Good grief. Packaged lot sizes?

[TashaYarrr]

(Insert noob disclaimer here, with a pinch of "but I read the site FAQ!")

So I'm just getting up to speed on Why Bloat Is Bad, and I'm trying to start a clean 'hood'. I had some lots that I wanted to keep due to custom decorating and the fact that I hate a) spending too much time trying to decorate or b) trying to good CC lots that fit my tastes.

Er, yeah. Long story short, I have been using the Package Lot option, and I'm ending up with 100-140mb sized packages so far. These are not huge/ostentatiously decorated lots (some of them are quite small), and I don't have a larger-than-normal amount of custom content. 

Is this normal, or did I break something?

[ElfPuddle]

Lots files are just plain huge.
How have you packaged them? To the Exchange, or to a file?
What's is a "normal" amount of CC?

[purplehaze]

After packaging, are you opening the lots using the clean installer? I can't recall, but sometimes almost your entire downloads folder (recolors) can be packaged with the lot. Open with CI and remove useless files. Remember to rename the lot (something different) before repackaging it. There are tutorials in the 'create' section ( I think 'creator guidelines)   at MTS2 on how to  package lots for upload. You would use the same procedure for saving them for personal use.

[KatEnigma]

The lot packager basically packages your entire downloads folder (okay, only all the objects)  with the lot. They fixed it with Pets, and then borked it again, for some stupid reason- I think on purpose, since CC uploading with the lot was listed as a "fix" on one of the patches. 

[Khaki]

Here's a link to an outline I did about how to package a lot for upload...  it's not as easy as it should be...
http://www.modthesims2.com/showthread.php?t=228501

let me know if you have any questions

[TashaYarrr]

Thanks for all the responses. It seems likely that it's the problem mentioned, adding all my DL objects (rough guess based on the average bloat factor), but I'll check out a package with Clean Installer.

To answer a couple of the questions: I am saving to file, and "usual amount" of CC = I keep it well under 1gb due to incredible impatience with loading screens.

[TashaYarrr]

And thanks for the link, Khaki. Going there now.

(Tried to edit the above post to add that; I can find no evidence that it stuck. Sorry for spam.)

[Zazazu]

You have to hit "Modify" above the post. The edit link is just a cruel joke.

I've also noticed with my lots that if a lot has ever been occupied, it will still carry character references for the sims who used to live there, their family, and everyone they've ever seen....ever. Plus any hacks you may have like the phone hack (not tied to an object).

[J. M. Pescado]

Maxis Packager
Likes To Package All Your Crap
Download Less Garbage