GC's CFE Tutorials *Moved*
I will no longer be adding tutorials to this thread. However, when I find the time I'll be copying these tutorials over to my blog at www.gcsims.com, where I'll also be adding new ones.
Forum Discussion
Tips
Common Problems
Floating Ceiling Tiles
These are probably the most common problem you will encounter. You are likely only to be able to see them from a particular angle, so be sure to check for them whenever you're doing cfe work.
Picture forthcoming.
They can normally simply be deleted from beneath using the Sledgehammer Tool.
Picture forthcoming.
Other Ceiling Tile Issues
Another common problem for me is ceiling tiles from lower levels poking up through higher levels.
Picture forthcoming.
To remove these, hold down ctrl+shift and hover your cursor over the offending area. You do not need to click you mouse button. Release ctrl+shift, and any irregularities should have been fixed.
Running Out of Floor Grid
Sometimes you may find that you cannot level an area because there is no grid showing there.
Picture forthcoming.
Don't worry! Placing a new tile anywhere whilst cfe is turned off will automatically generate a 3x3 grid around it and also bring the surrounding area up or down to its level.
Picture forthcoming.
I find that it is usually best to work with your entire level tiled until you are finished the CFE work to prevent this from happening int the first place. When you're done, you can remove the tiles you don't need.
Wall Sections In Shadow
At some point during your cfe work, parts of your wall may go dark.
http://s1146.photobucket.com/user/GreenCats1/library/CFE%20Tutorials/Split%20Level%20Stairs%20Stacking?sort=3&page=1
These will usually fix themselves as you carry on with other things. If they don't, or they're distracting you, simply delete them using the Sledgehammer Tool then hit the Undo Button. Your wall will be restored but the lighting should be back to normal.
Floating Corner Pieces
You may notice small grey flecks floating above joins in your walls. These are usually created when you have added new walls to an existing structure.
http://i1146.photobucket.com/albums/o530/GreenCats1/Problem1.png
These are easy to fix. First, use the Sledgehammer Tool to delete any one of the wall pieces forming the join.
http://i1146.photobucket.com/albums/o530/GreenCats1/Solution1.png
http://i1146.photobucket.com/albums/o530/GreenCats1/Solution1ii.png
Then hit the Undo Button. The wall piece you deleted will be restored, but the floating grey fleck will be gone.
http://i1146.photobucket.com/albums/o530/GreenCats1/Solution1iii.png
Gaps in Joins
One of the major hazards of cfe work is the possibility of creating unsightly gaps like this.
http://i1146.photobucket.com/albums/o530/GreenCats1/CFE%20Tutorials/Split%20Level%20Stairs%20Stacking/BadJoin.png
To keep these at bay, do your best to ensure that the diagonal wall sections joining one level to another are not bisected by another wall. For some reason having the transition at a corner as shown above with cause major gapping issues.
Uneven Lighting Between Levels
Where possible, hide any split levels you have created away by adding floor tiles between levels. Where you design requires you to have two levels open to one another, the buydebug lights are your best friends. Dark colours on your walls will also conceal a multitude of sins: plain white walls will be the most difficult to light.
To bring up the BuyDebug Catalogue, enter the cheat 'testingcheatsenabled on' and then 'buydebug'.
http://i1146.photobucket.com/albums/o530/GreenCats1/CFE%20Tutorials/Split%20Level%20Stairs%20Stacking/BuyDebug.png
The Catalogue can be found in Buy Mode, and appears as a question mark. Among other things, you will find a selection of lights there that appear as white squares and rectangles in Buy/Build Modes but are invisible in Live Mode.
http://i1146.photobucket.com/albums/o530/GreenCats1/CFE%20Tutorials/Split%20Level%20Stairs%20Stacking/BuyDebugCatalogue.png
- Save frequently, and under different names. You could also save different versions of your build to the library. It is not always easy to undo mistakes.
- If you're trying something new, practice on a separate lot with a simplified version of your build first.
- Remember that a level with two different heights must always have one diagonal tile joining them together.
- Remember that everything you do on one level may affect those above. Always check what any changes you have made have done to the rest of your build.
- Always do the most difficult thing first. You don't want adding a simple 1/4 wall messing up the beautiful vaulted ceiling you've just created.
- Be careful how you use the Undo button. It will undo some things, but not others. It is usually better to delete changes manually.
- Turn cfe back on when you do not need the features the cheat unlocks.
Common Problems
Floating Ceiling Tiles
These are probably the most common problem you will encounter. You are likely only to be able to see them from a particular angle, so be sure to check for them whenever you're doing cfe work.
Picture forthcoming.
They can normally simply be deleted from beneath using the Sledgehammer Tool.
Picture forthcoming.
Other Ceiling Tile Issues
Another common problem for me is ceiling tiles from lower levels poking up through higher levels.
Picture forthcoming.
To remove these, hold down ctrl+shift and hover your cursor over the offending area. You do not need to click you mouse button. Release ctrl+shift, and any irregularities should have been fixed.
Running Out of Floor Grid
Sometimes you may find that you cannot level an area because there is no grid showing there.
Picture forthcoming.
Don't worry! Placing a new tile anywhere whilst cfe is turned off will automatically generate a 3x3 grid around it and also bring the surrounding area up or down to its level.
Picture forthcoming.
I find that it is usually best to work with your entire level tiled until you are finished the CFE work to prevent this from happening int the first place. When you're done, you can remove the tiles you don't need.
Wall Sections In Shadow
At some point during your cfe work, parts of your wall may go dark.
http://s1146.photobucket.com/user/GreenCats1/library/CFE%20Tutorials/Split%20Level%20Stairs%20Stacking?sort=3&page=1
These will usually fix themselves as you carry on with other things. If they don't, or they're distracting you, simply delete them using the Sledgehammer Tool then hit the Undo Button. Your wall will be restored but the lighting should be back to normal.
Floating Corner Pieces
You may notice small grey flecks floating above joins in your walls. These are usually created when you have added new walls to an existing structure.
http://i1146.photobucket.com/albums/o530/GreenCats1/Problem1.png
These are easy to fix. First, use the Sledgehammer Tool to delete any one of the wall pieces forming the join.
http://i1146.photobucket.com/albums/o530/GreenCats1/Solution1.png
http://i1146.photobucket.com/albums/o530/GreenCats1/Solution1ii.png
Then hit the Undo Button. The wall piece you deleted will be restored, but the floating grey fleck will be gone.
http://i1146.photobucket.com/albums/o530/GreenCats1/Solution1iii.png
Gaps in Joins
One of the major hazards of cfe work is the possibility of creating unsightly gaps like this.
http://i1146.photobucket.com/albums/o530/GreenCats1/CFE%20Tutorials/Split%20Level%20Stairs%20Stacking/BadJoin.png
To keep these at bay, do your best to ensure that the diagonal wall sections joining one level to another are not bisected by another wall. For some reason having the transition at a corner as shown above with cause major gapping issues.
Uneven Lighting Between Levels
Where possible, hide any split levels you have created away by adding floor tiles between levels. Where you design requires you to have two levels open to one another, the buydebug lights are your best friends. Dark colours on your walls will also conceal a multitude of sins: plain white walls will be the most difficult to light.
To bring up the BuyDebug Catalogue, enter the cheat 'testingcheatsenabled on' and then 'buydebug'.
http://i1146.photobucket.com/albums/o530/GreenCats1/CFE%20Tutorials/Split%20Level%20Stairs%20Stacking/BuyDebug.png
The Catalogue can be found in Buy Mode, and appears as a question mark. Among other things, you will find a selection of lights there that appear as white squares and rectangles in Buy/Build Modes but are invisible in Live Mode.
http://i1146.photobucket.com/albums/o530/GreenCats1/CFE%20Tutorials/Split%20Level%20Stairs%20Stacking/BuyDebugCatalogue.png
