Is The Repository Technique -- New Question Added In Reply Post :)

[khakidoo]

Well, I recently started messing around with meshing and all that stuff, and was using the repository technique for a bit; but then it started to seem that it's darned if you do darned if you don't - because when I (or anyone else) builds a lot containing items that are repositorized, when the lot is packaged and uploaded - if only a slave item is used in the lot, it gives me the blue flashies - so I have to be sure to use the repository item in addition to, or instead of, the slave....
So now I have pretty much abandoned the repository technique so that builders can be sure to have the lot packaged correctly...
I don't see any way around this issue - am I wrong? Is there a trick I'm missing?

[niol]

I personally make up suffix like "-txtr" to the users that the txtr file is in this file for repository items... It may be also good to have a "suffix"(surely, it can be other fixes) for the borrowing items to remind users that they need special cares... :)

Yet, I may sometimes, just pack everything in one whole package... :lol:

For recolouring, one may choose to make a recolour template for recolour-cloning... as seen in Numenor's Wall-windows set...

[nengi65]

khaki, as a builder myself, I wish that remembering to include the 'master' object when using a slave object in one of my lots would be the only problem I'd have to face... but now that Maxis recolours don't even get packaged anymore... life has gotten a tad bit complicated for old folks with short memory like me ;)

When using items made with the repository technique, I usually don't include them in my lots but tell people where to download them so that they know what they're dealing with.

I think the repository technique is wonderful and I would not give up on it if I were you. Just make sure you let your downloaders know in BOLD what they are dealing with and how to use it in uploaded lots... there are always those that don't read... but they can't very well blame that on you :D

[Reyn]

I'm beginning to go towards a stuff on the side approach myself, especially with these changes on maxis recolours.

On stuff I make myself, I'm considering including a 'here is the stuff for the house' rar as well as the house itself. I can always include the master for repository sets I've made.

Of course, I also like using Maxis objects for respositories - people will have those.

[Lethe_s]

When I started messing with the repository technique, I probably did it all wrong.
A lot of my repository sets are *complicated*, in that some get textures from multiple other objects and it's one big mess. I'm pretty sure that's not the way to go, it assumes you basically get half of my uploads for the other half to work :p
I'll readily admit that that's a nightmare for lot builders (it's a good way to get back at anyone downloading uncredited crap on the exchange though).

Personally, I don't think that you should just abandon it. A huge set of non-repositoried objects is a nightmare for recolourers, and it's a lot of fluff to add to your download folder. There's different things to experiment with. You could add all textures to the 'main' object (regardless of whether they're actually used in it). Every set tends to have one object that's defining, and will probably be added to houses that use other parts of the set.
Or you can experiment with a 'texture bank'. This is a small object (just a cube, maybe, it doesn't even need a mesh, to be honest) that holds all the textures of a set. It doesn't even have to be in the catalog (you don't want people to accidentally delete it ;) ). People will just need to make sure they add it to any uploads that include parts of the set.

[khakidoo]

Thanks for your input guys.... I haven't completely abandoned it after all ... I'm sort of deciding on an object by object basis....

And now I have an actual technical question :)
I recently uploaded some upper kitchen cabinets that match some maxis counters....
here:http://www.modthesims2.com/showthread.php?t=225275
When I first started on these I looked at the maxis counter package..... figuring I would do the repository thing with them.... but the counter package was a bit confusing for me,,,, I couldn't figure out which parts to copy over to the slave objects...
too many material definition files, etc... does anyone know which parts I need to copy in that package?
Since now a couple people have said they would like it to pick up it's colors from the maxis package, I'm planning to go back and redo them that way if I can figure this out...
thanks for any help :)