Custom CAS Tutorial

[Saraswati5]

Hi Guys

At the suggestion of the lovely and kind Tiggerypum, I'm posting my CAS modification tute. I've broken it up to make the tutorial as easy as possible for you guys. This tute is also hosted at The Sublime Sims Forum (http://www.getphpbb.com/phpbb/viewtopic.php?t=285&mforum=ssaussiehideout)/.

:deal: This tutorial is also provided in PDF format. To view it, we strongly suggest to download the Foxisoft PFD Viewer (http://www.foxitsoftware.com/pdf/rd_intro.php): it's free and small, less than 1Mb!


:alarm: If you have the Seasons Expansion: :alarm:
You must use Numenor's BaseGameStarter (http://www.modthesims2.com/showthread.php?t=107015) or the Any Game Starter (http://www.modthesims2.com/creator/showthread.php?t=250555) to create your custom CAS lot without Seasons!! Custom CAS lots created in Seasons will cause all sims made within your new CAS screen to freeze to death. Unless you like simsicles, you'll need to use the BaseGameStarter.

PETS also can cause problems with strays appearing. Fencing in the lot seems to help - perhaps the basegame starter is also what you'll want to use. Yes, you will not be able to place things from EPS that you didn't include using the basegame starter, but it's better than having random strays appear or freezing sims. :blink: :blink:


Creating Custom CAS houses

Hi Guys

It's been a year since this tutorial was originally written and it's time for an update so we can incorporate all of the wonderful things we've learned about modifying CAS houses. I will also be writing a tute that deals with some tricks involved in creating more advanced CAS houses and how to package your CAS house be shared with others.

Today I'm going to explain to you how to add a custom background into the Create a Famiy screen. There are quite a few steps to creating these backgrounds and it is a slightly fiddly process but it's much, much easier than you think! So let's begin..

1. Firstly, open up your game and add a brand new neighbourhood without lots or Sims. The neighbourhood can look any way you want and can have any terrain you want. Once you have created your neighborhood, close your game.

http://thumbs.modthesims2.com/getimage.php?file=348285

2.Follow this path to find your CAS household package

C/program files/ea games/The Sims 2 Pets (or whatever your most current expansion or booster pack is)/ TSData/Res/Global Lots.

When you get there, you will see two files, the CAS!.package and the YACAS!.package. The CAS package is your Create a Family house for your base neigborhood, Downtown and Bluewater Village. The YACAS!.package is your Create a Student house for your University Nieghborhoods.

For today we are going to edit our Create a Family house for our base neighborhood. (the principles are exactly the same when you edit the YACAS! House) Copy the CAS!.package file to My documents/ea games/the sims 2/lot catalog

http://thumbs.modthesims2.com/getimage.php?file=348286

3. You will see a series of files labelled cx_00000001.package, numbered upwards (ignore the files labelled Character, they’re not the one’s we’re working with). In this case they’re numbered up to cx_00000041. Change the filename of your CAS! Package to be labelled the same as these packages, but make it one number higher than the last package. In this case because the last file is numbered 41, we labelled it cx_00000042.package.

http://thumbs.modthesims2.com/getimage.php?file=348287

4. Re-enter your Sims game and go to your newly created custom neighborhood.

http://thumbs.modthesims2.com/getimage.php?file=348288

5. Go to your Lots and Houses bin, scroll right to the end. The CAS house will be the very last house in the bin and will be recognisable because it is labelled as a series of junk letters, in this case jkgbkyuy. Place that house in your neighborhood

http://thumbs.modthesims2.com/getimage.php?file=348289

6.Enter the house. You will see two rooms. The room to your left in this picture is the room where you assemble your family. The room to the right is where you view the individual Sims while you customise them.

The podium and photos in the right hand room and the camera set-up (all those items are actually only one item) in the left hand room cannot be moved, but you are able to do some fairly substantial editing around them. You can for example remove the standard windows and replace them with different ones. Today I’m going to redecorate both rooms using standard Maxis furnishings, mostly from OFB.

note: There are hacks done by Windkeeper that we can use to make the Podium objects dissapear, but we won't talk about how to use them when constructing CAS houses until the next tutorial.

http://thumbs.modthesims2.com/getimage.php?file=348290

7. Ok, here is the room where we preview individual Sims given a spit and polish with a new paint job and carpeting, some new furnishings and an extra window.

http://thumbs.modthesims2.com/getimage.php?file=348291

8. And this is the room where you assemble all of your Sims, repainted and carpeted with extra windows and lighting. Ok, we're now ready to reimport it back to being a Global Lot so we can use it to photograph our Sims. Save your changes and close the game.

http://thumbs.modthesims2.com/getimage.php?file=348292

9. Go to My Documents/ Ea Games/The Sims 2/Neighborhoods. Inside the folder you will find a number of neighbourhoods. The neighborhood with your CAS house will be the highest number because it’s the most recently created.

http://thumbs.modthesims2.com/getimage.php?file=348295

10.Go into your Lots folder within your Neighborhood folder. There will only be one lot in there, which is your customised CAS house. Copy that house to your EA Games/ The Sims 2/ Downloads folder, then go to that folder.

Once you have copied your package file to your downloads folder, if you wish to you may get rid of the new neighborhood you've created as you won't need it again and getting rid of it will not damage your CAS house in any way.

http://thumbs.modthesims2.com/getimage.php?file=348297

11.Edit the name of your file to call it CAS!.package.

http://thumbs.modthesims2.com/getimage.php?file=437822

You are now able to go into Create a Family and take screenshots and the Create a Family background will now be edited the way you want it to look. Just to prove it, here’s a shot of our new house..

http://thumbs.modthesims2.com/getimage.php?file=348300

12. As you can see, it looks much, much brighter prettier than taking photos of them against a standard brick wall and wooden floor. From here, just take your screenshot and crop the picture as normal.

If you would like to share your CAS Screen: So you've made the perfect CAS screen and you want to share it? You will want to share the CAS!.package file that you put in your Downloads folder. If you are meaning to upload to MTS2 please see the Creator Guidelines (http://www.modthesims2.com/forumdisplay.php?f=338) for information on how to RAR or ZIP your file and the requirements for upload. If you have used custom content in your CAS screen it will not be included! You will need to make a "shopping list" of links to every custom item you have used (with details enough that people know which item from a set you used, if applicable), and anyone who downloads your CAS screen will need to go and download all those custom items for your CAS screen to look right in their game. For this reason, it is likely MUCH better for you to use all Maxis content for your CAS screens, or a minimum of custom content that's easy to find and download. If you use items from expansion packs in your CAS screen, downloaders will need to have those expansions for those items to show up right in the CAS screen, but it should still work even if they don't have those EPs.

If you're sharing the CAS screen with others, it's recommended you put a little installation instruction on your upload. If you want you can copy-paste this here:

To install this custom CAS Screen:
Place the CAS!.package file in your My Documents\EA Games\The Sims 2\Downloads folder after making sure to remove/delete the files for any previous custom CAS screens you may have downloaded.


Have fun creating pretty backgrounds for your Sims! Cheers Kath

http://www.sublimesims.net (http://www.sublimesims.net/)

[Skadi]

Excellent Tute, I might go start making some now!

[Saraswati5]

Hi Skadi

Thank you so much for your kind feedback it is very much appreciated! :-)

Kath

[phoenix42793]

Very easily understood tutorial. Thank you for sharing this! Gave this tutorial 5 stars and a thanks! I just have one question, you said "(Note: I will mention at this point that I have been trying adding the modified CAS to my downloads folder at the suggestion of Windkeeper and leaving the original CAS house where it is and early indications are that it seems to work just fine that way.)" So which way should we import the new CAS, the downloads folder or... the other folder. Does it make a difference?

[tiggerypum]

Phoenix you should be able to put the new package in your downloads folder and it should work. If it doesn't you could put it in the other location.

Does it make a difference? In the functioning of your game, no. For you to keep track of if you get a new EP, yes. Much easier to have it in your downloads folder, where you expect your customizations to be, instead of someplace else on your hard drive.

[phoenix42793]

Thanks Tiggerypum for answering, as always your a great help :)

[OpheliaNival]

Great tutorial, however I can't seem to find the TSData-file?! I have UNI. Is there something wrong with the game, me or may I find it at another location?

[ElizabethSwann846]

ok big problemo!!!!
When i try to upload the lot onto my neighborhood my game crashes!!!
(just a little info i downloaded a cas screen wrong and deleted my original if that is any help)
will somebody PLZ help me!!!!!
i hate the one i have!!!!!

[tiggerypum]

Ophelia....

You need to go to your C drive and work your way through the folders...
This is what Vashti wrote:
C/program files/ea games/The Sims 2 Open for Business (or whatever your most current expansion or booster pack is)/ TSData/Res/Global Lots.

So you would go to my computer - c - program files - ea games - and then look for your Uni folder.

ElizabethSwann -
I suggest (as you say you downloaded a CAS house and deleted your original - you should always follow directions carefully) that you try downloading a different CAS house and delete the one you don't like from your downloads folder. Maybe someone else will have a better suggestion.

[pink_pants]

Hi! this is a great tutorial, thank you very much.

I have a question. Awhile ago I downloaded a new CAS and in the instructions it suggested replacing your default with the new file. Now, I'm fairly certain that I no longer have my default, which could cause problems. If I go in and delete the CAS!.package entirely, will it automatically regenerate the default? Or will I have to do a reinstall? If anyone has any information, I'd be very grateful.

[tiggerypum]

I believe it will NOT regenerate. You could try moving that CAS file out of your folder and see what happens. Or download another CAS you like better from this site and replace it with that one. You looked and you didn't have a backup file anywhere in your folder?

[jaxad0127]

You can retreive a copy of it off the install CD (in compressed.zip under the same folders).

[pink_pants]

Thank you so much! Getting it off the compressed.zip worked perfectly. Now I have all my defaults back in place in preparation for Pets.

Thanks again!

[nathe1019]

Cool! :D

[play girl]

OMG!!!! thanks for this tutorial :D take a look:
http://img505.imageshack.us/img505/4413/casku7.png (http://imageshack.us)
thanks a lot for the tutorial :) :up:

[Saraswati5]

Playgirl, that is so cool matey!! well done!! :D

Vashti

[play girl]

Playgirl, that is so cool matey!! well done!! :D

Vashti
thanks so much again cause if it wasn't for you i couldn't have done it thanks a lot ;) :lovestruc

[nathe1019]

Wellm, i have a problem... I couldn't find the house were you bulidt the CAS-screen. Help?

[tiggerypum]

Nathe, you don't say exactly which spot you're at when you can't find things. Perhaps best would be to start over and read very carefully. If you still get stuck, please try and explain exactly what part worked and where things don't make sense.

[Jonesi]

I have a question....How do you get rid of the objects that are already there, such as the chair, all the paintings on the wall etc...

[tiggerypum]

You can hide parts of the CAS using this from windkeeper: http://www.modthesims2.com/showthread.php?t=162363

[Jonesi]

thank you! xxxx

[derrecksboo]

no the Foxisoft PFD Viewer is 2.0 so dont listen to the top part.



:alarm: :alarm: :alarm: :alarm: :alarm: :alarm: :alarm: :alarm: :alarm:
_______________________________________________

[IgnorantBliss]

no the Foxisoft PFD Viewer is 2.0 so dont listen to the top part.


Umm, I don't understand what you mean by that. The download is 1.5MB but otherwise, what's there not to listen?

[Vampixen]

I have finished making a custom CAS screen and though it was created in the dark, now it shows as daytime when in-game. Is there any way to correct this and make it show as Nighttime? :help:

[tiggerypum]

hmm, could you fake it by building a wall outside the window and putting up a mural that looks like nighttime?

[sjokolade]

Hi, this tut totally owns! Awesome! I made my own CAS screen different painting and flooring! yay! But then I saw these cool CAS screens with cifferent mirrors and without thw paintings and stuff! And I reeeaally wanna make, uhm, CAS screens without the pictures and... stuff!! So I was hoping that someone could tell me how that's done.

[sjokolade]

oh sorry, I didn't read Jonesi's question and tiggerypum's answer. sorry. thanks tiggerypum and vashti.

[Vampixen]

hmm, could you fake it by building a wall outside the window and putting up a mural that looks like nighttime?

I had thought of that, but I'm afraid it might look too out-of-game? I thought someone might know a way in SimPE to edit a global in that package file to turn it to night. I'm still pretty new to modding and I greatly appreciate any help. :)

EDIT:
Also, the Cas screen I'm working on is an outside view (Wide open) to give it full 3D depth. I am also using the hidden objects hack and the hidden Maxis lights.

[Saraswati5]

Hi Vampixen

I think because the house itself has hidden tracks and settings the only way you could do it is to fake it the way Tig suggests..

Keep in mind depending on how close your walls are, you could actually have the mural on both floors of the wall itself and create the right effect. Your Sim has a fixed view and is never going to see over two floors.

And Sjokolade, I'm glad you got your issue sorted. :-)

Cheers

Kath

[Vampixen]

Hi Vampixen

I think because the house itself has hidden tracks and settings the only way you could do it is to fake it the way Tig suggests..

Keep in mind depending on how close your walls are, you could actually have the mural on both floors of the wall itself and create the right effect. Your Sim has a fixed view and is never going to see over two floors.


Okay, I tried putting up 3 levels of wall. I have Maxis trees in the views around the lot. The second level made everything on the lot disappear. :blink: I guess I'll have to give up on this one... until someone finds a way to change a hex code somewhere in the package to make it night.

[choccy94]

thanks for this tutorial! i'll check my CAS screen works now! hopefully i might be able to upload it someday, thanks!

[Icky]

Yay! NEw CAS screens! Thanks! :D (haha, my name's Kath too. XD)

[barneylover05]

:cry: I do everything the tut says, but then theres no CAS house in my houses. Why does this happen? :alarm:

[tiggerypum]

Probably you missed a step. Maybe try again, slowly. Make sure everything you're doing looks exactly like the screenshots and make sure you do it for _your most recent EP_

[nyanyako]

Thanks for this wonderful tutorial. I used to play the game with what has been given to us. Now I'm starting to customize my game by downloading custom content and other stuff. I think this tutorial will make my gameplay more exciting.

Thanks again. I'm gonna go try to do it myself. :gjob:

[Saraswati5]

:-) Miggs that is just wonderful to know that..

[draik12]

woot woot woot! works brilliant!
is there a way to allow pets into the screen? ie. move a family in with pets, position them where you want them, save the lot, exit and move it back into the cas folder? because i have a pet-related CAS screen and i thought it would look better if i could put some pets in. ^_^
and i have a guinea pig and bird cage, and they look so empty without the pets in them.
*sigh*

[Saraswati5]

:-) Not that way, but there is another way you can do it... Keep in mind cats and dogs are normal members of the family, so you can decorate the part where you assemble your family appropriately and photograph them there.

[Tarahsoeren]

Great great great!
I'm going to do my own CAS as soon as I have time left to!

:gjob:

[Lizcraft]

I am not sure what's wrong with me? my computer? my game? But something is wrong!

I'm familiar with all of the folders and I've followed these steps to a tee and my costum screens still won't show up in the game. I have one of windkeeper's cas files to hide everything except the podium and mirror and that works, those objects don't show. But neither does my custom screen!

I've got NL, Uni, OFB and Pets... Pets is my latest install so I tried putting the file in there. I tried putting it just into my downloads file like people have suggested. I tried putting it into Pets and Uni... and into everything... into each different file, one at a time.

It's. not. working. I want to scream! I am so, so, so, so sick of the brick. Why did they have to make it so difficult to change? They know we like customizing!

[nathe1019]

Ok, I know that. I've tried many times to find it. I read the instructions carfully. But it was a long time ago now, I'll try again now. :)

[Tigger]

wewilllgo ... the mistake that I had forgotten was to take the neighborhood house and put it into the lotcatalogue. I had been putting the copied / renamed CAS in there instead. I also learned that (with Pets) I did not have to put the CAS lot back into the house & lot bin after I finished working with it. I am using the invisibles by Windkeeper as well and all worked fine for me. I hope you get it working.

[Upgraded_Dragon_Hacker]

Awsume tutorial!!! But I have a problem... In my Res folder, I do not have any subfolders, like Global Lots... and If I make a folder, there will be nothing in there... so how do I get the CAS! file?

[Judfer]

OK, Kath, I am going to try making a custom CAS. You have been warned. ;-D Thank you for the tutorial.

I had a problem making it show up. Turns out it was a stray custom CAS lurking in my Saved Sims folder! When I deleted it, my new CAS showed up. http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e306/Judfer/snapshot_b26bae49_926bae4d.jpg

Unfortunately, I got a bit carried away adding furniture. http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e306/Judfer/snapshot_b26bae49_526bae76.jpg

[Upgraded_Dragon_Hacker]

can anyone, post a CAS!. file, and a YACAS!. file, for me, It would be very helpful!
Or could you send one to me?

[tiggerypum]

This is a tutorial for making your own. If you want a redecorated one, go look in the downloads area of the site.

[Judfer]

Awsume tutorial!!! But I have a problem... In my Res folder, I do not have any subfolders, like Global Lots... and If I make a folder, there will be nothing in there... so how do I get the CAS! file?

You can get it off your game CD.

Look here: MyComputer/ Devices With Removable Storage/Sims2EP3_1(D: )/Compressed.zip and then inside go to: TSData/Res/GlobalLots/CAS! and YACAS!

On your computer you should go to MyComputer/Hard Disk Drives/Local Drive (C: )/Program Files/EAGames/The Sims 2 Open for Business/TSData/Res/Global Lots/CAS! and YCAS!

It has to be there, otherwise you would not be able to open CAS in your game.

Try it.

[Upgraded_Dragon_Hacker]

THANK YOU!!! IT WORKED!!! And ALL the other files I don't have, like lots, and saved sims, are there!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! YOU ARE THE BEST!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Upgraded_Dragon_Hacker]

GGGGRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!I have the files, I have my lot, I have everything, but the CAS lot, won't show up in the house bin. I have read EVERYTHING here 4 times, ans I redid everything 8 times, WHATS WRONG!!!!!

[tiggerypum]

I don't know. At first you were having serious problems finding the files. What is your most recent EP? Maybe you still aren't looking in the right place?

[Upgraded_Dragon_Hacker]

Finally, I resolved everything!!! Thank you everybody, for helping me, especially tiggerypum!

[Upgraded_Dragon_Hacker]

But I have one question. I am uploading my file, and I want to attach a picture to it, but how do I take a picture of my Create A Sim CAS, while I am using it to Create A Sim?

[mjakeli6]

Thank you so much! You don't know how much you helped me.

BTW this site rocks!

[tiggerypum]

Dragon Hacker - use your system's ability to take a screenshot with the printscreen key. Then alt-tab out of the game, and paste your picture into a paint program. Crop/resize it as necessary - mts2 doesn't accept full screen size shots, so just scale it do to 700 wide or something and save in jpg format and it should be useable.

[LeAnn]

Thank you sooooo much for the tut. I came up with a very lovely CAS screen thanks to you. It was so easy to follow and I just had a blast making it. Thank you again.

[Nanny's Got A Gun]

Some reason none of the files show up... just some saying like unistall and stuff
(_0_) (_0_)
C
__________
U

[Saraswati5]

Ok, you need to be a little more specific about what the issue is. Is your game installed? Are you looking in the right place?

[BloodyAngel]

Thanks a lot for this tutorial :D


My result is
here (http://www.thesims2.se/images/albums/603329-BA_CAS%211.JPG) , here (http://www.thesims2.se/images/albums/603330-BA_CAS%212.JPG) and here (http://www.thesims2.se/images/albums/603330-BA_CAS%212.JPG) :p If anyone cares XD :jest:


Thanks for this again! :up:

[tiggerypum]

BloodyAngel, great job, congrats!

[Loslonelyboys201]

I followed everything and put the files in the right places and the cas screen still showed up as the original one.

[tiggerypum]

Hmm, how many times did you 'try' this. Did you really go over all the instructions carefully again. I suggest moving your new file out to the desktop for safekeeping, and start over - just making a SIMPLE change to your CAS house that will be obvious, until you get it worked through.

[UserName]

Where do you find the CAS! screen names once you open up the sims 2 folder???

[IgnorantBliss]

See the tutorial, which says the following:

C/program files/ea games/The Sims 2 Open for Business (or whatever your most current expansion or booster pack is)/ TSData/Res/Global Lots.

[rhondalatte]

I followed everything and put the files in the right places and the cas screen still showed up as the original one.

Also you should delete "group Cache" in:

C:\Documents and Settings\User\My Documents\EA Games\The Sims 2

also delete contents of thumbnails folder, the game recreates these every time you play.
xo

[Bad Kay]

Hmm, I have a question. I read the tut (about making a custom CAS screen) over at MikeInside (http://mikeinside.modthesims2.com/hacks/casmod.html) and it said nothing about a new neighborhood. Does someone know if it's ok to place the CAS lot in an excisting neighborhood?

[tiggerypum]

Uhm, the new neighborhood was created solely for the purpose of being able to _find_ your cas house to get a copy to modify; please read the directions more carefully. When you're done, you put your new cas house in any neighborhood(s) you wish.

[draik12]

:-) Not that way, but there is another way you can do it... Keep in mind cats and dogs are normal members of the family, so you can decorate the part where you assemble your family appropriately and photograph them there.
occasionally when i make a pet, a stray generates in the house and wanders around the room. once it just kept walking out of the screen and coming back with the big red - sign above its head, as in the photographer shooed it away from him.
:D

[UnderWear]

I cant find the devices with removable storage??

[tiggerypum]

UnderWear, what does that have to do with this tutorial?

[UnderWear]

Well.. I have downloaded a custom CAS and.. you need to find devices with removalbe storage

[tiggerypum]

If you downloaded someone else's CAS just put it in your downloads folder. If you don't know how to download and put things into your game, go look for info in the GAME HELP section.

This tutorial is for making your own unique CAS. You don't need any devices with removable storage, you need to get files or put files on your hard drives. The word 'storage' isn't even in the tutorial. You seem to be very confused -- perhaps you should go read the tutorial again very very carefully.

[UnderWear]

You can get it off your game CD.

Look here: MyComputer/ Devices With Removable Storage/Sims2EP3_1(D: )/Compressed.zip and then inside go to: TSData/Res/GlobalLots/CAS! and YACAS!

On your computer you should go to MyComputer/Hard Disk Drives/Local Drive (C: )/Program Files/EAGames/The Sims 2 Open for Business/TSData/Res/Global Lots/CAS! and YCAS!

It has to be there, otherwise you would not be able to open CAS in your game.

Try it. Here.. it says that

[tiggerypum]

#1 The comments _in the thread_ are not an official part of the tutorial. You should be able to find an original CAS file by following the tutorial alone. Frankly, the CAS _must be on your hard drive_ or you game wouldn't work.

#2 Judfer is telling people they can also get an original CAS off of one of their game CDs. Removable storage is your CD drive (among other things, it could also be a tape drive if you had one).

--
At any rate, this tutorial expects you to be able to find files on your own system's hard drive (or CD drives). References to things like hard drive or CD drive names (like C:) are irrelevant, no one knows exactly what configuration your system has - although the folder structure and file names _are_ important. If you can't find things, you need to sit back, think, and then look and think some more. Your Sims game does have folders installed someplace on one of your hard drives; this tutorial only shows the standard installation.

[theusedrocks]

yay!! thank you soooo much for this tutorial!! because of this i am able to make the CAS of my dreams!! thanks!

[Jurellai]

Excellent tutorial! Having the screen shots made it very easy to follow. Thank you so much for taking the time to post this. ^_^!

[Tahu506]

Great Turtorial I like it alot and it realy helped me alot

[bootukuh]

Where can I download the CAS house? Or is that allready in the game? Great tutorial, by the way!

[tiggerypum]

bootukuh, follow the directions in the tutorial. Carefully. Read.

[bootukuh]

Yes, I hadn't read it well, sorry, I'm blond=D

[Gigaguy]

How do you make your CAS Screen return to normal ?

[strovod]

By deleting the extra file you've made I think

[Tamadude]

I dont know what's wrong :( its not working, i read the tute 5-6 times and it's not in the bin.. :(

[tiggerypum]

Uhm, the tutorial is step by step and includes pictures, tamadude, I don't really know what to suggest, other than following very carefully each step, and making sure you're doing it for your most recent EP.

[$RaMRoM$]

great tutorial!
and "Play Girl"... your CAS house is great congrats for it!

[Ambular]

Heya Vashti, first off, thanks for the wonderful clear tutorial! I'm loving my custom CAS. :)

http://thumbs2.modthesims2.com/images2/MTS2_472329_AmberDiceless_BookshopCASWithSim.jpg

However, I wanted to bring to your attention a potential issue you might consider addressing next time you revise.

With Pets installed, stray animals can wander through a custom CAS (I've seen several reports so I know it isn't just me) and some of the modders over at MATY think this could cause a potential neighborhood meltdown by cramming the 'hood with junk files. Besides which, it's just a bit creepy--I had a master wolf staring in the door, watching with his glowing eyes as I made a dog the other day! Also had a mutt come in and trash one of my family-room armchairs!

A couple of possible fixes have been suggested, and I updated my CAS using both and haven't seen any strays since. The discussions are linked below:

http://www.moreawesomethanyou.com/smf/index.php/topic,7388.html

http://www.modthesims2.com/showthread.php?p=1587842#post1587842

Thanks again...

[taylorlambert]

uh i can't find that file"TSData" it is probally because i have the tiland versun please help!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[IgnorantBliss]

taylorlambert, are you sure you're looking under Program Files and not My Documents?

[betsy4arts]

Wonderful tutorial!!! Do you by chance know how to remove the ugly blue menu for screenshots other than the camera shot that makes the picture too small for screenshots?

[silentkate]

Awesome tutorial! My CAS now looks like this:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v197/silentkate/cas.jpg
Unfortunantly I have a problem. I have Seasons installed and when I go into CAS my Sims are constantly freezing from cold. Anyone else have this problem and any ideas how to fix it?

[Bubby bob]

Awsome great tut, but i was wondering i wanted my cas to be like a cas at the entrance to a cathedral is it possible to have custom content and have a spot with no walls. (PS im not tyying to make the sims on CAS be on a stage,foundation)

[Ambular]

Awesome tutorial! My CAS now looks like this:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v197/silentkate/cas.jpg
Unfortunantly I have a problem. I have Seasons installed and when I go into CAS my Sims are constantly freezing from cold. Anyone else have this problem and any ideas how to fix it?

Several people are working on figuring this and the stray problem out over at MATY. Stay tuned!

[silentkate]

Marvine posted in another thread about using Numenor's base game starter with it set to launch Open For Business only and making a CAS screen in OFB instead of Seasons. Because the screen was created in OFB it didn't have the Seasons freezing glitch. I tried creating my CAS using Numenor's base game starter on OFB and it worked for me as well. :)

[tiggerypum]

Thanks silentkate!

[mrscrockett]

Marvine posted in another thread about using Numenor's base game starter with it set to launch Open For Business only and making a CAS screen in OFB instead of Seasons. Because the screen was created in OFB it didn't have the Seasons freezing glitch. I tried creating my CAS using Numenor's base game starter on OFB and it worked for me as well. :)

If you do this, can you use cc from other EP's? I've gotten the new CAS I created to work but they all act like they are freezing in mine too. I went back and put a roof on it and resaved it ect, but still have the same thing happening.
I'm guessing that the picture in picture thing that keeps popping up is because of the pets? I don't see one in the pic, only the brick wall. Would the other fix mentioned take care of this little nuisance?
Great tute, thanks so much for sharing this information!
Oh, and I have all EP's and SP's except for the holiday one and I've used Windkeepers mods to remove the other stuff that wouldn't go away in the original CAS.

[Silent Angel]

This tute was so easy that I made this with it.http://img244.imageshack.us/img244/1224/customcasscreenmv4.png

[Me00]

how many CAS screens can you have? 1 2 3??
So if there was like 3 when you go into CAS once it would one then if you go back to the neighbourhood then back in it would be a coplete different one!
Is That Possible?

[marvine]

If you do this, can you use cc from other EP's? I've gotten the new CAS I created to work but they all act like they are freezing in mine too. I went back and put a roof on it and resaved it ect, but still have the same thing happening.
I'm guessing that the picture in picture thing that keeps popping up is because of the pets? I don't see one in the pic, only the brick wall. Would the other fix mentioned take care of this little nuisance?

mrscrokett, you need to use the latest EP you own before Seasons so only the CC made for Seasons only won't be available - this still leaves a lot of choice; you'll need to put the items you need in the specific BaseGame Starter folder though, since it creates a new game folder for every EP you want to run separately; refer to the BaseGame Starter thread for more details.
The other problem is related, using the BaseGame Starter and an earlier EP to make your CAS will fix that - at least it did for me.

[trullx0xman]

hmm... i read the instructions so many times - still isnt working for me (argh) any help

[taylorlambert]

Where is program files?!?!?
And the lot catolog!?!?!!?!!? :!: :alarm: :help:

[$RaMRoM$]

ok I finally maid my desicion of decoration...
thanks Vashti for the wonderful tutorial
I had a black "shadow" thing behind the couch I dont know what it is it... but anyways Here is my CAS screen tell me the truth:D! :
http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t173/RaMRoM_photos/CASscreen.jpg

[IgnorantBliss]

Not sure because I can't see the whole thing, but if it is a custom couch, it might be that the shadow from the original couch, that doesn't match the new one, is showing, if the creator didn't edit or remove it.

[jpomsims]

great tutorial! but i didn't knew that Seasons made my sims get "freezed", and so i got that error.... but the interesting part of it is that when i create a pet (i have all EPs and SPs), another one that I didnt created shows up next to it on that background where the family stands. That was so interesting and i would be curious to find out why... but the CAS was great, whatsoever. Thx!

[Ambular]

great tutorial! but i didn't knew that Seasons made my sims get "freezed", and so i got that error.... but the interesting part of it is that when i create a pet (i have all EPs and SPs), another one that I didnt created shows up next to it on that background where the family stands. That was so interesting and i would be curious to find out why... but the CAS was great, whatsoever. Thx!

If you're really lucky, you might get a werewolf. XD This is caused by strays wandering into the lot. So far the worst documented effects it's had, AFAIK, is annoying the cameraman and temporarily trashing pieces of CAS furniture, but there's been speculation among the mod gods that it could mess up your neighborhood files. Fencing off the CAS lot seems to reduce (but not completely eliminate) the strays.

[jpomsims]

a werewolf?! great! thx for the explanation now i now why.

[PryncessG]

Hi! This tutorial has been WAY helpful to me, but I have a question...I do have Seasons, and I used the BaseGameStarter, and everything worked except that I can't get wall hangings that I've recolored to show up when I'm making my custom CAS screen.....any suggestions? :(

[KMN]

I made one.... I've attached a PIX of it

[tiggerypum]

PryncessG,

did you recolor base game wall hangings? Did you copy your recolors into your base game folder? Did you try installing CEP into your base game folder?

[PryncessG]

I did recolor base game wall hangings, and I think the recolors are in the BG folder, but I haven't tried putting CEP in there...I'll give it a shot.....Thanks!!

[jo95]

Hey great tutorial,

But whenever I go into make a family it comes up blue. Nothings there! I can make my family and all though!

Can some1 help me! :alarm: :help:

[PryncessG]

Ok, I tried putting the recolored pics/wall hangings and installing the CEP in the BG folder, and in the GLS folder (I have the BGS through Glamour Life), and I'm still not getting my recolors to show up....funny thing is, I'm getting other peoples custom mesh wall hangings and their recolors that I've DL'd from here.....I guess I'll have to live without Good Charlotte and AFI watching my sims being built, LOL.....But thank you so much for helping, and my CAS turned out nice anyway!!

[IgnorantBliss]

If you installed the CEP manually, did you follow the instructions from the CEP (http://www.modthesims2.com/showthread.php?t=92541) thread?

That custom objects with their recolors show up says nothing about CEP, as CEP is not needed for cloned objects to work, only recolors of Maxis objects :).

[moppyXD]

Cool tute,you are the queen of tutes :king: 2 questions, will it override CAS in the neighborhood and how do you write a tutorial? :help:

[IgnorantBliss]

how do you write a tutorial?

You already asked this question in another thread, and it has been answered :)

[wolfmage64]

Hey, does anyone know how to add more light to the CAS podium when it's outside? It's always so dark no matter what position I rotate the podium. I also tried adding a lot of lighting beside the podium when outside but it is still dark..

THanks

[cdelang]

This is a very easy tutorial to follow! I did notice some very strange things the first couple of times I used my new CAS screen. Okay, right off the bat my female sim did the strangest thing. You know how in Seasons when they stay outside in the cold, without the right clothing, and they get too cold, freeze and fall to the ground? Well, my female sim did that right there in the CAS screen! Then she stayed that way, even over in the other room! Then, the strangest thing happened. I started over, with a new sim. This time, no one got cold but all of a sudden, my sim had a dog's head, but not just any dogs head, no! She had a flat, sideways dog head. Her face was completely gone! So I tried saving her and returning to the other room...then the game crashed!

So, I think lesson learned is something just isn't sitting right with my new CAS screen. Perhaps it's the fact that I used the 45 degree angle cheat or the snapobjects to grid cheat...or even that I used custom things in my CAS screen. Nevertheless, I am certainly going to start over again using the orginal CAS on my DVD. I did save over the one in my Global Folder, because my downloads folder is huge and the only way I can use body shop is by taking everthing out of my downloads folder...but that's a story for another day.

Wish me luck!!!

Chelle

[cdelang]

Oh geez, now I feel silly. I swear I read this entire thing. I guess I missed the part where it says if you have seasons! Now I know why my sims were freezing to death and ending up with squished dog heads. Starting over now!

[wolfmage64]

Hi this is my latest CAS screen Take a look..

http://thumbs2.modthesims2.com/images8/MTS2_509842_wolfmage64_CAS.jpg]IN-Home CAS (http://thumbs2.modthesims2.com/images8/MTS2_509842_wolfmage64_CAS.jpg)

WM64

[BellaReina97]

Hi, Thanks for the Tut, I followed everything and used the BaseGame starter because I have seasons but now I have the weirdest thing happening, none of the objects inside show up, the wall paper I put up shows up, the swing set outside under the tree shows but nothing else, no chair no dresser nothing, and i tried making several with different objects and walls and nothing, has this happened to anyone else and what did you do to fix it?

[blink182mestfan]

haha thanks! i did this awhile back and made my own.. then my game broke :( but im actually going to the stor in a little while and buying the deluxe version!

[wolfmage64]

Hi, Thanks for the Tut, I followed everything and used the BaseGame starter because I have seasons but now I have the weirdest thing happening, none of the objects inside show up, the wall paper I put up shows up, the swing set outside under the tree shows but nothing else, no chair no dresser nothing, and i tried making several with different objects and walls and nothing, has this happened to anyone else and what did you do to fix it?

Yes, I had this problem, make sure you go to video settings in your neighbourhood and turn OFF object hiding.

Here's my link for further info & scroll to middle of page:
http://www.modthesims2.com/showthread.php?t=230908

[weirdgeirl]

What a great tutorial! I can't wait to start making my own CAS screen.

However, I have a question. I have expansion packs University, Open for Business, Seasons, and Nightlife and they were installed in that order. So therefore, Nightlife would be my most recent expansion pack. But the problem is that whenever I start my normal game I have to start it with Seasons instead, so should I use the Seasons folder or the Nightlife folder?

[tiggerypum]

Weirdgeirl, the seasons folder, except that you can't. Your sims will freeze in CAS. Read the note about Seasons.

[Butler]

:D Lol, it took me a while but i FINALLY Finished my CAS!!! The pictures are to large to put as attachments, but i am going to make it donwlaodable, just search for it when you get the time.

[Solaria]

Now I'll give up! I've tryed almost everyday but the CAS wont show up in the lot catalog! Help :P

[Snow_Tiger]

I have a question...if i will delete my seasons, then create the CAS and install seasons again, the sims will still freeze like that?
great tutorial =] i already made a cas long time ago but i deleted some of the custom objects, and now it looks kinda ugly now so i want to remake it X_X

[$RaMRoM$]

I have a question...if i will delete my seasons, then create the CAS and install seasons again, the sims will still freeze like that?
great tutorial =] i already made a cas long time ago but i deleted some of the custom objects, and now it looks kinda ugly now so i want to remake it X_X

You dont need to Uninstall Seasons for the CAS! Screen! just get base game starter pro (here (http://www.modthesims2.com/showthread.php?t=107015)), and start with any game other than seasons, then do the steps in Vashti's tutorial...

[rocknroll13]

i don't have the CAS!.package in my computer!...wat do i do now??

[tiggerypum]

rocknroll13 -- you must not be looking in the correct directory, because the CAS comes with the game.

[simgirl24]

Thank you so much for this tutorial!! :anime: Thank you, thank you, thank you!! We need more gothic CAS!-screens!! :lol:

[YourLadyOfSorrows]

The Tutorial Was Reelii Good, But My Sims Keep Freezing!
Then After About 2 Mins The Aplication Crashes!
Can Someone Tell Me Why This Is?

[broomyXD]

I could not find the CAS! and YACAS! thing.

[$RaMRoM$]

I could not find the CAS! and YACAS! thing.

Did you go to your game installation files?

[tiggerypum]

YourLadyOfSorrows

Yes, read the part about not being able to make a custom CAS using Seasons. You must go learn how to use base game installer and make a configuration of your game w/o seasons to build your CAS in.

Broomy, look carefully at the directory headers in the example, and follow all the instructions - you will be looking for a lot in your new blank neighborhood, doing some renaming and so on. If you miss a detail, you will have a difficult time finding your files.

[Mox]

Thank you so much for this easy to follow tut! I was able to get it first try and I made a simple CAS with up to Nightlife installed and no custom content.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v327/moxiemox/Mox_CAS1.jpg

[lpriux]

My sims will freeze, if i put roof on CAS?

[tiggerypum]

Your sims will freeze if you try and make a custom CAS and own Seasons. To make them not freeze, you must use the base game starter and not include Seasons EP when you _make_ your new CAS. Then you can bring your new CAS into your regular game.

[animagic4u]

Is there anything I can do to help fix the Seasons with out the Basegamestarter? I don't like frozen sims!!!

[tiggerypum]

animagic - you must build your CAS house using the basegame starter (and any combo of eps before seasons, although many folks also exclude pets)

Then you CAS will work with any version of the game with all those eps (and any extras). SO you must use basegame starter to begin the project if you have seasons installed.

[RomanceXGirl]

Em... guys.... exuse me please... coz I am disturbing you with stupid questions! I always understood everything with SIMS 2, but now... this CAS - freezing - I cannot understand anything.... 1. I got Seasons - that`s why my sims freeze..... mmm..... so... I dont want to delete my sims because of freezing in the CAS house.... but - I wonna ask... Why they are freezing in Seasons? And I must switch this Base Game Starter before everytime I use Sims2? Or only when I create the CAS house? Can u tell about it again for me? 100 exuses... but i want new CAS, but... missunderstoodd........ exuse me again!

[soccerprincess07]

This is an awesome tutorial! It's quick and simple. Thanks so much!

[tiggerypum]

RomanceXGirl - uhm, if you read the thread, you'd have the answer - that was JUST answered right above your post.

MAKE your new CAS using the base game starter and exclude Seasons in your 'base' game. Then it will work in all games.

[Romeo]

THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!

I have always been so hesitant to alter anything with my Sims 2 Files since my pc usually crashes in the past.

And now that I have a Macbook Pro, I was even more scared that the same thing might happen . . .

But what the heck!

I followed it step by step & PRESTO!!!

It worked like MAGIC!

So for all those Mac users, this tutorial is very helpfull just in case you want to spruce up your CAS!

Tiggerypum, i salute you for this tutorial!!! I have always been so intimidated with all this tutorials but since you assured that it was easy, I gave it a shot! And now my CAS screen is just the way I like it!

My deepest gratitude goes to you!

SALUTE!

Romeo

[RomanceXGirl]

RomanceXGirl - uhm, if you read the thread, you'd have the answer - that was JUST answered right above your post.

MAKE your new CAS using the base game starter and exclude Seasons in your 'base' game. Then it will work in all games.

Thanks a lot. I will try. So, If I will install Bon Voyage in September( New realese) - will it wirk correctly?

[tiggerypum]

RomanceXGirl - uhm how are we supposed to know - do you think Maxis gives us test copies of the game? Whatever happens then happens then, that's how it always is.

[elansims]

tiggerypum: you have the patience of a saint, my dear.

Thank you for this tutorial! I was always very curious. I am a bit disappointed I have to go through the trouble of the base game starter, but I suppose that's life.

[juliebug6120]

Can someone PLEASE HELP ME!! I ACCIDENTALLY CHANGED THE FILE TYPE OF MY CAS! AND NOW I DON'T KNOW WHAT IT WAS!

[danieeel971]

My sims face be greay and it frozen and fall!!
Help!!

Sorry my bad english!

[danieeel971]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iriv2UeSu60
look self if you dont belive me!

[tiggerypum]

juliebug6120 -- it's .package (look at the screenshots)

danieeel - you cannot create your new cas with seasons, you must use the base game starter and make it without seasons

[steffanarnie]

Hi everyone,

I just wanted to say Thank you so so much Vashti, and wanted to show you what I did with my CAS screens. :giggler:

Awesome tute too, easy to understand, ta!

[steffanarnie]

I did my YACAS screens using this tutorial too. :giggler:

[zellsbells]

I've been having a problem getting mine to load as a CAS screen, but I didn't follow all the intructions 100% accurately, so I'm not complaining. :)

I was wondering if there is a workaround for Seasons that does not include the base game starter program. Has anyone tried:

a) adding a roof to the house... or would that keep the sim from being placed properly? If lighting is an issue, could you use a greenhouse roof or a custom floor tile that is transparent/translucent?

b) Create the new neighborhood and change winter to spring or summer? Or does the CAS automatically pick up the season from the other community lots in town, no matter what town you are in?
There would be the problem of rain, but it seems like there would be a lower chance of freezing/overheating.

__
Edit
This didn't work! :rofl: oops.
However when I re-followed the instructions, the CAS worked fine for me. Thanks for the great tutorial!

[chaisipper]

LMAO... I read the instructions very carefully and followed them with one exception, fully expecting to accept the consequences... I have Seasons and didn't use the basegame starter... I've read all the frustrated posts in here, and not to laugh at anyone else's frustrations, I've been LMAO watching my Simmies drop like flies. Now, I'm going back and do it correctly. Thanks for the tutorial. It is very well done and VERY easy to follow.

[Fall_Out_Boy_Rocks]

before I start this I was just wonderin, will making a custom cas make u lose the defualt CAS? Just wanted to know before I make too many changes. Thanks <3

[HystearicalParoxysm]

Fall_Out_Boy_Rocks - Not permanently, no. You will have your custom CAS in when you have the CAS!.package in your Downloads folder. If/when you take that file out, you'll get back the original, or can then choose a different CAS screen to use. It's just a temporary override, not a permanent overwrite. :)

[Fall_Out_Boy_Rocks]

Thanks :D

[morgonrocks2]

You can hide parts of the CAS using this from windkeeper: http://www.modthesims2.com/showthread.php?t=162363cant you just use moveobjects on? another thing, all i have in my tsdata folder is sys(i have all expansions and stuff paks up to bon voyage)
can somebody help me???

[morgonrocks2]

You can get it off your game CD.

Look here: MyComputer/ Devices With Removable Storage/Sims2EP3_1(D: )/Compressed.zip and then inside go to: TSData/Res/GlobalLots/CAS! and YACAS!

On your computer you should go to MyComputer/Hard Disk Drives/Local Drive (C: )/Program Files/EAGames/The Sims 2 Open for Business/TSData/Res/Global Lots/CAS! and YCAS!

It has to be there, otherwise you would not be able to open CAS in your game.

Try it.i have tried this aswell, all i have in my disc's tsdata folder is a folder named control, in there a program named control0. what is wrong with my game!!!?? :cry: :cry: :cry:

[morgonrocks2]

nevermind i found it, turns out i was looking in my documents not C drive :|

[poundingheart]

silly question time. I am trying to do my cas screen and yes one must not use seasons's. lol. I am going to try what windkeeper suggested and place my cas screen directly into my downloads folder as I am having no luck. I am using the basegame starter up to OFB.

Just one question though, is it possible to clone then recolour the curtain backdrop in the family screen?

never mind. I will just download a cas screen cos no matter how much I work on this, its still the same old cas screen.

[Gorgeous Female Diamond]

Ah, dude, thanks 298368922062483 bunches.

Edit: God im dumb XP Forgot to ask:

Should BV work fine?

Maybe you should update this thing a little more often..... :wtf:

[poundingheart]

yahhhhhhh! I have worked it out. lol. thanks to Numenor's base game starter, I can now do my own CAS screens. thanks also to windkeeper for her editions to the cas screen. cheers and thanks again for the tut.

p.s. I use the base game starter with just Bon Voyage and it work great. next time will try with all packs except for seasons and pets .

cheers

[mira_moone]

If you have the Seasons Expansion:
You must use Numenor's BaseGameStarter to create your custom CAS lot without Seasons!! Custom CAS lots created in Seasons will cause all sims made within your new CAS screen to freeze to death. Unless you like simsicles, you'll need to use the BaseGameStarter.

I'm so sorry if this question have been answered one or several times before but; Can you remove the BaseGameStarter once you've created the CAS! ?
I don't understand it :) and I'm trying to keep mods and hacks at a low level.

Thanks for this great tutorial!

[kopple36]

the house isn't turning up!!!

[tiggerypum]

mira_moone - yes you can remove the base game starter once the cas house is complete (and moved out of the base game). Although having base game starter on your system should not effect your regular game

kopple - you're going to need to start over and follow the directions carefully. There's no way for us to glance at your computer and see which step was missed/misunderstood.

[mira_moone]

Ok, thank you! I tryed it and it worked great!

[Gorgeous Female Diamond]

yahhhhhhh! I have worked it out. lol. thanks to Numenor's base game starter, I can now do my own CAS screens. thanks also to windkeeper for her editions to the cas screen. cheers and thanks again for the tut.

p.s. I use the base game starter with just Bon Voyage and it work great. next time will try with all packs except for seasons and pets .

cheers
:anime: Hurrah! Thank you. Now i'm off to find CC so I can do what only cat-vampires can do!

[pickles260]

Thank you so so so much for this tutorial! Look at the one I just made, along with the family screen:

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y205/pickles260/1-1.jpg

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y205/pickles260/2-1.jpg

Thanks again!

[pepprlvr64]

help i need to delete the cas screen, it didn't work anyway for me, and i want to download teen stuff, but i cant cuz the game starter is not updated to that yet, so how do i delete it?

[Xan728]

it's an easy guide, but i still can't make a CAS, i used basegamestarter to start pets, but then i only get a neighborhood called 'mini-game' and i can't find the CAS house.

PS, maybe isn't my english so good, that's because I'm dutch

[rubberduck3y6]

I tried making a custom CAS with Seasons, and yes the sims started freezing! However, if I select toddler, this seems to stop the sims from freezing! :) Has anyone else found this?

[tiggerypum]

rubberduck3y6 - that's probably because you can't kill toddlers :P

Uhm, the beginning of this has info for seasons, you must follow it. We do not know of another way to make a working CAS for seasons except for excluding it while you build your CAS)

[Vampire_of_Death]

Tiggerypum, you truly have the patience only a moderator could have. After like the thrid post of "My sims are cold, grey and falling..." I was literally screaming at these people. So loud that my cat kinda fell off my keyboard.Lol. Good luck with this! Thanks for the awsome tutorial!

[cutebaby234]

Woo!
So cool!
This is the first tutorial I have followed that actually works! Thanx!

[BlkParader]

I downloaded a few new CAS! screens, but I am not sure where to put them. Right now they are in my Downloads folder.
Also is there a way to choose which scene I want to use to create my family(s) once the game is open?

[HystearicalParoxysm]

BlkParader - CAS screens do go in your Downloads folder but you should only have one in there at a time (or, well, one CAS screen and if you have University you can also have one YACAS screen as well, but only one of either type). You can make yourself a folder elsewhere to keep the other ones you download if you want to be able to switch but you'd need to physically move the files before loading the game, and there's no way to have multiples and choose in-game which you want to use.

[lilmonkeygray]

Alright, I know this has been dragged through the mud over and over but I have a few questions concerning Seasons and Pets.

First, I have all the eps and stuff, excluding Holidays. So do I need to uninstall Seasons and Pets before doing this? Then do I use the CAS package for Bon Voyage or Teen Stuff? I'm not too concern about Teen Stuff since I just downloaded it and don't plan to use any content from the expansion.

Also, I want to use CC so can I put my whole Downloads folder in like normal and run without Season or pets? Will this cause a crash if content requires those expansions or will they just not show up?

Thanks!

[tiggerypum]

lilmonkeygray - follow the links for basegame starter or the other game thing. You do not need to uninstall seasons, but you must learn how to run a game w/o it.

Secondly, you should be very selective about the content you use. First, it must be freely shareable and obtainable - so you will have to check the creator's policies. Secondly of course, you don't want to force folks to get 100 downloads just to use your CAS... So just keep track of every special item you use in it.

[lilmonkeygray]

Thanks tiggerypum! I don't plan to upload the CAS. It's only for me that's why I asked about CC. I also read on the basegame starter but wasn't really sure if I wanted to use it.

[tiggerypum]

lilmonkey - Well you do need to learn how to use one of the 'starters' if you have seasons installed. Or your sims will freeze to death while you're making them. Fairly unpleasant.

[lilmonkeygray]

Thanks tiggerypum! Yea, I read all through this thread to know that I don't want to make a CAS with Seasons. I like my Simmies too much!

I'll definitely give the starter program a go. I'm a little nervous about downloading another program on my computer since I have so many already for the sims. Oh, well! I can't learn unless I try.

[Baby-Hilton]

:turtle: Just like a turtle i was slow i dident no what to do then i finaly understood this and now im fast as hopping bunny thanks for the awsome Tutorial :bunny:

[hugsforfrazier]

Question about the Seasons expansion pack. I thought that Sims couldn't freeze if they were in a building with a roof--if the CAS! building had a roof over it, would you still need to run the anygamestarter?

[Echo]

I believe it's still problematic, although I'm not certain of that. Certainly the recommendation is to create them with the anygamestarter, as it will save you a lot of hassle. :)

[everWinter]

Thanks for the tutorial - it was very helpful.
I like quite a few other had the problem with Seasons and sims freezing in CAS (and putting a roof over the CAS house didn't help).

I thought I might mention when you use the anygame starter with step 2, you will need to copy the CAS!.package into the anygame folder NOT the normal EA games one. You should be able to find it a folder named "AnyGameStarter" in your documents folder and then you can continue with the rest of the steps. It should show up in the lots and houses bin ready to modify. I couldn't find it at first until I realised I was looking in the wrong area. Hope that helps anyone else who was stuck. :D

[moonlightgdess]

Okay, I downloaded basegame but have not installed just yet... I already spent the past 6 hours making a very pretty CAS, but clearly I made it with Seasons et al installed (up to and including BV). Do I have to remake my CAS, or should installing basegame and then re-saving the CAS be sufficient? In other words, do I have to go through all that work again once I install basegame? :(

[tiggerypum]

moonlightgdess, I believe you have to remake it. You will also need to be selective about what content you're using in it. The good news is that it should go faster, as you'll have a good idea of what you want -- you could take a couple of screenshots of your cas to use as a guide.

[SIMplyElle]

Thank you so much for this! I'm going to go try it out now and see if my CAS worked [; Thanks again.

[heatherbam12]

HEY.
I made a CAS screen a bit ago (sadly I can't remember exactly!!) but I did it without the basegame starter.
Today I re-did the tutorial with the base game starter my my new CAS screen hasn't shown up but my old one has and my sims are still freezing to death!
What and how should I get this to work properly?
HELP!!!:help:

thanx
heatherbam12 x

[tiggerypum]

Basegame starter creates a separate game area for your game. Once you make your new items with it - you need to move your finished work into your full game. (You also need to delete your old CAS replacement from your main game)

[AJEA]

This tutorial is great, very helpful. :gjob:
But does it work with freetime? Because everytime I make a new neighbourhood and edit the cas, then exit the game, I get like 10 lots in that new neighbourhood and I've tryed copying them one by one to downloads to try and find which one is my cas, but all the time I get a blue screen instead of my cas!
What should I do? :help:

[cariba_rikki_h2o]

I have no EP nor SP, only the base game. Will it work for me?? :bunny:

[gnomealot]

my computer says everytime i try to rename my file to CAS!.package that i all ready have a file named that. what do i do??/

[dolmunda]

Hi everybody! Thank you so much for this tutorial, it's always more fun when you can have everything customized by yourself!
But I have a problem, I installed The BaseGameStarter because I have all the expansions 'til Seasons, and started the game up to Glamour Stuff. Everything was fine 'til I reopened the game to place the CAS house on the neighbourhood, but only 2 houses show up! A Ranch and a Mall! nothing else! What did I do wrong? Can someone help please! Thanks!

[/ScientificXxX]

I have a problem,
I downloaded the BaseGameStarter since I have seasons,however,it says whenever I click on the shortcut:

Sorry,Search cannot find C:/Documents please try again.
Please help.

Thanks
/ScientificXxX

[Cyndrome]

This tutorial is the best 'How to Make CAS!' tutorial I've read! And trust me, I've read about 30-50 of them. And none of them worked. And I did what this tutorial said, it worked! I was sooo happy that I did a IMadeCAS!HappyDance! Thank you VERY, VERY, VERY much! :) :) :) :) :)

[Starlightning]

I made a custom cas that looks quite nice the only problem was I had seasons and I ended up with the sim-freezing-their-butt-off glitch :cry: I then read more closely and got the "Any Game" including all the EPs I have but Seasons... (this includes University, Nightlife, Bon Voyage and Open For Buisness) I sure hope theres no problems with any of those :blink:

Anyway, I was wondering if theres any way I can like.. convert my already made cas into the the Any Game and then back to my game to get rid of the glitch? Of do I Just have to make a new one? Either way how do I make a custom cas using Any Game???? This is my first time with making a cas so please help ... lol I'll love you forever if you do :lovestruc

*edit* Oh yeah I have no SPs either

[eddygzz]

Ok so I did everything u said right but when I check my neighborhoods I click the recent one and Theres like 10 lots in there !! Which on of them is it?!?! PLEASE HELP :( !

[Starlightning]

Ok so I did everything u said right but when I check my neighborhoods I click the recent one and Theres like 10 lots in there !! Which on of them is it?!?! PLEASE HELP :( !

Do you mean you check the lots in game? If so the lot your looking for is probably in the first spot, the icon looks quite different form the others (its at a different angle, dark around the building) Also the name is very random, a jumble of letters pretty much. You should be able to find it easily.

Sorry if this isn't what you ment! Hope I helped.

[eddygzz]

Do you mean you check the lots in game? If so the lot your looking for is probably in the first spot, the icon looks quite different form the others (its at a different angle, dark around the building) Also the name is very random, a jumble of letters pretty much. You should be able to find it easily.

Sorry if this isn't what you ment! Hope I helped.

No I meant in the lot neighborhood folder outside the game. I make the New neighborhood i edit the Cas house and when i log out and go into my most recent neighborhood file theres like 10 of them ! I need help i dont know which one im suppose to put in the Downloads folder :cry: :alarm: :alarm: :alarm: :!!: :!!: :!!: :help: :help: :help: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry:

[Starlightning]

Hmm that is strange,

are you sure your going to EA Games\The Sims 2\Neighborhoods\(your latest neighborhood) ? Maybe you accidentally went into a different neighborhood file? If not then...

I looked into myself and found only one file named N003_Lot2

My best guess would be that it would be your latest lot in your lastest neighborhood, so something like N00#_Lot10(or other number lol)

I say try it, if your game crashes its very fixable just MAKE SURE you have a backup of the original CAS! so you can fix it.

[eddygzz]

Hmm that is strange,

are you sure your going to EA Games\The Sims 2\Neighborhoods\(your latest neighborhood) ? Maybe you accidentally went into a different neighborhood file? If not then...

I looked into myself and found only one file named N003_Lot2

My best guess would be that it would be your latest lot in your lastest neighborhood, so something like N00#_Lot10(or other number lol)

I say try it, if your game crashes its very fixable just MAKE SURE you have a backup of the original CAS! so you can fix it.

Yea Ill try the most recent one :rofl: See if it works Thanks :D !! Ill Update yo if this works :D !

[eddygzz]

Yea Ill try the most recent one :rofl: See if it works Thanks :D !! Ill Update yo if this works :D !

YAY IT WORKED !! Tho when I play it the Sim has alot of cold ! SO he is shivering , SO is there a way to edit the One i just made? Please reply :D lol

[Starlightning]

Oh God haha, now your at my problem o.O

I'm not sure if you can EDIT the one you just made or not, that was my question. What I do know is your getting the shivering from seasons =\ I suggest getting the AnyGame Hack.. download, whatever you want to call it, if you don't have it already.

I'm working on seeing if you use a already made CAS! from seasons on there and bring it back to your game if your sim will still freeze right now =)

(EDIT) Theres a link to the AnyGame forum on the first page of this thread if you need it, I'm to lazy haha.

[eddygzz]

Oh God haha, now your at my problem o.O

I'm not sure if you can EDIT the one you just made or not, that was my question. What I do know is your getting the shivering from seasons =\ I suggest getting the AnyGame Hack.. download, whatever you want to call it, if you don't have it already.

I'm working on seeing if you use a already made CAS! from seasons on there and bring it back to your game if your sim will still freeze right now =)

(EDIT) Theres a link to the AnyGame forum on the first page of this thread if you need it, I'm to lazy haha.

Well ok Im going to do the cas without Seasons :D But i guess imma create a new one :D Anyway I didn't like the one i made :rofl: :lol: :lol: :anime: :anime: :anime: :anime: :anime: :anime: :anime: :anime: :anime: :anime: :anime: :anime: :anime: :anime: :anime: :anime: :anime:

[Starlightning]

Well ok Im going to do the cas without Seasons :D But i guess imma create a new one :D Anyway I didn't like the one i made :rofl: :lol: :lol: :anime: :anime: :anime: :anime: :anime: :anime: :anime: :anime: :anime: :anime: :anime: :anime: :anime: :anime: :anime: :anime: :anime:

I ended up doing the same, my customized cas wouldn't show up in the catalog when I put it in there or downloads for Anygame. I guess I could always package the lot, but it doesn't matter my new one is turning out better :anime: anyway. I'm glad I could help you out :giggler:

[Kalinka]

This tutorial is awesome! I didn't even know the CAS place was a house! Thanks for putting this up here, because if you didn't i'd still be angry with the CAS place for all time.

[aadzryk]

I have a problem.....I followed all the steps, made a CAS, saved it, quit the game, I'm in my neighborhood's lot folder (I'm in the right neighborhood) but there's no lot file!
I don't know what happened....I know I made it, I'm not dreaming today

[kylebeans]

Well I figured out that to stop your Sims from freezing click on the new sim thing then quickly cancel that sim. When you start the new one, they won't freeze!! :king:
This worked for me, let me know if it works for youu =]
LOL And I'm not sure if I've posted this before in this thread... well I'm a little to lazy to check =D You'll survive. x)

[Blackcatsimone]

actually i dont have a folder called TSData, what should i do?

[AlloSim]

OK, big problem! I have followed all the steps, but when I get to the end to test it out, there is a sky blue screen with no sim! Is this something to do with the fact that I still have a load of files in the Lots folder? Can I just go back to the original screen somehow? Please answer!

[HystearicalParoxysm]

kylebeans - Or you could actually make the custom CAS properly using the AnyGameStarter as advised...

Blackcatsimone - Yes you do. You're just probably looking in My Documents rather than Program Files. Your game wouldn't work if you didn't have a TSData folder.

AlloSim - Which lot folder? There's two several folders containing the word "lots" dealt with in this tutorial - Program Files/EA Games/The Sims 2 (or newest EP)/TSData/Res/Global Lots, My Documents/EA Games/The Sims 2/LotCatalog, and My Documents/EA Games/The Sims 2/Neighborhoods/N###/Lots - you should generally have two files in Global Lots under Program Files, a bunch of them in LotCatalog under My Documents, and one in N###/Lots. Either way that's probably not causing your problem. Just delete the CAS!.package file from your My Documents/EA Games/The Sims 2/Downloads folder (where you put it in steps 10/11) to go back to the original.

[gurtyping]

I made a custom CAS screen and it worked but that was about a month ago. I went through the same procedure again and made another and replaced the first one and when i started up the game the previous one showed up still. Anyone have any ideas about this?

Just to say when i created the first CAS screen i had Seasons installed followed by FreeTime and the sims kept freezing but i have just stalled Apartment Life and they dont do it anymore...incase anyone was still having that problem.

[fablerox]

I don't know how big of an issue this is, but when you said there will be one lot in the 'Lots' file...mine came up with 204. I only had that one lot in the neighborhood and i don't know which one to pick.

[D.forrester]

i understand that you can't use Seasons while making a new CAS..... but i've already made the mistake of doing that, and my sims are freezing to death, and their face color doesn't match their body color. is there an easy way to undo/delete the CAS and start over using the basegame? do i just get rid of "CAS!.package" in my downloads? and just to make sure... the basegame is indeed the first sims2 game, right? thanks in advance :)

[Crystallyne]

Okay I'm really hoping someone will respond to this... I'm having a huge problem when trying to follow this tutorial. I have all expansion packs except for BV, so I have the issue with Seasons. I'm using the Any Game Starter as suggested, and loading it up using the Pets expansion.

The problem I'm having is that after I create my neighborhood, quit my game, and move my CAS screen to the lot catalog, and rename it... I run the game again (still using the Pets expansion) and THE CAS LOT IS NOT SHOWING UP in my lot catalog in game!

I've done this using my full game so I know exactly how it's supposed to work. I know what the lot looks like and where to find it. But when using the Any Game Starter and trying to do this, the lot simply doesn't appear in the lot catalog.

EDIT: I HAVE IDENTIFIED THE PROBLEM. I don't know if this was a change after the tutorial was written or not. But when using the Any Game Starter, the LotCatalog is now under Documents > AnyGameStarter > AnyGame3 > EA Games > The Sims 2 > LotCatalog

It's a COMPLETELY different area then where your standard game files go. I don't know if Saraswati5 wants to update the tutorial or not to reflect this change, but I know it would have saved me many hours of frustration. *smiles apologetically* I never saw the AnyGameStarter directory in my documents folder, and only found it in a VERY round-about way.

[mariomaniac96]

I cant finds my cas house there is 14 different houses in the bin even though there is only one house in the new neighborhood.(I have Uni, NL,OFB,pets,Seasons,Bv,ft,al,ffs,gls,cs,h&m,,mansion and garden,Kitchen and bath interior desighn stuff and teen style stuff

[Tsuku-chan]

mariomanaic, there are other houses in the bin because those are the default houses that are created with every new neighborhood. The only one you should be look for should be obvious: a house with dark edge around it and a random name such as "jkjhkj" or something. I hope this helps :)

[Numbum]

Thank you so much this has really helped!

[Numbum]

I have finished making a custom CAS screen and though it was created in the dark, now it shows as daytime when in-game. Is there any way to correct this and make it show as Nighttime? :help:

While in game just use the Day/Night toggle option located in the sub-menu.

[guth75]

Wellm, i have a problem... I couldn't find the house were you bulidt the CAS-screen. Help?


The same thing happened to me!!!!

:help: Please help!

[Vash1224]

I have one question, i made my custom CAS and everything loaded fine and seems to be working, but when i'm making sim with this CAS, they keep doing the freezing animation. i re-did the CAS and made sure the house was sealed off but the probelm kept happening. Could the be an error in my game? or something the CAS?

[rarmuncher]

Hi and thank you very much for this wonderful tutorial.
When I for the first time made a CAS screen I came to the point where you must find the refurnished lot from the neighborhood folder. Well, I didn't have one (folder), or at least couldn't find it :blink: .
I really wanted this to work so I didn't give up. I started to think logically and moved the refurnished CAS lot to the lot bin. Then I closed the game and went to my documents/ea games/the sims 2/lot catalog. I saw that the lot file with the highest number (in my case 42) must be the new CAS file, because I didn't have it there when I first looked. So that I copied and put in my Downloads folder, and it worked:)

I just wanted to say thanks, and one thing: Don't give up so easily! With a little logics you can go far ;)

Edit: Actually, I had the neighborhood folder, but there were so many lots so I couldn't identify them... but still, a tip:)

[SimFlip5]

[QUOTE=Saraswati5]Hi Guys

At the suggestion of the lovely and kind Tiggerypum, I'm posting my CAS modification tute. I've broken it up to make the tutorial as easy as possible for you guys. This tute is also hosted at The Sublime Sims Forum (http://www.getphpbb.com/phpbb/viewtopic.php?t=285&mforum=ssaussiehideout)/.

:deal: This tutorial is also provided in PDF format. To view it, we strongly suggest to download the Foxisoft PFD Viewer (http://www.foxitsoftware.com/pdf/rd_intro.php): it's free and small, less than 1Mb!


:alarm: If you have the Seasons Expansion: :alarm:
You must use Numenor's BaseGameStarter (http://www.modthesims2.com/showthread.php?t=107015) or the Any Game Starter (http://www.modthesims2.com/creator/showthread.php?t=250555) to create your custom CAS lot without Seasons!! Custom CAS lots created in Seasons will cause all sims made within your new CAS screen to freeze to death. Unless you like simsicles, you'll need to use the BaseGameStarter.

PETS also can cause problems with strays appearing. Fencing in the lot seems to help - perhaps the basegame starter is also what you'll want to use. Yes, you will not be able to place things from EPS that you didn't include using the basegame starter, but it's better than having random strays appear or freezing sims. :blink: :blink:


Creating Custom CAS houses

Hi Guys

It's been a year since this tutorial was originally written and it's time for an update so we can incorporate all of the wonderful things we've learned about modifying CAS houses. I will also be writing a tute that deals with some tricks involved in creating more advanced CAS houses and how to package your CAS house be shared with others.

Today I'm going to explain to you how to add a custom background into the Create a Famiy screen. There are quite a few steps to creating these backgrounds and it is a slightly fiddly process but it's much, much easier than you think! So let's begin..

1. Firstly, open up your game and add a brand new neighbourhood without lots or Sims. The neighbourhood can look any way you want and can have any terrain you want. Once you have created your neighborhood, close your game.

http://thumbs.modthesims2.com/getimage.php?file=348285

2.Follow this path to find your CAS household package

C/program files/ea games/The Sims 2 Pets (or whatever your most current expansion or booster pack is)/ TSData/Res/Global Lots.

When you get there, you will see two files, the CAS!.package and the YACAS!.package. The CAS package is your Create a Family house for your base neigborhood, Downtown and Bluewater Village. The YACAS!.package is your Create a Student house for your University Nieghborhoods.

For today we are going to edit our Create a Family house for our base neighborhood. (the principles are exactly the same when you edit the YACAS! House) Copy the CAS!.package file to My documents/ea games/the sims 2/lot catalog

http://thumbs.modthesims2.com/getimage.php?file=348286

3. You will see a series of files labelled cx_00000001.package, numbered upwards (ignore the files labelled Character, they’re not the one’s we’re working with). In this case they’re numbered up to cx_00000041. Change the filename of your CAS! Package to be labelled the same as these packages, but make it one number higher than the last package. In this case because the last file is numbered 41, we labelled it cx_00000042.package.

http://thumbs.modthesims2.com/getimage.php?file=348287

4. Re-enter your Sims game and go to your newly created custom neighborhood.

http://thumbs.modthesims2.com/getimage.php?file=348288

5. Go to your Lots and Houses bin, scroll right to the end. The CAS house will be the very last house in the bin and will be recognisable because it is labelled as a series of junk letters, in this case jkgbkyuy. Place that house in your neighborhood

http://thumbs.modthesims2.com/getimage.php?file=348289

6.Enter the house. You will see two rooms. The room to your left in this picture is the room where you assemble your family. The room to the right is where you view the individual Sims while you customise them.

The podium and photos in the right hand room and the camera set-up (all those items are actually only one item) in the left hand room cannot be moved, but you are able to do some fairly substantial editing around them. You can for example remove the standard windows and replace them with different ones. Today I’m going to redecorate both rooms using standard Maxis furnishings, mostly from OFB.

note: There are hacks done by Windkeeper that we can use to make the Podium objects dissapear, but we won't talk about how to use them when constructing CAS houses until the next tutorial.

http://thumbs.modthesims2.com/getimage.php?file=348290

7. Ok, here is the room where we preview individual Sims given a spit and polish with a new paint job and carpeting, some new furnishings and an extra window.

http://thumbs.modthesims2.com/getimage.php?file=348291

8. And this is the room where you assemble all of your Sims, repainted and carpeted with extra windows and lighting. Ok, we're now ready to reimport it back to being a Global Lot so we can use it to photograph our Sims. Save your changes and close the game.

http://thumbs.modthesims2.com/getimage.php?file=348292

9. Go to My Documents/ Ea Games/The Sims 2/Neighborhoods. Inside the folder you will find a number of neighbourhoods. The neighborhood with your CAS house will be the highest number because it’s the most recently created.

http://thumbs.modthesims2.com/getimage.php?file=348295

10.Go into your Lots folder within your Neighborhood folder. There will only be one lot in there, which is your customised CAS house. Copy that house to your EA Games/ The Sims 2/ Downloads folder, then go to that folder.

Once you have copied your package file to your downloads folder, if you wish to you may get rid of the new neighborhood you've created as you won't need it again and getting rid of it will not damage your CAS house in any way.

http://thumbs.modthesims2.com/getimage.php?file=348297

11.Edit the name of your file to call it CAS!.package.

http://thumbs.modthesims2.com/getimage.php?file=437822

You are now able to go into Create a Family and take screenshots and the Create a Family background will now be edited the way you want it to look. Just to prove it, here’s a shot of our new house..

http://thumbs.modthesims2.com/getimage.php?file=348300

12. As you can see, it looks much, much brighter prettier than taking photos of them against a standard brick wall and wooden floor. From here, just take your screenshot and crop the picture as normal.

If you would like to share your CAS Screen: So you've made the perfect CAS screen and you want to share it? You will want to share the CAS!.package file that you put in your Downloads folder. If you are meaning to upload to MTS2 please see the Creator Guidelines (http://www.modthesims2.com/forumdisplay.php?f=338) for information on how to RAR or ZIP your file and the requirements for upload. If you have used custom content in your CAS screen it will not be included! You will need to make a "shopping list" of links to every custom item you have used (with details enough that people know which item from a set you used, if applicable), and anyone who downloads your CAS screen will need to go and download all those custom items for your CAS screen to look right in their game. For this reason, it is likely MUCH better for you to use all Maxis content for your CAS screens, or a minimum of custom content that's easy to find and download. If you use items from expansion packs in your CAS screen, downloaders will need to have those expansions for those items to show up right in the CAS screen, but it should still work even if they don't have those EPs.

If you're sharing the CAS screen with others, it's recommended you put a little installation instruction on your upload. If you want you can copy-paste this here:

To install this custom CAS Screen:
Place the CAS!.package file in your My Documents\EA Games\The Sims 2\Downloads folder after making sure to remove/delete the files for any previous custom CAS screens you may have downloaded.


Have fun creating pretty backgrounds for your Sims! Cheers Kath

http://www.sublimesims.net (http://www.sublimesims.net/)[/QUOT

E]

awesome. do you or anyone else willing to make an alleyway CAS? i'm hopeless with CC. i make a lot of 'homeless' sims and the interior cas default is just SO WRONG

[Azarino1]

Dragon Hacker - use your system's ability to take a screenshot with the printscreen key. Then alt-tab out of the game, and paste your picture into a paint program. Crop/resize it as necessary - mts2 doesn't accept full screen size shots, so just scale it do to 700 wide or something and save in jpg format and it should be useable.

I have tryed changing my CAS! file and i copyed it to my EP
And when i go on Sims2 Apartment Life it is the Default CAS screen
Help Me I have done all the steps right but it comes up as the default.
When i rename it as CAS!.Package i go on the CAS and it is all blue on the screen.
:( hellp

Reply me !!! Wink :P

[indolive]

Really, thanks a lot for the tutorial!! This is great!! I started to customize the CAS screen and everything works, except one thing; the skin of my sims looks very dark, even if I use the lightest one :cry:

Can someone help me to solve this problem please?

[~Clarrisa~]

How do I change the background of CAS? I did what you instructed and nothing has changed. :faceslap: This is getting really frustrating.


Help?

[Lavaster]

Oh thank you! I once tried the other tutorial but got it wrong. :P

[Lavaster]

I have finished making a custom CAS screen and though it was created in the dark, now it shows as daytime when in-game. Is there any way to correct this and make it show as Nighttime? :help:
i dont think so, because
1) You probably won't spend a dozen Sim hours in CAS waiting for the nighttime to come
2) It's most likely you've deleted the neighborhood

[MrsMalakian13]

Sweet Tutorial..Hmm I don't have a global lots folder in my sims 2 files...Where do i go to do that? And i want to make my sims CAS look a little like forks,washington...How do i do all that? :)

[puppetfish]

Ok, I have a question.

If I have every expansion and stuff pack, and obviously my last one is Mansions, will the custom CAS work for everyone else? Or should I make mine with the Base Game CAS lot, so that everyone can use it?

[lestyboss]

Gah! I dont understand this problem Im having..... I created a new neighborhood, copied the file from the current expansion I am using in C:/ , pasted it into my documents where specified... but Im not getting a CAS house in my neighborhood...
Im using Vista, does that change anything? Im also currently using a custom CAS that is too dark but otherwise is a favorite to use. My original was deleted by one of my loving kids lol. I really would like to just keep the one I have if there was just a way to adjust the lighting... (?)

[lestyboss]

Gah! I dont understand this problem Im having..... I created a new neighborhood, copied the file from the current expansion I am using in C:/ , pasted it into my documents where specified... but Im not getting a CAS house in my neighborhood...
Im using Vista, does that change anything? Im also currently using a custom CAS that makes my Sims skin tone show too dark but otherwise is a favorite to use. (the mountain CAS that has the family in the background at the same time) My original was deleted by one of my loving kids lol. I really would like to just keep the one I have if there was just a way to adjust the lighting... (?) Is the problem coming frm the CAS Im trying to use? thnx

[Zexion577568]

Thanks so much! I was wondering how I could do this! You rock! ;)

[likimiki1998]

Can you help me?? :help: :help: :help: I followed the steps in every detail but when i make the new neighborhood and costumize the CAS house and leave the in the neighborhood folder of the highest number there like 13 lots...in every folder i looked but no house(of course those are other neighboorhoods).. i read the steps like bilion times...please help :help: :help: :help: :help: :cry:
i am greatful in forward

P.S. :Sorry for my bad english i am from Croatia... ;)

[mrpants101]

I'm having the same problem as above. I finished everything up to step number 10. When I go to My Documents/ Ea Games/The Sims 2/Neighborhoods only eight neighborhoods are there. But I know I have 12 or 13 neighborhoods including the maxis ones. The last one isn't my new CAS neighborhood, so I can't find the lot with the new background. Do you know why this is? I'm using a Vista if that makes a difference.

[Catatonique]

:help: I'm also having issues...
The CAS house hasn't appeared no matter how many times I've followed the instructions. I have all the expansions excluding FT and BV and only the Kitchen & Bathroom stuff pack (I disabled Seasons for the new game) and followed your instructions (as far as I could) to the letter several times to no avail. I double-checked each time I renamed the file to make sure it was correct and made absolutely sure I was using the right file. I don't think I'm doing anything wrong that's blaringly obvious (but it wouldn't be the first! :rolleyes:), but if someone could please suggest something, I would be most greatful.

[LavaLamp]

:alarm: Ummm, when I go into My Docs/EA/Sims 2/Neighbourhood/N005/LOts, there are 14 lots instead of 1. Yes, it is the new CAS neighborhood. :alarm: :!: :!: :!: :mod: :bunny:

[lizziy11]

i have more than one lot in my "lots" folder of my neighbourhood!

[milibarbie]

I have a problem: I play to game in spanish, but the last file it's not 41, it's 55. ¿What I can do? I wanna really have my own CAS :(

[HystearicalParoxysm]

milibarbie - It doesn't matter how many lots you have in that folder. You just rename the file so it's the next number in the sequence - so you'd rename yours to cx_00000056.package

[Warlock22]

OMG thank you sooooo much I've been looking for a tutorial to do this for ages I found one but it didn't work...

Thank You Thank You Thank You!!!

[Warlock22]

:alarm: AHHHHHH, :alarm:
I need help!! :help:
I did the tutorial to the letter but when I got to the new neighbourhood folder there's 13 lots even though I made a new neighbourhood and only put one house in it!! :deal:
What's going on????????????????????????????????? :cry: :cry: :cry:

[Warlock22]

:alarm: AHHHHHH, :alarm:
I need help!! :help:
I did the tutorial to the letter but when I got to the new neighbourhood folder there's 13 lots even though I made a new neighbourhood and only put one house in it!! :deal:
What's going on????????????????????????????????? :cry: :cry: :cry:

IS OKAY now I figured out that the lot was the highest number in the folder sooo few, anyhoo thanx a bunch!!

[crissparanoia]

-hits self-
I have just spent a good half hour reading all these problems with Seasons and Pets and decided to check out how my CAS screen looks. Only now [after all this time, all the comments, all the yelling at the screen that the problem has already been answered a kagillion times] do I suddenly remember I have both pets and Season's uploaded. :turtle: I am so slow today.


Lovely Tutorial. Thank you.

[FuyumiAya]

One thing, i do not have the file "TSData" in my Sims2 folder. o-o help?

[mauvikinz]

Ahhh.... Is it a bad sign when you have no TSdata file?

[HystearicalParoxysm]

You guys DO have a TSData folder - you're just probably looking in My Documents, not Program Files. If you didn't have that folder, your game wouldn't run.

[horserider79]

I found your tutorial very helpful and have now made twonew casscreens . But I was wondering do you or any one else know how to make a yacas screen for university.
I attempted it but it didn't show up. I could use a little help.