sims save file help

You can start a new save game file, add all your builds and sims that you have created to that save file, then save it with a title such as “master copy”. The next time that you want to start a new save file, load that “ master copy” save file, but then choose to “save as” with a new name, then you will make a new copy that you can play with which is separate from your master copy. You can then keep going back and using the master copy each time, but using the “save as” the first time after using the master copy.

Thank you for getting back to me. How do I load the 'master copy' once I've completed it? then save it as master 2 etc? I've seen many people talk about delving into computer files etc but I'm not tech savvy and I don't want to ruin anything or delete anything etc. 

When you go to the start screen after you have booted up the game, go to the load game option on the left hand side of the page, and after pressing that you can load your save game file that you have named Mastercopy. Then after playing it, choose to save it as “save as” and give it another name. Then when you next play the game, you can load the save game which has the new name.

WifeyClarky  

rosemow has covered all the basics on creating a master game template.  There is one more step you can take that will keep you from messing it up by forgetting to do the save as immediately on opening the save and then playing or when you amass a lot of saves or inadvertently overwriting later on. 

Before you start the game to begin making the master, rename the saves folder in the "The Sims 4" or move it elsewhere if you want to play saves you've already made in it again sometime or just delete it if you want to.  When you start the game next, a new empty saves folder will get created.  Then you create a new game, make and place the mandatory sim.  Then you can go ahead and make your master template by installing the lots and sims you want from your Library.  Once done, do a save as and name it whatever you want to call it going forward.  Then quit after saving and copy the new saves folder to somewhere safe where you can find it easily later.  Then you can restart the game and play on in that saves folder as long as you like using and renaming the template each time you start a new game by using save as. 

When it becomes time to use the template again, like when you get a ton of saves in the folder, you can just move the current saves folder out and copy the saves folder with the master template back over to your "The Sims 4" folder and start a new bunch of save games using your master template.  Doing that helps to keep the saves folder small at any given time and makes it a little faster loading the panel when you use the Load option.  And the biggest plus is that you'll always have a backup safely stored separately from the game files.

Hope this helps.