How do I use Dormie Gender Controller?

[Diamondkool]

I don't know how to, sorry! 

[yetyak]

When your dorm needs a new dormie, you will get a popup asking if you want a male dormie or a female one.  Or if you don't care there is an option for that, too.  Nothing to do other than put it in your Downloads folder.

[miros1]

Yeah, it basically interrupts the dormie creation process to ask [Male] [Female] [Don't Care].  It lets  you make single sex dorms or balance your co-ed dorms.

You need to move some controllables into a dorm that has more rooms than you have controllables.  You'll be asked for each dormie generated (or chosen, if this isn't your first dorm).

[LilSister]

I've have this mod in my game for 2 years and it behaves a bit different; I've never gotten the pop up - it just prevents other dormies from moving in period. It works for me this way because I don't have to worry about occupying empty rooms if I don't want to and take my time choosing dorm mates for my Sims.

[miros1]

Although you're happy with this behavior, I'll a little concerned for the health of your game! 

Do you have any other mods that affect Dormie creation?

[BoilingOil]

I was thinking the same... This behavior would have me very worried, and the first thing I thought was: a conflict! Maybe something like Pescado's "nodormieregen"? But *I*have both those mods myself, and they work fine in *my* game. I don't have a dormie over population but every time I have empty rooms in a dorm, the Dormie Gender Selection popup *does* come up, and I get to choose the gender for a new dorm mate!

So what the *eff* is going on in LilSister's game that it behaves so differently?

[zephyrzodiac]

Maybe the mod is in need of updating?

[BoilingOil]

If you mean LilSister might be using the wrong version, I agree.

[yetyak]

That will happen if nodormieregen is loading last.  I tried that because it didn't seem to stop the rampant creation of new dormies, and I got no dormies at all.  I put in a new copy (in the Pes folder) and got the dialog and the game started using the already created dormies.  Both were the same version of nodormieregen.

[zephyrzodiac]

I have always kept nodormieregen in my Pescado folder, and I rarely get any dormies at all.   (Occasionally an SS member will start walking by a new house or dorm before I have managed to set the Visitor Controller, and they will then exist and be in the chat room, but that's about it.) However, I don't use the gender selector, (obviously, since I have no dormies I don't need to).  It seems to me that you might need to play around with load order.  BTW, I have never known the game to make new dormies for a dorm while existing dormies are ignored.  There is a limit to the number of dormies, and if you have done nothing to change the number of dormies in your game, then the game will not create more - but it will, unfortunately, use the same dormie or two in every darn dorm you have, even if you have all three campuses!  If you decide to move a dormie in as a playable, without nodormieregen, the game will automatically replace him/her at the earliest opportunity.

[BoilingOil]

My system doesn't create any new dormies either, not as long as there are still existing dormies to fill the spots, at least. And if they're removed from one dorm for any reason, they'll happily be re-used for another. Nodormieregen is quite thorough about that.

But it's indeed smart to make sure that nodormieregen loads BEFORE the Dormie Gender Selector. Otherwise it doesn't work very well, I believe.

[zephyrzodiac]

Not a problem if all Pescado's mods are in his own folder, and likewise with TJ.  At the time those mods were made, I think TJ was still at Maty, and there was some kind of agreement between them that this would be the case - although there are a few which you should avoid having both of, since they do the same thing in slightly different ways (no smart mild drag being one of them).

[BoilingOil]

Not a problem indeed, but there are still myriads of people who have never heard of using sub-folders. And, alas, there *are* a few that HAVE heard of it, but are too stubborn to see the wisdom, and refuse to set it up for whatever reason. They'll just carry on and accept that it isn't working as advertised. Until it completely destroys their hood, and then everyone is to blame except themselves!

But occasionally, we meet people who listen to good advice, and are grateful for any advice given. Those are the guys we're here for!

But I digress... Stop rambling BO, you grumpy old fool!

[zephyrzodiac]

It's odd, really, that so many people still don't bother, when it was possible to subfolder back in Sims 1.  So long as you don't have ridiculously long folder or file-names, it works perfectly well.  The problem, though, is with sites like TSR who still insist on offering everything in a Sims2Pack as well as a .zip.  And people who use this method to download and install stuff really haven't a clue what is in their game.

[LilSister]

Wow..I missed a lot.  All of my mods are updated through apartment life and are subfoldered according to the creator. I do have one folder where things are mixed in but they have been that way for over 2 years before I started putting everything in a sub folde; However everything in that folder works as it should.  I have a lot of CC so subfolding it's a must for me. The only Mods that I have that affect dormies are nodormieregan  and dormie gender controller. I rarely play with maxi dormies. My frat & sorority houses and dorms are filled with neighborhood born-in game Sims and  few YA townies that I can count on one hand that pledged and joined the greek houses.

Now regarding the health of my game-not sure what Miros means. Everything in Uni functions as it should (I did have the issue with pregnancy, but that got fixed and the Sim has graduated and left University. I do have a heavily modded game. There were several that I had to change the loading order - but I knew that was a possibility because the creators mentioned that it was something that may need to done because of the other mods in game. I didn't realize that they way the dormie gender controller functioned in my game was different or a "problem" until I read this thread. The mod has behaved this way since I put it in my game 2 years ago. I do have a dormie pool in my University, they just don't attempt to move in my dorms with this MOD in-game; they do show up on community lots, and at the SS Lot.  If I  take the mod out my game they move in the dorms like they are supposed but I really don't want them. I find them to be a nusiance and problematic for my Sims.

I'm beginning to realize there a few oddities in my game; things that I'm told shouldn't be happening but they do. Nothing bad in my opinion-but I'm still learning.  I am 3 generations deeps with some of my families; and soon some 4th generation Sims will be born. I have 21 households that include 5 University households (A Frat House, Sorrority House,  2 dorms and 1 private residence.)  I only have the one University, Le Tour that I have customized, My main hood, 1 custom subhood and the 3 vacation spots); and I have a total of 226 Sims in-game (which includes Playables, NPC's, Townies, Dormie's, etc.)  I guess I said all that to say - what exactly should I be concerned about or look for?

[BoilingOil]

Well, what miros1 meant with her concerns about the health of your game, is that normally, when mods behave differently than they were *designed* to do, that usually means that something is *wrong* with the game. There must be a *reason* for the mod acting up like that, and this reason - whatever it is - *might* eventually causes bigger problems of a variety that you're NOT happy with.

We're all concerned with such things, because we don't want our fellow players to be in such predicaments. But if your game has been good this way for 2 years, and you're fine with how it works, then what do *we* know, right? But it *does* puzzle us anyway.

[LilSister]

I'm curious too BO; and determined to find some sort of explanation. Perhaps there was something that I missed. I'm going to go through my mod/hacks folders and find any and eveything related to University and perhaps that would in some way modify the same behavior and see if we can figure this out. I would be embarrased to tell yall just how many mods are in my game.

[BoilingOil]

There's no need to be embarrassed about anything, LilSister... My game is heavily modded, too. I'm a modder myself, remember? So I've done my share of adding to the list of mods, and of course, I use mostly everything that I've created myself. I have 441 files in my "Mods & Hacks" folder (and its sub-folders) alone!

[miros1]

LilSister, someone tested, and having nodormieregen load after the dormiegendercontroller leads to the behavior you describe.  Those are the two files to look at first....

[LilSister]

O.K. they are loaded in that order; the folder has all of MATY mods. Do I need to put a "z" on dormiegendercontroller? You guys rock! I don't know what I would do if I didn't have all of you as a resource. Thank you so much.

[BoilingOil]

No, you put the MATY mods in a folder named MATY and the mods TJ made in a folder named TJ, then they will automatically load in the correct order, without you having to change any filenames. THAT's how sensible people handle load order issues

[LilSister]

BO MATYS mods ARE in a folder by themselves are ALL of my custom content by creators; is there something I'm missing? and are you implying that I'm not sensible? I'm a little taken aback and offended.

[miros1]

But TJ's mods are in there too.  If you put them in a different folder called "TJ" or  "Simbology" they'll load after the MATY mods.

[LilSister]

OK..that's the only TJ MOD in that folder...my mistake for some reason I thought it was a MATY mod. I will put it in his folder now. Thank you Miros1

[BoilingOil]

@LilSister: Taken aback and offended? I only told you how sensible people would handle the situation, in hopes that you would decide that you ARE sensible, and follow my queue. But in stead you take offense? My, you need to get some sleep, girl! You're not as fresh as you were a few hours ago, that's for sure.

[LilSister]

Very true about me not being fresh...just home after a long day at work and in much need of sleep, so forgive me for being sensitive.  However, as always I do follow the advice given to me. I've gone through the MATY folder and sorted what needed to be sorted. None of the mods removed were problematic-they functioned as they should, but as suggested I placed them in the appropriate subfolders. What I am concerned about now (probably not a necessary concern) are things "acting up" after being moved. I've not added or removed anything from this folder in 2 years (only necessary AL mod updates). Anyhoo, The task is done, although I'm certain there still my be some stragglers posing as a MATY mod (especially some of the noautonomous mods) - we will put those on the list of things to do. Thanks BO you know your my hero!

BTW..The reason I asked about the "z" is because I have mods that the creators suggested that it be done in order to make sure they load in the correct order.

[BoilingOil]

Yes, dear. In some individual cases, the author of a mod will suggest using that method to fix load order for a single mod. But it's not common practice, so we prefer the other way.

And indeed, if something does not behave the way it should, we will eventually identify it and fix the problem. Until then, they're simply 'to do'.

[LilSister]

One more question (yes I'm still awake), is it necessary to place all the mod/hack sub-folders into one folder? The sub folders are appropriately named so I know that they are Mods or Hacked objects.

[zephyrzodiac]

Makes it a lot easier to find them - and much easier, therefore, to check whether you have a duplicate mod or two, since you would only have to run the Clean Installer through that one folder, not your entire Downloads.

[LilSister]

Thanks Zephyr, I will do that; for some reason I thought putting sub-folders into another folder would disable some of the mods. I will also try the dormiegendercontroller mod to see if it is working as it should; I think one of the dorms has an empty room. Thanks again.

[BoilingOil]

LilSister, I have a folder "Mods & Hacks" in my downloads, and in that folder, I have a separate folder for each major modder. And TJ actually has TWO folders on my system, because I keep the ACR separated from the rest! It really is the best way to keep things working and easy to sort out.

[zephyrzodiac]

Since NL, the game really doesn't mind how much you subfolder (within the limits, really, or what Windows can cope with, so just avoid very long folder names).  Even in the BG, you could folder and subfolder objects, walls, floors, etc., but bodyshop stuff had to be in the main Downloads folder - they made this sub-folderable as well in NL.  Unless, like BO, you have De Luxe, you can also place walls, floors, terrain paints and roofs in the main TS2 folder and they will work perfectly.  (In actual fact, I have had cc still not added to the main Downloads folder, but in a house folder in Packaged Lots (because I haven't actually used the house yet) and the cc still shows in my game!  It seems the game doesn't really mind where the stuff is, so long, of course, as it is somewhere in the TS2 directory... the only thing you do have to be really careful about is that you put collection files into Collections if you want the collection for a set to show up.

[miros1]

However, it is possible to nest too deep, so keep it to 2 or 3 levels.  I think BV added this restriction, but I do know it was one of the SucROT carriers that did it (friend of mine had disappearing CC because she had stuff nested 4 deep, and I didn't have all the EPs she did).

[zephyrzodiac]

I have stuff quite deeply nested in some folders, and I don't have a problem with it showing.  In fact, the only files recently that I can remember not showing were Piggi's recolours of Numenor's wooden stairs, and even putting them loose in Downloads didn't solve the problem.  However, I haven't had Suckrot since I got rid of it and made sure it would never raise its ugly head on my computer again.... I've even had files three or four deep within the Packaged Lots folder showing up in my game, even though, since the lot they were included with hadn't yet been installed, they weren't necessary or even maybe wanted - I sometimes put theme-related houses there but don't always use them.... but since those files weren't even in Downloads, I felt the game did a pretty neat job of finding them!

[miros1]

Hm, that's interesting... Suckrot modifying the game load too?  Wouldn't doubt it; all it would take is an undersized buffer used for file names.....

[zephyrzodiac]

You were the one who mentioned Suckrot - as I said, I got rid of it long ago, and not even on this HD, so I have no idea whether it affects this kind of stuff, but BV has not had that effect on my game.

[yetyak]

HDCU won't find your hacks if there are too many levels, either.

I keep the collection files in with the collection itself so that when I take it out, the collection file is out as well.

[LilSister]

Not really understanding the "nesting" concept. I need a little clarity. However I would like to report that for the first time in 2 years the Dormie Gender Controller is functioning a it should. Upon entering a dorm with 2 unoccupied rooms the Dormie Gender Manager popped up. Thank you everyone again.

[miros1]

Glad it's working for  you!

Nesting just means you have folders inside folders.  You might  have a folder in Downloads named Hacks and folders inside Hacks named TJ and Pescado.  Or a folder named Skintones and folders inside Skintones named Navetsea and JWilson5.

I've always been told collections files have to go in the Collections folder or they won't work....  interesting to hear someone's tried it in Downloads and  they actually worked!

[zephyrzodiac]

They certainly don't work in my game unless they are where they should be.  Maybe something changed with AL?

[dark_author]

My collection files also work out of downloads.  I think....I have some in both places but it seems like they're all there.

[zephyrzodiac]

Maybe it depends how deep they are?  I subfolder by site and then creator, where there are many creators, and generally when I first unzip a new set and save it with all my downloaded stuff before deciding which theme to stick it in, I put the collection file in a subfolder called, believe it or not, Collection, with the hope that I will see it and put it in Collections - sometimes, though, I forget, and the file stays there until I think, that's odd, I know that particular creator always provides a collection file, so where is it????

[yetyak]

I had the collection files in the downloads long before AL, but I don't remember exactly when I started doing it. 

[BoilingOil]

Not really understanding the "nesting" concept. I need a little clarity. However I would like to report that for the first time in 2 years the Dormie Gender Controller is functioning a it should. Upon entering a dorm with 2 unoccupied rooms the Dormie Gender Manager popped up. Thank you everyone again.

Since I remember how you were happy that it *didn't* work properly before, I'm not sure if I should congratulate you now At least now we know that nothing VERY serious is wrong with your game, just the little conflict with the DGC and nodormieregen. So that's GOOD NEWS, LilSister!

But I think you might like having some dormies around every now and again
I seldom put my YA's in rentals, but always in Dorms, because I find that a good opportunity for them to meet some peers of similar age, without me having to send them to uni comm lots (I hate those because the clock gets so horribly out of sync). And perhaps one of those dormies then is a good candidate for a relationship after graduation. Usually, every graduate marries a dormie in my game.

[zephyrzodiac]

Quite a few of mine have already met their significant other at school!  And if you use the Visitor Controller, you get at least one walkby an hour, and my sims are very, very good at making use of interactwogreet to socialise with friends and strangers alike.  Most of my students leave Uni without ever having met a dormie, professor or a cow... but they all seem to find someone to set up house with when they leave, just the occasional romance or knowledge sim who seems to prefer the freedom to play the field...

[miros1]

On campus, there's a Phone Book on the phone so  you can call any Dormie or Professor.  Maybe it's Pescado, but I think it's Maxis....

[BoilingOil]

Yeah, it's Maxis. Phaenoh used it as a basis for her Phonebook mod (which makes ALL sims available in a similar manner).

[miros1]

Awesome!  Now I can get rid of Pescado's "call family" or whatever it's called.....

[zephyrzodiac]

It's part of autoyak, I think, and if you get rid of it your sims might not talk until they reach maximum relationships, and you may not be able to queue their phonecalls.

[miros1]

Gotta keep autoyak, too hard to keep all the friends otherwise!  Yeah, it's part of autoyak, but now I can ignore it in favor of looking people  up in the phone book!