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LotAdjuster 2.8 (Updated Jan 31, 2010)

by Mootilda Posted 19th Apr 2008 at 4:40 AM - Updated 27th Nov 2013 at 3:31 PM by Nysha
 
488 Comments / Replies (Who?) - 479 Feedback Posts, 8 Thanks Posts
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Instructor
#51 Old 23rd Apr 2008 at 3:42 PM
Very cool mod! Can't wait to try it out. I know a lot of Simmers have been waiting for something like this!
Lab Assistant
#52 Old 27th Apr 2008 at 9:53 AM Last edited by Shewaplayer : 27th Apr 2008 at 10:07 AM. Reason: OOps hehe
Hmm i play The sims2 with Numenor's "AnyGameStarter" is there any way i can redirect this mod (which sounds fantastic btw ) to choose the homes in the AnyGame folder?

****ok nvm i managed it myself with like no hassle (lol im stupid)****

98% of teenagers do or has tried smoking pot. If you're one of the 2% who hasn't copy & paste this in your siggy.

Pass the ribbon around if you know someone that survived, died, or is living with cancer.
(())
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Original Poster
#53 Old 27th Apr 2008 at 5:02 PM
For anyone else with the same question:

On the Choose Neighborhood screen, click on the Browse button and navigate to the neighborhood in the AnyGame folder.
Field Researcher
#54 Old 28th Apr 2008 at 12:13 PM
Default Can you possibly help me, please?
Mootilda: This looks very interesting, you did a fantastic job and I will definitely be trying it out, but I have a few questions/problems first. I have all EP's & SP's, including FreeTime & Kit/Bath.

1. Do I need your LotExpander as well for this tool to work, or can I just use this one by itself? What are the advantages (if any) in having both tools? Is the LE the "old" version and this one the "new" version of basically the same thing, or are they 2 entirely independent tools that do very different things?

2. I have 2 corrupted lots that I would like to try & fix if possible. They are in the new 'hood that came with FreeTime. 1 is the Eaxis-built comm. lot "The Frippery Frock" or something like that (a clothing store), and the other is a community lot I built from scratch (a dance & music studio).

3. A Eaxis-made playable sim got stuck on the Clothing lot & to get her off it I used a hack to summon her to a res. lot, added her to the family there & then had her move back out. She's fine in a new home now, but the community lot she was on before won't let me move, bulldoze or package it...says a family is currently visiting that lot when no one is there now. I even tried having a sim buy the lot and as the owner, he can't even go there...get the same message. I can go into the lot (in buy/build mode myself) but can't get any sims to visit it. Can your tool help me fix the lot or do you think it's totally broken?

4. The other lot that I built from scratch was owned by a playable sim as well. She drove to the lot in her car, set the business as "open" with the sign and while there something happened & the game crashed. (Might have been the Vacation food bar with the cook that did it but not sure...it crashed right after the NPC cook showed up). Anyways, I had to do the same thing to get the sim on another lot & playable again, but her car is still sitting in front of the lot & I can't move or delete the car. I managed to move the lot to the lot bin & place it down in the 'hood again, but the car is still there & won't delete. I can't get any sims to go there because it says there is a saved game in progress. Do you think your tool can maybe get the car off the lot? (No other sims are there & I already deleted that Vacation food bar & NPC).

Sorry this is so long but I wanted you to have a much info as possible & see if you can shed some light on these problems. If I've totally corrupted these lots, so be it...I'll go into them, take lots of pics & use them to rebuild if I have to. I guess I could use SimPE to delete them from the game since & can't do it manually. Anyways, thanks so much for your time, efforts and talent! You have some fantastic work & I can't wait to dig in & play with this!

Not having a sig IS my sig. Oh wait, this is a sig, isn't it? Nevermind...
Test Subject
#55 Old 28th Apr 2008 at 6:07 PM
too bad i have shitty slow laptop
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Original Poster
#56 Old 29th Apr 2008 at 12:41 AM
Quote: Originally posted by Mimi52861
I have all EP's & SP's, including FreeTime & Kit/Bath.
Just be aware that I haven't tested with Kit/Bath. In general, the later SPs don't make any changes to the format of the lots, but you should be sure to backup before running the LotAdjuster, and keep your backup until you are sure that everything worked OK. If you get an error message while running the LotAdjuster, restore from your backup and let me know.

Quote: Originally posted by Mimi52861
1. Do I need your LotExpander as well for this tool to work, or can I just use this one by itself? What are the advantages (if any) in having both tools? Is the LE the "old" version and this one the "new" version of basically the same thing, or are they 2 entirely independent tools that do very different things?
The LotExpander is an older version of the LotAdjuster. The LotAdjuster has a lot of added functionality. Neither one is dependent on the other.

Quote: Originally posted by Mimi52861
2. I have 2 corrupted lots that I would like to try & fix if possible. They are in the new 'hood that came with FreeTime. 1 is the Eaxis-built comm. lot "The Frippery Frock" or something like that (a clothing store), and the other is a community lot I built from scratch (a dance & music studio).
The LotAdjuster doesn't usually fix corrupted lots. I doubt that it will help with either of your corrupted lots. However, if you have a backup of your ...\My Documents\EA Games\The Sims 2 folder, there's no harm in trying. Just be sure to restore from your backup if it doesn't help.
Field Researcher
#57 Old 29th Apr 2008 at 1:02 AM
Thanks Mootilda for your reply. I downloaded THIS version instead of the older LE.

In regards to my 2 corrupted lots:

I first removed my downloads folders as the stuck car on 1 lot was the downloaded Ford Mustang from EA. That took care of the car, but the lot was still corrupted, so I took lots of pictures & then managed to bulldoze the lot entirely.

On the clothing store community lot I did the same thing but I first went into a family lot & used boolprop cheat to add the stuck Sim to that family. The trouble was it was 1 male sim with 1 pet (Cyd Roseland & Porthos) that came with Pets. I had initially moved them in on a small empty lot & then had Syd use phone & buy the comm. lot. He then tried to visit the lot via a taxi (leaving the pet on home lot). That's where everything got messed up. He got stuck somewhere in between home & the store & I couldn't enter the home lot (at first) either. Kept telling me the family was visiting the comm. lot & did I want to go there instead, but when I did, no sims in sight).

I was finally able to enter the home lot, (by clicking on it WHILE actively in a different home lot across the street-I have the option set to do that), with only the dog Porthos there alone...but then of course the police came & took him due to no owners on lot. SO, I bulldozed that home lot as well. I now have the sim "Cyd" on a new home lot, (without his dog ), but he seems to be otherwise alright. I will just rebuild the two lots from my pics.

Not having a sig IS my sig. Oh wait, this is a sig, isn't it? Nevermind...
Alchemist
#58 Old 29th Apr 2008 at 3:05 AM Last edited by aelflaed : 29th Apr 2008 at 3:45 AM.
Default Internal error
(From another thread) I just tried to shrink a couple of fullgame lots using the LA1. For both lots, whichever sides I tried to shrink, I got this error -
"Unable to read beyond the end of the stream."

Quote: Originally posted by Mootilda
You should never be seeing this error; it's an LA internal error which indicates that something has gone really wrong. I need to see the lot. Thanks.
Okay, posting them here for you. I looked at them again before packaging - the mews lot had the rubbish bin on the rear edge tile, and the Terrace has a fireplace on the right edge. However, I moved the bin (not the fireplace), then tried them again. Same error. Same error with the current test version (1007) too.

These lots are made using my full game, up to Seasons, not including Pets. there is some CC in each lot - (ladder, column, walls) you can remove it when installing if you prefer.

Edit - I used the same copy of LA1 to shrink a lot in basegame - no problem. Looks like it's something to do with Seasons perhaps?

'm going to start Seasons and try a fresh copy of one of these, using the test LA.
Attached files:
File Type: rar  LA1Error lots (Seasons).rar (1.78 MB, 9 downloads)
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Original Poster
#59 Old 29th Apr 2008 at 3:56 AM Last edited by Mootilda : 29th Apr 2008 at 5:46 AM. Reason: Object is a Column, made by SimWardrobe
Your custom content column seems to have an invalid string length in the second material string, which is causing the LA to read off the end of the record. Please remove your column and try shrinking again.

In the interim, I'm going to take a look at the column object and see if I can figure out what's happened.

This looks very much like the problem with the LotExpander reported by Qwigqwag:
http://www.modthesims2.com/showthre...423#post1904423

I'm going to see whether your object was created by the same person. In both cases, the length of a long string (>127 characters) was incorrectly coded.

Update: Unfortunately, Qwigqwag didn't actually include the objects in the upload, so I can't check where they came from. Your object has the following description:

"Meshed and Created by SimWardrobe. Updated and made Recolourable by Celebkiriedhel. [email protected] or [email protected] www.simwardrobe.com or www.simthing.net"

I would recommend that people remove all objects made by this person from your lot before attempting to use the LotAdjuster. Only objects with descriptive strings > 127 characters will cause problems, but there's no easy way to find these objects without parsing the OBJT records in SimPE.
Alchemist
#60 Old 29th Apr 2008 at 5:10 AM Last edited by aelflaed : 29th Apr 2008 at 5:23 AM. Reason: next try
Default Internal error
I don't have a CC wardrobe on that lot to my knowledge.
Oh, I know what you mean - it's a custom column, MADE by Simwardrobe.

Further info - New lot (Tudor Shops), similar custom walls, no other CC - shrank no trouble.

Fresh copy of Tudor Terrace, same error - but I hadn't seen your message, so the CC column is there. I'll try without.

Edit - fresh copy of the Terrace lot. Took out the columns, touched nothing else. Same error. I have to leave this for now, back in a few hours.
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Original Poster
#61 Old 29th Apr 2008 at 5:45 AM
Quote: Originally posted by aelflaed
fresh copy of the Terrace lot. Took out the columns, touched nothing else. Same error. I have to leave this for now, back in a few hours.
You need to remove all corrupt custom content.
Alchemist
#62 Old 29th Apr 2008 at 7:38 AM Last edited by aelflaed : 29th Apr 2008 at 12:45 PM.
As far as I know, the columns were it. Should anything else be corrupted (on a fresh copy of the lot) by the fact that the columns were once there? Do you mean me to strip the lot with CleanInstaller and re-install? I think I am misunderstanding.

Edit - I've placed a fresh Tudor Mews lot, and removed all CC from it. Same error.

Do you mean me to delete the offending column from the game? I did successfully shrink another lot, which never included that column. I'm a bit lost.
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Original Poster
#63 Old 29th Apr 2008 at 3:58 PM
Quote: Originally posted by aelflaed
As far as I know, the columns were it. Should anything else be corrupted (on a fresh copy of the lot) by the fact that the columns were once there? Do you mean me to strip the lot with CleanInstaller and re-install? I think I am misunderstanding. [...] Do you mean me to delete the offending column from the game? I did successfully shrink another lot, which never included that column. I'm a bit lost.
I should take another look at your lot and try to figure out what's happening.

If I remember correctly, the game sometimes leaves object-related stuff around, even after an object has been deleted in the game. If this is the case, then your lot has been corrupted by the custom content and will remain corrupt until you find some way to completely delete the object from the lot package. I don't actually know how to delete an object from a lot package outside of the game; however, I do know that it involves deleting all references to the object in (at least) the MOBJT, OBJM, XOBJ, and OBJT records. I have no idea whether the Clean Installer can fix this problem, but it's worth a try.

I would like to help you fix the object, so that you can use it, but I really don't know anything about custom content creation. What I can tell you is that the string length is incorrect and that the lot can be fixed in SimPE by changing all of the incorrect string lengths to the correct value.

I would also like to point out that there is a strong likelihood that this object will cause in-game corruption, regardless of whether you use the LotAdjuster.

So, here's my suggestion:
- Try the Clean Installer and see whether it will remove all references to the offending object.
- If not, package up a copy of the lot with the object deleted and attach it here. I'll take a look and see whether there is still a reference to the object in the package file, or whether there is some other problem.
Mad Poster
#64 Old 29th Apr 2008 at 4:54 PM Last edited by niol : 29th Apr 2008 at 7:13 PM.
May simply remove the offending column away from the game copy, and enter the lot and save the lot.

If not working yet, may delete the fallback column or fallback Venus Statue where the offending column were at and save the lot to see that can remove the erroneous references from the presently known files as listed.

Corrupting custom contents can damage game programme files though. Back in the end of 2005, I had once a custom window that corrupted my whole game copy including custom folders (neighbourhoods and sims) and game programme files. Since then, I only downloaded custom windows from those I trust. I've lost so many thing sims families at once. And, I learnt to back up neighbourhoods since then.

If all fail, I guess Inge may have an answer.
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Original Poster
#65 Old 29th Apr 2008 at 5:36 PM Last edited by Mootilda : 29th Apr 2008 at 5:42 PM.
Quote: Originally posted by niol
Corrupting custom contents can damage game programme files though.
I'd love to know which tool(s) people are using to create custom content which has these invalid string lengths. It should be a very simple fix to the tool(s) to generate correct 7BitStrings.

Alternatively, creators could try keeping their string lengths well under 127 characters to avoid the problem.

Anyway, this whole thing is very off-topic for the LotAdjuster. Perhaps we could move this conversation to the research thread:
http://www.modthesims2.com/showthread.php?t=250693

and leave this thread for questions and problems related to the LotAdjuster.

I'm going to look into adding the object name to the error message from the LotAdjuster, to help people find and purge corrupt objects.
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Original Poster
#66 Old 29th Apr 2008 at 8:00 PM Last edited by Mootilda : 30th Apr 2008 at 4:46 PM. Reason: Fix title
Default Lot Adjuster interface problem
Quote: Originally posted by Winterhart
I just tried to run LotAdjuster 1.0
Only half of the control panel or whatever you call it shows up. The only thing I can do is exit. The start button is on the half that doesn't show up.
I need more information to help you. At the very least, could you post a picture of the screen that you're seeing?
Forum Resident
#67 Old 30th Apr 2008 at 1:43 AM Last edited by Winterhart : 30th Apr 2008 at 5:09 AM.
I'm sorry for posting in the wrong place. I took a printscreen but I don't know how to post it. My website is currently down so I can't upload it there for you to see it there.
Screenshots

Sometimes the Dragon wins and I AM the Dragon!
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Original Poster
#68 Old 30th Apr 2008 at 3:53 AM
Edit your post. Scroll down to "additional options". Click on the "manage attachments" button. The first box is for zip files, the rest are for images, which must be one of gif, jpg, or png. I usually use the Browse button to find the image. Once you have chosen the image from your hard drive, click on the "upload files" button and wait for the upload to complete. Then close the "manage attachments" and save your post.
Forum Resident
#69 Old 30th Apr 2008 at 5:10 AM
Thanks. You should be able to see it now.

Sometimes the Dragon wins and I AM the Dragon!
Test Subject
#70 Old 30th Apr 2008 at 7:32 AM
Dear Mootilda,

It's a great tool, Already downloaded it, thanks for sharing... I'm only sad to find out that with this tool, it's still not posible to build to the edge of the lot... Will this be one of the upgrade versions of this tool? or does the function not come in to this tool? I sure hoop so it will... Anyway... Still want to thank you for all the great work you've done on Mod the Sims, and keep on going...

Regards,

Paul, alias At Mike's

Welcome at Mike's
A whole new world for you...
Alchemist
#71 Old 30th Apr 2008 at 7:56 AM
Quote: Originally posted by at Mike's
Dear Mootilda,

It's a great tool, Already downloaded it, thanks for sharing... I'm only sad to find out that with this tool, it's still not posible to build to the edge of the lot... Will this be one of the upgrade versions of this tool?


Previous test versions which allowed building right to the edge were corrupting lots. The one-tile version is much more stable, and we are working on gradually decreasing building restrictions.
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Original Poster
#72 Old 30th Apr 2008 at 4:56 PM Last edited by Mootilda : 30th Apr 2008 at 7:37 PM.
Default Lot Adjuster interface problem
Quote: Originally posted by Winterhart
I just tried to run LotAdjuster 1.0
Only half of the control panel or whatever you call it shows up. The only thing I can do is exit. The start button is on the half that doesn't show up.
It looks as if your font is larger than expected, which is pushing everything off of the end of the window. I wasn't aware that this could happen, so I'll have to look into how to fix it.

Could you please tell me how you managed to get a large font? Until I can reproduce this problem on my machine, it will be difficult for me to fix it.

In the interim, you could try pressing the Enter key, which should always choose the default action (usually Start or Next). Double clicking on an entry in the listbox on the Choose Neighborhood and Choose Lot screens should also choose the default action.

The Esc key should cancel the current action and return you to the previous screen.

Most of the other features can also be controlled by mnemonics, which are the letters which are underlined on the screen. For example, the Browse button can be selected by holding down the Alt key and typing the letter b.

I hope that this helps you to use the LotAdjuster until I can fix the problem with the font size.
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Original Poster
#73 Old 30th Apr 2008 at 8:00 PM
Quote: Originally posted by at Mike's
I'm only sad to find out that with this tool, it's still not posible to build to the edge of the lot... Will this be one of the upgrade versions of this tool? or does the function not come in to this tool?
I think that we're all sad that building on the edge seems to corrupt the lot. We're trying to find out whether we can reduce the restrictions while keeping the lots safe; for example, it may be possible to allow walls which are perpendicular to the lot edge while rejecting walls which are built along the edge. This would allow the semblance of rowhouses without the corruption issues.
Forum Resident
#74 Old 4th May 2008 at 6:06 PM Last edited by Winterhart : 11th May 2008 at 6:17 PM. Reason: fix spelling
Thank you for all your suggestions. I found the problem and it is not one that most people would have. It was not large fonts or large icons that I was using. I had increased the DPI settings to 125% of normal to make text easier for me to read. After playing around with font types and sizes I found another combination of things that works for me. Where I changed that setting is in Control Panel, Display, Settings, Advanced. I can do screen shots for you if you would like, but as I said most people would not ever go there let alone change settings. Thank you for your time.

Sometimes the Dragon wins and I AM the Dragon!
Forum Resident
#75 Old 4th May 2008 at 6:57 PM
Hi Mootilda,

May I post some detailed instructions with screen shots on how to get to a lot in AnyGame? I know I need step by step intstructions with pictures for a lot of things.

Sometimes the Dragon wins and I AM the Dragon!
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