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Zoo U Course 7: Bits and Bites Building Basics (self-paced tutorial)
ZooProfessor3
Posts: 9,847 Member
Hi, Everyone! Welcome to Zoo U!
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Course 7: Bits and Bites Building Basics
Description:
This course is intended to take a few building problems that come up in in everyday construction and break them down for the new builder. There will also be a few lessons on adding the sorts of details that make a build really special. The idea here is not to give all the details of any one technique (for example, we will use some Constain Floor Elevation (CFE) work, but it will not be like the full Zoo U course on CFE, we will just use it for a specific building problem).
Course Prerequisites: None! It WOULD be helpful if you would go to post two of this thread and follow the directions there prior to the first lesson.
Skill Level for Students: Beginning Builder
Required Supplies: Sims 3 base game and patches for each EP. Certain lessons may require the actual EP in order to do everything in the lesson, in that event the lesson will list the EPs needed.
Lecturer: ZooProfessor3
Lesson 1: Basements, Basics and Beyond
Lesson 2: Perfect Patios and Fantastic Fountains
Lesson 3: Beyond the Pond
Lesson 4: Does it look like someone lives here?
Lesson 1 is available as a self-paced tutorial starting right here:
http://forum.thesims3.com/jforum/posts/list/165/630579.page#10126849
Lesson 2 is available as a self-paced tutorial starting right here:
http://forum.thesims3.com/jforum/posts/list/300/630579.page#10166556
Lesson 3 is available as a self-paced tutorial starting right here:
http://forum.thesims3.com/jforum/posts/list/465/630579.page#10247412
Lesson 4 is available as a self-paced tutorial starting right here:
http://forum.thesims3.com/jforum/posts/list/600/630579.page#10334444
For Zoo U classes that are "live" a time and date will be given, but they may not be given using your time zone.
You can find out what time the class starts in your town using the World Clock site and their time zone converter. Here is a link:
http://www.timeanddate.com/
ALSO IN THIS THREAD:
POST ONE: Course Description and Lesson Links
POST TWO: Information for Zoo U Students
POST THREE: Class Roster for Each Lesson of This Course
POST FOUR: Previous Zoo U Courses with Lesson Links
POST FIVE: A Note From Your Teacher
ZOO U MASTER THREAD (this thread will contain all links to Zoo U courses and bookmarking this thread will allow you to always find us), just click the banner below:
Course 7: Bits and Bites Building Basics
Description:
This course is intended to take a few building problems that come up in in everyday construction and break them down for the new builder. There will also be a few lessons on adding the sorts of details that make a build really special. The idea here is not to give all the details of any one technique (for example, we will use some Constain Floor Elevation (CFE) work, but it will not be like the full Zoo U course on CFE, we will just use it for a specific building problem).
Course Prerequisites: None! It WOULD be helpful if you would go to post two of this thread and follow the directions there prior to the first lesson.
Skill Level for Students: Beginning Builder
Required Supplies: Sims 3 base game and patches for each EP. Certain lessons may require the actual EP in order to do everything in the lesson, in that event the lesson will list the EPs needed.
Lecturer: ZooProfessor3
Lesson 1: Basements, Basics and Beyond
Lesson 2: Perfect Patios and Fantastic Fountains
Lesson 3: Beyond the Pond
Lesson 4: Does it look like someone lives here?
Lesson 1 is available as a self-paced tutorial starting right here:
http://forum.thesims3.com/jforum/posts/list/165/630579.page#10126849
Lesson 2 is available as a self-paced tutorial starting right here:
http://forum.thesims3.com/jforum/posts/list/300/630579.page#10166556
Lesson 3 is available as a self-paced tutorial starting right here:
http://forum.thesims3.com/jforum/posts/list/465/630579.page#10247412
Lesson 4 is available as a self-paced tutorial starting right here:
http://forum.thesims3.com/jforum/posts/list/600/630579.page#10334444
For Zoo U classes that are "live" a time and date will be given, but they may not be given using your time zone.
You can find out what time the class starts in your town using the World Clock site and their time zone converter. Here is a link:
http://www.timeanddate.com/
ALSO IN THIS THREAD:
POST ONE: Course Description and Lesson Links
POST TWO: Information for Zoo U Students
POST THREE: Class Roster for Each Lesson of This Course
POST FOUR: Previous Zoo U Courses with Lesson Links
POST FIVE: A Note From Your Teacher
Post edited by EA_Solaire on
0
Comments
1. Bookmark this thread so that you can find us for the next lesson. This is where the class will be taking place. IT WOULD BE VERY HELPFUL, but not required, IF YOU WOULD REGISTER FOR EACH LESSON OF THIS COURSE. It keeps the thread bumped so that new students will see it.
2. If you have not accepted a friend request from me, please consider doing that. (this step is optional)
3. IMPORTANT: The class may involve moving back and forth between this thread and your game. You will be posting questions and comments as well as seeing the photo and description of the build step you are supposed to be doing. It is important that you can have the forum opened to this thread but minimized as you build and have your game open but minimized as you come here to post. Please try this out before the course starts by minimizing this window right now, opening up your game and starting a new game, saving your game and hitting the "windows" key on your keyboard (if you have a Mac, kindly scroll down to post four and my friend Wibble will tell you how to do this!) and posting something in this thread (like "Testing that I can post while my game is open") and then going back into your game to make sure all is running well. This all works fine on MY computer, but everyone's machine is different and you don't want any unpleasant surprises when the first lesson begins.
4. I am going to be adding some links to useful threads I'm making for students in Zoo U. It is optional that you do any of those, but they will help you have a smoother time as a builder. I would at least go look at what has been posted, but even that is not required. (This step is optional)
Here is a link to a thread about Tester Families:
http://forum.thesims3.com/jforum/posts/list/486961.page
Here is the Exchange link for my favorite Tester Sim if you don't want to make your own:
http://www.thesims3.com/assetDetail.html?assetId=5018210
Here is the Exchange link for a vastly updated version of my favorite Tester Sim (she has a CAP pattern that I made but no CC) and her cat Helix:
http://www.thesims3.com/assetDetail.html?assetId=6722698
Here is the Exchange link for a group of Tester Sims that would be very helpful if you have Supernatural and are building with Alchemy potions and the like:
http://www.thesims3.com/assetDetail.html?assetId=6767525
Here is a link to a thread about making a Builder's Blank Neighborhood:
http://forum.thesims3.com/jforum/posts/list/488892.page
"Register Me!"
I will be sending friend requests to all who register, and it would be very helpful (but not required) that you accept my request. It would also be VERY helpful if you would register for EACH lesson as registration becomes available. When people register for the current lesson in a course it keeps bumping the thread to the front page where new students can see it.
Here is the Class Roster for Lesson 1:
CrescentMoonPye
3jsand1r
jenny0786
kennady_king
FyireChilde
nerdy3000
priscapup
Jeileen
hpsimfan
Starshine9990
CrystalAbyss1
Nikki9432
J24FKF
Lady_Ser
Simplayer17
jetaxebabez
taebay3
buckeyeDiva
XxBitexXxMehxX
waynesshop
dragondancer622
SpaceKitte
allisonrkennedy
JBAG521
Lauz101
KaruBlack
pokemon8889
shesha911
lukeschrader
Marit_Watery
pammats
Avarnnya
maddycrouch
StamperCat
niac1234
Changeling3
Grace455
nikkystar1
PattyCo
Lissykin
pink_16924
amyrosewinks
Kidede525
SandsM
cdavistheriault
NattaB
gngrsnp
MellieMidget
KIM19310
willowby03
maxjor928
mcveighjess
Nirar22
xgrimxxbeansx
BreeMiles
Here is the Class Roster for Lesson 2:
jenny0786
priscapup
CrescentMoonPye
jacki4u
lukeschrader
Marit_Watery
nerdy3000
cdavistheriault
SandsM
Here is the Class Roster for Lesson 3:
priscapup
CrescentMoonPye
jenny0786
Nirar22
cdavistheriault
Jamexwr
Marit_Watery
nerdy3000
SandsM
gngrsnp
Sallidra20
ElijahsBabyGurl9
Here is the Class Roster for Lesson 4:
Marit_Watery
priscapup
CrescentMoonPye
jenny0786
Sallidra20
Jamexwr
SandsM
nerdy3000
ElijahsBabyGurl9
Nirar22
cdavistheriault
suepea
Gilbert1966
First Course: "Building a Farm" is available in three lessons as an online self-paced tutorial. See links below.
Lesson Number 1, "Building the Barn" is available here:
http://forum.thesims3.com/jforum/posts/list/30/487894.page#7440794
Lesson Number 2, "Building the Farmhouse" is available here:
http://forum.thesims3.com/jforum/posts/list/30/489324.page#7487905
Lesson Number 3, "Finishing the Farm" is available here:
http://forum.thesims3.com/jforum/posts/list/30/491984.page#7550662
Second Course: "Using the Constrain Floor Elevation Cheat" is available in five lessons as an online self-paced tutorial. See links below.
Lesson Number 1, "Beginner CFE, The Rules for CFE" is available here:
http://forum.thesims3.com/jforum/posts/list/60/496129.page#7682045
Lesson Number 2, "All About Arches (Part One)" is available here:
http://forum.thesims3.com/jforum/posts/list/165/496129.page#7812305
Lesson Number 3, "All About Arches (Part Two)" is available here:
http://forum.thesims3.com/jforum/posts/list/270/496129.page#8016556
Lesson Number 4, "All About Vaulted Ceilings and More" is available here:
http://forum.thesims3.com/jforum/posts/list/345/496129.page#8087329
Lesson Number 5, "Water Slides, Pool Covers, and Airship Hulls" is available here:
http://forum.thesims3.com/jforum/posts/list/390/496129.page#8222047
Third Course: "Roofing 101" is available in two lessons as an online self-paced tutorial. This thread is also monitored so students may ask their roofing questions here. See links below.
Lesson 1: Roof Basics can be found here:
http://forum.thesims3.com/jforum/posts/list/45/527220.page#8368990
Lesson 2: Porch Roofs and Victorian Roofing can be found here:
http://forum.thesims3.com/jforum/posts/list/105/527220.page#8432633
Roofing Questions Answered:
Post your questions at the end of this course thread!
http://forum.thesims3.com/jforum/posts/list/527220.page
Fourth Course: "Building a Modern from an Image" is available in three lessons as an online self-paced tutorial. This thread is also monitored so students may ask their questions here. See links below.
Lesson 1: Building the Shell can be found here:
http://forum.thesims3.com/jforum/posts/list/45/550862.page#8843461
Lesson 2: Finishing the Exterior can be found here:
http://forum.thesims3.com/jforum/posts/list/135/550862.page#8967595
Lesson 3: Decorating with Questions Answered can be found here:
http://forum.thesims3.com/jforum/posts/list/180/550862.page#9017585
Fifth Course: "Tomb Building!" is available in four lessons as an online self-paced tutorial. See links below.
Lesson 1: Triggers, Behaviors, Torches and Doors is here:
http://forum.thesims3.com/jforum/posts/list/75/569572.page#9221195
Lesson 2: Dive Wells, Hole in the Wall, Keys and Treasure Chests is here:
http://forum.thesims3.com/jforum/posts/list/195/569572.page#9270620
Lesson 3: Statues, Processors, and Sundries is here:
http://forum.thesims3.com/jforum/posts/list/285/569572.page#9323869
Lesson 4: Fog Emitters and Finishing Touches is here:
http://forum.thesims3.com/jforum/posts/list/345/569572.page#9378657
Sixth Course: "All About Fog Emitters!" is available in two lessons as an online self-paced tutorial. See links below.
Lesson 1: Fog Emitter Basics is here:
http://forum.thesims3.com/jforum/posts/list/45/589336.page#9553690
Lesson 2: Fog Emitter Advanced Techniques is here:
http://forum.thesims3.com/jforum/posts/list/165/589336.page#9619507
I will be teaching this course and if I need to give you any important information on the upcoming lesson I will place my information here in this post. Please check this post when you register and again in a day or two before the scheduled lesson so that you will know if anything has changed about the date or the time or the needed preparation for the class. I very seldom make any last-minute changes, but sometimes situations beyond our control can occur!
I really hope that this course, and all the Zoo U courses, will be helpful to you AND fun and enjoyable for you as well.
I usually wait until about two weeks before a course is to start to put up the registration thread, but January is REALLY busy for me (as I am a college teacher and we have real-life registration going on) so I thought I had better put up the registration thread while I had the time to do it. Plus it just seems like a good start to a new year to put up the first Zoo U course!
Hope to see everyone right here in this thread on the 19th!
ZooProfessor3
Hi Zoo!
I'm hoping to get my puter fixed in time. If I do, I'll join in!
If not, I'm sure I'll learn something anyway. I always do...
Maybe I'll learn what I did wrong to make blank ceiling panels - you never know... ^_^
Good luck to everyone in the class on the project and I hope you all end up brilliant!!! And Happy New Year, while I'm here!
[throws mortar board in air and it gets stuck in the ceiling fan... dang!]
LOL! Hi, Cressie! Gee, I've missed you! So glad to see you back around and hope we get to visit together often in 2013.
You are officially registered for course 7 and I will put your name on the roster.
What do you mean by "blank ceiling panels"? Maybe I can help if I can understand what the issue is. Do you mean MISSING ceiling panels?
Register Me
Please
~Jenny
Thank you so much for making this course since at the moment all my houses in the game look awful.
Register me!
I'm already on your friends list by the way
Sorry, started this morning with a migraine, so just now catching up... I may be travelling around during this time, but I do travel with the laptop, and will try to make classes if this is the case!
Yay! More Zoo U!!
DONE! Welcome to Zoo U! You will all be added to the class roster right away!
Don't worry, even the best builders started out with houses that looked... less than great. We all had "Big Honkin' Box" Syndrome, for one thing, and none of our roof work looked that great (many of us didn't realize Auto-Roof Is Evil at first, either). If you would like to get a taste of Zoo U prior to our class on the 19th, then you might go to the Zoo U Master Thread and try some of the other courses.
LOL! P-pup, TRY to be just a little enthusiastic, okay? No one wants to see you so dull and uninterested in stuff, you know. LMAO! I'm definitely KIDDING as if you were any MORE enthusiastic I would be exhausted just reading your posts. Don't worry, it is SO a part of your charm and if you weren't bouncing all over the thread I would be seriously worried about you. Glad your migrane seems to be gone! MWAH!
TO EVERYONE:
WELCOME TO ZOO U! I will update the class roster to include all your names right away. THANK YOU for your support and for your interest in participating in Zoo U!
I just wanted to make sure that I could have my game open in windowed mode and post here. I am looking forward to this course. This will be my first time in a Zoo course
~Jenny~
Zoo, I tried back-when to alter a Bridgeport high-rise penthouse and altered where the walls/windows were (to make balcony/outdoor deck); and some of the ceiling tiles disappeared as a result cuz I used the "allowbuildbuyalterationssoyoucanmangleapartments" cheat [can't remember the exact real name atm but it lets you alter apartment buidings] and it didn't like what I tried to do - but I did, cuz it looked neat so I live with the missing ceiling tiles and pretend theyre there.
It won't let me use the solutions that MeaganJo suggested to me (deleting floor tile below then pasting it back - supposed to reconstitute the ceiling tile above. But it didn't work.)
I think I can't fix it because the apartment penthouse has a designed roof and I think that isn't happy being messed with. ? :P
Go ABOVE the missing ceiling tile (the floor tile that it becomes on the floor above). It will look as if the floor is there. Delete it and then put it back. Now go down one floor and the ceiling tile should not be missing.
Common causes of missing ceiling tiles include deleting "flying" floor tiles that generally result from using CFE (the Constrain Floor Elevation cheat). One thing that HELPS (though I have not found that it completely eliminates the problem) is to always paint your ceiling early in the building process and ESPECIALLY when using CFE.
If you want to reference the Zoo U CFE course, you will see that Guest Professor Svlyn does a lot of discussion on this issue.
I just need to know a few things:
1) Do we have to be here at a specific time because I only have time to play The Sims 3 on weekends?
2) If we do have to do this at a specific time then would we be allowed to catch up in a day or two just in case this is on a weekday? If its on a weekend then I probably will be able to do it at an exact time.
3) If we don't have an EP with certain features that we need then do we just improvise?
Thank you
I was wondering is you will put this course out as a self paced one after the official class is over...i work on Saturdays and won't be able to take it. I hope so, cuz I would love to learn how to build something other than 4 walls and a floor
thanks!!
Hi nerdy! If you look at post one of this thread, you will see that the first lesson is on Saturday the 19th and it gives the time for the lesson in US Central Time. If you need help converting the time, use this link: http://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/
Ideally, you would be here for the class, BUT you can always view the class on your own. The advantage of being here when the teacher is here is that you can ask your questions and get an immediate answer (rather than having to post the question and wait until I'm back on the thread to get the question answered and then wait until you happen to be online to read the answer).
Most of this course will be done with base game (and all patches) only, no EPs, so it may not even come up that we use an EP in class that you don't have.
IF I use something that was not in the patch, that came only with the EP, I will say so. Of course, I am not always sure what came with the patch and what came with the EP itself, but I will do my best.
Zoo
Hi, waynesshop! DEFINITELY the course will become a self-paced tutorial AND I monitor all Zoo U threads so that if you have a question, even in the future, I will do my best to get an answer for you.
Do you want to be added to the class roster?
[Oh, did I just type that out loud...? Bad, naughty awful me!! Be quiet, self, and mind your own business!]
Hi Zoo ^_^ heehee :P
I thank you for your clarification on the missing ceiling tiles, very edumacational - but what shall I do when there is no above floor? It is the top of the apartment building and, as such, has no alterable surfaces above on the roof.
Tricky, huh?!
Shall I stop asking all these ceiling tile questions in here and move the posts over to the CFE course thread? I'd be happy to oblige since I am the one that has clotted this one up before class has even begun. O_O
--- signed, the class troublemaker