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The SimPE preservation project: what do we have, what do we need?
Hello, everyone!
I'm starting this thread as a place where we, as a community, can collect information and supporting files/utilities necessary for using SimPE. I cannot do this effectively on my own---I've only ever casually used the program for my own gameplay convenience and safety and never created anything, to share or not. I just don't have the SimPE expertise to know what's even needed or useful! So I'm asking your help to fill in the blanks on what we find, because there are many players and creators far better equipped than me to answer questions like these (and several more at the bottom of the page): A. What do we actually need to make the program work? B. What other documentation or utilities do you know of that are basic necessities for running SimPE? C. What caveats are there regarding versions and installations and plugins? The following pair of tables shows the SimPE versions and related files that I've already been able to locate. Table I. Utilities required for SimPE to install/run
(Thank you again to the kind member who PM'd me with that list as well as with the all-important Wayback Machine link to Quaxi's site for the program!) Table II. SimPE versions and associated critical files we know about
Where are you going to put all this? As a last resort, this thread itself can be the repository. But that's just the fallback plan, since it would have the same issues with backup and accessibility as when we only had this latest version of the program in a random thread. I'm hoping instead to use what we collect here to edit the SimPE page on our onsite wiki, to make it much more useful now that Quaxi's site is gone. That wiki page in its current state is here, and until this week, all mentions of SimPE on this site linked there. For now, they link to the MTS download page we have for it, but if the wiki page can be updated, we can likely point the autolink destination back there again, so people can get useful info along with the download. In addition, if the contents of Table II are not safe where they are, it's possible we could again update the MTS download page for the program with them, but I can't guarantee this. What about the GUID database that used to be hosted at ambertation.de? Because Quaxi controlled that as part of the SimPE site, it is also down now, regrettably. Please read through this thread for more information on the last time the community tried to get it fixed and back up (unsuccessfully, obviously). Please do not post your GUID issues and tips/ideas here. GUIDs are a very important topic, but they are not within the current scope of this project. However, you are more than welcome to join in with all the recent posts about it, starting here. (That is also where all the former GUID posts in this thread have already been moved.) Please allow this thread to stay focused on the SimPE program itself, specifically its components, versions, required utilities, and installation tips. So what do you still need to know? Well, in addition to the bolded questions A-C listed above (which may or may not already be answered, based on what you all think of the contents of this page!), I can think of these (and will cross them off as they get answered): 2) It looked to me like recent versions of .NET Framework are backwards compatible, but I wasn't sure about DirectX. So, are they both backwards compatible---in which case everyone could just download whatever the most recent version is of both that loads on their system, and have SimPE work well? Or do we need specific versions of either? 3) Are all necessary plugins (like Bidou's Career Editor) for the program already included in installer versions and binaries listed in Table II? If not, are they in the other files in any of the above tables? If they're not there either, any other ideas? 4) How safe is Sourceforge as someplace we can trust to keep the files already there indefinitely available? Do we need to get the files moved off of there, or will the SimPE project there stay up as long as Quaxi doesn't take it down? 5) Quaxi linked several tutorials as his FAQ, the index of which is still available via the Wayback Machine. Actually, the text of most (not all) of those FAQs is still available, but not the pictures. Are any of those tutorials worth preserving or linking to even without the pictures? Or, if they are worth preserving, does anyone have versions that do have the images that they can share? (If this discussion gets involved, with some tutorials useful and others not, I can add a table for those tutorials too.) 6) Are the documents in this final table important, and if yes, does anyone have copies? in particular, if we don't have instructions on installing without installers, is 0.72 the last version that self-installs...and if yes, is that usable as a default for most basic users (non-creators)? Or do our more recent versions also auto-install, and are they more recommended? Table III. Items listed on Ambertation's front page but with broken links (via Wayback Machine)
Also, please share here any other tips about SimPE versions or installation. That's a final question, really: what other insight do you have for users choosing/installing a version of SimPE or any of the accessories here from this page? I'll quote posts 4 and 6 of the thread here as examples of very useful tips:
Quote: Originally posted by Sims2Maven
Quote: Originally posted by simmer22
ETA: Adding a button you can click to show other tips given for versions and installation given in the current thread...just to keep things from getting too long. Please do check under here before posting your own tips, in case it's added here already. Another button, for wishes/ideas mentioned for future versions of SimPE (however, these, including bugfixes, are not at this time the purpose of this thread---please try to save discussion of such topics for a later time): Whew! And of course, please let me know if any of these links are broken or if you have any questions for me, need more information, or would like to add questions to the list that need to be answered. Thank you, so very much, in advance to everyone who's able to help! |
Still hoping for the answers to questions 2-6 if anyone knows offhand. Feel free to specify the question number you're answering in your post...since as I mentioned I'm not a well-versed SimPE user and can use that kind of help!
Currently Working On (help always welcome here too!)
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If you have the UC, it's easiest to make it work with the 0.75f version Quaxi posted (with a tiny bit of UI fixing from the 0.73 version as said above), because I tried the 0.73 and 0.75b version and none of them wanted to have anything to do with the UC file paths on my Win10 system (and I tried everything I could think of). The 0.75f version worked like a charm, and I think the file paths were set up so linking them up was very easy. I also didn't seem to need the DirectX or framework, and only needed to install the usual DDS utilities and CEP - but this may not be true for everyone, and I haven't done the full range of SimPE-ing yet (neighborhoods, etc.), so it's possible those programs are needed for some tasks and for some computers/systems.
If you don't have the UC, you should be able to stick to the 0.73 version (it's updated for AL/M&G, 0.72 goes only to AL but there used to be a patch for it), though there's a chance you may also need a GUID fix (I had to do this with the 0.73 version about a year or so ago, because of some bug with the site that registers GUIDs. The files were somewhere in the same topic as the 0.75f version). |
Thank you, @simmer22 ! I've added most of what you said, and you'll see a new button near the bottom of the OP where I'm going to stash those for now.
About those files you mention at the end though; sorry to ask you to click the gyazo screenshot link, but could you look at that image and see whether there's a version there that sounds like what you mean? It did look to me like Quaxi, in that thread where he posted 0.75f, was sounding like he'd posted other versions too, but when I saw the thread live last, it had only 0.75 available for download and not others. But I think there's an 0.73 at Sourceforge...will that work as you suggest? |
http://modthesims.info/showthread.p...072#post5334072 - This post has the file that helps people with 0.73(and earlier versions) connect to the GUID database. Quaxi created it to fix an issue that made the database inaccessible through SimPE. It's already included in 0.75. It's not useful at present, because the database is completely down right now, but maybe that'll change in the future.
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Oh, I see. Thank you so much! Here I was thinking simmer22 meant another copy of SimPE. (See why I so need the community's help?
 )ETA: added your post as well under that final button in the OP. |
I did mean the 0.73 at Sourceforge (+the fix Omglo mentioned), and the 0.75f version in Quaxi's post. Hopefully the database will return (I haven't had to register GUIDs in a while, so I didn't know the database was down until someone mentioned it in a post a short while ago).
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For the forum moderators, can this thread be stickied so that it doesn't disappear? This would be a significant thread to keep alive when discussing SimPE post-Quaxi, especially since that he stopped servicing the software long ago (aside from he appearance the last time & generously taking a look at his software to update for The Sims 2 Ultimate Collection and small fixes).
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There are also a couple of tweaks to SimPE that are in danger of going extinct, particularly Theo's "Alt. Sim Surgery" mod. It doesn't play nice with 75f (you can't see what your "improved" Sim is going to look like), but maybe one of our smarter techies can fix that.
Another good one to have is Theo's "ActionDeleteSim" plugin, if things go so pear-shaped that you must delete a Sim (this should be a LAST RESORT nowadays). When all was said and done, there were a few things that The Sim Enhancer 2 (TSE2) did more easily than SimPE, but 1) it was payware and 2) the creator lost interest back around the Pets expansion (you can't really do anything with the Pets other than see them and move them from house to house). I think Mr. Halle is long gone from Simming, so there's no longer any official way to unlock the program if you do get it. |
Is there any hope we'll ever see some scripting plugin? My attempts to editing behaviours in this 'state machine' in SimPE, has gave me nightmares, like I was again in the darkest cave with Fallout 2 modding.
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The DDS utilities are important if you want to use SimPE to work with textures, whether you're making a recolor, a new object, or Skin/Eye/Clothing/Hair. It's what lets you choose "Build DXT" when you right click on a texture. It's better and more flexible than the import option, so Build DXT is pretty much used exclusively by creators.
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That ^ and GUIDS.
I am using 73 but I am on disks. There are small things that could do with fixing. For example when recolouring using Build it defaults to smoothen. Every time you have to scroll and change to 'none'. A small but annoying thing. |
I'm using 73.44 as well, tried the newer version and it was worse to use in every way, the short drop down lists intolerable.
A couple years ago I tried (really hard) to get the source code, built up an XP box just for it, followed the instructions, downloaded and installed the recommended software to get the source code and the best I could get was for Freetime. I keep quite about it because the availability of the source code is part of the GNU General Public License and since I love SimPe, practically live it I'd hate to see support for it gone because of that technicality. However I'd still love to be able to get the source code. |
Is this a good thread to chat about the preservation of the guid database? I'm hoping that Quaxi can be contacted again, and that the community could take over the site & the program. The guid database is essential for modding, I think, and it'd be a shame to let that go without a fight.
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Hi all! Thanks so much for your help and interest. Just got a lead on Table II's formatting issues, so now I'm posting this, I'll edit the OP based on all discussed below and will try and fix the table as well.
Quote: Originally posted by d_dgjdhh
(ETA: Although I'm not a moderator, I wanted to share my thoughts...) Let's see how it goes. My hope is still to get most of the info transferred over to our wiki entry for it (linked in the OP). If that doesn't end up being possible, then it'll be more important to get the post stickied. Either way though, what's most crucial to me for now is to get all the numbered questions I presented answered. But also it would be good for the OP to get more Helpful votes, or for your post about the sticky to get more Agrees, so that admins see this as info that the community feels is useful. Otherwise there's not much chance it'll get stickied, and perceived low interest may affect whether the info can get transferred to the wiki either.
Quote: Originally posted by Sims2Maven
@Sims2Maven That's great information. Most important: do you (or anyone?) know where we can get those two components? Also appreciated what you said about the Enhancer---interesting background info.
Quote: Originally posted by ElaineNualla
Quote: Originally posted by joandsarah77
I am adding a new button to the OP for bugkill/feature wishes and will put both those comments under there. To be clear, I feel I need to discourage making such ideas a major purpose of this thread right now---I feel we must pin down and ensure complete documentation/preservation of the basic components for future users of the program before we start wishing for better. I hope that makes sense to you guys!
Quote: Originally posted by omglo
Thank you so very much for answering one of the questions! I'll mark question 1 as answered and link it to your post.
Quote: Originally posted by Chris Hatch
@Chris%20Hatch (trying a new tagging method for people with spaces in their username; let's see if it works!) Wow, it never occurred to me that we might already have much of the source code. Two questions for you: I. I'm sorry not to understand (never having had reason to parse the GNU or any other GPL seriously myself), but what do you mean "see support for it gone"---as in, the remaining files would be pulled from Sourceforge if it were clear to everyone that the source code is indeed not fully available? Or something else (surely not that Quaxi would stop supporting it, since he already basically has done that)? I'd really like to hear more in case there's something about that angle that can be followed. (ETA: Please feel free to PM me if you feel it's a sensitive subject.) II. Do you still have that source code from the Pets version? Is it possible someone could reverse engineer, from a copy of 0.73 or 0.75, a supported version of SimPE now?
Quote: Originally posted by Phantomknight
Quote: Originally posted by cows
Quote: Originally posted by NadiaZeta
I agree that the GUID database is something that sounds very important to modders. I'd like to keep the focus of this thread on the questions I've presented already in the OP. I considering starting a new thread about that topic on your collective behalf, but then I realized that unlike this thread, I would be unlikely to have much to do with that one---it's not likely to produce information that's mainly wiki-able, which was my goal with this one. But I think it's an important thread to have, especially if you can come up with an alternative. So I would definitely recommend either that a concerned member who was familiar with the GUID database starts a new thread to discuss it...or that you continue posting your ideas about it into this thread, to keep together all the former suggestions about the database as well. (There seemed to be some good ideas over there.) Also, if anyone's not clear about why the GUID database is down and is still wondering whether/when it will come back, etc, please read through that thread I just linked above to understand the problems and history of attempted contact so far. For now, I'll edit my OP to direct folks to that old thread about the registration database, or if someone starts a new one, I'll edit again to direct there!
Quote: Originally posted by simmer22
Thank you! I'll reference your post in the OP so people can at least have that answer. The following will shortly be added to the OP in the tips section---it's a bit of an opinion but some folks might appreciate a brief review, and it's another piece of info about differences between recent versions.
Quote: Originally posted by Chris Hatch
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@natboopsie thanks for the link; I'm worried though if the GUID database won't come back, I feel like it's going to be tough to make new CC, especially when I finish my block
 All that number and hex talk by simmer22 has my head spinning  |
No problem, cows, for the link.
Unfortunately, the number and hex talk for GUIDs has my head spinning too, lol. I'm struggling already to try and keep all the bits of info straight here about just the basics of the SimPE program, its versions, utilities, and components. Thus, the mods have been kind enough to split off the entire GUIDs part of this thread, partly so that the questions and info about the other stuff don't get lost. All that is now attached to the former thread about communicating with Quaxi, which also included some other good suggestions about obtaining GUIDs. For those following the program-basics part of this project, I've made the second post in this thread into the list of what I'm actively working on, so you can keep up with my progress as well as have extra chances to spot anything you'd like to assist with! |
I might as well contribute what little I know. As far as getting SimPE to run on other operating systems, i.e Mac and Linux, dotnet20 is required.
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First of all, this is super helpful! And the fact that everyone came together to share info and linkies just makes it even more community-feely of that makes sense? :P
ANyways! I figured I'd share my knowledge on what we still need and such: 2) It looked to me like recent versions of .NET Framework are backwards compatible, but I wasn't sure about DirectX. So, are they both backwards compatible---in which case everyone could just download whatever the most recent version is of both that loads on their system, and have SimPE work well? Or do we need specific versions of either? .Net framework is indeed backward compatible, which for clarification means that if you get .Net 4.0 you'd automatically also install .Net 3.0 and 2.0, if not, 1.0. DirectX, on the other hand, is not. You SPECIFICALLY need to download DirectX9 in this case in order for it to work. So, say you were to download DirectX11 or 10, you will not be installing DirectX9, unlike the .Net frameworks. \ |
Here's Theo's Alt Sim Surgery plugin: http://www.moreawesomethanyou.com/s...hp?topic=3563.0
The Sim Deleter Tool can still be found via the Wayback Machine (along with other tools): https://web.archive.org/web/2012021...leter-tool.html |
@redandvidya
@Lyralei @Dorsal Axe Thank you all so much for contributing! Incredibly helpful too, since as I mentioned none of this stuff comes easily to me. I've got one more small side task I want to get to, then I'll be back here and working on this project again---I see it as being somewhat of a marathon, so I'm pacing myself. But in a few days, I'll be incorporating your contributions into the OP or into my to-do list in post 2, as appropriate, and continuing from there! |
1 Attachment(s)
I have managed to get most of the current source code for SimPe, all except 'the current PJSE'. Version 0.75.68 will have the good stuff from 0.73.44-QA and the UC support from 0.75f-QA. It also supports the newer Store Edition and The Sims™ 2 Angel and Nurses Stuff. Jo's suggestion of no compression as default when importing textures was an easy fix.
Will soon be available as a self installer executable, which will come with HoodChecker, HoodReplace, LotAdjuster and LotCompressor pre-built in. Or a manual install which is just bare bones SimPe. Also there will be a version 0.75.69 which is the same as 0.75.68 but also contains support for T&A (so some rude words may appear in it). I can/have changed the links in it to point to Mod the Sims instead of the original SimPe site (see attached image), it'd be good if there was a specific thread here to link to for SimPe discussion. |
Wow, exciting stuff Chris.
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That is simply awesome, Chris.
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SimPe_0_75_69 Update
http://simfileshare.net/folder/77372/ SimPe_0_75_69.zip is the manual install files SimPe_0_75_69-Installer.zip is the installer executable files OriginalDocumentation.zip is the original .PDF introduction etc. The self installer will delete your settings on install, that makes for a 'clean install' and can be used to re-install later to fix SimPE if it gets messed up. It also adds HoodChecker, HoodReplace, LotAdjuster and LotCompressor. There is now only one version, it will detect if T&A is installed and load support for it if it is, otherwise nothing related to T&A will appear in SimPe. I have made a big change to the way SimPE locates your game files which should be much better for UC users. However I don't have UC so I can't confirm that, (I would appreciate feedback from someone that does use UC). SimPE now uses HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\App Paths\ [exe name] to locate your EP/SPs and Sim Story games. Note: SimPE is released under the GNU GENERAL PUBLIC LICENSE and as such I make no claim of ownership to the files nor even the links to the files. Provided they are kept free you may use and abuse them however you see fit. |
You are the wind beneath my wings.
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Quote: Originally posted by Chris Hatch
@Chris Hatch, Thank you for taking this on. I look forward to checking out the update. If you are still making changes, is it possible to fix this issue in the SimPE UI? I think it's not responsive to changes in font size in the OS, so unless I use the smallest possible font in Win 7, it cuts off words throughout like this... I know others have said they see this as well. http://www.dee.email/OPEN/SimPics/SimPEwordscutoff.jpg
Quote: Originally posted by Chris Hatch
Not sure if this is the place to ask, but since we are mentioning this... I remember one tutorial that says "none" is best, but I have never seen any documentation that tells what the rest of them do or when you might want them. With all the changes in graphics in all these years, I'd like to check it out in more detail. Can someone point me toward more info on it or is the testing yet to be done? |
Hi @Chris_Hatch,
Thank you for taking on support for SimPE. I downloaded your updated version 0.75.68 and overwrote the files in my Program Files directory. Is it possible to fix the issue with 5 unknown Sim Descriptions appearing in the Resource List? I mentioned it when Quaxi appeared to the forum at one point that there were always these 5 objects being counted in the list of Neighborhood characters. Your version omitted the fix Quaxi did back then here. Their GUIDs are: 0x2C996F9C Group 7F4C057E: [Object Data guid: 0x2C996F9C] NPC - Remote Control Car (0x0080) (C:\Program Files (x86)\EA GAMES\The Sims 2 Mansion and Garden Stuff\TSData\Res\Objects\objects.package) 0x31946C3B Group 7FAFAB15: [Object Data guid: 0x31946C3B] NPC - Bird (0x0080) (C:\Program Files (x86)\EA GAMES\The Sims 2 Mansion and Garden Stuff\TSData\Res\Objects\objects.package) 0x50596292 Group 7F743D18: [Object Data guid: 0x50596292] NPC - Robot (0x0080) (C:\Program Files (x86)\EA GAMES\The Sims 2 Mansion and Garden Stuff\TSData\Res\Objects\objects.package) 0x71B85E0D Group 7F948CC3: [Object Data guid: 0x71B85E0D] NPCSkunkSkin (0x0080) (C:\Program Files (x86)\EA GAMES\The Sims 2 Mansion and Garden Stuff\TSData\Res\Objects\objects.package) 0x7250E297 Group 7FD8E563: [Object Data guid: 0x7250E297] NPC - Penguin (0x0080) (C:\Program Files (x86)\EA GAMES\The Sims 2 Mansion and Garden Stuff\TSData\Res\Objects\objects.package) |
I noticed your version has the same issue as the recent by Quaxi, copy/paste does not work fully for resource names. Selecting all text in a line (like the shpe) does not work.
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d_dgjdhh
It's proving very difficult because even if I use Quaxi's recent version those NPCs do show up in my neighbourhood because in A&N they do have character descriptions so don't show as 'Unknown', in fact in A&N the NPCSkunkSkin which was never used is replaced with a Debbie Harry (Blondie) NPC so I wouldn't want her to not show up. I found out today (the hard way) that I have to configure SimPe not to recognise A&N to test it. HugeLunatic I have no idea, that's not a problem that I have ever experienced in any version of SimPe. I believe for the most part it's an action of Windows clipboard since you can copy and paste to and from a file outside of SimPe. Just what SimPe does with the pasted data and how it applies it to the file is part of SimPe's internal workings though. It is somewhere between difficult and impossible to diagnose a problem that I don't have, all I can do is examine the code to see if I notice something odd. |
I understand not being able to fix issues you can't replicate.
Just a quirk that doesn't exist in the old QA version I use. |
Quote: Originally posted by Chris Hatch
Oh that's okay, what I mean is give those Unknown character files a name rather than just being listed as Unknown. I wasn't asking if you can remove them, just that they should be listed with something so that the user doesn't get alarmed they have those objects loaded (because those 5 unknowns came shipped with the game). What I've seen from players is that if a character file is unknown, it could mean the user did something they were no supposed to a Sim in the game that caused the file to be shredded (such as deleting the Sims). Or, it could also mean they player added custom content that has an NPC in it. So if there were any unknowns, those unknowns should related to custom content NPCs or broken files. Not GUIDs related to shipped EA items. |
Quote: Originally posted by Sunrader
That's a typical non-standard DPI scaling issue with Windows Forms-based UIs like SimPEs, on Windows 10 you can actually use virtual scaling in the compatibility properties to prevent such issues. There are also some other UI nastilities like black text colors used for panel backgrounds making actual _black_ text on them unreadable. I fixed the latter for me some time ago based on the Sourceforge code (0.73 which I had to fix itself as it wasn't even compiling or running correctly, and missing PJSE stuff too), and I'd like to port that to the current source, but I cannot find it anywhere, did I miss a link in this thread? I'd also try to spend some time to fix the DPI issues, adding a DPI awareness-declaring manifest may be enough, otherwise I'd edit especially broken dialogs manually if they're not too borked layout-wise (I remember someone layered panels over panels in 0.73, making them absolutely horrible to edit and I quickly lost interest in fixing that by hand). |
Here's a dumb question. Would it possible to add keyboard shortcuts to SimPE so that ctrl+n creates a new file? And maybe something like F12 to bring up the Save As dialogue? I like using keyboard shortcuts and it annoys me that SimPE doesn't have ones for those two functions.
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Quote: Originally posted by sushigal007
Yes, very easily, will already be in any future update. Some seemingly simple things take forever to get right but this just took two minutes to do and test. |
I'm so glad you guys are doing this I sure thought SimPe was abandoned
Now my questions/ideas (hope I'm not offtopic) Can something be done about the "window layout" I mean the resource list, wrapper, plugin view and all that in those little windows attached to the main program. I don't know about you but whenever I click on the little "pin" to dock/undock them they just disappear and can't be gotten back by just choosing them from the window menu. Trying to move them around (rearrange them) sometimes makes them disappear too. I know there's a "reset layout" button but maybe you could also add a "save/load layout" button so if a window dissappears again I could get back to a previous layout version instead of having to start all over again with not only windows but toolbars settings as well. Could you add some batch editing options (if at all possible?) I would love an option to assign a specific build/buy category to more than one package at once (recategorizing) or clear all categories (for hiding them in the catalog). Also maybe something to batch-change/switch the GUID of MMATs in packages in case you wanna assign them too a different (similar) mesh or just fix a mistake where they were assigned wrongly. What about a forum/section devoted only to SimPe, it looks like the original is down. It would be nice to have one also one that allows tutorials in other languages than english. You think MTS has a place for that? Also I have SimPe set to german but a lot of it is still english, is there a way I can help with translating the rest of it? Thank you all for all your work on this! |
Quote: Originally posted by Lucydique
I know there is a very simple "Save / Load Profile" in the menues which basically copies settings files (including the layout) to a named folder and allows to restore them. It won't help you if your layout got borked (as in "empty / white panes") though. And yeah, I cannot even move any tool window by dragging it s title bar with the mouse, it only works at rare random times. Something seems wrong with how the tool window library is used as I don't have such issues in a new dummy application using it. |
A forum or section for SimPE would be awesome!
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Quote: Originally posted by Lucydique
Not everything can be translated but a lot more than what has been can be, although German has more translations than any other language. If you can give me translations and if they can be included I'll include them. I think the window layout, dockable tools is the worst and the best thing about SimPe. The versatility of being able to have the tools laid out where you want them versus the impossibility of actually getting them to be where you want them. You grab a tool and several arrows appear with no clue as to which arrow plops it where and usually it don't go where you expect. Once you do finally get it laid out the way you want save the profile as something like 'reset', then to fix the layout later you can just use that profile to start SimPe. To use a profile save the profile with a relevant name like reset and create a new shortcut to SimPe.exe and add the switch -profile reset, rename the shortcut to include the profile name so you know what it is later. I love SimPe's profiles and have 16 profiles for different purposes. It did some experimenting and the problem Sunrader pointed out of 'words being cut off' seems to be unique to version 75F which had a horrible UI, I tested with both 73 and 75.68 and there seems to be no problem. I struck a problem with the new OFB job assignments today so I'll probably be updating the files after a bit more testing, tomorrow or the next day. |
Quote: Originally posted by Chris Hatch
So there's not like a template or something where I could just see which translations are missing? I wouldn't see it as a priority since like you said most of it is translated already just thought to mention while here.
Quote: Originally posted by Chris Hatch
I thought the arrows are pretty self-explanatory and working fine for me IF they showed up and not just having the window dissappear completely. I agree it's generally a good feature. I use another program that uses arrows like that so I'm kinda used to them
Quote: Originally posted by Chris Hatch
I actually made a profile I just didn't figure out how to use it *lol* thanks for this explanation I will try it next time! Thank you for taking this on you are awesome! |
Bless you, Chris. It goes beyond my wildest hopes when starting this thread that someone, anyone would be able (willing!) to extract the complete source code...much less (I'm still pinching myself!) restart development/support for the program.
I'm amazed and grateful...as well as relieved, since I suspect that this means a lot of what I was going to try to do/archive is now not really necessary. (Or at worst, is no longer necessary in an urgent way.) Since---as I've been saying---these technical details are not my forte, I'm very personally appreciative of you taking this on, Chris, beyond how much I appreciate it as a member of the community! (Also if you were even the tiniest bit motivated by recognition that I was really wading here and hoping not to drown, thank you, lol.) A question on behalf of anyone who might be installing version .68 or .69 on a fresh Windows machine: are DirectX 9, a current version of the .NET framework, and the NVIDIA DDS utilities still needed already installed on the system to install your versions? Or are they perhaps included in the installers for those versions? I can update the OP with that information, as well as adding links to your newly released versions. Finally, I saw also that Chris and others in the thread have called for someplace where SimPE support can be provided. So I'll PM Chris directly and have that discussion with him! |
This thread has been moved to Sims 2 Tools rather discussion, as this is the proper place for a collective list of a tool. Any discussion regarding it can be posted here. Anything asking for help with SimPE in either Help or Wcif will be moved here in the future. I've added categories to this forum so when posting users can specifically tag SimPE and you can filter by that category as well.
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Thanks for the move, HugeLunatic, and the sticky, which makes the most sense now that it doesn't seem necessary to update the wiki with the info, since all of it's here, really!
For now, the SimPE category seems a bit incomplete in this forum---there are a number of threads with "SimPE" in their titles that don't have the category. But perhaps that's being worked on. |
Quote: Originally posted by natboopsie
As far as DirectX 9, .NET and the NVIDIA DDS utilities it is the same as any other version of SimPe and those things are still required although NVIDIA DDS utilities aren't mandatory. Newer version of Windows, those after XP should already have the required DirectX and .NET but for XP it is only with service pack two that .NET can be download and installed on, there is no .NET available for the basic Windows XP and service pack two is no longer available. When NVIDIA DDS utilities is not installed SimPe will show a link to it in the Extra -> Preferences.. -> System Folders, I just checked and that link is still valid. |
I've seen those 'annoyances' suggestions and can only say that 'smoothing' one is ultimately DDS tools fault while Scripting Editor is, well.. something I would like to see improve in terms of accessibility and overall readability but it probably won't ever.
Overall I'm ok with what the program is (it's not completely creator friendly) but it lets you do almost anything you can with the game files, which is def better than programs of this caliber associated with later games. Just my two cents. |
Quote: Originally posted by Chris Hatch
I missed this comment until now, sorry. I really don't think this is the case, at least not for me, @Chris Hatch. I've had this problem for years now, not just since the new version. I understand if you can't duplicate it, but I have seen others comment that they had it before 75f as well. The one I still have on my computer that I know had it is marked 0_73_44. |
Another thing I'd love to suggest (if it wasn't already) is a plugin for easier skin corelation and family-linking, as well as deleting duplicate entries after linking them.
I know there is a template for this but seeing how it's default skins and only 4 of them, and how the whole process of making a set of skins properly corelated requires changing two thousand values manually after also exporting and reimporting stuff in bodyshop, which is a really slow process in itself... creators that want more freedom to make truly amazing and diverse skins, while also being genetically functional would really appreciate this. Ofc this probably isn't something easy to just code out of nowhere, but it def shouldn't be hard given that it's changing just two values in property set resources and one value in skin xml. |
That probably can be done, the CPF Wrapper is very simple. It just reads those files as Key Value Pairs so it's a case getting it to go through all of loaded property sets and set the value of a particular named key. The skin tone xml has a different name (family) to the property set (skintone) for the skin GUID so it would have to be able to only do one type at a time.
If by skin correlation you mean skins with genetic hair, A&N has over 580 built in that I made so I know what a tedious task it can be. I use a hex editor on mine, that way I can use 'find and replace' to set all of the GUID values in the skintone keys, once set up it just takes seconds to do. |
Quote: Originally posted by PacMani
@Chris Hatch, @PacMani, SimPE is GPL, right? We should be able to see source code along with derivations? Can you point us to the source code, please? My daughter is a coder and we'd like to take a look at a few things. |
All SimPE's source is for Microsoft VisualStudio 2005.
I added the source code for version 75.68.8 to the folder (http://simfileshare.net/folder/77372/) which is the non-T&A version of the source code that I currently have (version 75.68.7 was the last uploaded version). |
Quote: Originally posted by Chris Hatch
Thanks, Chris! |
Ok this is probably quite unimportant but it is a nuisance to me so maybe, if this would be an easy fix, you could do something about it in a future SimPe version?
when using the folder scanner to export/save results or disable/enable packages the filenames will all be shown/converted to lower case. It would be great if you could make it keep the original lower/uper case! |
I noticed that in the sim browser there is no longer a background colour difference to distinguish which sims has no character data or are unlinked, could that be re-added? Also, I wanted to request the power aspiration be added to the aspiration selection menu and freetime secondary aspiration selection menu, the value for the power aspiration is '0x08'. Lastly, with the family ties could something be added under the sim names distinguishing the 'Sim ID'? For example, Natasha Una's Sim ID is '0xF43A9920'. Thank you.
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The sim browser never did have a background colour difference, it had little coloured squares on the top left of the sim image to indicate NPC, Unlinked or No Character Data. Unfortunately when it adds those squares it darkens the sim's image a lot which I really don't like, the same information is clearly visible under the 'Available' column so I didn't see the point in keeping the little squares. I can and will add them back for EP/SPs below A&N (below A&N so I don't have it). SimPe's interpretation of Unlinked is very different to the game's interpretation so that information is unreliable and should just be considered as a guide.
Power aspiration is not nor has ever been a real aspiration, the game has no support for it in the UI, wants, want trees or want check trees. Until someone has some success at modding it in adding it to SimPe will encourage users to give it their sims and mess up their game. I tested it today and it does cause problems in game so I 'commented it out' in the code, If it ever does become a usable aspiration adding it back in will be very quick and easy. I have never looked at the family trees since that is something that can seriously corrupt a neighbourhood I avoid using it. I have no doubt displaying either the sim's GUID or Neighbour ID will be doable. I will look into it. |
What UI files do I need to copy from 0.73 into 0.75 SimPE
Quote: Originally posted by simmer22
Simmer22, please can you explain what you mean by UI files? I've read on several posts that you copied over some files from 0.73 to 0.75f and got 0.75 working with UC on Windows 10 (which is what I have) but seen no mention of what the files actually are! Many thanks in advance :-) |
Version 0.75.68 found on Post 25 has nothing missing.
Version 0.75f that Quaxi posted has a couple of things missing in the Data folder, they are hoods.xml and the entire plugins folder. |
Quote: Originally posted by Chris Hatch
Thanks, but I see that from that post that Version 0.75.68 is for Angels & Nurses or higher, not M&G and lower and I have Ultimate Collection which only includes the Eaxis EPs and SPs - will 0.75.68 work with UC? |
.75.68/69 both work for UC.
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Quote: Originally posted by HugeLunatic
Thank you :-) |
Does anyone else have any problems with files getting "stuck" in simpe? I open a file in simpe, close it and then file - new, but when I try to edit the file I just closed down in simpe (rename, delete, move it between folders etc) I can't because explorer says it's still "used" by simpe. I constantly have to close down simpe and open it up again just to be able to delete/move the files. I recently installed 0.75.68 and I feel like this happens a lot more than in the previous version I had (which was 0.73.44.37511). Is this something on my end or is it simpe? If the problem is on my end, any idea how to fix it? And if it's simpe, would it be possible to fix? It's starting to irk me having to restart simpe every minute just to delete/move files haha :-( I apologize if this is the wrong thread for this, I felt like it may belong here?
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Occasionally, but if it happens I either continue what I was doing and later do whatever I wanted to do with the file, or close down SimPE to get the file unstuck.
If you open SimPE and then open the file (or drag-and-drop the file into SimPE), this seems to be less likely to happen. It's usually the first file it gets stuck on if you use that file to open SimPE. It also sometimes gets stuck on files you use to clone or recolor (especially the first and last one used), probably because Object Workshop is accessing the file for cloning/recoloring purposes and thinks it's still using the file. Best tip for those files is to just make sure you're working from the folder you intend the files to be saved in, and name them properly either before opening, when saving (as new file, for instance when making recolors or mesh files with OW), or after you're closed SimPE. For deleting files, just do whatever you ned to do and delete the ones you don't want later (I tend to mark them in the filename of the file I want to keep with "save as..." and adding a clear marker it's the new version, or add in DELETE in the tooltip/text resource of the file I plan to delete (you can still do edits in SimPE to these files, just not delete/move the file or change the filename). I think it's just a protective measure from either Windows or the program or a mix of both, so the file won't suddenly be unaccessible. It's annoying, but I'm not sure if you can do much about it other than to work around the problem. A lot of other programs have delete/edit protection on files currently in use. |
I usually do that as well, but not when I'm cleaning out my downloads folder (which I'm doing atm). I mainly use simpe to view the content (see what the default is defaulting etc) and then delete the file if I don't want it or rename it so I don't have two defaults defaulting the same thing.
I always drag and drop the files (I'm lazy haha) but for me, most of the time it's the 5th-ish file which gets stuck. Object workshop on the other hand has never been the "problem" for me (though I have a pretty bad memory so I'm probably wrong). Thank you for the suggestions! I'll try them out. I guess I have to change my way of using simpe when cleaning out folders :p |
Forgot to say, but make sure you do "file --> New" or open an unrelated file before you delete files, or SimPE gets stuck on the current open file.
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In Extra > Preferences > Custom, select SimPe from the 'Custom Settings for' drop down and set 'Keep Files Open' to False.
That setting has the following description When true, this improves performance by keeping "in use" files open. When false, files are closed at the earliest opportunity, releasing resources and allowing the files to be used by other programs. |
Quote: Originally posted by Chris Hatch
This has so far worked amazingly. Thank you very much! |
@Chris Hatch, SimPE 75.68 includes LotAdjuster and other tools, which I already have. What happens if I upgrade from 73.44 to the newer version? Do I need to uninstall them first? Do I uninstall the older SimPE, or just install the new one over the top?
Was thinking I couldn’t use your version because it says “not for M&G or lower”, but there’s HL’s comment indicating that it’s okay for UC. Is there a difference between M&G and UC for this? If so, it would be good to amend the info post to clarify. |
You can install over the top, whatever you prefer. If you choose to use the self installer and install over the top it will delete your preferences and give you a clean start.
"Changes: Version 0.75.68.1 For A&N or higher, not for M&G or below: Defunct CEP disabled, will pass the system check without CEP now. Blur Nudity option disabled." 'not for M&G or below' only applied to those features. Since those feature have since changed a little and prevent confusion I removed that from the post. Now it will fail the system check if the CEP is found and one or more sim stories but not Sim2 is installed or if A&N or T&A are installed. Just to be clear, the CEP and Blur Nudity are still fully supported for M&G or below. |
Quote: Originally posted by Chris Hatch
Ah, thanks for the clarification.  |
I was recently working on a small tool for myself (and perhaps others) when I realised that SimPE doesn't have a load of loading a package from the command line (or via double clicking). So I took it upon myself to download the source code Chris generously provided on SFS, and did a small modification. It can now load package files directly when used with the -load switch.
@Chris Hatch - the source has been modified in the following way: Line 66 of SimPE Main/Program.cs has been modified to the following:
Code:
if (argv.Count > 0)
{
if (argv[0] != "-load")
{
Global.package.LoadOrImportFiles(argv.ToArray(), true);
}
else
{
Global.package.LoadOrImportFiles(argv.ToArray(), false);
}
}
Lines 448 & 449 of SimPE Workspace Helper/LoadedPackage.cs has been modified to:
Code:
if (names.Length==0) return;
if (names.Length == 2 && names[0] == "-load")
{
if (System.IO.File.Exists(names[1])) this.LoadFromFile(names[1]);
return;
}
if (!Loaded && !create) return;
If anybody is interested in the working exe + dll let me know. I developed this purely for my own usage, since I open up a lot of different package files for different games, and it was annoying to have to load up SimPE seperately every time. |
Thanks for that, I've added your changes to the source so all future updates will include the change, I guess I need to update the source next time I do update SimPe because what is currently here is a bit behind.
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That would be great. Took me a while to find the latest source code, so a newer version would be good! If you need help or collaboration in fixing bugs/updating etc, let me know.
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I don't know if it's on my end, but I recently downloaded the Ultimate Collection on origin. I am using the latest SimPE version posted here 75_69. My issue is, all the exe files seem to be missing in my install location, aside from Mansion and Garden. Only the TSData folders exist, and the TSBin folders are all missing (M&G is the only TSBin there). I am able to add the Mansion and Garden exe to SimPE. When I do I see all of the objects from every EP, all though when I go to recolor them and create the new package, the package is blank. I tried googling it, but nothing is coming up. I don't remember the TSBin folders being completely missing from the install locations. Does anyone have any idea how to fix it?
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@Chris Hatch is your version of SimPE now unsupported? It no longer saves my settings, which makes it completely unusable because its default settings are completely FUBARed. Please respond if you are still able to support this program.
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It is supported but I don't have the UC so I can't test fixes to problems that are unique to the UC (sorry Synkka, I've been hoping someone with UC answers your problem). I have no idea why it won't save your settings (it does save mine), I can only suggest you try making a profile in SimPe with your settings and see if that saves and opens correctly.
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The UC does not have an .exe for all EPs/SPs like the disk versions, it has just one for M&G. If you do the System Check, do NOT use the Fix option as it will not work and possibly will bork the folders. You need to add each game directory manually in System Folders (preferences) if they are not correct. SimPE does not need to "find" each .exe to be able to properly clone in UC. If you have blank recolor packages it's possible you either don't have the CEP + Extras installed or that they are not listed in the File Table (preferences).
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Quote: Originally posted by Chris Hatch
I tried using the save preferences profile option and it just throws exceptions until eventually I have to kill the process with task manager because there's no way to even close the window without it throwing an exception. Also, it's not just a problem of the settings not saving. If I change the settings, it seemingly doesn't have any effect on SimPE at all. BHAVs are still listed as "Unknown BHAV" and memories are still listed as "---". This is what makes it unusable. |
I have never changed how or where SimPe saves and reads your settings, perhaps Windows file protection (User Account Control) is interfering with it, maybe try installing SimPe into a location that is not protected.
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I tried uninstalling and reinstalling SimPE, and it didn't work. It installed into the default location that your new installer picks. Can you just tell me where SimPE saves settings, so I can go and delete whatever is there?
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All of the settings are found in SimPE's Data folder (SimPe\Data\)
included with SimPe (don't delete) expansions.xreg - tells SimPe where in Windows registry to find the game and each EP/SP and how to handle them. created by SimPe (OK to delete) folders.xreg - stores which parts of the game and each EP/SP you choose to have active. simpe.xreg - stores your settings, user set file paths are stored here. layout2.xreg - stores settings that pertain to the layout. simpe.layout - stores more layout settings, Not readily readable or editable. .xreg files are text files and can be read and edited with Windows notepad. However if you do edit one you must be very careful with syntax because SimPe will trip up on the slightest fault and not continue. objcache.simpepkg and objcache_02.simpepkg if they exist are cache files and can be deleted, all other files in that folder, particularly the .xml files probably shouldn't be deleted. |
Ok. I was able to get SimPE's preferences profile to actually work by running it with administrator permissions, but I can't get Windows to pin the custom shortcut that has the -profile command line argument to the Start menu. Do you have any idea how to do that?
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Greets!
I have UC and have modified my expansions.xreg file to correct path issues. However, I use 2 SimPe's. SimPe_M&G and SimPe_T&A. My paths are D:\UC_M&G and D:\UC_T&A for program files. Doc folders are C:\Users\Savage\Documents\EA Games\UC M&G and C:\Users\Savage\Documents\EA Games\UC T&A and C:\Users\Savage\Documents\EA Games\HCDU Sims 2\Downloads for Mod checking. (I really HATE Looooong folder depth) I use 2 Registry files to "swap" the Registry info (Quaintly called Play_M&G and Play_T&A) This isn't for most people I'm afraid. That being said, If someone with UC's Default install can give me the program and Doc paths, I'll modify my expansions.xreg for you. This isn't a biggie with SimPe. Simply delete the 4 files that are created (Best use of date modified) and replace the expansions.xreg. Might take a couple of try's. Not a biggie, you are not doing any permanent changes or harm. As there are several....ahem...UC's floating around, i'll accept all. Balls in your court. GS |
Hey Chris,
Is it possible to make a plug-in to turn any clothes package into a Default? The User would just choose the Property Set to replace. Something a lot of people would like to see! Thanks, GS |
Apparently the answer is to just the program always with admin privileges, since Microsoft apparently broke the ability to pin shortcuts to Start. I don't know why that was suddenly necessary, but I guess I shouldn't be surprised that either Windows spontaneously broke something that had been working just fine earlier or SimPE just spontaneously broke itself.
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Quote: Originally posted by Savagegrace
What do you mean by a Default? if you mean a Default Replacement then I can't see how that can be done by the property set, the mesh and texture(s) are defined in a 3D ID Referencing file. |
Greets Chris,
I'm talking about a plug-in that a "newbie" could use. Two things are needed, the name of the PS to be Defaulted and a pulled clothes package to be the default. The plug-in would then take the Group and Instance from the PS (as well as the Program and Version) ask sex (F,M,U) ask categories (C,F,U,pj,SW,A,OW). (Perhaps hidden Flag as well) Then it would modify the pulled package and turn it into a Default for that Property SET. I've been doing this for several years. It's way easy but there's a couple of Gotchas one needs to be aware of. Thanks Chris for answering. GS |
Any chance someone knows why SimPE is not displaying the second part of a warning message? Specifically the one for the check of duplicate simID/instance:
"Helper.ExceptionMessage(new Warning("A Sim was found Twice!", "The Sim with GUID 0x" + Helper.HexString(sdesc.SimId) + " (inst=0x" + Helper.HexString(sdesc.Instance) + ") exists more than once. This could result in Problems during the Gameplay!"));" I need to know the actual values to solve this issue, but all that SimPE shows me is "A Sim was found Twice!". What's up with the detailed message not being displayed? It's not hidden under "details". |
2 Attachment(s)
If you run SimPe in advanced mode it will show the details otherwise you need to 'click' on the Details for it to show the details. Most often SimPe will not expand those dialogue windows enough and we need to manually expand the window to view the whole message.
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...ok, but why are there random pictures of girls on the installer and as .exe icons? is this really a legit simPE install? what? have to tell you, those really make me think i installed something else than a tool for ts2?
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Hey Chris, thank you (and everyone else) for your work on preserving SimPE! Is it possible to add more fields to the export file? Such as eye, skin, hair color codes? Or is there an area that I can edit what populates within the export?
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I don't know which export you mean, exporting a mesh can have a couple of options but all other exporting that I can think of only has the option to choose a file name.
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Quote: Originally posted by Chris Hatch
Sorry I wasn't more specific - Tools > Neighborhoods > Export Neighborhoods - this creates a .txt file with hood information and exports the sims/lot photos of said hood as well. There is some information not available on it such as eye/hair/skin color. Is it possible the output of this file to include more? |
Unfortunately that is done by pjHoodTool.plugin.dll and I never been able to get the source code for the Peter Jones components (all that start with pj).
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@Chris Hatch Forgive me if this is irrelevant (I wouldn't know source code if it hit me in the head), but there are some PLJones files on Sourceforge.
. |
I recently undapted my SimPE to 0.75.68, but am having two small issues:
- I have the DDS utilities installed, but the 'build DXT' option is still greyed out. Neither can I link to it in Preferences > System Files. - Despite its default language being set to English, SimPE is mostly displaying in French (my operating system's language.) |
You set the Nvidia DDS Tool Folder in Preferences > SimPE Settings
As for the language problem I will look in to that. My computer uses English Australian as default and SimPe always sets English UK (as that is the closest available) as default which is exactly what I want, I never tried setting to another language but I shall do to see what happens and if there is something I can fix. |
Thank you!
I guess I found another bug, though it might be because I installed this SimPE 'over' the one I already had: The System Files and SimPe Params' panels are too small to display everything at once, but can't be scrolled or resized. I should probably try a clean install, huh. |
Quote: Originally posted by Azelanne
Not yet, it won't change anything. The whole layout for that window is held in the various language recourses (to cater for bigger buttons etc. for longer words). I made the window significantly bigger but from your screen shot it obviously didn't change for French. I think I have it fixed but it may take a day or two to test before updating. |
Alright, thank you Chris!
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I just updated it (to Version 0.75.68.20), hopefully it'll work properly for you now. I couldn't put my computer into French language so I backed up the English resource and overwrote it with French to test it all displays correctly.
It is obvious to me the SimPE's UI will run in whatever language your computers uses if available and that is a Windows thing. The language option only causes SimPE to use that chosen language when displaying catalogue descriptions like in object workshop or for sims in neighbourhood view. It will use it for texts when editing behaves but unfortunately not for pie menus (which is part of the pjse so I can't change it). |
@Chris Hatch, midgethetree on tumblr reports that the version of your SimPE that she has (0.75.68.11) shows the GUIDs of unknown tokens in the Neighborhood Memory. I have version 0.75.68.15, but SimPE (including your version) has never shown any GUIDs in Neighborhood Memory. Is this an actual feature that this version of SimPE has, and if so, how do I enable it?
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