CAMeLots - Dependencies

[Ardias59]

"BSC Texture Pack JES Vol04", is now incoporated into "BSC Textures Vol03"

[RippleJet]

Indeed... corrected now!  Thanks (again) Ardias59!

[Ardias59]

No, it's only fitting I warn you.
You guys make a gread job.
It's the least users like me can do. 

[cboss2]

Hi

First I feel a thanks in order to every single person who has contributed to making CAM, its dependencies, lots, and especially these useful threads. Thank you

So far my only confusion lies in the starter packs. I have gone through this thread downloading each dependency pack, and I have searched through the http://sc4devotion.com/forums/index.php?topic=2039.0 thread twice to make sure I have everything for all the starter packs.

Up until now I have used basic CAM on a fresh installation of SC4. The only changes I have done to my installation are of course the patches, nightlight fix, etc. and as for plugins I have NAM, CAM, Peg's Brigantine Water, ENN's Slope Mod, and Hole Diggers. I have not added anything that should require removal using Cleanit before I install the starter packs.

My question is this: Am I correct in feeling that way? Or will I still need to use Cleanit to sure everything works properly? As well, is there any particular order I need to install all the starter packs and dependencies (especially CAM Essentials)? I read somewhere that if you install anything after CAM Essentials you have to run Cleanit and reinstall Essentials. Is that true?

I have not installed anything yet, simply downloaded all the files listed in both threads for each CAM starter pack, but I am eager to try them out as soon as someone might be able to help me out and give me the green light on my confusion.

I apologize if this isn't the right place to post this, but I figured it would be easier than putting up an entirely new thread. I just have never installed so many new buildings to the game before or so many dependencies at one time (the folder I downloaded everything to is over 700 megs) so I just don't want to risk doing it wrong and realize it when it's too late. I have installed buildings and dependencies before, but just one at a time here and there depending on what struck my fancy. I've never used CAM extensively before either.

Thank you in advance for any help you can provide

[xxdita]

Welcome to CAM cboss2! It may seem like a lot of dependencies at first, but once you get what's already available, you'll be able to just download & install items as they're released. It does get easier, believe me.

I think of CAM as an unofficial Expansion Pack, so it seems natural that there would be as much as a Gigabyte of files to download, and of course we're constantly working on more.

The CAM Essentials file has now be included in BSC Essentials. So you'll now only need the latest BSC Essentials file from the LEX. The Cleanitol file included with it will remove CAM Essentials, because it is no longer needed.

As for the install for CAM, you should really take a look at this thread on the exact procedure to install CAM itself, in order to avoid some of the bugs we've found.

Also, the NAM traffic simulators included with CAM are seriously outdated. It's best to use one of the ones included with the latest NAM download.

Then, make sure you have BSC Essentials, and the CAMelot Counters from the LEX. It's never a bad idea to also get the Census Repository v3 as well, to help you figure out what's really going on in your cities.

After that, I'd suggest installing the starter packs and required models, then playing the game a bit, just to see what a difference CAM really makes. If you see any brown boxes for these CAMelots, check the link in my signature for the Cleanitols For Free thread, where I've made Cleanitols for the Starter Packs. Be careful when installing files from other exchanges only to install the model file, either a *.sc4model or *.dat. This is the only file from those downloads that are needed, and installing the original lots can really mess up CAM's smooth stage progression.

Once you've worked out that you have everything required for the files you've installed, start adding the other files. Again, if the lot is on the LEX and the model file is on another exchange, only install the model from that file, not the original lot.

It's best to install the individual model files into a single folder, so that you can use DatPacker to crunch them all into one file. Believe me when I say that this will help boost your loading speeds, often immensely. Otherwise, use the installer's recommended path folder to install.

Also, another tip for installing files: once you've installed what you need, move the zip to another folder (for me it's named Already Installed), so if you can't do it all at once, you don't lose your place.

You may want to actually take a break every now & then and actually play the game.

Once you have everything installed, I highly recommend backing up your entire plugins folder, before you even use DatPacker, preferably to a secondary hard drive, so that you don't have to go through all of the install process all over again, should you have a computer problem at some point.

[cboss2]

Thank you for the prompt, and very informative, reply As well as the welcome!

Yes, it was a lot of work to get everything together but things got easier as I went because suddenly the last hundreds of megs of pro packs I've downloaded simply repeated themselves as dependencies. So I only assume it will continually become easier as prop packs are continually reused in new growth models.

I am using the NAM traffic simulator. I kind of figured there was no reason to let CAM handle my traffic simulation when NAM was specifically targeted at this issue.

I took your advice and downloaded CAMeLot Counters and the Census Repository. Thanks for pointing those out I had completely overlooked them.

I have not installed CAM in the way of combining it with the first dat file in the Maxis directory, so I will go ahead and do that. I should be able to do that even without actually reinstalling everything, right?

How highly suggested is DatPacking all my model files especially if they are placed in a particular directory through an installer? For example, under "C:\Documents\SimCity 4\Plugins\BSC\Farms\Fields" I have over 20 SC4Lot files that begin with the prefix "CSX Farm Field" such as "CSX Farm Field - Wetland_4f1c9a2a.SC4Lot" and "CSX Farm Field - Pinewood_cf07d4ad.SC4Lot."  These were installed in this folder by the installer itself, and one thing I've learned through modding experience is sometimes if a default directory is defined, it's best left untouched.  What's your opinion?

On the other hand, for DuskTrooper's Lyre Plaza, I have the files "Lyre Plaza Plopable.dat," "LyrePlaza GROW.dat," and "LYREPLAZAII-0x5ad0e817_0x8d58ddf7_0x30000.SC4Model" which do not have an installer, or a pre-defined directory. If I understand your post correctly, you recommend taking just the "LYREPLAZAII-0x5ad0e817_0x8d58ddf7_0x30000.SC4Model" file and putting it in a folder along with other similar files and then DatPacking that folder and leaving the first two files (the .dat) out of my plugins folder entirely?  From the starter pack, I have "R$$$10_3x3_Lyre_Plaza_53508c2c.SC4Lot" located under "C:\Documents\SimCity 4\Plugins\CAM\Residentials" as well.

The trend I'm seeing here is that the starter pack already includes the "Lots" so you just need the "Models, Props, and Textures" to make the Lot work? Correct me if I'm wrong, but continuing...

I also have a file for the Acme Pencil Factory that I downloaded in the LEX. It came with an installer, and spit the following out:

C:\Documents\SimCity 4\Plugins\BSC\jestarr\AcmePencilFactory
...\AcmePencilFactory\I-d2_1x2_jes_SmallFactory_Mech_13609527.SC4Lot
...\AcmePencilFactory\I-d2_2x1_jes_SmallFactory_Mech_b357948b.SC4Lot
...\AcmePencilFactory\I-m2_2x1_jes_AcmePencilFactory_9357677e.SC4Lot
...\AcmePencilFactory\jes_2x1_AcmePencilFactory_13564891.SC4Lot
...\AcmePencilFactory\jes_AcmePencilFactory-0x5ad0e817_0x3353a319_0x30000.SC4Model

And through the Industrial starter pack for CAM, I also have the file "IM$$4_2x1_jes_AcmePencilFactory_CAM_9357677e.SC4Lot" located under "C:\Documents\SimCity 4\Plugins\CAM\Industrials."  Through that, I am assuming that I need to delete everything in the "...\jestarr\AcmePencilFactory\" folder except for the SC4Model file if my assumption above is correct and I actually understand what you're saying?

My last question has to do with downloads that come with three renditions. Specifically one claims to be a landmark, the other a plopable, and the final to be a growable. Should I be only installing the "growable" version and leave the other two out of my folders entirely or may I install all three with no detrimental effects?  Here's an example:

C:\Users\xxxxxxx\Downloads\SC4 Mods\Dependencies\golden_bank\
...\golden_bank\plopable\Golden Bank-0x6534284a-0xcd4d6e21-0x0d70850a.SC4Desc
...\golden_bank\plopable\CO$$$golden_bank_4d707fb9.SC4Lot
...\golden_bank\growable\Golden Bank-0x6534284a-0xcd4d6e21-0x0d70850a.SC4Desc
...\golden_bank\growable\CO$$$8_3x3golden_bank_4d70869b.SC4Lot

C:\Documents\SimCity 4\Plugins\CAM\CO$$$\
...\CAM\CO$$$\CO$$$11_3x3_Golden Bank ON_d3f00322.SC4Lot

I'm guessing I would need to only place the "...\golden_bank\growable\Golden Bank-0x6534284a-0xcd4d6e21-0x0d70850a.SC4Desc" file in my plugins directory and leave every other file out?

Thanks again xxdita. I really appreciate you taking the time to help me understand this a little more so I don't break it


Major Edit:

I believe I may have just solved my own confusion on trying to understand what you meant by just installing the model files.  I looked at your Cleanitol thread and started running some of your CAM Starter Pack Cleanitol's and for the Residentials I had this:

Code Select Expand

**************************************************
                    R E P O R T
**************************************************
MISSING : BSC_Essentials.dat has not been found, you can download it : http://www.sc4devotion.com/csxlex/lex_filedesc.php?lotGET=443
MISSING : CP_PropPack_Vol01.dat has not been found, you can download it : http://www.simtropolis.com/stex/index.cfm?id=14842
MISSING : LYREPLAZAII-0x5ad0e817_0x8d58ddf7_0x30000.SC4Model has not been found, you can download it : install only the model file http://www.simtropolis.com/stex/index.cfm?id=3186
MISSING : AndoverTowerOne-0x5ad0e817_0xcd821e4e_0x30000.SC4Model has not been found, you can download it : Install only the model file http://www.simtropolis.com/stex/index.cfm?id=3128
MISSING : KEATON PLAZA-0x5ad0e817_0x2d2d42d9_0x640000.SC4Model has not been found, you can download it : Install only the model file http://www.simtropolis.com/stex/index.cfm?id=2780
MISSING : OUTROPH2-0x5ad0e817_0x2d2d42d9_0x250000.SC4Model has not been found, you can download it : Install only the model file http://www.simtropolis.com/stex/index.cfm?id=2300
MISSING : Superstar's Diamond Financial Center [Model] 0x5ad0e817_0xd2996e37_0x30000.SC4Model has not been found, you can download it : Install only the model file http://www.simtropolis.com/stex/index.cfm?id=13671
MISSING : NDEX_DT_SidfeldtTowerOne.SC4Model has not been found, you can download it : Install only the model file http://www.simtropolis.com/stex/index.cfm?id=16368
MISSING : Superstar's Shiner Tower.dat has not been found, you can download it : Install only the model file http://www.simtropolis.com/stex/index.cfm?id=12894
MISSING : Superstar's Key Tower FixedByRJ-0x5ad0e817_0x102a45d9_0x30000.SC4Model has not been found, you can download it : http://www.sc4devotion.com/csxlex/lex_filedesc.php?lotGET=1340
MISSING : NDEX (DuskTrooper) Cardinal Airlines Tower.SC4Model has not been found, you can download it : Install only the model file http://www.simtropolis.com/stex/index.cfm?id=11084
MISSING : NDEX_EBDT_Zeniathus.SC4Model has not been found, you can download it : Install only the model file http://www.simtropolis.com/stex/index.cfm?id=13205
MISSING : DuskTrooper's Zhang Ghee Center [Model].dat has not been found, you can download it : Install only the model file http://www.simtropolis.com/stex/index.cfm?id=12253
MISSING : DuskTrooper's Evil Vanadium HQ [Model].dat has not been found, you can download it : Install only the model file http://www.simtropolis.com/stex/index.cfm?id=11621
MISSING : DuskTrooper's Niobium Energy Company [Model].dat has not been found, you can download it : Install only the model file http://www.simtropolis.com/stex/index.cfm?id=4140
MISSING : Superstar's Pacifica Palm Plaza [Model].dat has not been found, you can download it : Install only the model file http://www.simtropolis.com/stex/index.cfm?id=11322
MISSING : NDEX_DT_Van Boktt Tower.SC4Model has not been found, you can download it : Install only the model file http://www.simtropolis.com/stex/index.cfm?id=15471
MISSING : JetersenFocsmann-0x5ad0e817_0xcd760967_0x30000.SC4Model has not been found, you can download it : Install only the model file http://www.simtropolis.com/stex/index.cfm?id=3783
MISSING : NDEX (DuskTrooper) KaplanKo Tower IV.SC4Model has not been found, you can download it : Install only the model file http://www.simtropolis.com/stex/index.cfm?id=4350
MISSING : COBB MEGA Props Vol01.dat has not been found, you can download it : http://sc4devotion.com/csxlex/lex_filedesc.php?lotGET=689
MISSING : COBB MEGA Props Vol03.dat has not been found, you can download it : http://sc4devotion.com/csxlex/lex_filedesc.php?lotGET=691
You seem to be missing some dependancies

Pretty much every single thing I haven't installed yet because they were all files without installers, just zips.

For the installers however, that place more than just a model file, should I be manually seperating those files or is there a way to run Cleanit to back up every thing that I "dont" need. (I am new to Cleanitol)

[xxdita]

I should be able to do that even without actually reinstalling everything, right?

Yes. Make sure you back up your simcity_1.dat file first though!

How highly suggested is DatPacking

Your computer will be better able to load a smaller number of larger files than it will a larger number of smaller files. When I say 'It's best to install the individual model files into a single folder" I'm speaking specifically about the models that come from other exchanges, not the LEX. Most LEX files come in an installer, to keep yuor plugins more organized.

So yes, if files have installers, keep that path. But DatPacking is perfectly fine, except in the case of NAM, and some other mods, particularly any that are installed or recommended to be installed in a zz_ folder.

I wouldn't worry too much about the Acme Pencil Factory, but for the NDEX buildings it is extremely important not to install any of the original lots. These are stage 7 & 8 skyscrapers for Deluxe/Rush Hour. In CAM, the same buildings should be somewhere between Stage 12 & 15 usually.

Should I be only installing the "growable" version and leave the other two out of my folders entirely or may I install all three with no detrimental effects?

Again, if the file is from the LEX, then all of the lots are ready for CAM. If it comes from another site, then it's best to only install the model files. If you find a lot from somewhere else that you really like, you'll need to update it with SC4PIM. But for anything in the Starter Packs, or other lots from the LEX that require outside dependencies, only the sc4model file is needed. If it says PLOP or GROW, it's a lot file, and may cause problems. And sometimes even the Landmark version can cause problems.

[cboss2]

Yes. Make sure you back up your simcity_1.dat file first though!

Your computer will be better able to load a smaller number of larger files than it will a larger number of smaller files. When I say 'It's best to install the individual model files into a single folder" I'm speaking specifically about the models that come from other exchanges, not the LEX. Most LEX files come in an installer, to keep yuor plugins more organized.

So yes, if files have installers, keep that path. But DatPacking is perfectly fine, except in the case of NAM, and some other mods, particularly any that are installed or recommended to be installed in a zz_ folder.

I wouldn't worry too much about the Acme Pencil Factory, but for the NDEX buildings it is extremely important not to install any of the original lots. These are stage 7 & 8 skyscrapers for Deluxe/Rush Hour. In CAM, the same buildings should be somewhere between Stage 12 & 15 usually.

Again, if the file is from the LEX, then all of the lots are ready for CAM. If it comes from another site, then it's best to only install the model files. If you find a lot from somewhere else that you really like, you'll need to update it with SC4PIM. But for anything in the Starter Packs, or other lots from the LEX that require outside dependencies, only the sc4model file is needed. If it says PLOP or GROW, it's a lot file, and may cause problems. And sometimes even the Landmark version can cause problems.

Hi Thanks so much again for the reply.

I've been using your Cleanitol thread as well and am finding dependencies I overlooked also 

Thank you for clearing this up for me. Going back to work on setting all of this up

[Boerentoren]

Hi all,


I've downloaded the Goober Gen Lab I-HT stage 8 Camelot, I was pretty sure I had installed all the necessary dependencies but now I get a grey stone area around the main building, so I must be missing something right??


greetz

[mjel72]

Will the updated Railyard Texture Mega Pack Vol1.02 work for CAM or do you need the older version?

[RippleJet]

Will the updated Railyard Texture Mega Pack Vol1.02 work for CAM or do you need the older version?

That's a rather irrelevant question, don't you think?
It depends on which Railyard Texture Mega Pack was used as a dependency when the lot (regardless whether it's a CAMeLot) was made.

In most cases you would manage well with only the latest version, 1.02.
In that verion very few textures were given new IIDs (those that had the wealth bit erroneously set).

In case you'd ever encounter a lot with a missing railyard texture,
you can always install the older version as well (so that it loads before the 1.02 version).

[Panda_Power]

I'm a bit unsure when it comes to datpacking. I have used it to pack everything in my plugins folder, including NAM, and it did that, but also in my plugins folder I seem to have hundreds of files that refer to names of buildings etc...I'm not actually sure if they're models or lots and I'm at work at the moment so I can't see what the file extension is. How do I datpack all of these files that are just sitting inside the plugins folder? I'm worried that if I create a new folder to put them in and then datpack it, the game won't be able to find them!

Also.....should I not have datpacked NAM?

One last question about BSC Essentials....is this the most recent file that I should have?
http://sc4devotion.com/csxlex/lex_filedesc.php?lotGET=443
I saw the link on page 9.

I ask because when I run cleanitol it says it can't find BSC_Essentials (with an underscore) and I have BSC Essentials (with a space and no underscore)

Many thanks for your time!

[RippleJet]

How do I datpack all of these files that are just sitting inside the plugins folder? I'm worried that if I create a new folder to put them in and then datpack it, the game won't be able to find them!

No worries. The game will find them in a subfolder as well.

Also.....should I not have datpacked NAM?

That's the recommendation, yes.
However, it's for the purpose that NAM gets updated a lot more often than anything else in the game.
As long as you're consistent in returning your un-datpacked state, espeacially the NAM folder, before doing any updates, you're safe though.

One last question about BSC Essentials....is this the most recent file that I should have?
http://sc4devotion.com/csxlex/lex_filedesc.php?lotGET=443
I saw the link on page 9.

I ask because when I run cleanitol it says it can't find BSC_Essentials (with an underscore) and I have BSC Essentials (with a space and no underscore)

Unfortunately BSC Essentials got renamed into "BSC Essentials.dat", without the underscore, in the latest update.
Due to that, older Cleanitol files won't find it, and will still report that you're missing "BSC_Essentials.dat".
However, that's something you can ignore, as long as you've got "BSC Essentials.dat" installed.

[Panda_Power]

Perfect, thank you! I've got my plugins folder backed up before I datpacked it and I have a few missed files to add so I think I'll revert to it being undatpacked and then once I have everything I want and everything is the latest version, then I will datpack it and make a folder for those other files too, so they get included.

[blink3020]

Hi everybody, I'm fairly new to CAM and have decided to take the plunge.  A bit overwhelming I must admit but it will certainly give me something to do. I just have a few questions about all these dependencies...

1) I searched for topics dealing with CAM Essentials but didn't find anything of relevance. The file has been locked, did BSC Essentials replace this?

2) The Mediterranean Style Farms contain four zip files. It says in the description that you only need to install the first one but that the other 3 install stage 1,2,3 farms with their own dependencies. Can somebody please clarify this a little bit more.

3) How do I make it so one file (EX: CAM) loads before another (EX: CAM)?

Any help would be much appreciated and I look forward to working with CAM!

[RippleJet]

1) I searched for topics dealing with CAM Essentials but didn't find anything of relevance. The file has been locked, did BSC Essentials replace this?

Yes, the CAMeLot queries (which used to be in CAM Essentials) are now included in BSC Essentials.

2) The Mediterranean Style Farms contain four zip files. It says in the description that you only need to install the first one but that the other 3 install stage 1,2,3 farms with their own dependencies. Can somebody please clarify this a little bit more.

The fields are essentials, as they are used in the CAM farms (which are of growth stages 4, 5, 6 and 7).
You may still install the original Mediterranean farm lots (of growth stages 1, 2 and 3).
They work perfectly well also with CAM.

If you do, you will have to install the dependencies for those lots as well though,
as listed in the end of the first post above.

3) How do I make it so one file (EX: CAM) loads before another (EX: CAM)?

Read about folder and file loading order here.

[BarbyW]

Answer to
1) is Yes the BSC Essentials - latest version - includes the CAM Essentials file.
2) if you only want the CAM Med style farms you only need the first file and its dependencies but if you want the other stage farms then install them all - I recommend that

[MutantPlatypus]

The Cleanitol list has "BSC_Essentials" instead of "BSC Essentials"

[RippleJet]

The Cleanitol list has "BSC_Essentials" instead of "BSC Essentials"

Yes, that's because the BSC Essentials was renamed with its latest upload.
Thus, there are still a lot of older Cleanitol files pointing to BSC_Essentials.dat (with the underscore).

If you've got the latest BSC Essentials.dat (without the underscore),
then you can safely ignore that "missing dependency" reported by Cleanitol.

[MutantPlatypus]

The dependencies for stages 8-9 R$$ are not in the Cleanitol dependencies list.

In fact, a lot of the dependencies listed in the starter pack files' readmes are not in the Cleanitol dependencies list.  I was going to start listing the missing ones, but there are simply way too many for my level of motivation