Order in CC files w/ s3pe (Wrong place to write this?)

[EmEmOsEwA]

I'm kinda new at this, so.. sorry if I'm posting this in wrong topic

Ok, so I'm just wondering... how is the best way to have order in CC files? :)
Is it by what it is (Clothes"Pants, Sweater, etc") or maybe who made it (ModTheSims"-creatorsname-")

I'm going to use s3pe to make my game faster, and need a way to sort the files out. (I like to have order in my stuff)

:!: If I've posted in wrong topic please tell me, so I know... So I can write it in the right place or something :)

[morphius1]

Yeah, I know what you mean.
I just rename my files right after I download them.
I have heard more bad than good about the S3PE to even want to try it.
Good luck.

[ellacharmed]

Organizing CC? Not in s3pe. Use CC Magic. :)

[EmEmOsEwA]

Just tried CC Magic, and it's really handy!!
But.. just to make sure... When I make sets in the "default" section, CC Magic will combind the packages in the set so its just a big package? (so the game will go faster)
I have read about it, but just to make sure :)

Thanks!!

[ViviSims2]

Don't include your mods in that 'one big package', because when they need updating it's a pain in the plumbob to separate them from the package, replace them, change them etc.

[apostf]

Don't include your mods in that 'one big package', because when they need updating it's a pain in the plumbob to separate them from the package, replace them, change them etc.
Yes, updating merged packages may be a little problematic, but I completely disagree with you - doing it makes the game load MUCH faster, actually it works as if it was CC-free.

I'm really psycho about keeping my CC clean so this is a perfect thread for me :D Personally, when organising my CC, I stick to these rules:

I rename all files this way: Creator_Filename.package
All .sims3package files are converted to .package with Sims3Pack Multi Installer
Everything is organised in proper folders (for example: Clothes/Female clothes/Female tops); you can see a screenshot of my Packages folder here: http://i.imgur.com/9qyWs.jpg


Now, the package merning - I use s3pe for that, but I guess CC magic is alright as well. I keep a copy of my Packages folder with my CC organised in subfolders on other partition. My orginal Packages folder contains only merged packages + hacks/default skins and eyes (I never merge them).
http://i.imgur.com/uCCRo.jpg

As you can see, I have only 9 .package files and believe me, I don't experience any lags, even in CAS. Yes, updating these may take a while, but I just collect CC that catch my eye and merge it every week or so. It's really really worth it. Oh, and more more thing - remember about keeping the merged packages clean, if you merge a pattern file with something else, your game can crash.

See .package merging tutorial here: http://club-crimsyn.dreamwidth.org/28336.html
Also, check out this CC organising tutorial: http://ohmysims.tumblr.com/post/24336581511

[Srikandi]

Don't include your mods in that 'one big package', because when they need updating it's a pain in the plumbob to separate them from the package, replace them, change them etc.

That is only an issue if you DON'T use CC Magic.

The big advantage off CCM is that it lets you manage your files transparently as though they were not merged, without giving up the advantages of merged CC. That's pretty much the whole raison d'etre of the program, even though it has a lot of other mod management features as well (filtering, subsets, configurations, collections and so on).

Just tried CC Magic, and it's really handy!!
But.. just to make sure... When I make sets in the "default" section, CC Magic will combind the packages in the set so its just a big package? (so the game will go faster)

Almost... it actually makes one package per set, so the number of packages loaded equals the number of sets you define.

But you won't start running into performance issues until you have more than a couple of hundred packages (which is when windows starts running out of file handles), so you can be pretty prolific in defining sets.

[cameranutz2]

...I have heard more bad than good about the S3PE to even want to try it...

Don't know where you've been reading more bad than good comments, but, I've been using s3pe from the day it was released and it works just fine for me. It's a pretty handy tool and easy to use if you do your homework to find out just how it works. You can't expect to just install it and let it rip if ya don't know what you are doing.

And if ya do have an issue with it all ya have to do is post on Simlogical and Inge/Peter will check into reported issues and correct them if need be. Or you will be advised how to properly do what you are trying to do.

[EmEmOsEwA]

Yes, updating merged packages may be a little problematic, but I completely disagree with you - doing it makes the game load MUCH faster, actually it works as if it was CC-free.

I'm really psycho about keeping my CC clean so this is a perfect thread for me :D Personally, when organising my CC, I stick to these rules:

I rename all files this way: Creator_Filename.package
All .sims3package files are converted to .package with Sims3Pack Multi Installer
Everything is organised in proper folders (for example: Clothes/Female clothes/Female tops); you can see a screenshot of my Packages folder here: http://i.imgur.com/9qyWs.jpg


Now, the package merning - I use s3pe for that, but I guess CC magic is alright as well. I keep a copy of my Packages folder with my CC organised in subfolders on other partition. My orginal Packages folder contains only merged packages + hacks/default skins and eyes (I never merge them).
http://i.imgur.com/uCCRo.jpg

As you can see, I have only 9 .package files and believe me, I don't experience any lags, even in CAS. Yes, updating these may take a while, but I just collect CC that catch my eye and merge it every week or so. It's really really worth it. Oh, and more more thing - remember about keeping the merged packages clean, if you merge a pattern file with something else, your game can crash.

See .package merging tutorial here: http://club-crimsyn.dreamwidth.org/28336.html
Also, check out this CC organising tutorial: http://ohmysims.tumblr.com/post/24336581511

WOW! Thank you soo much! I'm totally going to use your tip! :)
Just one question: Do you keep your "un-merged"(If I can call it that), somewhere on your computer? So you can edit them and merge them again if you added something? Or du you merge them in the merged package? (That was a lot of merge!)

That is only an issue if you DON'T use CC Magic.

The big advantage off CCM is that it lets you manage your files transparently as though they were not merged, without giving up the advantages of merged CC. That's pretty much the whole raison d'etre of the program, even though it has a lot of other mod management features as well (filtering, subsets, configurations, collections and so on).



Almost... it actually makes one package per set, so the number of packages loaded equals the number of sets you define.

But you won't start running into performance issues until you have more than a couple of hundred packages (which is when windows starts running out of file handles), so you can be pretty prolific in defining sets.

I actually tried CCM, but I just don't get the "/Cache/Sets" map.
I did this:

1. Added some sets to the "default"
2. Clicked on "Configuration" and moved all the default maps over from "Disabled" to "Enabled"
3. Then I clicked the "Rebuild" thing..
4. When it was done I clicked the "Clear Cache" button

I found a tutorial on Thesims3 forum, but it didn't work for me.
I really want to play without waiting a hour by the loading screen

I'm so happy now :)

[Srikandi]

I actually tried CCM, but I just don't get the "/Cache/Sets" map.
I did this:

1. Added some sets to the "default"
2. Clicked on "Configuration" and moved all the default maps over from "Disabled" to "Enabled"
3. Then I clicked the "Rebuild" thing..
4. When it was done I clicked the "Clear Cache" button

If you clear CCM's caches, you have to rebuild again before playing :) You don't need to clear caches unless you suspect you have problems.

Launching the game from the Play button in CCM will rebuild for you if needed... but if you launch the game another way, you'd have to rebuild manually.

Of course, the configuration your have enabled your sets in has to be the active one.

Grant will answer questions at the CCM forums.

[eskie227]

WOW! Thank you soo much! I'm totally going to use your tip! :)
Just one question: Do you keep your "un-merged"(If I can call it that), somewhere on your computer? So you can edit them and merge them again if you added something? Or du you merge them in the merged package? (That was a lot of merge!)





Well, I'm not nearly so organized in my merged packages, but I do keep an EA archive folder that contains sub-folders of all my package files before merging. This came in handy when I needed to deal with the rig fix that came with Pets. It does become useful when individual items are updated, or when an object/hair/whatever is not playing well.

I do have a "trial" folder in my EA/mods folder which I place all new content into. This way, if I really don't like something after downloading it, I can eliminate it. When that folder gets ~100 MB, I merge those files I know (I hope) I want, and save a copy of the original in my archive folder.

I also keep an archive of all my individual S3Ps. This way, if my CCache ever gets messed up, I can always reinstall those items through the launcher.