Pattern Hoarder Tutorial

Just read the beginning part so far @Ktarian but it looks awesome! I love patterns but I don't have nearly as many as you do because they are so problematic. Just recently I had a whole set from the same creator that I had installed a few months ago and suddenly they all had the same tiny floral pattern thumbnail. I dont know if they just became corrupted or what, but I installed them AGAIN with the launcher and so far they seem OK. But it't that kind of things that makes me want to just skip them altogether.

Hopefully with your tutorial I can have patterns that behave themselves. I would love to learn how to make my own patterns! So thank you!

"HappySimmer3;15527991" wrote:
Just read the beginning part so far @Ktarian but it looks awesome! I love patterns but I don't have nearly as many as you do because they are so problematic. Just recently I had a whole set from the same creator that I had installed a few months ago and suddenly they all had the same tiny floral pattern thumbnail. I dont know if they just became corrupted or what, but I installed them AGAIN with the launcher and so far they seem OK. But it't that kind of things that makes me want to just skip them altogether.

Hopefully with your tutorial I can have patterns that behave themselves. I would love to learn how to make my own patterns! So thank you!

If they all had the same thumbnail, that probably means they were installed as .package files and the package files weren't edited before installation. This is actually the reason why converting patterns to .package files is complicated. With other CC you can simply extract the .package files and install them. With patterns, you have to actually edit the .package files for them to work correctly.

Apparently the official pattern maker uses the exact same Resource Key number for ALL patterns. Presumably there is something the launcher does which allows the game to tell one pattern from another. But when we remove the launcher from the equation, the game can no longer tell the patterns apart, and so they all show up with the same image, just like you're discussing.

I hope the tutorial helps! If you have any questions or if anything seems confusing, feel free to ask! ^-^

This is awesome. I have lots of patterns and do try to keep them organized, but, never considered turning them into package files.

"bekkasan;15531017" wrote:
This is awesome. I have lots of patterns and do try to keep them organized, but, never considered turning them into package files.

It can be a big project! But it will keep the bloat out of your launcher, and make it so much easier to find a specific pattern when you go looking for it.

I'm actually planning to try and contact the pattern creators whose patterns I use the most of and seek permission to host the .package version of their files somewhere. Because if multiple people can benefit from the effort I'm putting in, that makes it better! ^-^

Just a note to say that I've updated the tutorial. I found I'd missed a couple of things which were causing the multi-layer patterns to not work correctly if more than one of them was installed at a time.

You are SO welcome. I have actually just recently finished my conversion project of converting all the patterns I had installed in my game to .package file. 810 patterns from the exchange converted and all working just fine as .package files! So if you have any difficulty, please feel free to ask questions! Either here or on Tumblr!

Thank you @Ktarian - again, maybe I'll ask you help - there are so much steps to do.
Sfortunatelly in RL are more things to learn (but fortunatelly that make us alive) and I've had to learn now, how to uninstall from my PC malware shipped with Java updates and remove hijacked updater of Mozilla browser (with payed Kasperski antivirus still working on my PC and I'm scanning each thing downloaded + still unticking unwanted stuff on installers). I have learned too, how to make use treeaq and buzzler's script EA's decorative objects and it becomed now my obsession - cloning many files in game, editing ... and then it works as miscelaneous storage, box of seeds or treasure box .... if you want, I can explain you .... seing, that you are able with S3PE.
I've seen you in ciane's topic - if you think, that I can help you with reinstalling store stuff, just call me - I'll do my best. I've finished to install my store stuff 15/02/2017 and I've used Sims3Pack Cleaner for get rid most of set-headers in all Store content - because those are causing blowing game folder and creating of undeletable collections in game.
For now I haven't problems with my store content - I don't own only some SP rewards, older preorders, DrPepper stuff and Origin sets. I haven't in my game also undeletable collections - not disabling internet and game has access to internet too.
Now I should make deeper research for patterns then - still unhappy what I have and I'm unable to create it myself. ;)

Hi, @Ktarian - it's me, again, this time with question:
about point 11. (Section 5): "To change the category for the pattern, you will need to refer to a category list to make sure you have the capitalization and spelling exactly right."
Where can I find exact category names - list?
I've opened those 2 pages now (interested about Rock&Stone category):
http://simswiki.info/wiki.php?title=Sims_3_Content_List:Patterns and
http://modthesims.info/t/363669 ,
but on each page has this category different name? :confused:
Edited: Huge Lunatics tutorial (link to modthesims.info ) seems has still valid names for pattern-categories (I've in game applied pattern from each category on BG PedestalCube, saved style, then cloned that pedestal, applied userPresets on it with TT3 and when reopened it with S3PE, it has listed following names):

If you think, that it can be usefull for yours site, you can add exact pattern categories names under "Section 5: Editing Pattern .package Files; point 11. (assigning category for pattern).
("Assistance Loved!: If you notice any errors or think there’s something left out that would be good to include, please do drop me a note. I’d be happy to update the tutorial and add your name in ‘References and Credits’ section at the end. ^-^" .. sorry, I don't like diffuse my email, but yours topic is really precious).

That's actually a great idea. I have a text file that I used, but I don't remember where I got it from. Oh! I know, I should add a link to the Pattern Filing post where I list all the categories and what types of patterns I assign to those categories! Let me get that link for you and post it here for now.

Also! I figured out what happens to patterns if you mis-spell their category names. Mis-spelled categories get shunted into Miscellaneous. xD Because I mis-spelled something once and found it in Misc 'why's it in Misc?' and went to check and went... 'oh' so that's what happened...

Here's where I have my list! https://ktarsims.tumblr.com/post/158301385253/pattern-filing-list-wip

I'll go update the tutorial and add a link. Thanks for the idea!

All updated! I added the link in two places, and also added you in the credits at the end. ^-^ Thank you so much for pointing that out!

Also! Thanks for offering to help me with the store stuff! You're right. There's always so much to learn. I just sometimes have to be in the right frame of mind to tackle something new or I get frustrated too quickly. Every time I start doing something to improve my game or make it run better, I discover there's still something else to do! Ha!

It's mainly because I'm really pretty new. I've only been playing for about a year and a half. I was actually so happy when I figured out how to convert multi-layered patterns because I felt it gave me the opportunity to give back to the community instead of just having everyone else tell me how to do things!