Invaders of the Cleaned Lot Files
gynarchy:
I've been going through the lots I've accumulated, trying to decide which ones to keep and which ones to pitch, and on several occasions when I install one and take a peek in build mode, there is a new NPC that came along with it. There have been bartenders, register clerks, and employees (? I didn't know wtf they were, they were with the makeover chairs). At first I thought maybe the game was using the NPCs I've created but they have different names/appearances and when I check the Characters folder, there are additional files added. I check each file with Clean Installer beforehand and remove everything except the lot itself. I use SaraMK's empty neighborhood templates, generate my own NPCs, and use the norespawns/noredundancy mods. I've started removing any object that might spawn an NPC - cash registers, bars, DJ booths, etc. - before I save the lot and then putting them all back afterwards. Is there any other way to prevent these invaders from tagging along?
On a slightly related note, I remodeled a Uni Secret Society lot and I'd like to use it in other neighborhoods but I'm not sure how to go about doing so or if it's even possible. I copied the file out of the neighborhood Lots directory but when I looked at it in SimPE I saw a bunch of relationship info in addition to the regular lot type stuff so I didn't use the file in another hood lest I fuxxor something up. Am I better off rebuilding it as a residential or commercial type lot and then changing the zoning when I start a new neighborhood?
Jfederated:
I had this happen but a while ago. It was a lot I'd packaged myself and wanted for other hoods. I had packaged it when it was owned by a playable, and it was also a pay to play venue with the Bandatron.
I installed it and placed it in another hood (that no longer exists) and saw the NPC there (a DJ). She was not a former employee, she was a whole new NPC. I deleted her w/moveobjects on I think...I'm pretty sure I did just to make her go away (panicked), also removed the Bandatron ticket thing, made some other improvements and then packaged the lot again. When I installed that lot, the NPC was gone and no others were present (there was a bar also). I never thought to check it w/CleanInstaller and SimPe is a scary place for me.
I've used it since and had no issues with it at all. That I know of, ha. But perhaps the NPC thing is to do with the business being owned first as opposed to just built and packaged as a business?
gynarchy:
Quote from: Jfred on 2007 March 21, 06:54:58
But perhaps the NPC thing is to do with the business being owned first as opposed to just built and packaged as a business?
Interesting... that sounds like what's going on. Some of the lots creating the tag-along NPCs were downloaded from various places so I have no way of knowing if they were owned or not but I'm willing to bet that they were. I did save Club Dante myself, possibly while it was still owned or right after DACing that neighborhood (it was a long time ago and I didn't know any better) and it generates a bartender. I guess I'll keep sticking with removing anything that could possibly spawn an NPC before I package a lot. Cheers Jfred!
Nec:
DJs and bartenders are specifically assigned to their objects. This is why you will often see them in build mode after you have installed a previously played lot. The best thing to do is replace the DJ Booths and bars BEFORE packaging, since the character data is attached to them. I found this out the hard way when packaging a lot so I could have it in another hood. Turned out, the character file number was the same as a deceaced sim, so every time I loaded the lot, it would say "so and so has died on another lot." Took me a couple of days to figure it out since I was baffled by the constant death on entry, then I compared character file numbers from the name of the dead sim with the character file number in the hood I packaged the lot in. Sure enough, it was the DJ :)
Jfederated:
Cheers back! I hadn't thought about this in forever til you brought it up, as it didn't give me any chronic agita. But at the time it bugged me.
And cheers to Nec - that's great to know. You should let EAxis in on it - one of the lots that came with OFB (the coffee shop?) has a pre-manned bar in build/buy. ;)
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