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Contents

Maxis' Content Manager Tool

This article is a general guide to Maxis' content manager tool. Please note that MTS2 does not support the use of the content manager, as Delphy has created Delphy's Download Organiser which is quite superior in organizing your custom content.

Where to Get the Maxis Content Manager

The Sims 2 Content Manager

What is the Content Manager?

  • The purpose of the Content Manager is to scan your Downloads, SavedSims, and Teleport folders.
  • You can easily disable the items you don't want. It does not delete the file (but you can choose to do that instead); Instead it renames the file from .package to .packagedisabled. This is helpful so you can move those files to a different folder for later sorting/deleting.
  • There is a readme file that comes with the .zip so you should read that for a general guide on using the program.

General Tips on using the Content Manager

  • If you have a lot of downloads, Content Manager will take an extremely long time to load so scan a little bit at a time. Or run Content Manager, grab a sandwich or some ice cream or coffee, make a phone call, and then come back in a few minutes.
  • It will label meshes accordingly. This may be helpful in seeing if you are missing a mesh for a specific hairstyle, object, clothing, etc.
  • Hacks and Maxis items (anything that override game functions) will show up in red.
  • If you are a downloadaholic, Content Manager can help you organize your downloads.

Content Manager vs. Clean Installer vs. DDO

So what is the difference between Content Manager, Clean Installer, and Delphy's Download Organiser? Which one is better?

Well, Delphy's, of course.

Clean Installer is primarily an installer, and handles installing sims2pack files (lots, sims, pets, walls, floors, and groundcover) much better than the Maxis installer. While it does have some functions in disabling files, moving files around, etc., and while it will show you the texture for items that have textures, Clean Installer has not been updated in a long time and likely will not continue to be developed.

Delphy's Download Organiser, on the other hand, is a new program (as of April 2007), is an active project, and is much more "intelligent" in terms of figuring out what files are what. Like the Content Manager, it correctly identifies meshes, but it goes further, telling you what meshes are for what objects, where items are in the catalog, scans for orphan meshes/recolors, and many other functions which are wonderful for organizing your custom content.

When it comes to which to use, it depends on what you're trying to do, and what you prefer.

Startup Error

If you get an error when trying to run the Content Manager, this solution was originally posted by EA support:

We suggest that you install the Custom Content Manager first before downloading any Custom Contents, but if you already have Custom Contents, this may be cause some conflicts upon installation.

Please try to re-download the installer for the Custom Content Manager to verify the integrity of the previous download. Also please try cleaning out your Temporary directory. Do not delete the folder itself, open the folder, select all of the contents, and then delete them. Often you will get an error that some of these files can't be deleted. This is usually because they are currently in use, so first let's end any program that would be using these temporary files.

  • Hold down the Ctrl, Alt, and Delete keys at the same time
  • Click the "Processes" tab.
  • Click on the gray bar in the middle column that says User Name to sort by user name.
  • Do NOT select anything for SYSTEM, LOCAL SERVICE, or NETWORK SERVICE.
  • Click on anything besides EXPLORER and TASKMGR for this User Name or other user names.
  • Click on END PROCESS
  • Repeat these steps until only explorer.exe and taskmgr.exe are open for this user profile.

Note that some applications may take multiple times before closing. Don't worry that you are permanently changing your system configuration; these applications will return when you restart your system. Once this step has been completed, please proceed to the steps below.

Part 1

  • Double click on "My Computer"
  • Double click on the C: drive
  • Double click on the "Windows" folder.
  • Double click on the "Temp" folder.
  • Hold the "CTRL" key and tap the "A" key to select all.
  • Tap the "Delete" key on your keyboard and accept the "Are you sure you want to delete these files" prompt.

Part 2

  • Click START --> Run
  • Type in %TEMP% and press ENTER
  • Hold the "CTRL" key and tap the "A" key to select all.
  • Tap the "Delete" key on your keyboard and accept the "Are you sure you want to delete these files" prompt.

Related Links

Sims 2 Game Help Categories:

Custom Content  | Expansion Packs  | Installation  | Gameplay Guides  | Technical & Graphics Issues  | Body Shop & Homecrafter  | Miscellaneous Issues  | FAQ Index

MTS's Sims 2 Q&A Help Forums

Search: