Builders' Boulevard

Hey Everyone,

As many of you are familiar with the ever-popular "Showcasing Your Lots Workshop at TS3" we are extending it over here. 

With the continuing problems with the forum at TS3, if any of you have a problem posting there, you can always post here.  I will be regularly checking this thread as I do the one at TS3.

Here is a link for the TS3's link:

http://forum.thesims3.com/jforum/posts/list/59754.page

Below is a copy of the first post at TS3. It carries  information for changing covershots and resizing photos. If any of think there is something new needs to be added, let me know.

Hey Guys!

This is strictly for you builders. I bet you all have at least one house that you felt was the most deserving work that you've done and yet after uploading it, it just didn't get the attention you feel it should have.

Now maybe there is a reason. This is where we builders can help each other out.

I'm challenging, and welcoming any builder who would, to re-post that house on this thread, complete with any media, such as photos,Stories or video that they used to promote it. Then, in turn your fellow builders can give you some constructive criticism that maybe will help you with future builds.

I know this gives us builders a chance to reshow that lot but lets keep in mind that the real purpose of this thread is not just to re-showcase our lots but to try to find out why we got such lousy reception in the first place for our hard-earned work. Now, if you don't want the criticism, then it's best not to post.

I of course have a lot like that but I'm not going to post quite yet as I don't want to seem to be taking advantage of my own thread. I want to see first if my fellow builders would like to go along. Then, I might show my disappointing house also.

So, what do you say guys; you game?

fidlerten

Edit-

Changing the Cover Picture

Program for changing your coverpics...

Please stop in and Thank Zin779 for the hard work she and her son put into creating this program...her forum...

http://forum.thesims3.com/jforum/posts/list/15/100449.page

Program...

http://www.zindasgoldensims.com/uic.zip

directions for use:

You may need to use Winrar to open this program.there is free winrar programs out there. One that has been suggested is at cnet.com.

You can use your default paint program for this method or do as I have done and download Infranview..that is easier for me.With paint my coverpics were squished on the exchange

When in the neighborhood view, click on the house and then click share.

Minimize The Sims 3 (Alt + Tab), but do not open the launcher.

Open the program.You can save it to your desktop for easy finding.copy a shortcut and paste it to desktop.

Click the 'Browse...' button, and you should see a list of lots that you have exported.

Select the one you want, then click ok.

You can then use the arrows either side of the image to find the ones you want to replace.

Click 'Replace' while on the image you want. You can now find the image that you want to replace it with.

NOTE: The replacement image must be in PNG format and a size of 512 pixels x 512 pixels.

Select the image and click 'Ok'

Once you have replaced all of the images that you want to change, click 'Save'. Click 'Yes' to confirm the changes.

Now close the program.

Now you can upload the house as normal, by opening the launcher(From Sims or by double clicking on the Sims 3 icon on desktop). The image in the launcher will not change!! But dont worry it should be onthe site once uploaded.

Update:

Here is another method to change the default photo for those who have a problem with my method for whatever reason. It is brought to us by the help of Jasonmazda2 and Sparkle. Thank you both. Thanks also goes to STW402 who wrote the original tutorial this one is based on.

Alternate method

For the second method you will need:  

http://sourceforge.net/project/platformdownload.php?group_id=264651

If you want the background information then go to:

http://www.simlogical.com/Sims3ToolsForum/index.php?topic=85.0

1: Go into your game, move a fresh copy of the house you want to change the picture for into your library (keep the original lot on thelot, do NOT delete it, this will act as your default cover backupshould you need it in the future. If you do want to delete it, move TWOfresh copies into the library). Close your game.

2: Open the program linked above with the "start" file.

3: Go to "File" in the top corner.

4: Select "Open"

5: Navigate to your personal "Documents" (or "Documents andsettings") then "Electronic Arts", then "The Sims 3" then "Library".

6: Right click away from the files and select "view" then "details" (or click the “details” button in the task bar above).

7: Click "date modified" so that file you created in step 1 (theone with the newest date and time) is at the end of your list. Doubleclick the file name.

8: You should have a list of files starting with XML, unk etc. Click "Name" at the top of the first column.

9: Now you have a list starting with "png" files (if your lot has any custom paintings, the “png” files will be below these).

10: Look in the "group" column, the first 3 should be "0x00000000".

11: Go to the "Long Name" column and double click on the filecalled "png icon house large", it will be one of those first 3 files.

12: a 512x512 picture should have appeared. Click "import" above the picture.

13: Navigate to the file where you've saved the picture you wantto use. Mine are normally in my ea screenshots folder, yours maybesomewhere else.

14: Double click the picture you wish to use.

15: Click "commit" on the right above the picture.

16: Go to "File" and select "save as", then "save"

17: If it asks if you want to override, click "yes"

18: Once it has saved, hit "name" again to get the PNG files back.

19: Double click "png icon house large" again.

20: Check that your new picture comes up and not the old one.

21: If it does come up, shut down the program and open your game.(If not, repeat steps 11 to 17 making sure to say yes to override, thenrecheck to make sure it saved, then continue.)

22: Navigate to your hood and lot library, and use the uploadbutton to change your description and upload your lot. (Note that thecustom cover shot picture will NOT appear in game so lack of a covershot here does not mean it didn't work.)

23: Close you game and open the launcher.

24: Upload your lot

25: Go to your page and check the custom pick uploaded ok.

Personally, I always make sure I have the original down on a lotand the library version. Once I've done my custom picture on thelibrary version and uploaded it, I move that file into a separatefolder in my documents (along with its front cover picture file) anduse the lot that is still in place to create a new library version so Ialways have a back up with the default cover, just in case.

Resizing Photos for the Forum

The easiest way to resize your photos when sharing them in a forumis to simply copy them into your message, then right after the URL withno spaces, add "height=450""width=600". Be sure to add the quotationmarks too. Then, highlight it and click Img at the top. Use Preview tocheck to see that it has been resized before submitting.

cool fid.glad you are going to extend it.

Hey darkside,

Yes, Addict and Anjubee has both talked about it and has decided to let me get this started here.

fidlerten

I was hoping you'd move it! Glad to see it here as well! We'll be able to have a working Workshop! I'll upload my house when I'm finished with it. Darkside's been helping me out. You should see it! He's making it look amazing!

hey fid,have you posted a link to this one in the other forum?

cool ill post my spam here from now on :3

MASTERLINK6412 at 10:40PM on Sep 19, 2009

I was hoping you'd move it! Glad to see it here as well! We'll be able to have a working Workshop! I'll upload my house when I'm finished with it. Darkside's been helping me out. You should see it! He's making it look amazing!

Hey MASTERLINK,

Yes, darkside has become quite an all-around great builder. I'll be looking forward to your upload

fidlerten

Darkside266 at 10:43PM on Sep 19, 2009

hey fid,have you posted a link to this one in the other forum?

 

Yes,  on the current page and on the 1st post at the very end if anyone needs to find it.

fidlerten

Bennjoon at 11:18PM on Sep 19, 2009

cool ill post my spam here from now on :3

Hey Bennjoon,

It's not spam if it has to do with a house you need critiquing. That's what the thread is all about.

fidlerten

Hey fid, if you want, you can see parts of the house here: http://www.buildersboulevard.com/apps/forums/topics/show/1356943-a-work-in-progress-?page=1 . Your words are also welcome.

Glad to see a mirrored thread over here. I don't have quite as many problems with the other thread as you, but at least now there's a distinct thread where I know the regulars will be hanging out over here.

Glad to see this tread here too.

now we just have to get the new people to understand how to post links and pics here.Merrywiddow,are you up for explaing how to post and do siggies again...lol

Yes, Merrywiddow! And we should try to get it in a sticky so you don't have to keep explaining.

If anyone need help maybe we should post a thread. I think there is one already though.

fidlerten at 11:33PM on Sep 19, 2009

Bennjoon at 11:18PM on Sep 19, 2009

cool ill post my spam here from now on :3

Hey Bennjoon,

It's not spam if it has to do with a house you need critiquing. That's what the thread is all about.

fidlerten

Wow MASTERLINK,

Nice dining room. I can see further down the thread that you got some advice and improved it. At first, it had too much red but the added white was a relief.

fidlerten

Hey Guys,

Addict was very happy to get this thread over here. She said we shouldn't need a siggy because this forum at Request & Help moves so slowly but that she would if it got too hectic.

fidlerten

Excellent news, Fid!

Great to see y'all over here, Fidlerton! This is a fantastic thread.

Hey Everyone,

I'd like to get the challenge started but of course instead,  I'm having to deal with the inability to make a post at TS3. 

They sure know how to make a forum fun; don't they? (Sarcasm!)

I will get the ball rolling as soon as I'm able to start posting on TS3.  I hope this isn't one of those all day things.

fidlerten