Downloaded Sims don't register patterns or clothing

[cathedral]

I've downloaded some patterns and clothing from some different CC sites, and also downloaded some sims that have those patterns and clothes on. Now, when I try and load those sims in CAS, their clothing reverts back to default clothing and the patterns vanish. I've tried fixing it, but I can't - especially as I really want to keep the color scheme of the downloaded sims. Does anyone know how I might be able to fix this?

[whiterider]

What formats are you installing the CC in - .package or .sims3pack? What about the sims - .sim or .sims3pack?
Is this all sims which use custom content, or just some?
Do the clothes and patterns show up and work properly in your game?

[cathedral]

The clothes and patterns work fine in game. The patterns were loaded using the launcher, and the sims were loaded with 3Viewer (into .sim files), all from .sims3packs. The problem is there for all sims that use CC - not that I have downloaded many, but it's there for all that I have.

[babele44]

This is a wild guess but I read somewhere that that the DCBackup is the place where exported Sims or houses collect their cc references. If a creator deletes whatever is in there (in order to save HD space) is it perhaps possible that the Sim in question simply does lack reference to the required cc? The creator might not notice in their own game, but everyone else will download content without the necessary references and so the game has the Sim and the cc but lacks the information to bring these together.

[cathedral]

I just discovered that one of the sims is wearing a formal dress from the store, but then she isn't wearing it when I load her up. Maybe that is the problem? I'll go rummaging and see what I can find out.