#1
7th Feb 2005 at 12:52 AM
Last edited by snazza : 29th Sep 2005 at
11:12 AM.
How to make a new clothing or hair mesh as a non-replacement.
Updating, August 28 to bring up to date. Judging by the responses it looks like I am bad at explaining things. I don't know I prefer shorter explanations myself, because you don't have to read through a whole bunch of stuff just to find the bits of info you want. If you want a really long one with lots of shiny pictures read WDSBrianna's thing. Thanks Miche, Delphy, Quaxi, and Wes_h for explaining things to me.
You need:
SimPE (just download a new one please)
That's IT!
1. You make a new package file using bodyshop (hair, clothes, whatever it is), which is going to be the base mesh you want to change. Have your SavedSims folder open so you can see the new file it spits out.
2. You need to export the CRES, GMND, GMDC, and SHPE from the different simsxx.packages in "The Sims 2\TSData\Res\Sims3D". It is important that you extract the correct ones for the particular outfit or hair you used in bodyshop. Open your bodyshop package and look at the 3IDR file. Look at the instance of the Resource Node (CRES) it is referencing. Open sims06.package (in The Sims 2\TSData\Res\Sims3D) and put that instance in SimPE's instance filter. After that,
SimPE should only show the CRES file you want. Extract it and also check the name of it. You can look for that name in the name map that is in every simsxx.package to find the other 3 files (GMND, GMDC, and SHPE) you are going to extract next.
3. Using
SimPE File->Add all those files you extracted to your bodyshop package (You can also make a new package if you want, and add them to that. This is if you want to keep your bodyshop texture package separate from the package with the mesh.). When you add the files be sure to choose the XML file (for each file you extracted, 2 files are created).
4. Now everything you need is in the package, but the way it is now it will only replace the existing mesh. Go to each of the files you imported (CRES, GMND, GMDC, and SHPE) and in the plugin view type a new name for the filename and click "Assign Hash", commit, then "Fix TGI" and commit again. It must be done in that order too because "Fix TGI" generates a new ID for the file based on the hash. You must do that for the 4 files you imported. After that those files are no longer replacing ones in the simsxx packages. They have new IDs but they are still not linked together.
5. The way your bodyshop package links to a mesh is through the 3IDR file which links to the CRES by ID. The CRES links to the SHPE by ID. The SHPE links to GMND by name, and the GMND links to the GMDC by ID. There is a 3IDR file in your bodyshop package. Open it's plugin view. Take note of the Resource Node (CRES) reference. Replace that ID (instance & instance high) with those of your new CRES file. Commit the changes. Good doggy.
6. Now that the 3IDR links to the CRES, get the CRES to link to the SHPE. Look in the CRES file in
SimPE and go to the "Reference" tab, you'll see the SHPE it is linking to, remove that one and click on the little arrow on the right side bar. There should appear a list of files in your package. Drag your SHPE file in to the Reference list and click commit.
7. Now you need to link the SHPE to the GMND which is done by name. Browse to the GMND and copy its file name. Browse to the SHPE file and look at the "Items" tab. Click the item there and paste in the GMND filename as the new name. Click commit.
8. Now to link the GMND to the GMDC. Look in the GMND file in
SimPE and go to the "Reference" tab, you'll see the GMDC it is linking to, remove that one and click on the little arrow on the right side bar. There should appear a list of files in your package. Drag your GMDC file in to the Reference list and click commit.
9. Save the file. And remember at some point to right click and replace the GMDC mesh with your edited one, though this can be done at any time. Don't worry it won't change IDs even if it does change the name you see. Also I will mention for anyone wondering why nothing was done concerning the MATD, that with bodyshop generated packages the MATD is linked to by the 3IDR and the SHPE link is at least unused for that purpose. Obviously Maxis set it up like this so people could make their own skins.
10. This concludes the tutorial. You should have a non-replacement package now. Test it out. If you have trouble then ask. Good luck.