Just wanted to mention that I've tested package combining for TS4 recolors created with Color Magic. Not a surprise if you've done this in TS3, but nice to confirm it still works. Good for if you want to combine multiple recolors of the same item into one download, for instance. And down the road, it seems likely that TS4 will have the same issue TS3 did with very large numbers of .package files (in the hundreds): Windows runs out of file handles, leading to performance degradation since data has to be read off disk. (We'll hopefully get another CC Magic to automate this, or an extension of the existing one, but Grant has a lot on his plate
)
So, How To:
1. Create each of your recolors in a separate package file
2. Open one of the package files in S4PE
3. Right-click in the empty area
4. Choose Import | From Package
5. I used the following settings... not sure which of those are critical for success, but these worked:
6. Do a "save as" rather than "save", to avoid overwriting the item you started with
Voila! you now have a combined package, containing all the resources of the individual ones. You can keep adding packages to the first one, as many as you like.
Happy combining
Comments
Exactly
This way you can distribute "sets" of recolors rather than have people have to deal with multiple downloads.
Developer of Sims 4 Modding Tools -- Sims 4 Stuff n Things
birdiesims.tumblr.com
If I understand correctly what causes this, it's not so much a game issue as a Windows issue. It's just hard for a program to work with hundreds or even thousands of tiny separate files.
In TS3, Sims3Packs avoided the problem because the launcher automatically merged them into large packages. Grant's CC Magic tool did the same thing for .package files. http://www.modthesims.info/download.php?t=461888
Of course, one solution would be to make it easier for modders to produce Sims4Packs (assuming there will be an equivalent), and for players to manage those... time will tell how all that is handled this time around! Won't be handled by the launcher though, because now there isn't one.
Glad it helped!
After you close the dialog, choose "Save As" from the File menu.
Don't think it matters if you add one package at a time or many at once, but I'm not sure I've tested both... I tend to be cautious Try it and see!
I'm going to make sure I download the latest version of Colour Magic as I think I am one version behind, and then try recreating the offending package to see what results I get.
Thoughts on a new wall mode?
If it happens consistently, I'll need you to upload your package file somewhere so I can take a look at it and see where CM is going wrong.
Thanks,
--Grant
p.s.: There should be a CM 0.2.3 out this weekend that expands the Category Flags. I think I've gotten all of the Unknowns fixed now. A little testing and I'll get it uploaded.
Developer of Sims 4 Modding Tools -- Sims 4 Stuff n Things
Also, will we be able to assign different categories? Like, have an underwear show up in Full Body outfits?
I think there are still age and gender flags elsewhere, but the "AgeAppropriate:xyz" flags are available. Color Pallets, Styles, Fabric choices, etc. Lots of really cool stuff. I've just got to squish a couple scroll-bar related bugs and I'll get it put up for download.
Developer of Sims 4 Modding Tools -- Sims 4 Stuff n Things
Now if only I could fix those pesky thumbnail previews.
Thoughts on a new wall mode?
C:\Users\(User Name)\Documents\Electronic Arts\The Sims 4\localthumbcache.package
Thanks, but the issue is with the items themselves. I've since discovered that while they look great in the demo, when I use them in the actual game the black bands in the thumbnails DO actually show up on the Sims.
Thoughts on a new wall mode?