Cataloging Your Custom Content
Here is how to catalogue items:
1) Open the object you are working on in SimPE.
2) In the upper left list, highlight object data. (I have only done this with objects that have one file in the big box to the right of the list but if yours has more than that you can apply this post to it and fill in the blanks yourself).
3) Highlight the file in the box to the right of the formentioned list.
4) Click the plug-in view tab. You should see a white area with many "Elements" and values to the right of them. There are two values to the right of each element that pertaines to catalogue placement. They are both the same value but the one on the left is hex notation and the right, decimal notation. (don't worry if the screen does not depict this verbatim as the catalogue elements are strewn about the element list and not all together). You will also notice a 6 charector hex # to the left of each element. These are irrelivant but do make it easier for your eyes to search for the element because they are in order, so I will include them in my list. Make sure you double check that the number to the left has the same words to the right of it that you see below and, if for some reason they don't, go by the names in this list and disregard the numbers on the left. Okay, here's the list of elements that determine catalog placement for the object:
0x0062 Catalogue use flags.............hex:__________ dec:_____________
0x008e Room sort flags..................hex:__________ dec:_____________
0x0090 Function sort flags.............hex:__________ dec:_____________
0x0092 Catalogue strings ID......... hex:__________ dec:_____________
0x00AC Catalogue popup ID.......... hex:__________ dec:_____________
0x00CA Build mode type............... hex:__________ dec:_____________
0x00D4 Build mode sub-sort..........hex:__________ dec:_____________
0x00FC Function sub-sort..............hex:__________ dec:_____________
-there is also a price element near the top
THESE ARE THE ELEMENTS THAT DETERMINE CATALOGUE PLACEMENT FOR AN OBJECT. I do not know what numbers to enter for what but I do know how to put anything anywhere I want it to appear in the catalogue. This is how I do it:
1) I open a copy of objects package in
SimPE and highlite catalogue description.
2) Then I go through the files in the big box to the right and find a description of an object that is catalogued where I want my hack to appear.
3) Then I write down the 10 charecter hex value from the group field of that catalogue description and enter it into the group filter box directly above. (by the way it is only necessary to enter the charectors to the right of the x, infact entering the 0x has caused undesirable effects for me. eg: for the group# 0x87654321 you would want to enter 87654321 in the group filter box) This should filter out every file that does not belong to that catalogue description (if not press enter once when your cursor is in the group filter entry field).
4) Now highlite object data in the list in the left box. Make sure you're in plug-in view
5) Scroll down to each of the elements listed above and record on a piece of paper: the element, and both values that are to the RIGHT of the element.
6) Now open up the object you are modding in SimPE.
7) Highlite object data, highlight the file to the right, and click plug-in view tab.
8) Enter the values you recorded from the last step in their corrisponding fields of your object. (object data->plug-in view) This will make the object appear in the catalogue in the same place that the object you copied the numbers from does. You can simply enter the decimal value in the right box and
SimPE will automatically enter the hex value for you, but it is still a good idea to write them both down as it saves you time if you miscopied a number.
-=( Don't forget to click change and commit and then file/save between each and every change/entry. You don't necessarily have to with each entry but to be on the safe side you should. I have become familiar with
SimPE and have become acustomed to a certian level of "loosness" but to ensure proper results you will want to click change, if it's available, then commit, and then file/save after each little change you make.)=-
I'm sorry I can't help you more but I havn't catalogued enough objects to be able to know the formula. I do however have a fill in the blanks form I use to record the cataloging numbers. It holds three objects worth of info per page and all you have to do is fill in the numbers. This will allow you to record catalogue info for several objects at a time and eventually show a pattern. (believe me it gets real old real fast writing the above list over and over) If you don't feel like doing that you should type one up yourself or simply cut and paste from this screen and make your own. I hope this helps you. -JoJo
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"Stirred sheep and whirreled peas don't mix. In order to mix these two things you would have to puree the sheep." -JoJo