Re: Sims 2 MAC: how to install custom content

Can you please tell me the steps on how to do all of this? I would greatly appreciate it!! Thank you for your help so far. I tried downloading the aspry and I think it downloaded but not sure on where the download can be found. I just need steps on how to do it because it will be easier that way. Thank you!! 

@Cat87956 , so you downloaded Package Installer from Aspyr. Next you need to find the Icon for it (should be in your Downloads folder). Move it out of your Downloads folder and double click on the Icon. A window should open up that says "The Sims 2 Package Installer. Please double click on a custom content package file to install the content." Find one of the pieces of CC that you have downloaded that ends in ".Sims2pack" (that's how most CC is packaged) and double click on the file. The window should change and ask "Do you want to install the following content?" and your options will be "Install" or "Cancel". You'll have to open up Package installer for each piece of CC you want to install as it will close after installing the CC. You will know it is installed when you look in your Downloads folder and see either a file with a name that ends in ",package" or a series of numbers that end in ".package". 

Once your CC is installed the game should recognize it and it should be available for you to use in game either as houses, sims, makeup, hair, clothes.... whatever. 🙂

And I can do all this on Mac Book Air? 

@Cat87956 , you can do this on any Mac. Doesn't matter if it is a Desktop one or a laptop. 🙂

Hi! what about if the file i downloaded is already a package file? how would i go about putting that into my game

@hellang3ll , you simply add the file to your Downloads file. If you have your CC organized, then you would place it with in the appropriate file within the Downloads folder.

@Tremayne4260 😳 Hi! So I literally read through this entire thread and followed all of the instructions, you are super helpful. I am encountering an issue w/ the package installer once I double click the file and press install it confirmed the custom content has been installed but when I open the game the custom content is not there. I also looked in the downloads folder and the file isn't there either. Is there something else I can do to fix this issue?

@levispinales , make sure that the destination folder is your Downloads folder in your Sims 2 folder. I found that my installer sometimes flaked out and sent the files to the wrong place. 

Hi, i read your guide a million times and it still won’t work for me so i am hoping you woukd help me! I just yesterday bought the super collection, and tried absolutely everything to get cc in the game. I read your guide, downloaded the package installer/body shop. But the problem is, when it says double click package to install i double click a cc but nothing happens, and it just keeps popping up “double click a cc” idk what to do. I tried everything with the folders and just everything and nothings work. I hole you can help me

@Riini16233 , first thing to do is to locate your Library folder (which is hidden on a Mac) and create a Download folder. I've copied that particular section and will try to break it down into individual steps.

1) To find your Library folder, click on your Desktop, find the "Go" command at the top in the Finder, hold your cursor button over Go and press the Option key on your keyboard and Library will show when you do that.

2) Scroll through the Library folders until you find one called "com.aspyr.sims2.appstore" and open the folder.

3) You should see two files in there and open the Data File.

4) From there, locate another file named "Library" and then in that file you should should find another Aspyr folder which when opened will reveal the Sims 2 folder (exactly like the original game and on the Windows side).

5) From there check to see if you have a folder named "Downloads" and if you do not, simply create one. This is where all your CC and Mods will be stored.

Once you've done these steps, let me know and we'll continue from there. 🙂

Hi thank you for answering!! I troed that, and it still doesn’t work ☹️

@Riini16233 , what exactly doesn't work? Finding the folder? Can you give me some more details?

The cc doesn’t show up in the game, i tried everything and i downloaded the package installer, but it’s still not working. And when i try to install with the package installer, it says “double click cc to install” but when i double click it just keeps popping up the “double click cc to install”. I really doesn’t know why it’s not working. I found the folder with your guide, and made a “Downloads” map, but that doesn’t work either

@Riini16233 , ok. Look at the files for the CC. If the file ends in ".package", it ready to be placed into the Downloads folder. No need to use the package installer. If the file ends in ".Sims2pack", then you will need to use the Package Installer. Usually, it has a Blue flower pot looking thing before the file name. 

So find a piece of CC you like, download it and then check the file and see what it ends in. Let me know what it ends in before adding it. 

Hi again and thank you for helping me, it does ends in package, but i still can’t download it unfortunately

@Riini16233 , when you say "download" do you mean download and open the file from the creator? Or do you mean using the "Package Installer"? 

If you are talking about downloading the file directly from the creator, you sometimes will need either Unarchiver or some other file extraction program. You can find one for free at the Apple App store. Unzip is another program you can look for. Quite often the ".package" files are either zipped or uploaded as a ".rar" file which means they will need to be unzipped before installing them in the Downloads folder in your Sims 2 folder. 

The Sims 2 Package Installer is similar to Unzip in that it uncompresses the files from the ".Sims2pack" files and automatically installs them in the game. Unzip will not automatically install the ".package" files in the game. You have to do that yourself by opening up the Downloads folder and placing the .package file in there. 

Just trying to understand exactly what you are doing to install the CC in your game. 🙂

Hi again, i have problems with downloading the content through the package installer. But i will try to do as you said, and download an upzip and see if it works. But until now it hasn’t worked

@Riini16233 , as long as the uncompressed file ends in ".packge", do you not have to use the Package Installer. You can simply unzip the file and place the uncompressed file right in your Downloads folder. 

hey, ive been trying to follow along with your guide. i was trying to figure out why i couldnt get the cc into the package installer but then you said that anything that had ended in .package was ready to be moved to downloads folder. i located my downloads folder as you instructed, downloaded some cc, unzipped it (so it was a .rar and is now a .package) and put it in my sims 2 downloads folder. ive enabled custom content and everything and still it doesnt show up in game ☹️ hate to bother but if you know a soluation to this id be very grateful.

@honipo The Sims 2 has two CC settings: 

• Display custom content dialog at startup which just gives you a popup 
• Catalogs display custom content which actually enables/disables it; this option shows in the popup (which you can access by clicking on the CC star in game options)

The second one needs to be enabled. After installing CC, did you delete cache files (groups.cache, accessory.cache)?

Also, is the CC you've downloaded compatible with Bon Voyage or earlier packs? The Sims 2 Super Collection does not include FreeTime or Apartment Life, so mods/CC made for those packs will not work.

One last thing that might sound obvious, but is the CC 100% for The Sims 2? Sims 3/4 mods/CC also use the .package format.

@honipo , the Super Collection includes the following EPs/SPs released for Sims 2 for the Mac.

Base Game

University

Nightlife

Open for Business

Pets

Family Fun Stuff

Glamour Life Stuff

Seasons

Happy Holidays Stuff

Bon Voyage

Anything not listed here is not supported by the Super Collection as it was never ported to the Mac OS. So make sure when you download CC/Mods, that they are compatible with only these packs and do not contain CC from unsupported packs. 

Also, with mods, make sure you download the lastest versions. Anything programmed specifically for Windows won't run under your normal Mac OS.