheap"), then use the "Find: NameMap search", "Type: Contains", and "Match: [name of item]" then hit "start".
Double-click items you want to browse further.
Make sure you don't do any edits to the resource files or delete anything while extracting (could screw up your game).

Make sure you have set up everything properly in Preferences, too. All packs set properly up in System Folders + File Table, Advanced mode ticked (not sure if this is present in newer SimPE versions), CEP setup...