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Using TS3 Packages

Custom content for The Sims 3, like The Sims 2, is generally in .package format. But you can't just put them in your My Documents\Electronic Arts\The Sims 3\Downloads folder - that doesn't work! You will have to get a special file to enable the game reading custom content, and put the content in a specific place.

This is normally referred to as installing the "Sims 3 Framework" for custom content, and it applies only to files in .package format. Custom content in .Sims3Pack format are installed via the game Launcher.

The framework consist of 3 components:

• to be placed in the root folder (Program Files(x86)\Electronics Arts\The Sims 3\) are:
  • (1) a text readable file named Resource.cfg and
  • (2) a folder named Mods containing a sub-folder named Packages;
• to be placed in the \Game\Bin\ folder is:
  • (3) a d3dx9_31.dll file specially modified to work with The Sims 3.

This .dll file is only required if you want to use a core mod like Awesomemod, Gabriel mod, etc.

Note that you can only have one core mod in your game.

The REALLY easy way...

If you have The Sims 3 base game only,

Just download, install, and run the TS3 Install Helper Monkey from ModTheSims or the Framework Installer Tool below.

What is the difference? The Framework Installer Tool thread has the explanations, and instructions.

If you have The Sims 3 World Adventures Expansion Pack

Download, extract and run Framework Installer Tool from ModTheSims.

If you really want the manual way... see below.

First things first

If you are used to The Sims 2, or Sims3Pack files, then you may be tempted to put things in the My Documents folder. This is incorrect. Due to the way Package files specifically are loaded for The Sims 3, we don't put things in My Documents.

So, to re-iterate:

.package files DO NOT go in My Documents!

Just so we are clear: DO NOT DO ANYTHING IN MY DOCUMENTS WITH .PACKAGE FILES

Notice that nowhere in this guide does it say to put anything in My Documents? Good. Now you may read on.

Summary

For The Sims 3 base game,

• Component 1: the Resource.cfg file
  • You will need a file called Resource.cfg, which you can download by clicking here.
  • Extract the Resource.cfg file from the RAR.
  • Place that file in

  

• Component 2: the \Mods\Packages folder
  • create a folder named Mods in

  

  • create a folder named Packages in

  

  • then place any .package files you had downloaded (and extracted from rar/zip) in

  

• Component 3: the d3dx9_31.dll file
  • Download d3dx9_31.dll and place it in

  

For The Sims 3 World Adventures Expansion Pack, the same 3 components need to be copied to the WA path

1. Component 1: the Resource.cfg file
   • Copy the Resource.cfg file found in your \Program Files(x86)\Electronic Arts\The Sims 3\ to \Program Files(x86)\Electronic Arts\The Sims 3 World Adventures\.
2. Component 2: the \Mods\Packages folder
   • Create a folder named Mods in \Program Files(x86)\Electronic Arts\The Sims 3 World Adventures\, double-click the new Mods folder to navigate there and then create a folder named Packages

If your CC placed in the \Mods\Packages\ folder in base game do not work, simply cut+paste the contents into your \Mods\Packages\ folder in the WA path

1. Component 3: the d3dx9_31.dll file
   • Copy the d3dx9_31.dll file found in your \Program Files(x86)\Electronic Arts\The Sims 3\Game\Bin\ to \Program Files(x86)\Electronic Arts\The Sims 3 World Adventures\Game\Bin\.

Detailed Instructions

Don't understand based on the summary? Here's the "for dummies" steps:

Step 1 - Get a RAR Extractor

First, you will need a program that can extract from both ZIP and RAR files.

Windows

We recommend WinRAR, which is "nagware". That means that you can use it for free for a period of 45 days, and after that you can continue using it free - it just nags you to pay for it, but you don't have to pay anything to use it. Download the installer and run it.

OS X

For OS X, the free utilities StuffIt Expander and The Unarchiver handle most any archive type. For .rar files in particular, you can also use UnRarX, a simple and efficient freeware tool.

Then, once your preferred de-archiving application is installed ...

Step 2 - Get Resource.cfg

You will need a CFG file with certain contents, to tell the game to read files in a specific directory.

The easiest way to get that CFG file is just to download a ready-made one.

• Download a Resource.cfg file from MTS. To download this file, you must be logged into ModTheSims. Login here or register here.

• Save that file to somewhere you can locate it easily - your computer's Desktop is the easiest.

Step 3 - Extract Resource.cfg

Once the file has finished downloading...

• Go to where you saved it (like your computer's Desktop).

Windows

If you got WinRAR, you should be able to just right-click on the file and choose Extract Here. Then you should have a new file below the RAR, called Resource.cfg (or maybe just Resource, if you aren't viewing file extensions).

OS X

On OS X, double-clicking on an archive will normally extract its contents in the same location – you can always right-click and select "Open With …" to specify how exactly you want to uncompress it.

Step 4 - Place Resource.cfg

Windows

• Right-click on the Resource.cfg file on your Desktop and choose Cut.
• Then click on Start - My Computer.
• Navigate to the respective path for your OS. This is the main folder for The Sims 3, called the "root folder"

  

• Right-click in an empty space in the root folder and choose Paste. The Resource.cfg file should appear there.

Now your game will recognize content if you put it in a specific folder, defined in that file you just placed.

Misc. Addenda - Vista Permissions

• Vista Business - When using limited user account with UAC on, creating a manual folder in the root sims 3 directory does not give ownership to the folder in Program Files and adding files to it always requires admin password. Admin account with UAC on only prompts if you want to add the file.

• Vista Home Premium - When using limited user account with UAC on, the limited user account owns the folder it makes in Program Files and is able to put files in the folder without admin password.

• Windows 7 has the same folder structure as Vista.

• Vista / Windows 7 - non-admin accounts -
  • To modify Sims 3 folders, have an admin log in and open up the parent directory of the directory you want to make accessible (e.g. C:\Program Files (x86)\Electronic Arts\The Sims 3\Mods).
  • Right click the target folder (in my case, Packages) and select Properties.
  • Go to the Security Tab, and click Edit - at this point, it will probably ask you for admin privileges; press continue.
  • Under "Group or User names", select Users from that list,
  • At the bottom of the List's window, click the checkbox labeled Full Control.
  • Click OK for all open windows

You won't need admin permissions to modify that folder any longer.

OS X

In the OS X version, this hierarchy is hidden within the Sims 3 application. To get there, follow these steps:

• Right-click (or Ctrl-click) on The Sims 3.app.
• Choose "Show Package Content" from the contextual menu.
• Navigate through: Contents > Resources > transgaming > c_drive > Program Files > Electronic Arts > The Sims 3. You are now at what is referred to above as "the Sims 3 root folder".
• Paste the Resource.cfg file into this folder.
• Make a backup of your new folders since when the inevitable patches and updates come out, if the application is replaced in its entirety your mods will be overwritten.

Now your game will recognize content if you put it in a specific folder, defined in that file you just placed.

Step 5 - Download custom DLL for Core Mods

This step downloads a custom .dll thats specific to the Sims 3 game - it may have the same name as with other games, but this one is modified.

• Download the d3dx9_31.dll from here
• Place the downloaded file in the same location as your TS3.exe. This is usually

  

• For World Adventures, you need to also copy it to the same place as your TS3EP01.exe file. This is usually C:\Program Files(x86)\Electronic Arts\The Sims 3 World Adventures\Game\Bin\

Step 6 - Download/Extract Custom Content

Now you're ready to download the content you want.

• You should already know how to do that - click the link to get the ZIP or RAR file and save it somewhere you can find easily.
• Then extract from the ZIP or RAR file to get at the .package files (Windows: right-click, Extract Here; Macintosh: double-click.).
• If you happen to download a SIMS3PACK file, just double-click it and the launcher will put it where it needs to go.

Step 7 - Place Package Files

For PACKAGE files, you need to put those in a specific folder yourself.

Windows

• Select the .package file(s) after extracting. Right-click and choose Cut.
• Then click on Start - My Computer. Navigate to the Sims 3 root folder.

  

• Right-click in an empty space in that folder, and create a New Folder. Name this folder Mods and then open it. You're now in

• Right-click in an empty space in this folder, and again, create a New Folder. Name this folder Packages and then open it. You're now in

.

• This is the folder where you will place the package files.
• This is what it should look like when everything is done (Note the Mods\Packages subfolder):

• Right-click in an empty space in this folder and choose Paste to paste the file(s) that you cut after extracting. You should see the file(s) appear.

OS X

In the OS X version, this hierarchy is hidden within the Sims 3 application. To get there, follow these steps:

• Right-click (or Ctrl-click) on The Sims 3.app.
• Choose "Show Package Content" from the contextual menu.
• Navigate through: Contents > Resources > transgaming > c_drive > Program Files > Electronic Arts > The Sims 3. You are now at what is referred to above as "the Sims 3 root folder".
• Create a folder called Mods. Double-click on it to enter the folder.
• Create a folder inside Mods called Packages.
• Paste any .package files in this folder to install them to your game.
• Make a backup of your new folders since when the inevitable patches and updates come out, if the application is replaced in its entirety your mods will be overwritten.

Step 8 - Play!

Hopefully, the above steps should have worked just fine, and you can go ahead and play with your new custom content in-game!

Be warned though! Custom content installed using this manner (ie put in the Mods\Packages folder) will not appear in the "Custom Content" list in game. If you have just installed custom content using .package files and click this, nothing will show up.

The custom content is mixed in with the regular EA content. Anything in the "Custom Content" section is installed via the Launcher, not via this method.

Alternative Installers

If you are interested in extracting the .package files out of sims3packs, or need an alternative to the EA Launcher, please visit this page for more information on alternative installation techniques and programs: Alternative Installers. You should note, however, by extracting .package files out of sims3packs, will remove the "*" indicator that denotes the items as custom content in the catalog thumbnails.

If it didn't work...

• Did you place the Resource.cfg file where you were supposed to? See Step 4 for where they go.
• Are you trying to put the files in My Documents\Electronic Arts\The Sims 3\Downloads? They don't work there! See Step 6 for where you're supposed to put them.
• Are you clicking the "Custom Content" box in game? Packages put into the game using this method do NOT appear in the "Custom Content" screen in game - they are mixed in with the regular EA content.
• Are you sure you're looking in the right place? Check back with the creator to make sure you know where the content is supposed to show up in-game.

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