*Working* Magazine Rack [UPD 29 jan 2009]
Flag Download
Hide Thanks Posts for this thread (Show only feedback)
Posts: 7,959
Thanks: 229205 in 189 Posts
Improvement: sims can read magazines at will, increasing their interest, without losing interest in other subjects (thus getting rid of the annoyance reported by MagicMoon here)
Bugfix: a rare jump bug occurred when clicking on the racks (see Aelflaed's report here).
Thanks to Aelflaed for reporting the bug, and to MagicMoon for suggesting an improvement
I've finally started my Journal. Information only, no questions.
My latest activity: CEP 9.2.0! - AnyGameStarter 2.1.1 (UPD) - Scriptorium v.2.2f - Photo & Plaques hide with walls - Magazine Rack (UPD) - Animated Windows Hack (UPD) - Custom Instrument Hack (UPD) - Drivable Cars Without Nightlife (UPD) - Courtesy Lights (FIX) - Custom Fence-Arches - Painting-TV - Smarter Lights (UPD)
Posts: 236
I wanted you to know that this rack works wonderfully with Pescado's Macrotastics. Sims told to clean the house will use this magazine rack to store any magazines they find while doing their chores. I thought Macrotastics would ignore it like it does most custom objects or just put books away, but the 2 work great together.
I'm glad you fixed the bug too. I thought that the errors were my fault since I was trying to change some things in SimPE. I miss Inge's Sensible Study bookcase since it has never been updated for FT or AL, So I'm taking my copy of your magazine rack and adding some motives so I can have Sims study autonomously again. I wish there were more 'types' to advertise to though. Is there any way to advertise to interests or aspirations?
I noticed that in "Show pictures to youngster" and "Be Shown the Pictures" you advertised both fun and a category that SimPE has labeled 'unused'. Did filling in that 'unused' line allow you to advertise to outgoing Sims (type 0009 on the unused line) AND/OR serious Sims (type 0008 on the fun line)? If so, is it AND or OR? Since that line is unlabeled, what is it advertising? I also see in the magazine file 'read magazine' is advertised to type 0019. The chart I have stops at type 0016 so I was wondering where the info is located on motive types >16.
I searched both the tutorial sections and Google before asking here. I couldn't find anything that addresses the motive tab's 'type' info other than:
C:\Program Files\SimPE\Plugins\pjse.coder.plugin\PJSE_help\PieMenus.htm
(At the bottom of the page)
So if you know of a better chart or tutorial that addresses motives, I would appreciate you pointing me in the right direction.
Running: Sims2, Uni, NL, OFB, Pets, Seasons, BV, FT & AL. Patched.
Posts: 3,535
Thanks: 26 in 1 Posts
Posts: 7,959
Thanks: 229205 in 189 Posts
MagicMoon - I got rid of the code that decresed a random interest when the total interest was greater that a given limit; therefore, sims can now maximize all their interests (it would take a while...). BTW, I don't consider this "cheating"; after all, in real life, we can have a great interest in many subjects at the same time!
As for the advertise system, in the TTAB, there is no way (known to me) to set a "delta" advertisement for specific interests or aspirations. I'm quite sure that it is possible, on the other hand, change the advertisements via BHAV, and this allows implementing any possible check. Don't ask me how this works because I don't know; it's basically an intuition.
Regarding the "unused" line in the TTAB, I didn't write them: those values have been set by Maxis in the TTAB for the base-game bookcases, and I decided not to modify them. I think they are just useless. The same applies to the "0x19" type found in the Magazine: that value is contained in the original TTAB, and I didn't change it; I don't know if it's an error by Maxis side, or the 0x19 really means something. I don't know of a specific tutorial about motives and TTAB parameters; but maybe there is one -
The various advertisements are considered in an "OR" relationship; the interaction attracts a sim that is in need of fun OR in need of... "unused" (of course, the "unused" motive is unused, but if it was e.g. "hunger", the rack would attract a sim when he is either bored OR hungry).
I've finally started my Journal. Information only, no questions.
My latest activity: CEP 9.2.0! - AnyGameStarter 2.1.1 (UPD) - Scriptorium v.2.2f - Photo & Plaques hide with walls - Magazine Rack (UPD) - Animated Windows Hack (UPD) - Custom Instrument Hack (UPD) - Drivable Cars Without Nightlife (UPD) - Courtesy Lights (FIX) - Custom Fence-Arches - Painting-TV - Smarter Lights (UPD)
Posts: 2,885
Thanks: 17918 in 65 Posts
Posts: 3,535
Thanks: 26 in 1 Posts
Now, I think I know what happens if it encounters two possibly different packages with matching GUIDs, but what does the game do if it finds two [or more] packages with the same name, but possibly different contents, in two different directories? If they have different GUIDs, I would think it would use both, and if they have matching GUIDs, use the one in the alphabeticaly-highest directory. Si? Nyet? If I am right, my game would have automagically used the new magazine rack, even if I hadn`t deleted the old. Do you know how multi-level subfoldering affects presidence?
Posts: 7,959
Thanks: 229205 in 189 Posts
Two different packages with identical filenames are considered different objects, and can co-exist in the game with no problem; the only piece of data used by the game to classify custom content is the GUID. Even if there are "rules of precedence", I see no reason why keeping two objects with the same GUID installed at the same time: if you are clever/lucky, the older one will be ignored; if you are unlucky, the new one will be ignored.
I've finally started my Journal. Information only, no questions.
My latest activity: CEP 9.2.0! - AnyGameStarter 2.1.1 (UPD) - Scriptorium v.2.2f - Photo & Plaques hide with walls - Magazine Rack (UPD) - Animated Windows Hack (UPD) - Custom Instrument Hack (UPD) - Drivable Cars Without Nightlife (UPD) - Courtesy Lights (FIX) - Custom Fence-Arches - Painting-TV - Smarter Lights (UPD)
Posts: 3,535
Thanks: 26 in 1 Posts
Because of the way I subfolder, the precidence rules you outlined, and the way this site names downloaded archives, my system would have used the new version, unless the number of digits in the download`s ID number had increased, which they didn`t. As I had already deleted the old version before posting the question, this isn`t an issue, but I greatly appreciate the information. Thank you.
Posts: 236
Your 'Ego' Unveiled
Shape Up!
Puzzles & Riddles
The Artist's Review
I've made the changes to make everything on the rack autonomous and am happy with the results. I know that there must be a way to copy the private tree table to the other rack, but I can't figure it out. I see 'extract' and 'clone' as options. Could you tell me how? I've been searching the SimPE site for an hour and am just going in circles. Thank you.
Running: Sims2, Uni, NL, OFB, Pets, Seasons, BV, FT & AL. Patched.
Posts: 7,959
Thanks: 229205 in 189 Posts
As for the magazines, if I remember well, they are:
- Fitness magazine (FT)
- (don't remember, lol! something related to logic, I guess) EDIT: it should be the "logic" book you can study when you gain the special bookcase as career prize in Seasons.
- Art magazine (FT)
EDIT: they are the special "Study... (Charisma, Body, Logic, Creativity)" interactions only available when you gain the special bookcase as career prize in Seasons.
I've finally started my Journal. Information only, no questions.
My latest activity: CEP 9.2.0! - AnyGameStarter 2.1.1 (UPD) - Scriptorium v.2.2f - Photo & Plaques hide with walls - Magazine Rack (UPD) - Animated Windows Hack (UPD) - Custom Instrument Hack (UPD) - Drivable Cars Without Nightlife (UPD) - Courtesy Lights (FIX) - Custom Fence-Arches - Painting-TV - Smarter Lights (UPD)
Posts: 236
"Reference to tree table entry that does not exist".
The error occurred when the Sim tried to study Cleaning which she and other Sims have done numerous times before without problems.
If I caused this problem, I apologize for wasting your time.
Running: Sims2, Uni, NL, OFB, Pets, Seasons, BV, FT & AL. Patched.
Posts: 7,959
Thanks: 229205 in 189 Posts
- According to the log, when the error occurred the sim "Golden" was trying to perform the interaction "Read book.../Cuisine" (meaning the FreeTime cuisine magazine), and the game couldn't find it in the TTAB (but it *does* exist in my original package). But have you said that your sim was trying to read a custom novel?
- In any case, please double check *your* modified interaction 0x0E (14) "Read Book.../Cuisine", comparing it to my original one, to see if you didn't break something unkowingly.
- A test thet you can easily run is to save the game, direct your sim to perform the faulty animation and wait for the error; then exit without saving, replace your modified packages with my original ones, and restart the game; immediately direct the sim to perform the same interaction, and see if the error occurs or not.
If you want, I can check your package, too: sometimes, four eyes see better than two...
I've finally started my Journal. Information only, no questions.
My latest activity: CEP 9.2.0! - AnyGameStarter 2.1.1 (UPD) - Scriptorium v.2.2f - Photo & Plaques hide with walls - Magazine Rack (UPD) - Animated Windows Hack (UPD) - Custom Instrument Hack (UPD) - Drivable Cars Without Nightlife (UPD) - Courtesy Lights (FIX) - Custom Fence-Arches - Painting-TV - Smarter Lights (UPD)
Posts: 236
I wasn't saying that my Sim was trying to read a custom novel, rather each time this error occurs, a custom novel will disappear, never to be seen again. I had 4 custom novels that disappeared one by one from these errors. Since then, I have written 2 more novels so testing can continue, just in case having custom novels is part of the problem. (I don't think I had the error occur before having custom novels, but I'm not 100% sure)
I tried my best to solve this, so I will take you up on your kind offer to look over what I did.
ETA: The error is occuring on different books, but only when autonomous. Each time it deletes a novel. But I found out that if I leave the lot without saving, I will still have my novel.
Running: Sims2, Uni, NL, OFB, Pets, Seasons, BV, FT & AL. Patched.
Posts: 7,959
Thanks: 229205 in 189 Posts
EDIT: my first, incomplete finding is that when the error occurs, your sim are trying to study something spontaneously, and they are supposed to have in their hand the standard "study" book; but they actually have the novel in their hand, instead. When the game tries to start the "Study" interaction using the novel (that does NOT have the Study interaction), the error occurs.
Now, I have to understand WHY the sims have the wrong book in their hand, and why this does NOT happen when the interaction in user-directed (not autonomous).
I've finally started my Journal. Information only, no questions.
My latest activity: CEP 9.2.0! - AnyGameStarter 2.1.1 (UPD) - Scriptorium v.2.2f - Photo & Plaques hide with walls - Magazine Rack (UPD) - Animated Windows Hack (UPD) - Custom Instrument Hack (UPD) - Drivable Cars Without Nightlife (UPD) - Courtesy Lights (FIX) - Custom Fence-Arches - Painting-TV - Smarter Lights (UPD)
Posts: 236
The log doesn't *appear* to be different from the others so I won't upload it unless you ask for it.
Running: Sims2, Uni, NL, OFB, Pets, Seasons, BV, FT & AL. Patched.
Posts: 7,959
Thanks: 229205 in 189 Posts
PS: have you tried swapping the packages in the Downloads, after the error occurred?
I've finally started my Journal. Information only, no questions.
My latest activity: CEP 9.2.0! - AnyGameStarter 2.1.1 (UPD) - Scriptorium v.2.2f - Photo & Plaques hide with walls - Magazine Rack (UPD) - Animated Windows Hack (UPD) - Custom Instrument Hack (UPD) - Drivable Cars Without Nightlife (UPD) - Courtesy Lights (FIX) - Custom Fence-Arches - Painting-TV - Smarter Lights (UPD)
Posts: 236
ETA: The 2nd error is from your unmodified rack.
Running: Sims2, Uni, NL, OFB, Pets, Seasons, BV, FT & AL. Patched.
Posts: 160
Thanks: 1053 in 8 Posts
Posts: 236
ETA: Somehow the error seems connected to the Sim. The last time I saved was before Allen threw the error. On reloads, no matter which Sim I use, the error will only be thrown by Allen and will occur the very next time he tries to study.
This last error is after removing all custom content. This caused a reset and Allen was standing in the front yard instead of at work where I left him. Yet when I directed him to study, he still threw the error.
NoCC.rar (15.0 KB, 3 downloads) |
Running: Sims2, Uni, NL, OFB, Pets, Seasons, BV, FT & AL. Patched.
Posts: 7,959
Thanks: 229205 in 189 Posts
Reading the game code (that I can modify, if needed, when I finally understand what's wrong), here is what it happens:
- The sim is directed (or autonomously decides) to study; the subject is irrelevant.
- The game scans the lot for existing novels; when one is found, the game checks the "relationship" between it and the sim, excluding the novels that have no relationship (or a weak relationship) with the sim. In other words, if I understand well, the game possibly checks if the sim is the author of the novel.
- If a valid novel (related to the sim) is found, then the game puts that novel in the sim's hand. If no valid novel is found, a standard book is created instead.
- The sim is then forced to perform one of the "Study" interaction from the book that he has in his hand: this is where the error occurs, because sometimes the sim has a standard book in his hand (that can be studies), but sometimes he has the novel, that can't be studied ("Reference to tree table entry that does not exist").
Question 1 - I see from the log that there are TWO novels in the lot; at least ONE of them has been written by Allen Hines? In your previous logs, the sim "Golden" was causing the errors; back then, did you have at least one novel written by Golden?
Question 2 - You say that the error is not consistent, but think of this: by chance, do Allen and Golden (and only them) always suffer from this error, and not the other sims? Or better: does the error only occurs when the "study" interaction is performed by a sim that has written a novel?
I've finally started my Journal. Information only, no questions.
My latest activity: CEP 9.2.0! - AnyGameStarter 2.1.1 (UPD) - Scriptorium v.2.2f - Photo & Plaques hide with walls - Magazine Rack (UPD) - Animated Windows Hack (UPD) - Custom Instrument Hack (UPD) - Drivable Cars Without Nightlife (UPD) - Courtesy Lights (FIX) - Custom Fence-Arches - Painting-TV - Smarter Lights (UPD)
Posts: 236
In the earliest logs, only Golden had written any novels and only she was getting the errors. The most recent novel was written by Allen Hines. Golden is not currently being affected by the error, only Allen Hines although she still has novels in the bookcase. For now, it appears that ONLY Sims who have written a novel are affected, but not ALWAYS affected. I will attempt to pinpoint it.
Just before I saved, Golden finished another novel. I will go back and see if she, Allen Hines, or both are getting the error now. I'll also check to see who, if any, gets the error when some novels are deleted. Several Sims have novels in progress, so I can do some experimenting now that I know what to look for.
Oh, when I say 'inconsistent'...I'm in the computer repair business and know that there is no such thing as random errors. I just mean that it appears inconsistent because I have been unable to find the pattern that causes the error to occur.
BTW, why would the game run a check to determine a Sim's relationship to a novel? I can't think of an example where the answer to the check would make a difference.
Running: Sims2, Uni, NL, OFB, Pets, Seasons, BV, FT & AL. Patched.
Posts: 236
When I went back into my game there were 3 novels, all by Golden (I guess I lost Allen Hine's novel in testing). While testing I always exit without saving so that I'm always at the same starting point. I am using the Maxis Cinderblock bookcase for testing.
Allen Hines was determined that it was his turn to throw the error. No one else would error, but he would error the first time he tried to study. So I took note of which novel was being deleted. It was the same novel every time. So I had him read that novel and then study (He only needed to read long enough to open the book). To my surprise the error did not occur! I did 8 more reloads. Every time he read the novel first, no error occurred when he studied. But if he tried to study first, the error would occur. I made sure that the novel was back on the shelf and available to read before telling him to study each time.
I also tried having him read the other novels before trying to study, but the error still occurred. The only thing that stopped the error was having him read that one particular novel first.
If I bypass the error by reading the novel first, or if I let the error happen so that the novel gets deleted, the errors stop and none of the Sims error after that.
After the tests, I had Allen Hines read the novel so all 4 Sims living on the lot could study with without errors. Then I had a third Sim finish a novel and placed it in the bookcase and saved the game. But now I can't get any Sim to throw the error whether that last novel has been read or not.
My testing continues. I hope this helps.
Running: Sims2, Uni, NL, OFB, Pets, Seasons, BV, FT & AL. Patched.
Posts: 7,959
Thanks: 229205 in 189 Posts
I start to think that for an unknown reason that specific novel of yours had a temporary problem, that was fixed when your sim has read it.
FYI, in my test game, some novels have been read as soon as they were delivered, and some others have been put in the bookcase without ever reading them; and none of them caused any error...
At this point, please go on playing normally, and tell me if the error occurs again.
I've finally started my Journal. Information only, no questions.
My latest activity: CEP 9.2.0! - AnyGameStarter 2.1.1 (UPD) - Scriptorium v.2.2f - Photo & Plaques hide with walls - Magazine Rack (UPD) - Animated Windows Hack (UPD) - Custom Instrument Hack (UPD) - Drivable Cars Without Nightlife (UPD) - Courtesy Lights (FIX) - Custom Fence-Arches - Painting-TV - Smarter Lights (UPD)
Posts: 236
There are 4 novels and 4 Sims. All novels were written by Golden except for "The Bomb". (Other novels were lost in early testing)
When directed to study, Golden and Donna throw an error which deletes "The Bomb". Allen throws an error which deletes "Who's Calling Now". The author of "The Bomb", which was the last novel written, is not throwing an error. This was consistent with each reload. (Four reloads for EACH Sim)
I told Allen to read "The Bomb" while I told Donna to study. "The bomb" was ripped right out of his hands, making him jump off the sofa. I did the same test on the other book, having Donna read "Who's Calling Now" while Allen tried to study, and that book was deleted from her hands causing a reset of the Sim.
If Allen reads "Who's Calling Now", he can study without errors. If Golden reads "The Bomb", she can study without errors. But Donna must read both of these books before she can study without errors. These actions are all consistent on each and every reload of the lot, from the same save position.
It DOES NOT help for the wrong Sim to read the wrong novel. If Allen reads "The Bomb" it helps no one. Golden and Donna will continue to have errors with this book. If Golden reads "The Bomb", her errors will cease but Donna's error will continue until she reads that book for herself.
I'm confused and somewhat disappointed that you are not getting similar results, especially since I am testing on a Maxis bookcase.
Since you do not get any errors, I will start a new hood without CC and run the tests again. If I cannot get the errors in a new hood, then I will assume that something was corrupt in this hood. Even though this hood is only 4 generations old, corruption is always possible.
Running: Sims2, Uni, NL, OFB, Pets, Seasons, BV, FT & AL. Patched.
Posts: 7,959
Thanks: 229205 in 189 Posts
...since I am testing on a Maxis bookcase. |
Right, you said in one of your earlier posts that you were making tests not only with my magazine rack, but also with standard bookcases; I've overlooked this condition, so far. You confirm my suspect that this is not a problem strictly related to my magazine rack, nor to the modifications you made to it; but it may be a general game bug, that could affect all the bookcases...
In this case, I can't solve it just modifying the rack (it will prevent the error only when using the rack, but won't fix it when using the bookcases); a global mod would be a more correct solution.
Question: when the error is about to occur, and the sim is extracting the book from the boocase/rack in order to study it, which book does the sim extract? The standard green one or the novel?
I've finally started my Journal. Information only, no questions.
My latest activity: CEP 9.2.0! - AnyGameStarter 2.1.1 (UPD) - Scriptorium v.2.2f - Photo & Plaques hide with walls - Magazine Rack (UPD) - Animated Windows Hack (UPD) - Custom Instrument Hack (UPD) - Drivable Cars Without Nightlife (UPD) - Courtesy Lights (FIX) - Custom Fence-Arches - Painting-TV - Smarter Lights (UPD)
Page 8 of 11
|