Hi ya All,

I've been working hard on making a tutorial on how to combine and compress your Sims 3 custom content files. I have seen stories from many Simmers about this subject with questions and not getting it to work.
I hope my tutorial can solve most (or hopefuly all ) questions or problems relating to this topic.

The tutorial comes in 2 parts:
Part 1 how to prepare your files and which programs do you need.
Part 2 about how to combine and compress your files.

Link to Part I
Link to Part II

Good luck with compressing your files & Happy Simming !!!

Eva,

I'm really interested in compressing my CC. Let me ask you a few questions regarding your experience in this subject:

1) I want to convert my sims3pack CC into package (I know which tools to use). My question is: what will happen to my ingame sims and Simbin sims that are using the CC of the sims3pack files? Will they lose their CC and get all bugged? (I know the sims3pack files are extracted to the folders DCBackup or Library form the /Documents/Electronic Arts/The Sims 3/ etc...) - my game is very stable now but I wish to decrease loading times;

2) The CC in package format, if you convert it to a bigger package file (again your tutorials rock!! so I know what to do and what tools to use ), will the bigger package cause any problems to your game? errr I think the question is the same asked in point 1) -- what I fear is if you change the name/links of you CC, the game will not look for its new locations inside the bigger package files, righ? So I take the risk that custom objects used in my saved games (like cars for example) disappear or even the more frustrating CTDs may happen, right?


(Now just a sidenote for my beloved CeCe: I WANTS A GRAMMAR POLICE!!!)

NEVER!

We will not turn Cstyles into the TS3 forum or any other that police's (ha ha not a real word!!) their sites! Don't make me start misspelling on purpose sir!!

Go get um CeCe *throws things at said grammar police* I'm so glad you said no lol my spelling is terrible thank god for spell check.

Sergio,

That's really a good question, let me explain:

If you want to convert sims3pack file to package files, the CC in CAS and in game will remain the same.
However.....
You basically have to uninstall all your sims3pack files (the ones you're converting to package), to avoid conflicts.

What will happen with your Sims in game and in CAS, when you convert ?
The Sims will lose the CC they are 'wearing' and you have to re-link them to the same CC in CAS converted to package format. It works just like shortcuts to directories. The CC on a Sim, is all linked to CC in sims3pack-format to begin with. Now, if you uninstall the sims3pack-files and add the package-files, although the CC is the same, it will loose the link to your Simmies.

Again the CC will be the same and work the same, but you'll have to re-link the CC.

Some things won't work converted to package-files. For instance a house, both furnished or unfurnished, will not show up in game if you convert to package. You have to work with sim3pack-files for those.

Separate package-files or compressed (combined) package-files ??
There is NO difference whether you use separate or compressed package files. So in this case, you won't lose the link to the CC if you compress package-files to combined files.
The only difference is, compressed files will normally be smaller in size, compared to separate files (not always though) AND it will speed up the loading of your game and speed up access to CC in CAS.
In addition, when a new EA update / EP / SP is available, you won't have to uninstall all your CC (when using package-files), as these are kind of 'separate' from the game as opposed to sims3pack-files (as the updates and spims3pack-files are both installed through the Sims3 launcher).

I hope this answers your question ;) If not, just let me know !

You are crystal clear Milady. I'm honored for such detailed information. Allow me to greet you with a horse eating roses:

Thanks Sergio ! Glad I could help !! :D