Okay, this is fast becoming an exercise in frustration. I have done everything everyone has told me, and I get Skip, but then he goes all transparent on me.
When I go check him in SimPE his ghost box is checked again. Even when I go in and uncheck it and commit it, he STILL goes transparent on me.
I don't know what else to do. I am about to give up on this.
I successfully resurrected Skip. There are actually two Skip character files, but they are technically two different characters - one has no DNA file. I studied all the memories of Dustin and Brandi and traced them to the correct Skip's GUID, though the picture in the family tree looked more like the no-DNA Skip to me. Even though I brought the correct one back, I had to do a little quicktime romance between him and Brandi with the help of SimPE and the relationship editor. They had to go through the whole love, engagement and marriage thing again, after Skip interacted with his boys and Brandi.
In the Description area, in the extended box, at the bottom there is a 'more...' - there are a few things to check in here as well. This is some instruction I gave a poster at MTS2:
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I successfully brought Bella back as a playable character in the Goth home. I also successfully ressurected her brother, Michael Bachelor and Skip Broke, Brandi's hubby. There are a few other things you have to do in SimPE, in order to get her back. Apart from removing the Dead token, you need to go into the Sim Description Editor and relink her there, too. On the main part, check to be sure that her Family Instance is 0x0001. Under the tab labeled Character, in the Ghost section, you need to uncheck the box that says 'Is Ghost'.
Next, go to the Extended tab and in the center box - Misc. - the entry for 'Unlinked' should be 0x0000. Directly under that field is 'more...' - open this editor and change the display type at the top to 'Decimal' - the values will change and I think it's just easier to read this way.
Scroll down to line entry #:
0062 - should = 1 for Family number
0068 - Lingering house number should = 0
0069 - Ghost flags should = 0 (for no)
0082 - Body flags should = 16 (for a normal adult not pregnant or elderly)
0113 & 0114 - together should be a sum value = to 100, usually in a combination such as 60/40, 75/25, 40/60, 25/75. I usually go with 60 on line 0113 and 40 on line 0114 or 75/25, respectively.
0119 - Motives normally = 3100
0155 - should = 0
0159 - should = 0
0160 - should = 0
0166 - should = 0
Be sure and commit on each screen when you are finished.
Under the 'Relationships' tab, reconnect her with her family and friends. Check every box that applies for each relationship and commit after each one you fix. They will auto update in the other Sims relationships, so you don't need to do double work. If you plan to put her back with Mortimer, she will have no memory of any friendship or being married to him. Make any other changes in her Description that you wish, but these are the ones to get her up and going again - literally.
Two last things to do under the Filetypes in SimPE:
Family Ties Editor - Find her name under the 'Sim' drop down box and check or add those that are there (or aren't). These are Bella's immediate family:
Parent A
Parent B
Married to
Sibling(s)
Child(ren)
You will want to note down her parents and her brother, from her family tree and I find viewing the pictorial tree ingame is the easiest. You can do this from either Alexander's or Cassandra's relationship panel.
Family Information Editor - Goth Household is the second entry. Just make sure she is entered there, if not do so. Save the file information from the task bar at the top under the first drop down menu 'Edit'.
Later on, if you wish, you can go back into SimPE and edit/recreate/fill-in some of her memories. I did some of this using bits and pieces of her family's memories.
Then start the game and go into the lot. Summon her to the lot by whatever means you use - either the Tombstone of L&D or one of Inge Jone's Teleporters (shrub or painting). She will need to interact with everyone there to confirm her relationship. Hopefully you have set her relationship high enough with Mortimer, at least to 90-95, 100 is best for a quick reunion. This will be followed by 'first kiss'. With a little romantic interaction the best friends icons and the pink and red hearts icons will all go up at the same time. When this happens continue with a proposal for engagement and then marriage to follow. From here on she should play as a normal character.
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The family instance number mentioned for Bella was of course for the Goth family. You will just need to replace this with the number for Brandi's family and everything else that is specific to the Broke family.