The TS3 Store: post your questions, updates, and tech help here

[Zed Pee Em]

dianapgonzo, I had that happen to me with the casino type lot from the store. I figured it was just a decrapping thing. But I don't know.

[kissing_toast]

If your stuff is decrapped I would suggest going into your library folder, finding the lot in question and re-decrapping it. The lots will all be named a bunch of numbers so use the time stamp to figure out what is what or open them up in s3pe and check the thumbnails to see which lot it is.

[igottapi]

Is anyone having problems starting their game after installing everything from the store?

After installing Island P. I started a fresh game and installed  all the store crap released till now, I always install little by little since if I try all at the same time they don't install but as I was getting to the last ones I notice the launch was taking longer to load.

By the time I was finish the launch takes 2 to 3 minutes just to appear and starting the game directly will take quite a few times since I mostly get "does not respond" I also notice that the first time after just staring my PC the game will start fine but if I quit the game and try to start it again it will take many tries. Once I tried like 6 or 7 times before giving up and restarting my PC.

I decided to delete the folder and try just installing just a few thing and the game worked perfectly without a problem and started instantly, both the game and the launch.

So, anyone else having problems or just me?

[rachelstoolbox]

Try deleting your cache files

[Menaceman]

The Launcher now creates .TMP files in the DCCache folder when it is used. Presumably this is to get it to show ALL content now as opposed to just the odd bits it usually feels like showing. Apparently they are what slows the Launcher and the game down. They can be deleted and no Store content should go missing but the Launcher will regenerate them the next time you open it anyway.
If you only use the Launcher to install content and instead bypass it to launch the actual game then you shouldn't have a problem really.

[igottapi]

The Launcher now creates .TMP files in the DCCache folder when it is used. Presumably this is to get it to show ALL content now as opposed to just the odd bits it usually feels like showing. Apparently they are what slows the Launcher and the game down. They can be deleted and no Store content should go missing but the Launcher will regenerate them the next time you open it anyway.
If you only use the Launcher to install content and instead bypass it to launch the actual game then you shouldn't have a problem really.

Thank you. I deleted the .tmp but Im still having problems so Im resarching it, but at least I know what the problem is.

[Rubyelf]

Is anyone having problems starting their game after installing everything from the store?

After installing Island P. I started a fresh game and installed  all the store crap released till now, I always install little by little since if I try all at the same time they don't install but as I was getting to the last ones I notice the launch was taking longer to load.

By the time I was finish the launch takes 2 to 3 minutes just to appear and starting the game directly will take quite a few times since I mostly get "does not respond" I also notice that the first time after just staring my PC the game will start fine but if I quit the game and try to start it again it will take many tries. Once I tried like 6 or 7 times before giving up and restarting my PC.

I decided to delete the folder and try just installing just a few thing and the game worked perfectly without a problem and started instantly, both the game and the launch.

So, anyone else having problems or just me?

I am having the exact same problem, but I am also encountering an issue where I can't actually install the items from the store too, it just hangs there and does nothing. I found if I deleted the dcdbt.dbc file I could install the rest, but then I can't run the game at all, just hangs with no responding. I had to delete 4 cache files to try and fix it, sort of worked, but that means I lost half my installs.

Try deleting your cache files

Kind of defeats the purpose of what we're trying to achieve here, which is running the game WITH our downloads actually there, deleting the cache files just removes all of our downloads, which means it was useless.
If you meant the .cache files - it doesn't make a difference.

IMPORTANT DISCOVERY!

So I just discovered something very interesting, I deleted the extra cache files above dcdb15 and the game loaded perfectly fine. So I put in dcdb16 and the game refused to load, I tried 17 -19 too, same thing, one extra file above 15 and the game refuses to load at all. So I removed dcdb15 and put in dcdb16 and the game loaded fine, I tried it with 17, 18 and 19 too and the game ran fine, but as soon as more than 15 cache files were placed in the folder, the game refused to load.

[kissing_toast]

IMPORTANT DISCOVERY!

So I just discovered something very interesting, I deleted the extra cache files above dcdb15 and the game loaded perfectly fine. So I put in dcdb16 and the game refused to load, I tried 17 -19 too, same thing, one extra file above 15 and the game refuses to load at all. So I removed dcdb15 and put in dcdb16 and the game loaded fine, I tried it with 17, 18 and 19 too and the game ran fine, but as soon as more than 15 cache files were placed in the folder, the game refused to load.

I only have 13 dbcs and my game decides when it wants to work or not. On a fresh startup of my pc I try to run the game and it works. I quit the game and try running it again, I get the forever black loading screen. I remove my dbccache folder, try running the game and it works. Quit the game, replace my dbccache folder, try running the game and it works. Quit the game, try running it again and I get the forever black loading screen. I'm gonna try a few more things but I might be switching over to packages for store stuff.

[Rubyelf]

I only have 13 dbcs and my game decides when it wants to work or not. On a fresh startup of my pc I try to run the game and it works. I quit the game and try running it again, I get the forever black loading screen. I remove my dbccache folder, try running the game and it works. Quit the game, replace my dbccache folder, try running the game and it works. Quit the game, try running it again and I get the forever black loading screen. I'm gonna try a few more things but I might be switching over to packages for store stuff.

Yah I am about ready to do the same here, just not looking forward to having to redownload and find them all. Either that I'll just get the ones that are missing as packages..

[kissing_toast]

I only have 13 dbcs and my game decides when it wants to work or not. On a fresh startup of my pc I try to run the game and it works. I quit the game and try running it again, I get the forever black loading screen. I remove my dbccache folder, try running the game and it works. Quit the game, replace my dbccache folder, try running the game and it works. Quit the game, try running it again and I get the forever black loading screen. I'm gonna try a few more things but I might be switching over to packages for store stuff.

Yah I am about ready to do the same here, just not looking forward to having to redownload and find them all. Either that I'll just get the ones that are missing as packages..

Well for now I have found a suitable work around. I added this line to my resource.cfg file in my mods folder:

Priority 500
PackedFile DCCache/*.dbc

Then copied the dbc files into a folder named DCCache in my mods folder. Zipped up the mydocuments DCCache folder for when I need to add more store stuff then deleted the original. I only install store stuff through the launcher and everything is arr'd so I had no ebc files(legit store stuff). Works like a charm and all my fixes still work. Now my game starts up everytime. This will do for now until something else comes up or when I feel like playing around with cc magic or something.

[Rubyelf]

Someone suggested deleting the downloadedsims.index in the savedsims folder,  I did that, and the game loads up perfectly fine now and all my downloads are there!

[witch]

Well for now I have found a suitable work around. I added this line to my resource.cfg file in my mods folder:

Priority 500
PackedFile DCCache/*.dbc

Then copied the dbc files into a folder named DCCache in my mods folder. Zipped up the mydocuments DCCache folder for when I need to add more store stuff then deleted the original. I only install store stuff through the launcher and everything is arr'd so I had no ebc files(legit store stuff). Works like a charm and all my fixes still work. Now my game starts up everytime. This will do for now until something else comes up or when I feel like playing around with cc magic or something.

Why can't you use the .dbc files from the mods folder when you wish to add content? Move them back to downloads, do the deed, then move them back to /packages.

[igottapi]

Someone suggested deleting the downloadedsims.index in the savedsims folder,  I did that, and the game loads up perfectly fine now and all my downloads are there!

Yep after some research I found this too. Just deleting this file and the .tmps should make the game start as always. Thought I notice that when I use the launch again the .tmps come back but this one doesnt.

Seriously I wonder if the Sims 3 team test things at all before releasing them. Patches often break things more than they fix lol

[rum nate]

New store set, The Coffee Bean Hipster Loft. Currently on sale for 1600 points.

[Menaceman]

Someone suggested deleting the downloadedsims.index in the savedsims folder,  I did that, and the game loads up perfectly fine now and all my downloads are there!

I was having major issues with not being able to get my game to load with my mods folder in and it seemed no matter which files I had in, it would not start. I removed the downloadedsims.index file after reading here and my game loads fine now with all mod folders intact. I've not tried actually playing yet but it will always start up now at least.
Just posting for confirmation that this file does seem to affect the loading of the game.

[kissing_toast]

Someone suggested deleting the downloadedsims.index in the savedsims folder,  I did that, and the game loads up perfectly fine now and all my downloads are there!

I was having major issues with not being able to get my game to load with my mods folder in and it seemed no matter which files I had in, it would not start. I removed the downloadedsims.index file after reading here and my game loads fine now with all mod folders intact. I've not tried actually playing yet but it will always start up now at least.
Just posting for confirmation that this file does seem to affect the loading of the game.

Yea, me too. What an odd thing to cause so much trouble.

[jezzer]

New store set, The Coffee Bean Hipster Loft. Currently on sale for 1600 points.

I certainly hope there's an option to fill it with hipsters and SET IT ON FIRE.

[quebec]

I haven't been around in a while, and my old 4shared account is kind of dead. I am however uploading all of my files to a skydrive like the one frank has (organized differently). Think of it as an extra backup for everyone. http://sdrv.ms/14fgbgR

It is a complete archive of all of the store files to date. Think the only thing I am missing is a couple of the branded content packs.

Some of your files seem alreaday decrapified, i tested 4 files and 4 files is decrapified.

Victorian_Fullset.Sims3Pack
VictorianFashions.Sims3Pack
Storybook_Fullset.Sims3Pack
JetSetAdult Set.Sims3Pack

[Seacret]

I only have 13 dbcs...

I... what... how? I have all the store content installed and only have 6 dbcs. Unless you download other stuff besides store crap? Anything that isn't store goes into my mods folder in a big merged custom content file (excluding actual mods). It might be helpful to do that or if all those files are from just store stuff try deleting then re-installing everything together. It's a PITA but it cuts your files by half. I hate how the game can only handle having a very small amount of separate files *grumbles*.

[kissing_toast]

I only have 13 dbcs...

I... what... how? I have all the store content installed and only have 6 dbcs. Unless you download other stuff besides store crap? Anything that isn't store goes into my mods folder in a big merged custom content file (excluding actual mods). It might be helpful to do that or if all those files are from just store stuff try deleting then re-installing everything together. It's a PITA but it cuts your files by half. I hate how the game can only handle having a very small amount of separate files *grumbles*.

While I do need to re-install everything eventually, it seems like everytime I do I get less of those. And that is only store stuff BTW.

[sharmane]

I recently downloaded Dragon Valley Gold and the Duke of Bows Renaissance Faire both untouched.
Decrapified and installed both via the launcher-they both seem to have installed, and while Dragon Valley doesn't seem to be missing any objects the Duke of Bows Renaissance Faire does. The archery ranges are treadmills, the benches, fountains and chairs are basegame stuff and the violin item turns into a kiddies slide climbing frame object. I have tried reinstalling both packs over my current installation with the same objects missing each time. I'm fully up to date and delete cache files and with the most updated version of the Decrapifyer too I checked just to be sure. I even tried KT fixes to no avail. Can anyone tell me why this is happening and if I'm doing anything wrong? 

[Sigmund]

I recently downloaded Dragon Valley Gold and the Duke of Bows Renaissance Faire both untouched.
Decrapified and installed both via the launcher-they both seem to have installed, and while Dragon Valley doesn't seem to be missing any objects the Duke of Bows Renaissance Faire does. The archery ranges are treadmills, the benches, fountains and chairs are basegame stuff and the violin item turns into a kiddies slide climbing frame object. I have tried reinstalling both packs over my current installation with the same objects missing each time. I'm fully up to date and delete cache files and with the most updated version of the Decrapifyer too I checked just to be sure. I even tried KT fixes to no avail. Can anyone tell me why this is happening and if I'm doing anything wrong? 

Are all the items in your buy catalog? If they are, I'd try finding the lot in your Library folder (it'll be a string of random numbers and letters, but you can open it up in S3PE to figure out which file it is) and decrapify that, then open up the game and try placing the lot again. I don't use DV, but I've had some of the store lots act weird before with decrapified items. If the items aren't in your buy catalog, they didn't install.

[sharmane]

I recently downloaded Dragon Valley Gold and the Duke of Bows Renaissance Faire both untouched.
Decrapified and installed both via the launcher-they both seem to have installed, and while Dragon Valley doesn't seem to be missing any objects the Duke of Bows Renaissance Faire does. The archery ranges are treadmills, the benches, fountains and chairs are basegame stuff and the violin item turns into a kiddies slide climbing frame object. I have tried reinstalling both packs over my current installation with the same objects missing each time. I'm fully up to date and delete cache files and with the most updated version of the Decrapifyer too I checked just to be sure. I even tried KT fixes to no avail. Can anyone tell me why this is happening and if I'm doing anything wrong? 

Are all the items in your buy catalog? If they are, I'd try finding the lot in your Library folder (it'll be a string of random numbers and letters, but you can open it up in S3PE to figure out which file it is) and decrapify that, then open up the game and try placing the lot again. I don't use DV, but I've had some of the store lots act weird before with decrapified items. If the items aren't in your buy catalog, they didn't install.

I didn't think to try that thanks! Any advice for if what to do if the items don't show up in the buy catalogue, and refuse to install?

[PlumJelinek]

Does anybody know why I have problem with downloaded files from TS3 store? Many of them can't be installed, program tells me "your game isn't updated, please update it". But it isn't true, I have the last update and most downloaded files from Store still can't instal.

[kissing_toast]

Does anybody know why I have problem with downloaded files from TS3 store? Many of them can't be installed, program tells me "your game isn't updated, please update it". But it isn't true, I have the last update and most downloaded files from Store still can't instal.

You're doing it wrong, that's why.