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How To Install Store Items

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  • cianeciane Posts: 16,996 Member
    I should have thought that spreadsheets and Excel might be complicated for the average simmer! I just love the organization of separate sheets within one document with everything organized by type.
  • ZeeGeeZeeGee Posts: 5,355 Member
    Oh no Ciane, it's not you! You don't have to apologize! I just know absolutely nothing about spreadsheets or how to work them. Simmers with spreadsheet experience are thrilled to have it I'm quite sure! At the time, I just didn't need it cause I had all your nicely done links or maybe I would have tried to learn to speak 'spreadsheet' :smiley:
  • TeaniasTeanias Posts: 2,160 Member
    I finished all the day before my birthday OR so I thought a couple of days ago I went in my game to check that I had loaded everything from the store and I had missed a few including all the extra festival lots. So here is that list.
    Uber Toilet
    https://store.thesims3.com/productDetail.html?productId=OFB-SIM3:40849&categoryId=13062&scategoryId=13145
    Warbling Wind Chimes
    https://store.thesims3.com/productDetail.html?productId=OFB-SIM3:38520&categoryId=13062&scategoryId=13145
    Sea shanty wallpaper
    1
    https://store.thesims3.com/productDetail.html?productId=OFB-SIM3:72944
    2
    https://store.thesims3.com/productDetail.html?productId=OFB-SIM3:72945
    3
    https://store.thesims3.com/productDetail.html?productId=OFB-SIM3:72946
    4
    https://store.thesims3.com/productDetail.html?productId=OFB-SIM3:72947
    5
    https://store.thesims3.com/productDetail.html?productId=OFB-SIM3:72948
    6
    https://store.thesims3.com/productDetail.html?productId=OFB-SIM3:72949
    7
    https://store.thesims3.com/productDetail.html?productId=OFB-SIM3:72950
    8
    https://store.thesims3.com/productDetail.html?productId=OFB-SIM3:72951
    9
    https://store.thesims3.com/productDetail.html?productId=OFB-SIM3:72952
    10
    https://store.thesims3.com/productDetail.html?productId=OFB-SIM3:72953
    Sea shanty
    https://store.thesims3.com/setsProductDetails.html?categoryId=11488&scategoryId=14550&pcategoryId=14549&ppcategoryId=14284&productId=OFB-SIM3:72943


    These items are on the exchange
    Monte Vista Festival Grounds
    https://www.thesims3.com/assetDetail.html?assetId=6715249

    Aurora Skies Festival Lot
    https://www.thesims3.com/assetDetail.html?assetId=7022551

    Dragon Valley Festival Lot
    https://www.thesims3.com/assetDetail.html?assetId=7344881

    Midnight Hollow Festival (If lot does not show up, move 0x8d53e630fb04dbb642f6a16f6c61ebbf from “DCBackup” to “Library” Folder.)
    https://www.thesims3.com/assetDetail.html?assetId=7686949

    Roaring Heights Festival Lot
    https://www.thesims3.com/assetDetail.html?assetId=7855023

    Lots used in the pictures of the Brunch at the Old Mill:. (The waterfall lot is tweaked slightly to fit in better.)
    The old mill
    https://www.thesims3.com/assetDetail.html?assetId=8314506
    Stoney falls near old mill
    https://www.thesims3.com/assetDetail.html?assetId=8314505
    I wont be able to get on this weekend but hopefully I will be able to finish sometime next week. I feel like I am so close to being done and yet still so very far away lol! Anyways after I am done with this I get to go on my old computer make sure I have all that I want in my new one is added to the exchange so I can download them . I am pretty sure that will take less that the year that this ended up taking! Of course if I am being truthful I did take a few breaks and had some interruptions probably the actual work was just a few months.

    @ciane Thank you so much for making this thread and list because loading all of it would have been an almost impossible task without it! You know that though you actually had to do it thank God you wrote everything down for the rest of us!

    @ZeeGee Thank you for your videos and help as well!

    Without your twos help ( As well as everyone on this thread and the old one who helped .) with encouragement and a whole lot of helpful information there is no way I would have been able to get it all on one computer let alone two!
    I will make sure to come back at least once to let you all know I am finally finished!
  • cianeciane Posts: 16,996 Member
    Thank you for all the links too @Teanias. I do hope you finish up soon and make a back-up so that your game will play nicely with all your content.
  • ZeeGeeZeeGee Posts: 5,355 Member
    @Teanias You're welcome. :) What a lot of work to redo all those links! Thank you for that.
  • StarbucaneerStarbucaneer Posts: 2,561 Member
    I wasn't happy with the way I had compiled the .ebc files (I ended up with 67) so I started all over again from scratch lol. I hate that EA file names often dont reflect the name of the installed item. Oh well its been a long and arduous job but its finally done. This time everything is logged and sorted into folders and a master list made plus a 2nd list that shows what each .ebc file contains, the description and the file names. I even ammended the package file names so i know which ones are for what content where there was any doubt (should I ever have to start from scratch AGAIN! lol). Its taken a LONG time but now I have 25 .ebc files all compliant with the 204,800 limit!. Lets hope it was worth it when in game.

    As I was working my way through the multitude of files I realised that there is SO MUCH content that I have not used in game even having owned the game for so long. Like for example my Sims have never ridden a horse, milked a cow or cast a spell lol.

    I have promised myself to make sure I work my way through ALL the amazing content until I have seen and experienced everything!

    Happy Simming
    Simming since the beginning! :)
  • cianeciane Posts: 16,996 Member
    It is awesome to have all your stuff installed and hopefully, backed up! Have fun playing with all that store content now.
  • StarbucaneerStarbucaneer Posts: 2,561 Member
    Hi Ciane <waves>

    Just when I thought I had finished....
    I decided to go through my entire purchase history while all that content was still fresh in my memory lol. I not only found some items and a whole set that were not in my back up files but I also purchased a few new single items that I did not have with the simpoints I had left over in my account. So I was STILL finishing up my re-install last night and now have 26 .ebc files :wink::smiley:

    I think I am NOW finally done :sweat_smile: ....... apart from my own CAW worlds of course....and I think I need to down load some of those festival lots that the Sims team created...

    I have made two back ups of the folder of .ebc files and two of the archives of content for each one. LOL

    I really do not want to have to redo from scratch again lol. My Sims dedicated hard drive is now full :open_mouth:

    Happy Simming!
    Simming since the beginning! :)
  • cianeciane Posts: 16,996 Member
    @Starbucaneer - In addition to the .ebc files, you'll want to back-up the library folder (for venues) and the Installedworld folder (for the worlds). Also, back-up the ccmerged file in the dcbackup folder.
  • StarbucaneerStarbucaneer Posts: 2,561 Member
    Thanks for the reminder Ciane, I forgot to back up the ccmerged file :o:o:o:o:# that could have been a disaster in the making! ;)

    I noticed a big difference in the initial game loading. The green bar progresses smoothly and quickly. The same when loading up a saved game (but not quite so fast and smooth) but so much better than it has been for a long time. The game itself runs a lot smoother too. There are so many outfits and items appearing in the various clothing and furniture categories that I had not realised were missing.

    Most important of all and the reason I embarked on the quest.... the Mid-century dining table and chairs finally WORK :smiley::+1:
    Simming since the beginning! :)
  • StarbucaneerStarbucaneer Posts: 2,561 Member
    One thing I did notice is the game has made exact replicas of the .ebc files but ending in temp or tmp. I deleted them as they were exactly the same size. Do you know why that happens? I think I read a comment somewhere about this but can't find it.

    Happy Simming!
    Simming since the beginning! :)
  • cianeciane Posts: 16,996 Member
    @Starbucaneer - that happens when ever you use the launcher. I'm on the old patch 1.67, and use the old shortcut to launch my game; but, if I use the launcher, I get those .tmp files and have to delete them too. They are just one way EA tried to ensure that the store content would show up in your game. The thought was that it had twice the chance to show up. It's much better to just install correctly and know that the content will be there!

    If you forget to back-up the ccmerged file, there is one available on-line for now. It's just much better to have your own back-up and not rely on something that on-line.
  • MmdrgntobldrgnMmdrgntobldrgn Posts: 6,680 Member
    @Starbucaneer if you are able to use the nraas "no cd" mod it will allow you to by pass the launcher for starting the game, and then you'll only have to deal with the .tmp files when you upload or download from the exchange through the launcher.
    Peace, GranMama Dragon
    Exploring life through imagination & satire since 1969.
    Save Game Often
    repair & clear caches Often
    S3 Studio
    S3 blog Story, lists of empty lots by world
    Behrooz
    S2/3/4 Randomnes
  • ZeeGeeZeeGee Posts: 5,355 Member
    @Starbucaneer There's a work around for the tmp file problem, the bane of my existence. :tongue: Ciane came up with using a txt file and changing the name to tmp to stop the tmp files from being created. We tried it and it didn't work, the tmp files just overwrote the txt file the next time the launcher was opened. But someone later figured out it was because of the file permissions. I don't have any clue where that thread is now so I'll just put the instructions here:

    Create a txt file, rename it dcdb0.ebc and then change the extension from txt to tmp. (You have to have extensions enabled so you can see that part). So you will have dcdb0.ebc.tmp. Then change the permissions on the file to keep the regular tmp files from replacing your txt tmp file. Go to properties > security > click 'edit' for permissions, deny everything and apply. Do this for each group or user name at the top of the securities tab. I think you can just deny reading and writing and it will work but I've never tested it out.
  • cianeciane Posts: 16,996 Member
    And this is why a community works so well! Isn't it great to get all the helpful info you need? Thank you @ZeeGee and @Mmdrgntobldrgn for helping out with more great info!
  • StarbucaneerStarbucaneer Posts: 2,561 Member
    Thank you very very much , ciane, ZeeGee, Mmdrgntobldrgn for the valuable info, help and advice :)
    I do use all of Nraas mods (I could not play sims3 without them). I always start the game from the TS3W.exe that I created a short cut to (I have the no cd mod). But of course I have been using the launcher to download a few missing store items after the major re-install. I will put the fake temp file into operation. I have already done a similar operation with the featureditems folder. :) I think I have everything accounted for now <fingers crossed>.

    I have seen some single items that I have not bought from the store (I thought I had nearly everything lol) but I am trying to resist the temptation to buy some more sim points. ( The voice of reason says there is already more than enough stuff in my game ;)o:) )

    Its so nice to see the camaraderie of the Sims3 community is still alive and strong o:)

    oops I nearly forgot, thankyou too Teanias for the links you created.

    Happy simming!
    Simming since the beginning! :)
  • MmdrgntobldrgnMmdrgntobldrgn Posts: 6,680 Member
    edited March 2019
    Thank you very very much , ciane, ZeeGee, Mmdrgntobldrgn for the valuable info, help and advice :)
    I do use all of Nraas mods (I could not play sims3 without them). I always start the game from the TS3W.exe that I created a short cut to (I have the no cd mod). But of course I have been using the launcher to download a few missing store items after the major re-install. I will put the fake temp file into operation. I have already done a similar operation with the featureditems folder. :) I think I have everything accounted for now <fingers crossed>.

    I have seen some single items that I have not bought from the store (I thought I had nearly everything lol) but I am trying to resist the temptation to buy some more sim points. ( The voice of reason says there is already more than enough stuff in my game ;)o:) )

    Its so nice to see the camaraderie of the Sims3 community is still alive and strong o:)

    oops I nearly forgot, thankyou too Teanias for the links you created.

    Happy simming!

    For the featured items folder I just changed the permissions in the folder settings to read only no write.
    featured items folder >> right click >> properties >> security tab >> permissions for system >> (write) checked 'Deny' >> click apply

    I think I got the original instructions from the forums and probably from @ciane.

    And now I wonder, with everything installed if the same would work for the dccache folder?
    Peace, GranMama Dragon
    Exploring life through imagination & satire since 1969.
    Save Game Often
    repair & clear caches Often
    S3 Studio
    S3 blog Story, lists of empty lots by world
    Behrooz
    S2/3/4 Randomnes
  • StarbucaneerStarbucaneer Posts: 2,561 Member
    edited March 2019
    ="Mmdrgntobldrgn;

    For the featured items folder I just changed the permissions in the folder settings to read only no write.
    featured items folder >> right click >> properties >> security tab >> permissions for system >> (write) checked 'Deny' >> click apply

    I think I got the original instructions from the forums and probably from @ciane.

    And now I wonder, with everything installed if the same would work for the dccache folder?

    Hmmm that's an interesting thought, if it works for dccache that would be a good way to protect it from accidental installation! :o or corruption! >:) I will give it a try. I am going to use the ciane method whenever I install anything into my game from now on but I might forget as time progresses ;)

    Happy Simming!
    Simming since the beginning! :)
  • StarbucaneerStarbucaneer Posts: 2,561 Member
    edited March 2019
    @Mmdrgntobldrgn Tried denying write on the DCcache folder and my game started giving me missing items messages so I reverted to full permission. Have you tried it?

    Another quick question to the Team. I noticed a .dbc file had been created as well as a .ebc in my latest batch of installs. Mainly EA created Festival Lots and a few individual store items and one store set. Is the .dbc needed :neutral: ?. What is that file type for :grey_question: ?. (okay that's two questions lol).

    Happy simming
    Simming since the beginning! :)
  • cianeciane Posts: 16,996 Member
    .dbc is sometimes created for venues - so a festival lot might create one. Sometimes the launcher just doesn't differentiate so well between what is store and what was created by someone else. Especially in the case of festival lots, they were created by individuals rather than the EA team; but venues sometimes are flagged as cc in my game rather than store.
  • ZeeGeeZeeGee Posts: 5,355 Member
    ciane wrote: »
    And this is why a community works so well! Isn't it great to get all the helpful info you need? Thank you @ZeeGee and @Mmdrgntobldrgn for helping out with more great info!

    YES!!!
  • ZeeGeeZeeGee Posts: 5,355 Member
    edited March 2019
    @Mmdrgntobldrgn Tried denying write on the DCcache folder and my game started giving me missing items messages so I reverted to full permission. Have you tried it?

    @Starbucaneer You can't deny permissions on the whole folder, only on the separate files. I'll attach a screenshot.
    (oops, I almost posted my email address :lol: )
  • StarbucaneerStarbucaneer Posts: 2,561 Member
    ciane wrote: »
    .dbc is sometimes created for venues - so a festival lot might create one. Sometimes the launcher just doesn't differentiate so well between what is store and what was created by someone else. Especially in the case of festival lots, they were created by individuals rather than the EA team; but venues sometimes are flagged as cc in my game rather than store.

    Thank you for a clearing that up for me :0)
    I knew you would know the answer :+1:
    Simming since the beginning! :)
  • StarbucaneerStarbucaneer Posts: 2,561 Member
    ZeeGee wrote: »
    @Mmdrgntobldrgn Tried denying write on the DCcache folder and my game started giving me missing items messages so I reverted to full permission. Have you tried it?

    @Starbucaneer You can't deny permissions on the whole folder, only on the separate files. I'll attach a screenshot.
    (oops, I almost posted my email address :lol: )

    Thank you Zee, LOL I guessed as much but I was trying to cut corners ;):*

    I will have to do each file when I have a moment o:)

    I have to say the game is running superbly and loads faster than it ever has since.... well when i only had the base game! <3

    The only part that is still terrible is CAS. It is SO SO slow.

    Oh and CAW seems to be having a bit of a hissy fit when I load old world files, it lumps everything into the global folder intead of all the dedicated folders I usually have the world content separated into... but I can live with that. Newer worlds are fine :)

    Happy simming!
    Simming since the beginning! :)
  • TeaniasTeanias Posts: 2,160 Member
    I’m finally done yeah!
    Last week I actually finished I haven’t gone on my old computer to see what all I have to put on the exchange yet I will probably start that next week.

    @Starbucaneer and @ZeeGee You are welcome I would like to say I posted the links just for others to use but It was a lot easier for me to look up the links on my iPad post them here then go on my computer to get them from here. I am glad it they were of use to others as well. I am sure some finished their store list in between my link post for anyone who tried to wait for my post I am sorry it took me so long believe me If I could have finished sooner I would have!

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