Desperately need advice with organizing CC

[gayl]

I have posted this in the past on a few of my blogs/journals but I am at a point where my game is really getting hosed and I need some help. So far I haven't had a lot of feedback elsewhere so I am trying here.

I recently installed a lot that I thought had some CC that was crashing my game so I installed the lot in an AnyGame neighborhood with only the meshes and CC that came with the lot. No crashes. That leads me to believe that something else is the problem. I thought I had narrowed it down to a few folders and was able to load a uni lot without crashing but putting those files back in and the lot or the lot catalog crashes the game. It crashes in the Build>Doors and Windows and sometimes in the Misc>Misc catalog but it is random.

I know about the 50/50 rule and going through CC but all my stuff is in sub-folders and not in any consistent manner. So my question is this - what would be the best way to sort or organize CC? Mind you I have nearly 10 gigs and over 47,000 files (which in itself is an issue). And by sorting through files slowly what do you do about the fact that you might be looking at a recolor that you didn't add the mesh for?

I can pull everything out of sub-folders so they are just in the Downloads folder and sort through that way but once I find the culprit, I'd like to keep things organized.

Any suggestions or tips is greatly appreciated. I'm guessing this post makes no sense or seems like one long ramble. I'm frustrated, tired, hungry, and seriously upset about this.

[heredoncove]

I keep my downloads in subfolders too. It looks like Download --> Object Mesh --> Creator Name --> Actual File, so I know it can be crazy but its easier to keep organized and I don't suggest you dump them all out in to the Downloads folder unless you want to scream bloody murder later.

I would suggest getting Delphy's Download Organizer and doing a scan for orphan files. This will take care of any recolors that don't have meshes attached to them and (I think) for meshes that don't have recolors for it. The Download Organizer will also help with getting any other organizing problems that you may have.

You can try adding the files back sub folder by sub folder and after you find the problem sub folder, going file by file. It may be a hack problem, was the lot totally clean? You can run the hack conflict program and see if that helps.

[gayl]

Oct 3, 2010 23:49:33 GMT -5 @heredoncove said:

I keep my downloads in subfolders too. It looks like Download --> Object Mesh --> Creator Name --> Actual File, so I know it can be crazy but its easier to keep organized and I don't suggest you dump them all out in to the Downloads folder unless you want to scream bloody murder later.

I would suggest getting Delphy's Download Organizer and doing a scan for orphan files. This will take care of any recolors that don't have meshes attached to them and (I think) for meshes that don't have recolors for it. The Download Organizer will also help with getting any other organizing problems that you may have.

You can try adding the files back sub folder by sub folder and after you find the problem sub folder, going file by file. It may be a hack problem, was the lot totally clean? You can run the hack conflict program and see if that helps.

The lot isn't the problem. I tried it in a different game with no other CC and it doesn't crash so there must be some other file that is causing the issue. Maybe its a conflict.

I do like the way you organize your downloads. That might be an option. I considered by Creator/Site.

I've used Delphy's DL Organizer but it isn't always reliable especially with what it thinks are duplicates when the MD5 numbers are different. But it is a good way to move large files once I figure out how to organize them.

Thanks for the suggestion. I am hoping I can get some more feedback as well.

[laura]

I'd probably be the last person with any good advice, since I have (comparably) very little CC in my game. Only about 1.5 GB, lol!

One thing that helps me though, is that I have a folder called "incoming" and that's where I put any new stuff that I download. It's like a holding cell, and they'll stay there for a couple/few weeks before I compress and sort them to where they'll actually go. Not only is it nice to just throw stuff somewhere (because I'm lazy, lol!), but also it keeps any possible riff-raff out of my real folders that I know are safe. Then if I do have a problem, I know right where to look.

Added bonus, it gives me a chance to rethink some of the stuff, after I've tried it out in game, if it didn't look as good as I thought it would, or wasn't as useful, then I know right where it is so I can delete it. That probably helps keep my numbers down.

But as for my safe CC, I organize very loosely. Just about 15 folders or so - clothing, hair, skins, build mode, decorations... No sorting by creator or anything. Too much work for me, lol!

[sb]

I'd reload the CC by subfolder since you have them in subfolders. When you find one that crashes, then go through the 50 50 process. Not sure it makes any difference HOW you test the CC as long as you're methodical about it.

[drew]

Gayl,

Since I have such themed CC, I use sub-folders like "Retro, Western, Graves, Grunge," etc. Then I have garden, build, that sort of thing.. Actually, I haven't done any organizing in ages, and I like Laura's idea of the 'incoming' folder, what a great plan, I will do that.

How frustrating for you to have this problem. I guess adding by subfolder and loading the game each time may be the only way to pinpoint the problem.

[gayl]

Laura my problem is that I am not a very organized person to begin with. I counted and I have over 200 sub-folders since I tried categories, creator, even install dates. I end up with duplicates or triplicates. And since I don't get into the game with regularity testing doesn't happen for awhile. And I have a lot of old old stuff that needs to be deleted, particularly hair.

Beth you know me...methodical is not in my repertoire. I have to just bite the bullet and do it. I know you just went through this. And I need some sort of consistent filing system. I sort of like Laura's idea. I started doing that and took it too far. (ie sub-folders within sub-folders)

Thanks both of you!

[gayl]

Drew you're right. And as for themes...I sort of don't have one LOL! I used a version of Incoming by using Install dates but if you don't go back and check it...that's an issue for me. I don't play often enough.

thanks!

[somuchsong]

Sounds like our CC folders probably look very similar! I also have about 10GB and honestly, I've just given up on trying to find a better way to organise it all. I've tried doing it by function, by date, by creator and I just cannot be bothered!

So when I have an issue, I just bite the bullet, pull out half the folders, test the other half, blah blah blah. It's tedious, but I get there eventually. It would probably be less tedious if I was more organised but the process of organising everything seems so tedious in itself. So I just live with it.

Good luck figuring out your problem file!

[gayl]

I think you and I have tried the same organization! Category, date, creator. Yep I've tried those.

I am slowly weeding through everything. I am seriously going to clean out my old CC one of these days. Game loads really fast (test NB) but I haven't added clothes or hair yet so...we shall see.

[thevintagesim]

Dear Gayl,

I know where you are with this. It's happened to me at least twice. Now, I know our situations are different and you have CC that is necessary for your characters and hoods that you use for Sessions, etc, so I won't even talk about re-installing. I'll take a different route.

Tips/Things to think about:
1. How were things before you installed the new lot? Have you taken out your entire DL folder and tested the game? Remember that some mods/hacks will corrupt your game or other files in your DL folder. If your game runs fine without the Dl folder, you can (or I would) take 1/4 of it and add it back into your ts2 directory. Test it. If it works, add another 1/4.

2. I know you said that you installed the lot by itself with just it's cc, etc. But, what came with the lot? Any hacks or modded objects? These sorts of things can clash with other hacks/modded objects that you have in your hood.

3. Remember that every time you make a change in your downloads folder, you should delete your .cache files.

4. I know Beth and you probably have a lot of the same CC. One solution might be to have her send you her DL folder. From there, you can add some of your CC in their own separate folders to your DL folder and then run the game. Test. Debug. Etc. It will take a while, but at least you'll have your primary CC needed to work with your stories. Beth could also wrap up hoods for you and send them to you.

5. I know a lot of people have already given you good advice for the future already, but I'm reiterating it. Every time I add some new CC, unless it's by a trusted creator, I always make a new sub-folder and name it very carefully. I put the title of the creators, significant objects, etc. Also, all of my hacks/hacked objects go under hacks --> object's name --> objectfile. I also place poseboxes into their own folder.

6. For the future, be very very very very particular about lots that you download, especially if you don't know the creator. Lots are like..the number one cause of file corruption. I know this, because every time I've had to reinstall or start over, it was because of a bad lot =_=
Now, I only download lots in which the CC is packaged separately and all that is installed via clean installer is the lot itself. Or, I use lots that have no CC, then I decorate it myself.

Well, I think those are the best tips/possible solutions that I have to offer. I hope they help! Good luck!

[gayl]

Christina, thanks that is all extremely good advice! I am slowly moving things into the game and testing but with nearly 50,000 files it is slow. I can't share with Beth because her issues are the same as mine. If I can get mine stable, and I seem to be having better luck than she is right now, I will send her my DLs again.

The lot I installed...well I put it in a blank Anygame NB and it didn't crash. I obviously corrupted some files since the crashes were unrelated to CC that came with the lot. CC that I have had forever would crash the game when I added it. I still have a long way to go but I am getting there.

I already decided that downloading lots from now on would involve installing just the lots with out CC and trying to decorate myself based on the example of the furnished lot or downloading lots furnished only with Maxis Content. Then I can redecorate. Problem is I am not that good at it especially when it comes to landscaping.

Thank you so much for your tips; I am definitely using everything I've gotten from this thread.

[thevintagesim]

*nods* Well, I wish you both the best. I know I've been there and done that two or three times, if not more. It's just something that if it's worth it to you, you have to trudge through it bit by bit and remember to do things differently in the future!