How to istall downloads into The Sims

Most downloads are packed/compressed as .zip files in order to make the file faster to download, but also to take up less space on the web server. To unzip you need the WinZip program installed on your computer. If you don't have it already you can get it for free at http://www.winzip.com

WinZip is very easy to use, and when you doubleclick on a .zip file the WinZip program should open automatically with a list showing the content of the zip file. Check the included files' extension, and by clicking "extract" you will be allowed to browse your computer in order to find the folder to store the files into. If the .zip includes several files and you want to save only some of them, you must highlight those selected first, or all the files will get saved. Webmasters will normally not add different kinds of files into the same .zip file, though, although there might be sets that i.e. include both furniture (.iff) and walls (.wll).

Files ending with  .zip  must be unpacked before they can be installed. 
Files that will work in the game must end with one of the following:

.iff  	objects, they should be put in the Maxis/TheSims/GameData/UserObjects folder
		some put them into Maxis/TheSims/Downloads but that was not Maxis' intention

.wll	wallpapers, they shoulf be put in the Maxis/TheSims/GameData/Walls folder

.flr	floors, they should be put in the Maxis/TheSims/GameData/Floors folder

.iff	houses (without a household), they should be put in Maxis/TheSims/Userdata/Houses
		Note that a house that gets replaced will be gone forever. There is one Userdata 
		folder for each neighbourhood, their number refer to the neighbourhood number 
		(i.e. Userdata3 = neighbourhood #3). The folder for neighbourhood #1 is the 
		exception as the folder is named Userdata and not Userdata1.

Skins are special and more complicated because they need 3 files to work. The skins avalable on Simmerville web will mostly be based on the original Maxis skins that came with TheSims, no expansion packs required. For these skins 2 of the 3 files are already installed in your game, so you will only need to download 1 file, the texture file which is the outfit's colours/patterns and not the shape etc. We did it like this to make less fuss for your game but it limits our clothing to old shapes.
.bmp	skin, should be put in the Maxis/TheSims/GameData/Skins folder
	buyable wear should be put in Maxis/TheSims/ExpansionShared/SkinsBuy

These are only the most common files, there exist .far files as well (this is a compressed file that can contain many objects), and some objects might consist of several files with different extensions. You should be aware that the more complicated an object is (hacked objects) or the more extras with a skin (extra files for hat, glasses, etc) the higher risk for your game to crash. Simmerville offer no such downloads.

If you download a lot of files you will need a good routine, including a way to keep track on what files you install, and to check all downloads in the game before you decide to keep them. There are so many expansions that many objects are no longer correctly marked with info on what expansion packs are needed. Even if you have all expansions some objects will crash your game. It would be boring if you need to remove all your downloads in order to get rid of one single corrupt file.

For all directories except for Skins and Houses you can create subdirectories in order to have a system for storing files and adding. One way would be to create a "not yet tested" folder where you put new downloads, before you check them in the game, and then store them in the other folders. Do not add more than 25 new files to the game at the time.

If you have any questions about downloads please do a search on the BBS at www.thesims.com
You will most likely find that hundreds of gamers have asked exactly the same question before. Check what answers they got before you post a new thread on the subject.

Happy simming! And welcome back to www.hinsides.no/simmerville for more downloads!

Simbille Ballong
BB Hanssen
Stewart Gobelin
Chris JB
Johanna Grumblin
Bertrand Montpellier