I haven't found anything comprehensive about how to create custom collection icons. I did find the Collection Tweaker from Simlogical here: http://www.simlogical.com/ContentUp...te/uploads/879/. I'm hoping someone can help me make sure I understand the final steps correctly to get the game to recognize the new custom icon:

Now, you have to do one more thing to make sure the game will use your custom image - you have two alternatives.
Either: Put a second copy of this edited collection package into Mods/Packages (as well as the one in Collections). The collection is read from Collections folder, while the image is read from Mods folder.
Or: Edit your Resource.cfg in your Mods folder to add this line:
Code: [Select]
PackedFile ../Collections/User/*.package(NB this is correct for a Windows PC)

I'd like to go to use the resource.cfg so I don't duplicate files but I don't want to mess up the resource.cfg file. I've made a copy to edit, but I don't quite know what I need to do here.

I got the custom icon to show up with the alternative method - putting a copy of the collection file both in the Collections folder and in the Packages folder so I'm on my way. But if anyone DOES know what needs to be added to the resource.cfg file to make this duplication unnecessary, I'd love to know.

Apologies in advance for the thread necro; however, I was looking myself.

You open "Resource.cfg" with Notepad and you add, exactly:
PackedFile ../Collections/User/*.package
I put it at the end, after "PackedFile DCCache/*.dbc"
And save your changes to the "Resources.cfg".
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Also, this Wayback link may prove helpful to others looking into this.

Adding that I am unclear on the other part; actually getting the "icon" in there... .png or .ico? Guess I'll be finding out by trial and error...

Also, from what I can discern, these would be the resources to utilize. And/or these.
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Yup, that does it. And they're .png format. And any "icon" image will do (if anybody doesn't want to get all that involved in it).

HOWEVER, my first attempt failed. The second succeeded. I don't know why. The collection that failed is still there and doesn't show. But the second does. So be aware you may have some errata to cleanup in collections files while attempting this (and yes, trying again means again creating the collection in-game).

I'll also mention that you're unable to delete the failed attempt in there because this utility apparently doesn't fully shut down when you "close" it. You have to restart your computer... You have to kill the "CollectionTweaker" program in Task Manager; no, this utility unfortunately does not shut down when you save and close; preventing you from deleting the botched collection file until you do that.

To further clarify, you have to export the collection .png in CollectionTweaker and edit that file and then import that file back in there. I suspect that's why it failed the first time (I likely neglected to do exactly that). Rephrased: I believe it requires that EXACT exported .png file to be edited and imported back in.

Edit yet again: It seems it may require TWO launches into TS3 for these pesky collections to actually show up. Potentially, you don't have to delete and recreate the ones that don't initially show (first game launch afterward). I don't know why this is, but it's happened twice successively to me.

And I am utilizing the edited "Resources.cfg" file method (I'm not duplicating the "collection" package in the Mods folder).

I'll report back if there are issues renaming the "collection" package (which I suggest, if there aren't issues with renaming them).

Reporting back: there are no issues with renaming the "collection" package.
Example: coll_0x033400ec0fc31cd0.package
Change: coll_[your collection name].package

And further clarification, your TS3 Launcher and game need to be closed (totally not running in system processes) to meddle with these [collection package] resources.

Image clarification: the 128x128 .png you export from that specific collection package file; opened with image editor, your image pasted in to that .png file (delete the white background with the red X on it first). Save it. And import that into the open collection file in CollectionTweaker. Save it. (And you can and should utilize a transparent background on your image, if you're using an icon instead of a resized screenshot.)