How Do I..?: Helper Monkey & Custom Content FAQs

[feralamour]

With so many threads crying out for help with the Helper Monkey and custom content, I thought it'd be best to create a 'solution' thread. Keep in mind, this post assumes you are using 32-bit Windows Vista.

Installing/Uninstalling Custom Content:


All .package and .sims3mod files should be installed into the folder where your Sims 3 installed to. The default location is C:\Program Files\Electronic Arts\Sims 3, otherwise referred to as (Sims 3) for the rest of this post. In order for these files to work, you will need to have the custom 'Resource.cfg' file in the (Sims 3) folder. This is created by the Helper Monkey or you can create your own with the following code.

Priority 500
PackedFile Mods/Packages/*.package
PackedFile Mods/Packages/*/*.package
PackedFile Mods/Packages/*/*/*.package
PackedFile Mods/Packages/*/*/*/*.package
PackedFile Mods/Packages/*/*/*/*/*.package
PackedFile Mods/Packages/*.Sims3Mod
PackedFile Mods/Packages/*/*.Sims3Mod
PackedFile Mods/Packages/*/*/*.Sims3Mod
PackedFile Mods/Packages/*/*/*/*.Sims3Mod
PackedFile Mods/Packages/*/*/*/*/*.Sims3Mod

To uninstall one or more mods, just navigate to the correct folder and remove the appropriate file.

The Helper Monkey installs files into the following folders, depending on selection:

'Install to Sims 3': (Sims 3)\Mods\Packages
'Install to Sims 3 Hacks': (Sims 3)\Mods\Packages\Hacks
'Install to Sims 3 Misc': (Sims 3)\Mods\Packages\Misc
'Install to Sims 3 Patterns': (Sims 3)\Mods\Packages\Patterns
'Install to Sims 3 Skins': (Sims 3)\Mods\Packages\Skins

Access Denied

If you get an error message reading "Access to the path 'where-you-were-putting-the.package' is denied.", you have an issue with user permissions. I know, you are probably pulling your hair out while screaming "I'm the ADMIN!" but Vista doesn't think so.

To resolve this, navigate to the listed folder and right click it. Select properties then the security tab. Once there, click 'Edit' to change permissions. Click 'Add', then 'Advanced' and 'Find Now'. Scroll through the list until you find your user name. Select it and click 'OK'. Your user name should be listed in the window now. Select it and click 'Full control'. Now click 'OK' twice and try installing the file again with the Helper Monkey. Voila!

Feel free to add to this as it is beneficial to the whole community. :)

[callistra]

Thanks for trying to help but we already have the Wiki full of install guides. People are just choosing not to use the guides we have before asking for help.

http://modthesims.info/wiki.php?title=Game_Help:TS3_Custom_Content

[feralamour]

Yeah, I know. lol As you said, they don't usually go to the wiki so I was posting where they DO look... here. ;)

Feel free to lock and/or delete this if ya want. :)

[HystericalParoxysm]

The wiki is also the stuff under the Help dropdown. ;)

[Czeri]

My problem is that when I have the .cfg file in the root directory 4 times out of 5 I can't start the game - I get as far as the loading screen and then it all disappears and I'm back to the desktop. When I remove the .cfg file, the game loads fine but the mods don't work (obviously). I'm not entirely ready to give up on using them, though, because every once in a while the game does load with the .cfg file... Having to restart my computer several times before I can play is awfully annoying.

[whiterider]

This seems to be a somewhat common issue with the Awesomemod from MATY, are you using it?

[Czeri]

Yep, and it's only more annoying that the issue's evidently unsolvable :sigh: