Game Help:Installing Sims 3 Package Files

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Using TS3 Packages

Custom content for The Sims 3, like The Sims 2, is generally in .package format. But you can't just put them in your My Documents\Electronic Arts\The Sims 3\Downloads folder - that doesn't work! You will have to get a special file to enable the game reading custom content, and put the content in a special place.

The REALLY easy way...

Just download, install, and run the TS3 Install Helper Monkey from ModTheSims.

If you really want the manual way... see below.


First things first

Content DOES NOT go in My Documents!

Content DOES NOT go in My Documents!!!

Just so we are clear: DO NOT DO ANYTHING IN MY DOCUMENTS

Notice that nowhere in this guide does it say to put anything in My Documents? Good. Now you may read on.

Oh, wait... before you do...

Content DOES NOT GO IN MY DOCUMENTS

There. Now you can move on.

Summary

  • You will need a file called Resource.cfg, which you can download by clicking here.
  • Extract the Resource.cfg file from the RAR.
  • Windows: Place that file in Program Files\Electronic Arts\The Sims 3\ - then place any .package files in Program Files\Electronic Arts\The Sims 3\Mods\Packages
  • Macintosh: Place that file in The Sims 3.app > Contents > Resources > transgaming > c_drive > Program Files > Electronic Arts > The Sims 3. Then place any .package files in The Sims 3.app > Contents > Resources > transgaming > c_drive > Program Files > Electronic Arts > The Sims 3 > Mods > Packages

Detailed Instructions

Don't understand based on the summary? Here's the "for dummies" steps:



Step 1 - Get a RAR Extractor

First, you will need a program that can extract from both ZIP and RAR files.

Windows

We recommend WinRAR, which is "nagware". That means that you can use it for free for a period of 45 days, and after that you can continue using it free - it just nags you to pay for it, but you don't have to pay anything to use it. Download the installer and run it.

OS X

For OS X, the free utilities StuffIt Expander and The Unarchiver handle most any archive type. For .rar files in particular, you can also use UnRarX, a simple and efficient freeware tool.

Then, once your preferred de-archiving application is installed ...


Step 2 - Get Resource.cfg

You will need a CFG file with certain contents, to tell the game to read files in a specific directory.

The easiest way to get that CFG file is just to download a ready-made one.



Step 3 - Extract Resource.cfg

Once the file has finished downloading...

  • Go to where you saved it (like your computer's Desktop).

Windows

If you got WinRAR, you should be able to just right-click on the file and choose Extract Here. Then you should have a new file below the RAR, called Resource.cfg (or maybe just Resource, if you aren't viewing file extensions).

OS X

On OS X, double-clicking on an archive will normally extract its contents in the same location – you can always right-click and select "Open With …" to specify how exactly you want to uncompress it.


Step 4 - Place Resource.cfg

Windows

  • Right-click on the Resource.cfg file on your Desktop and choose Cut.
  • Then click on Start - My Computer.
  • Navigate to C:\Program Files\Electronic Arts\The Sims 3 This is the main folder for The Sims 3, called the "root folder"
  • Note the path for Vista 64 is located C:\Program Files (x86)\Electronic Arts\The Sims 3
  • Right-click in an empty space in the root folder and choose Paste. The Resource.cfg file should appear there.

Now your game will recognize content if you put it in a specific folder, defined in that file you just placed.


Misc. Addenda - Vista Permissions

  • Vista Business - When using limited user account with UAC on, creating a manual folder in the root sims 3 directory does not give ownership to the folder in Program Files and adding files to it always requires admin password. Admin account with UAC on only prompts if you want to add the file.
  • Vista Home Premium - When using limited user account with UAC on, the limited user account owns the folder it makes in Program Files and is able to put files in the folder without admin password.
  • Windows 7 appears to have the same folder structure as Vist.


  • Vista - non-admin accounts -
    • To modify Sims 3 folders, have an admin log in and open up the parent directory of the directory you want to make accessible (e.g. C:\Program Files (x86)\Electronic Arts\The Sims 3\Mods).
    • Right click the target folder (in my case, Packages) and select Properties.
    • Go to the Security Tab, and click Edit - at this point, it will probably ask you for admin privileges; press continue.
    • Under "Group or User names", select Users from that list,
    • At the bottom of the List's window, click the checkbox labeled Full Control.
    • Click OK for all open windows

You won't need admin permissions to modify that folder any longer.

OS X

In the OS X version, this hierarchy is hidden within the Sims 3 application. To get there, follow these steps:

  • Right-click (or Ctrl-click) on The Sims 3.app.
  • Choose "Show Package Content" from the contextual menu.
  • Navigate through: Contents > Resources > transgaming > c_drive > Program Files > Electronic Arts > The Sims 3. You are now at what is referred to above as "the Sims 3 root folder".
  • Paste the Resource.cfg file into this folder.
  • Make a backup of your new folders since when the inevitable patches and updates come out, if the application is replaced in its entirety your mods will be overwritten.

Now your game will recognize content if you put it in a specific folder, defined in that file you just placed.

Step 5 - Download/Extract Custom Content

Now you're ready to download the content you want.

  • You should already know how to do that - click the link to get the ZIP or RAR file and save it somewhere you can find easily.
  • Then extract from the ZIP or RAR file to get at the .package files (Windows: right-click, Extract Here; Macintosh: double-click.).
  • If you happen to download a SIMS3PACK file, just double-click it and the launcher will put it where it needs to go.



Step 6 - Place Package Files

For PACKAGE files, you need to put those in a specific folder yourself.

Windows

  • Select the .package file(s) after extracting. Right-click and choose Cut.
  • Then click on Start - My Computer. Navigate to C:\Program Files\Electronic Arts\The Sims 3\ - the Sims 3 root folder.
  • Right-click in an empty space in that folder, and create a New Folder. Name this folder Mods and then open it. You're now in C:\Program Files\Electronic Arts\The Sims 3\Mods
  • Right-click in an empty space in this folder, and again, create a New Folder. Name this folder Packages and then open it. You're now in C:\Program Files\Electronic Arts\The Sims 3\Mods\Packages. This is the folder where you will place the package files.
  • Right-click in an empty space in this folder and choose Paste to paste the file(s) that you cut after extracting. You should see the file(s) appear.

OS X

In the OS X version, this hierarchy is hidden within the Sims 3 application. To get there, follow these steps:

  • Right-click (or Ctrl-click) on The Sims 3.app.
  • Choose "Show Package Content" from the contextual menu.
  • Navigate through: Contents > Resources > transgaming > c_drive > Program Files > Electronic Arts > The Sims 3. You are now at what is referred to above as "the Sims 3 root folder".
  • Create a folder called Mods. Double-click on it to enter the folder.
  • Create a folder inside Mods called Packages.
  • Paste any .package files in this folder to install them to your game.
  • Make a backup of your new folders since when the inevitable patches and updates come out, if the application is replaced in its entirety your mods will be overwritten.


Step 7 - Play!

Hopefully, the above steps should have worked just fine, and you can go ahead and play with your new custom content in-game!


If it didn't work...

  • Did you place the Resource.cfg file where you were supposed to? See Step 4 for where they go.
  • Are you trying to put the files in My Documents\Electronic Arts\The Sims 3\Downloads? They don't work there! See Step 6 for where you're supposed to put them.
  • Are you sure you're looking in the right place? Check back with the creator to make sure you know where the content is supposed to show up in-game.


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