More Awesome Than You!

One of my bizillion downloads is overwriting the Maxis Christmas Tree so it no longer appears in the catalog.  I haven't looked for this object in months, so there's no way to tell when this happened.  Is there a simple, straight forward way of finding this imposter or am I doomed to search every damn item? 

Binary search (post #7):
http://www.moreawesomethanyou.com/smf/index.php/topic,7437.0.html (http://www.moreawesomethanyou.com/smf/index.php/topic,7437.0.html)

Thanks Toad  but I've been running binary searches until my head is about to explode.  Isn't there some way, perhaps using Simpe, to isolate the identifier used to create the catalog entry and then search for the duplicate?  Does that make sense?  I'm sure this is a common problem, there has got to be a easier solution!

What you can try doing-I don't know if it would work though...create a new Sims2 folder in your 'My Documents' by renaming your original one to 'Sims 2 Main' or something. When your game loads, place down an empty lot and put the Christmas Tree on it. Exit to hood and package the lot. Quit the game, and then delete the test Sims 2 folder (after taking the packaged lot from the packaged lot folder) rename the Sims 2 Main folder back then install the lot with the Christmas Tree on it. Load up your game, find the lot in the lot bin and place it down somewhere. Enter the lot and see what your Christmas Tree has turned into. Do not delete the object in-game though, exit the game and remove the overiding object from your downloads folder.

I dunno if this'd work-it should in theory. :) You can try it anyway.

Maybe clean installer could do it? Doesn't it have a feature where it looks for "duplicate items?" Maybe it would show up that way?  ???

It will not work with custom objects overwriting maxis. Delphi's download manager may, it reports replacement clothing meshes. I haven't had an object truly overwriting a maxis one in a few eps, so I don't know. 

I hate it when people post they are having problems, you give them a possible solution and they don't come back to tell you if it worked or not :D I wanna know if my method worked, dammit!

I'd like to know too!  It's a damned good idea, so it would be great if it worked.  I'm almost tempted to arrange a scenario myself.

If they don't come back, you figure it probably worked.

I suppose....I still want to know though.

Death to Emma.

I'm sorry I haven't written back sooner!  I've had house guests and haven't been able to get back to you.  I never meant to be rude.

Emma, it was a good idea but it didn't work.  It is not the item that was overwritten, just the catalog entry.  The trees remained trees.  I think I'll just open a Christmas Tree Shop and send them downtown to buy one.  Thank you everyone.

If it is just the catalog entry then it would be a hider and not an overwriter (wouldn't it?).

Does anybody know of somebody making object hiders?

I think it's something borked with the installation of the holiday pack.  Especially if it's the first pack.

What do you mean?   Is it something about the pack or something about how it is installed?  The object is there but not visible in the catalog.  Remove the downloads folder and the object appears in the catalog.

Oh-what a shame it didn't work :D

It might be something like a duplicate GUID.  There's a really good tutorial on how to find them and remove them at this link:

http://www.gaysimsclub2.net/forums/index.php?showtopic=3613&st=0

You'll need to register to read the tutorial.  And you'll also need to use SimPe so if you don't have it, you'll need to get it, it's free.