How much is too much

[Motoki]

I categorize hairs into their proper Maxis genetic as I get them. (I use SimPe; it's pretty easy.)

How exactly do you categorize the hairs in SimPE? Do you have to manually set all the flags? I know Pinhead wrote a long tutorial for it some time ago but it kind of just made me go 

[Lynda]

Anyone planning to use DatGen to categorize hair should make sure to get the debug version.  It fixes many many problems which were in the plain .0.7.13 version -- in fact, at least in the hair-categorizing aspect, it works perfectly.

I have no idea why I can script in various programming languages just fine, but I can't figure out the simplest SIM program...

So I downloaded the developmental release.  The hair toner plugin isn't there, I can't figure out where to find it, and by this thread on TSR, it seems that hair toner has been dropped.

I'm just a flipping idiot, right?  Do I need to use skin toner to categorize my hair, or is the hair toner plugin available somewhere?

ETA: I think I give up.  The tutorials don't go over how to categorize hair with the skin manager.  I load some files, but have no way of knowing what COLOR it is (unless the filename gives a clue)....  It seems like skin manager then auto categorizes hair, all on its own SOMEHOW because after loading some files, if I go to skin manager, they've assigned themselves to a category.  It seems like it all conflicts though because filenames indicating "blond" are assigning themselves to "black". 

[MokeyHokey]

I followed an excellent simplified tutorial by buffysmg81 at N99.
I take no credit for this! The original post can be found here: http://p218.ezboard.com/fstarlightsimsfrm62.showMessage?topicID=631.topic.

1. Open the file you want to recategorise in SimPE.
2. Click on "Property Set", then "Plugin View"
3. Click on each Property Set and find the line that says "Family". Change the value to "b52b9d28-7b62-4f41-bd88-fb382721db82" (no quotes) - just highlight what's already there and paste that over it. There will be about 5 or 6 Property Sets for each hairstyle and you need to do this for all of them.
4. Find the line that says "hairtone". Depending on what colour the hairstyle you're recategorising is, you'll need to enter one of 5 codes in the value box.

Black
00000001-0000-0000-0000-000000000000
Brown
00000002-0000-0000-0000-000000000000
Blonde
00000003-0000-0000-0000-000000000000
Red
00000004-0000-0000-0000-000000000000
Grey
00000005-0000-0000-0000-000000000000

Again, you need to do the same thing to all of the Property Sets, just like you did in Step 3.
One of the property sets of each hairstyle will be grey for the elders.You'll know which Property Set is for the elders because the line "name (dtString)" will list the colour as "grey", instead of the actual colour. When you find the elder Property Set for each style, just enter the code for grey instead of the regular colour.

5. Save.

[SaraMK]

ETA: I think I give up.  The tutorials don't go over how to categorize hair with the skin manager.  I load some files, but have no way of knowing what COLOR it is (unless the filename gives a clue)....  It seems like skin manager then auto categorizes hair, all on its own SOMEHOW because after loading some files, if I go to skin manager, they've assigned themselves to a category.  It seems like it all conflicts though because filenames indicating "blond" are assigning themselves to "black". 

They haven't actually been categorized. It's just a display issue. You are right that there is no way to know what color a hair is, unless the filename tells you. The program can't know either. What it's showing you is the color of the hair that was cloned. So if someone clones black hair and then makes all the other colors from it, then the program will show it as black. I use SimPE to open the files to see what color they are, if the filename gives no clues.

[Hairfish]

I have just over 3GB total in my \Downloads and \Saved Sims folders. I'll reduce that by a few MB when I removed the Halloween decorations, but will probably replace them with even more Christmas stuff.

That 3GB is a lot when you consider that I only have a 40GB hard drive.  Where's the 12-Step Group?

[aqualectrix]

Using SimPE or DatGen to manually categorize hairs is indeed possible and VERY tedious.

The HairToner plugin was indeed dropped in favor of Skin Manager.

Skin Manager cannot tell you what color something ought to be.  If you are lucky, the creator was kind enough to put the color in the filename.  Otherwise, once you have the Hairtone Category Editor open, you can drill down into the files and see textures, which should allow you to decide on your own.  Generally I rename all hairs to something meaningful as a sort of set-up step before going into DatGen.

There is a tutorial for categorizing hairs on the DatGen site which is pretty good.  If any of you are interested in a text-only bare-bones tutorial of how I personally go about it, I can probably work one up.

[laeshanin]

I have just over 3GB total in my \Downloads and \Saved Sims folders. I'll reduce that by a few MB when I removed the Halloween decorations, but will probably replace them with even more Christmas stuff.

That 3GB is a lot when you consider that I only have a 40GB hard drive.  Where's the 12-Step Group?

Goddess only knows, because I get sidetracked all the time from what I'm supposed to be doing by the download crazies... Aaarrgggghhh, do...not...need...more...hair... 

[BlueSoup]

I had a special folder in my favourites that I had a long list of free sites in, and I finally had to delete the list, since I couldn't take the pressure.

MUST. NOT. DOWNLOAD. 

[Brynne]

ah, but you know I have a copy of that list, so there's your safety net should you decide to jump off the wagon...

[laeshanin]

You'd be a great one to take out on the lash, eh? No point in refusing a drink...er...list helping hand when it's offered, because a certain person wouldn't take no for an answer! So gimme the goddamn list. NOW! 

[BlueSoup]

Well I have a copy of the list at Posie's as well, and I posted it on the BBS.

Funny story with that.  I posted it on the BBS under my original name (gilmorefan) and then the other night I was on the other account (StupidityLeak) and someone asked for a list of download sites.  Not thinking about the different names, I just copy-and-pasted the list, and then got called a plagiarist for it! 

[reggikko]

I did some pruning and got it down to 778mb. Go me! Still have more pruning to do and I should try to organize it. 

[Bangelnuts]

I did some pruning and got it down to 778mb. Go me! Still have more pruning to do and I should try to organize it. 

here's a bit of good news for all of us downloadaholics. I am getting ready to get a bigger hard drive for my  computer and I was taling to guy who puts hard drives in and sells them etc  and he told me that until the drive drops down to  10% percent of its capacity available ie 4 gig in a 40 gig hard drive the computer will act normally he said in that neighborhood the pc starts doing odd things.  Iam going from a 40 gig to a 160 gig hard drive

[lindaetterlee]

CRIES*** well i did it. I deleted nearly the whole damn thing. I killed objects, object recolors, hair, meshes and clothes. *CRIESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS** now i need to download more. I downloaded for mts2 and pronupsims and a few others for hair so for. I am organizing them as followed all the sub hair colors in the same folder as the mesh and the folder is titled the mesh name. now that folder is in a folder with the name of the arthor or site they came from or both.

Now i need to know more really great quality free sites.

[BlueSoup]

So, the point of deleting it all, then re-downloading everything was just to get it organised?  If that's what makes you happy, I guess more power to you.

If you want some download sites, here are some:

Index Sites

http://www.strategyplanet.com/thesims/simsshowcase/ - index
http://www.thesimsurfer.com/ - index

Both clothes and objects

http://simfantasy.free.fr/Sims2/sims2 - very nice furniture
http://www.aroundthesims2.com/ - gorgeous furniture
http://www.simplystyling.de/homesims2.html - nice clothes and objects
http://www.modthesims2.com/
http://www.parsimonious.org/ - Sims and lots are the best thing about this site
http://www.spiffysims.com/ - really nice clothes and a lot of content in general
http://mangosims2.free.fr/
http://www.peggysims2.net/ - has some nice stuff
http://www.romancesims.com/
http://www.serasims.de.vu/ - a really nice site
http://www.simsquirts.com/ - for all of your Sim children
http://www.sims2luxe.com/
http://www.simsconnection.com/
http://www.sunairsims.net/ - very nice furniture and accessories/clothes
http://www.welldressedsim.com/
http://www.simslice.com
http://sims2sisters.sme.sk/
http://www.simchic.com/ - objects, clothes, makeup, and accessories.
http://tarox.sx.am/
http://www.simgedoehns2.de/eng/index.htm - modern furniture, some skins
http://www.vitasims.com/sims2.htm
http://www.simplyelau.it/index.htm
http://www.mmo-town.com/viewforum.php?f=15&sid=b9bb7017cb3289a06c1f623ccbcf97b5
http://www.2-for-u.de.vu/
http://69.50.240.194/~bellamob/
http://sims2.beewitched.com/
http://forwardmotionis.net/
http://gameisland.ru/TheSims2/eng/main.html
http://fashion-show.org/
http://www.simulatedliving.com/
http://www.thesimsresource.com - Not free, but a rotational 3% is free and changed every 3 days.
http://www.pixelsims.com/ - nice windows and doors. Some clothes here as well, but not much of that.
http://www.coolbits.com/sims/
http://www.xmsims.com/
http://moonsims.asi.org/simlove/Sims2/
http://simsid.com/sims2_index.html
http://www.simenapule.it/

Clothes

http://all-about-style.com/index.html - a Victorian section
http://www.pronupsims.net/ - a lot of hairstyles and wedding themes
http://77simlane.angeltowns.com/77simlane2/ - more gothic and dark-style clothes, piercings and hair
http://www.alicefashion.com/index.htm
http://www.getskintight.net/
http://sims.varotica.de/ - gothic style clothes and underwear.
http://www.simsboutique.com/index.php
http://www.ikkerinas-pages.tk/
http://www.sims2paradise.com/
http://games.groups.yahoo.com/group/Style2ForSeniors/
http://www.helaene.com/ 
www.hairfish.com/mermaidcove/

Objects/Build Mode

http://www.holysimoly.com/ - fabulous modern furniture
http://www.casa-darte.de/ - art and decorative objects, as well as extensive walls and floors
http://m-sim-o.com/ - very nice, modern furniture
http://www.simcrow.com/
http://sterlingsims2.com/ - large selection of walls and flooring, as well as lots and a forum
http://reflexsims.de/index1.htm - very nice site
http://www.simlogical.com/ - hacked objects, etc.
http://www.eternal-echo.net/sims/ - awesome meshes for rugs (recolourable) and kids stuff

[Motoki]

So, the point of deleting it all, then re-downloading everything was just to get it organised?  If that's what makes you happy, I guess more power to you.

That was the point in my case. It may sound crazy, but I got so tired of spending all my free time in file management because of the way the game is and the lack of decent tools for it. I found it easier to start from scratch and be more selective and also be better about categorizing and using subdirectories.

[BlueSoup]

Motoki, it's not so crazy.  I know, I have done that too.  When I reinstalled the game right before I installed NL, I started all over with new downloads, and spent forever organising it into sub-sections.  It was a lot easier than trying to figure out what everything was and moving it over.  Now I have a system that works pretty well.  Plus, it's easy to take out a certain component (like hacks, for instance) if I want to upload a lot.

I only have less than a gig of CC, and it took forever, I can't imagine rebuilding 5!

[Bangelnuts]

So, the point of deleting it all, then re-downloading everything was just to get it organised?  If that's what makes you happy, I guess more power to you.

That was the point in my case. It may sound crazy, but I got so tired of spending all my free time in file management because of the way the game is and the lack of decent tools for it. I found it easier to start from scratch and be more selective and also be better about categorizing and using subdirectories.

Ifinally got rid of the truckload of meg hair marked as CC in my game it took forever but Iffigured out that either the hair itself was missing  leaving a meesh and no hair and some had hair with no mesh. after going one by one in Simpe and disabling the truck loaoad of meg hair .I exited Sim Pe andwent to body shop and deleted them 1 by 1..I now have exactly 4 meg hairs in my game 1 blonde ,1 red.1 brown,and 1 black all  maxix made

[LynnMar]

I have 4.6GB's in my download folder.   Most of mine are clothes and hair, and clothes and hair meshes.   I only have 3 objects meshes and those are beds. 

  I would love to delete some of mine too but I don't know which mesh goes with what clothes. 

  I would pay anything to get a program where we could see the clothes and it would point to the meshes that go with them,   something like the simenhancer we had for sims 1.

Motoki, I just downloaded your elder fix, so I am going to delete all of my saggy, baggy elder ladies outfits,  that will clean out my download folder a little bit and thanks for the fix.   

[simmiecal]

So, the point of deleting it all, then re-downloading everything was just to get it organised?  If that's what makes you happy, I guess more power to you.

That was the point in my case. It may sound crazy, but I got so tired of spending all my free time in file management because of the way the game is and the lack of decent tools for it. I found it easier to start from scratch and be more selective and also be better about categorizing and using subdirectories.

You're not alone. I was inspired by this thread to do just that. I had over 6gig and even though I had subfolders, it was hard knowing what was the mesh and what was a recolor. I've used some of the suggestions from this thread to better organize the folders. I have subfolders under subfolders under subfolders now with a picture in each subfolder of just what the item is so I know which files to delete in the future if I want to get rid of something.

[Motoki]

Motoki, I just downloaded your elder fix, so I am going to delete all of my saggy, baggy elder ladies outfits,  that will clean out my download folder a little bit and thanks for the fix.   

That's part of the reason why I made that file. By recategorizing the Maxis clothing, I was able to get a lot more outfits for elders and for the workout category without needing any meshes or textures at all.

I had previously created copies of those sweats in the bodyshop and recategorized them as workout, but that was a terrible waste of space as each one of them had a copy of the textures files which are large and which already exist in the game files, so I was able to get rid of them and save at least a little space in my downloads folder.

[Bangelnuts]

Motoki, I just downloaded your elder fix, so I am going to delete all of my saggy, baggy elder ladies outfits,  that will clean out my download folder a little bit and thanks for the fix.   

That's part of the reason why I made that file. By recategorizing the Maxis clothing, I was able to get a lot more outfits for elders and for the workout category without needing any meshes or textures at all.

I had previously created copies of those sweats in the bodyshop and recategorized them as workout, but that was a terrible waste of space as each one of them had a copy of the textures files which are large and which already exist in the game files, so I was able to get rid of them and save at least a little space in my downloads folder.

Isaved space  in mydownlaos folder thanks to your mod and myelders are alot more stylish now

[LynnMar]

I need to clean mine out too and I am trying to deceide between datgen and simPe,  so I have two questions.

the last version of SimPe that I read about there was an issue with the program being too big for the screen or something like that, was that issue resolved?

and about datgen,  I would download it but I do not know how to install the april05 update to directx, if you double click it you get a bunch of files and then I don't know what to do next as it is not self installing can anyone help me please?   thanks

sorry to be so dense.   

[Motoki]

Don't feel bad, we all gotta start somewhere. At least you're trying to learn.

re: SimPE

I think it's running okay now. I haven't had any problems with it lately.

re: DirectX

Which files are you trying to get and from where? I'm not quite sure which ones you mean.

[LynnMar]

it is directx_9c_Apr05sdk
win32 Cabinet Self-extractor
microsoft Corporation

I already downloaded but have not installed it,  Dark Matter says in all his posts about DatGen that you must have the update for your directx or some of the plug ins will not show up.