How to replace the Maxis rewards by your own

[FrankU]

In Lot editor you can relot the Rewards that are provided by Maxis. You can make them larger or smaller, you can add and delete props... anything you want. But you cannot replace the building.

Now, what to do if you want to replace the building?

It is quite simple, but you need some basic knowledge of the Reader.

Ok. Let's start.

First of all you need to know what model you want to see on your new Reward Lot.
Every model is acceptable. You just need to find out the TGI values of this model.

There are different techniques to find the necessary TGI's.

If you have a separte model file, because it is your own or because the download contains it, it is simple. The name of the files usually shows the TGI's. Otherwise you have to open the model file in Reader. The Group ID is easy: all files show the same Group ID. For the Instance ID take a look at the row of S3D files. The lowest instanced S3D file gives you the Instance of the model.
If the model is part of a larger file, like a prop pack, the easiest way is to open Sc4-Pim and find the model file. The name given shows the model's Group and Instance ID. The Type ID is always the same, so that is not important.

Now that we found the TGI values of our desired model we can do the modding.

Now you have to extract the building file of your Maxis Reward from Simcity_1.dat.
Do this by following RippleJet's tutorial here.

After you have saved this building exemplar as a separate file in your plugins folder you open it in Reader.
In the centre pane you click on "Exemplar" (if correct there is no other entry to click on). In the right screen the corresponding entries appear.
Open the RKT1 entry. It shows three values. These are the TGI values of the Maxis model.

Now you exchange these values by the values of the model you want. The Type value should already be identical.
Do a "Reindex" and a "Rebuild directory file": right click in the centre pane of Reader and choose these options. Save the file and exit Reader.

Now open Lot Editor and select the Reward lot you want to edit. You will see that the original lot already shows the model you have selected. If not, you probably made a typing mistake. You can make your own version of the Reward lot now. In game it will replace the Maxis Reward and it will have exactly the same conditions and values.

Of course, because you have the building exemplar at hand, you can change other values of the lot too. But that is something I have no experience with, so I don't go into that. I suppose it is possible to change the conditons and other values of the reward.

Adding your own Icon

I tried to add my own icon by using the standard function in SC4_Pim, but it did not show up in game.
The icon that was generated by the LotEditor while I was editing the lot stayed visible.

I found out that you need to open the Lot-file in Reader. There you see three PNG files: one is an image of the lot, the other two are icons.
One is the icon that was generated by Lot Editor, the other one is the icon that you have added by SC4_Pim.
If you look closely you see that both icon files have the same Type and Group ID's. The Instance ID's are different. You need to give your own PNG file the same IID as the other icon. Then you delete the other icon, reindex and rebuild directory file and all is set.

Warning: in my game, while testing in one city, it worked. I don't know is some specialist on this site knows that I am screwing up something? If yes, please correct me.

If you want to do it yourself:

First make your lot as explained above.
Then make your own icon. At least: find an image that you want to use.
Now open the lot in SC4_PIM.
Ricght click in hte lower right pane. A small menu appears. At the bottom is the opting "Change Icon".
Click it, and add your won image.
Save and exit.

Now open the Lot file in Reader.

Find the two PNG files.
Select the Icon you do not want.
Now click in the toolbar on "File Info".
A small screen appears. Click on Edit.
Copy the value that is written down in the Instance entry field.
Close the screen by clicking on the red cross.
Now select the Icon you have added.
Click on "File Info".
Click on Edit.
Copy the value into the Instance field.
Close the screen.

Select the unwanted icon.
Right click and select "remove file".
Right click on the middle pane of the Reader's screen.
Select "Reindex".
Select "Rebuild directory file".
Save and exit.

All should be set now.

[supremec]

Simple to understand, a nice tutorial   
It will be very usefull 
Thank you FrankU 

[FrankU]

I added a tutorial chapter that explains how you can add your own icon. That appeared to be less easy than I thought, so it might come in handy for you.

[cruel]

 

[Silur]

Thank You, FrankU ...
This is in my Favorite Biblio Folder now ...
Thank You once again ...