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UI Mod--CAS Basics--See Your Non-Default Skintones
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  Overview Download Install Instructions Comments (162) Related Pages
Posted 4th Feb 2010 at 09:13 PM
- Updated 9th Jul 2010 at 05:38 AM by Rez Delnava
- Viewed 175993 times.
Information (Click for more details): Direct link to this thread
As with any mod, please be sure to check the version compatibility.
-------------------------------------------------------- Alright, welcome to my first mod. As many have already seen, there has been a development which now enables us to create non-default skin-colors and skins. This discovery is the Tone file. However, to actually use any non-default skintones (sometimes called NDST's), there had to be a change in the way CAS displays the tone-pick box. What This Mod Does: In all honesty, it does next to nothing that the game couldn't already do; I just made it so that you can see it doing it. What it does, is changes the layout of the tone-pick box. By default, the game will only display 6 tones in the default 2x3 tone-pick box. I have made two versions that change the size of the tone-pick box, which allows the game to show NDST's. From a technical aspect, adding non-default skintones without this mod still works--however, one will only be able to see 6 tones in the box without any indication that others exist. 5x5 Tone-pick Box  Shown in the image above is the 5x5 layout. It uses the default location for the box. It has been expanded to 5 columns, 5 rows, capable of displaying 25 Tones at once with the added ability to scroll if more than 25 tones are installed. 5x10 Tone-pick Box  Shown in the above image is the 5x10 layout. It has been moved to the immediate right of the Name, Age, Gender pane. It can display 50 tones at once, again with the ability to scroll if you should exceed that number. The large tone-pick box does have one minor downside: when using display resolutions of 1028x768 or smaller, the box overlaps with the sim while open. NOTE1: In the two images above, it shows additional non-default tones that are not included in the download. Without additional CC, when you first install this you will only see the six default skin colors. Example of a Custom Tone:  In the image above is an example of a custom skintone. In the tone-pick box, you can see that there are now seven tone to choose from. Custom tones can each have their own colors (I have customized mine to appear black in the pick box and show my name in the color scale). This skin is a demo skin I created, and at this time is incomplete (no face or scalp). The skin has new mask and normal layers to give it a fur-like texture. NOTE2: The images above were taken at a 1440x900 display resolution, then scaled down. Double Slider Range As was requested, I have now uploaded UI mods that include changes to the slider range for the Fit and Fat sliders. The changes effectively doubles the range of the sliders. These were available before, however, some people didn't want to do it themselves by downloading the the provided layout files and swapping out the package's internal contents. You do not need to re-download if you are happy with normal slider range, or if you have already made the change yourself. -------------------------------------------------------- Installation Instructions: You only need one of these, so pick ONE (5x5, 5x10, 5x5 Double Slider, or 5x10 Double Slider) to install. This is a standard package file. Place the mod in your mods/packages folder. FAQ/Sarcasm Section/Tough Love Q: I don't want to read the directions/FAQ/discussion thread/wiki, so can you spoon feed me the information? A: No. Tough it out, a little reading won't hurt you. Q: I can't see the mod, help! A: Check to make sure your framework is set up correctly (Follow these directions precisely) and check to make sure this isn't conflicting with another mod (Use Delphy's Dashboard Tool) Then make sure you installed the package (not the zip, and definately not a .layo) in your mods/packages folder. Q: I checked for the above(and would be willing to testify to this in a signed contract punishable by defenestration), but still no mod, now what? A: It's a known issue, but for whatever unknown reason, the mod mod sometimes breaks when trying to download it here. Be sure you click save (instead of open) and make sure your extractor utility is up to date. Then try downloading it again, sometimes it works on the second or third try. If not, then I can provide a direct download link to the uncompressed file from my private server. Q: I still can't see the mod working (even after you sent me the uncompressed version), now what? A: This is unfortunate, but it is bound to happen; sometimes a mod just doesn't work for some people despite all efforts. You should read the indications for a non-functioning UI mod below. Q: I'm confused, what do I do with the .layo files in the other zip? A: Most people will want to do nothing with them. They are extra parts that were intended to be used with Drakah's CAS Sliders mod, and have since become obsolete thanks to Drakah's quick changes to his own mod. If you are a modder and want to figure out whats what, play around with the UI, or make you own changes, feel free to download and use them. Q: I can see the new box, but there are still only six skin color-orbs, whats wrong? A: Congratulations my mod is working. Thats all this mod is, that new shiny box. This does not include any NDST's. You should go download some. Try the downloads section here, there's good ones. Or here: Let me  that for you.Q: I downloaded a sim, but it has charcoal color skin. I'm blaming you, now you should help me fix it. A: Um, no on all counts. First off, it is not recommended that sims be shared while using an NDST; this is not something the share sim system was designed to handle. You should talk to the sim's creator about it. Secondly, if you got a sim from here, then the creator has to specify all CC used on that sim, and you should download that CC before installing a shared sim--this should prevent charcoal skin from happening. Also, I don't like your demanding tone, you should try to be more polite. Q: I have a charcoal sim, how can a fix it, please? A: You need to reassign a functioning skintone to the sim. To do that need to be able to get back into CASFull mode; to do that you need Twallan's Supercomputer (recommended) or Awesomemod. With SC, you click the sim, then click 'supercomputer', then click 'Advanced', then click 'Edit in CAS'. For Awesomemod, select the sim, then press CTRL+SHIFT+C, the the phrase 'editsim', press enter. Now you are in CASFull mode, and can select a new skintone. See how much information you were able to get by being polite? I'm much more willing to help, and much less likely to use scathing sarcasm, when you nice words. Q: I downloaded a skin, but something is wrong, the bodies show up with the custom skins, but the faces are charcoal. what should be done? -or- The faces of my sims are charcoal now for some reason, whats wrong? A: As has been said before, this mod doesn't affect NDST's, it only lets you see more of them in that box. The issue you are experiencing with your sims faces turning black, is a symptom of a broken custom skin package, or caused by removing an NDST after setting it to sims (either manually, or by the game randomizing). It is not uncommon for a NDST package to become broken. These packages are very large (typically the largest without including a scripting mod) and can contain up to 40 dds files. So, it is not unreasonable for a creator to mistakenly release a borked NDST. If you suspect that you may have obtained a broken one, try re-downloading; if that doesn't work, try contacting the skin creator for help. If all else fails, post a link in the comments to the skin and I will try to see if the skin is at fault. Q: I don't like an NDST anymore, how can I safely remove it? -or- I removed an NDST, and now a lot of my sims are charcoal, can you help me stop panicking? A: Read the information in the next button down. Q: I want to use Drakah's CAS Sliders mod and this, but you say there is conflict; what can be done about this? A: Drakah, being an entrepreneurial modder, has mad a version of his mod that includes the same UI tweak I made. So, essentially, you can have both; just follow the link to his mod and install the appropriate version. Or if you are more of a hands-on type and want to experiment, you can use the tuning files and the old directions found below to fix up the UI in any other mod. Q: You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means. A: INCONCEIVABLE! What? Oh, you mean NDST. It's an abbreviation for Non-Default Skin Tone. Q: OK, this has been bugging me the whole time; what does Defenestrate mean? A: Glad you should ask! It literally means to be thrown out of window, but in other modes it can mean to have your case thrown out, or have a person removed from a courtroom. The etymological origins of the word come from the 15th century Defenstration of Prague. Now in which sense I meant the word is open for interpretation, but in either case if you comment asking for help that has already been answered here or in the comments, your case for help will be promptly thrown out. Special Directions for Removing Non-Default Skintones While my mod only changes a UI layout file (removal of it will not cause any harm whatsoever), it is important to know that there are special directions to use when removing an NDST,  Failure to do so may result in your sims becoming charcoal colored Step 1: Take any and all sims using the NDST (the one you plan on removing) back into CASFull mode. To do so, you need to use a feature not included in the standard game; AwesomeMod and Twallan's SuperComputer both have this capability (my recommendation is to use SC if you have neither already installed). Step 2:Now that you are in CASFull mode, assign the sim a different skintone (i.e. one you are not planning on removing), then exit CAS. Step 3: Once you have changed all sims that are using the NDST, save and exit your game. Step 4: Remove the NDST in question from your mods folder. Step 5: Clear your game caches. If you don't know how to do this manually, I would suggest using Delphy's Dashboard Tool. Step 6: Technically, you finished removing the NDST if you followed the directions carefully and changed ALL sims using the (now removed) NDST. If not, you may have some sims that have gone charcoal. You can still fix them by following steps 1&2. -------------------------------------------------------- Technical Information: This mod is a default replacement of the CASBasics.layo file (0x97DB9E9DDA2D2671) found in the UI.package file. The lines that have been modified are: 1931, 1980, 1982, and 1983.
Indications for Non-Funtioning UI Mod If for some reason the UI mod does not work (or you don't want the mod, etc.), Non-Default Skintones still work. As was indicated before, the game will still load any and all functional NDST's. You will, however, be unable to tell if the game has loaded them or not, because the UI limits the pick box to 2x3 without displaying a scroll bar or any other indicator that more skins have been loaded. This is not to say that they are inaccessible. If you have a wheel mouse, you can hover over the open skintone pick-box, then scroll through available tones. Remember, the box is scrollable, even if you do not see the scroll-bar. Compatibility:
Version information: This mod works with the following game versions: Base1.14/WA2.9/HELS3.5/AMB4.2 Base1.12/WA2.4/HELS3.3/AMB4.0 Base1.9/WA2.4/HELS3.0 Base1.8/WA2.3 Base1.7/WA2.2--no longer supported, use at your own risk. Additional Info: Tutorial by Missy Marries for creating new skins. Skininator Use this tool to make new non-default skintones. The downloads page there contains all the resources you need to make new skintones. Read this thread for more info about the tone file. The first post has a funny story and an outmoded tutorial on hex editing the tone file. Later posts show the development of the info and the making of of app that automates the creation of Tone files. Old Directions for Tuning File This info is no longer pertinent. I have added prepackaged versions that double the slider range on the fit/fat sliders. Additionally, Drakah has versions of his mod that include expanded pick-boxes. Also included in the downloads is an additional set of layout files with modification to the slider range values for fit/fat moprhs. These can be used to fix the compatibility with Drakah's Slider mod, or can be used in place of the standard UI mod with the additional benefit of increasing the fit/fat slider range. To do this, simply extract one of the layout files from the zip, then using S3PE (or whichever package editor of your choice) open the package you wish change, import the extracted layout file, making sure it overwrites any existing CASBasics resource, then save the package. If you have a mod for the fit/fat sliders (usually Drakah's mod) you do not need to install one of the UI packages. Instead, download the zip file called 'Slider Hack Tuning'. Next, extract the files from the zip; there are two CASBasic.layout files in the zip (one corresponding to each of the UI sizes), you only need one of these so choose the size you prefer. Next, you need to open the the mod that contains the fit/fat slider hack using a package editor--I would suggest S3PE because it will read the formatting included in the name of the layout file. With the slider mod open, you should find one resource with the Type "LAYO 0x025C95B6" and Instance "0x97DB9E9DDA2D2671" Select this resource, and replace it with the one you extracted from the zip. Make sure the old resource is gets overwritten, then save the package. It is important to note that EGC, Awesomemod, and Jonha's Slider Hack DO NOT contain the CASBasics.layout (as of this posting). DO NOT edit layout files contained in these mods. Model Info: The model is my self-sim's son, Tannor. The body skin (first two images) is a default replacement by Stradlin on A+S Error. The face texture is Kanno's Moonlight Faces on Garden of Shadows. The eyes are Daluved1' Bright Eye replacements. The hair is by Anubis360 available on his blog. The underwear is by Aaroc Additional Credits: Daluved, for inspiring my exploration of the UI Layouts. CmarNYC, for making a tool to put my findings to use. Missy Harries, for her excellent Duo Tones which I used throughout this project. Fawkes, for having a set of tones available to utilize this. Anyone who noticed the easter-egg before reading this far. Old Update Notices 01June2010: Update 4: Nraas was just updated with the latest version of SuperComputer, so any exisitng sims that got charcoaled when moving the mods to the new location can now be fixed. Update 3: The UI Mod has been checked and confirmed to work with the latest patch and Ambitions. Will be taking a break for dinner, and will better update the mod details/notes when I get back. Update 2: Early testing shows Non-default skins to work with the latest patch/expansion. However, if you move your mods to the new location, your existing sims will 'go charcoal'. To fix this, you will have to go back into CAS Full mode, which due to the unavailability of AwesomeMod and SuperComputer at this time is not possible for most players. However, creating new Sims allows them to use any non-default skins. You can use your wheel-mouse to browse NDST's until the UI is updated. Update 1: compatibility. Due to today's update and the release of Ambitions, I highly suspect that this UI mod will have compatibility issues. I will check compatibility later tonight, and possibly upload an updated version. Until then, USE AT YOUR OWN RISK 2244 people have said thanks to Rez Delnava for this download. For more information about this creator and their policies or details, click here.
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Multi-Part Download
This is a multi-part download:
Pick one! For your downloading options: 2 sizes of UI, with the option for double slider range on the fitness and fatness sliders. Tuning Files are for advanced users & modders.
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Creator Recommendations
The creator also recommends you check the following:
Fawke's Euphoria Skintones Missy Harries' Duo Tones
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