Author Topic: Sims 3 - How To: Create Apartments  (Read 39676 times)

Offline MrsFlynn

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Sims 3 - How To: Create Apartments
« on: October 05, 2020, 04:40:56 PM »
✽ – Updated: July. 2022 / Created: Aug. 2020

I recently looked into creating apartments, as I wanted to add one or two to my current save.

While I was building I took notes on my experiences and whatnot and wanted to share my notes. :)

Build the house or apartment building as you would normally. This includes furnishing, decorating and recoloring the objects and furnishings. As once room markers are placed you need to use the {restrictbuildbuyinbuildings off} cheat to edit anything on that lot.

    ✽ – To Turn Editing off. Press Ctrl-Shift-C together to bring up the cheat window and type in testingcheatsenabled on and then type in restrictbuildbuyinbuildings on. This turns off the build cheat.

You don't need to furnish/decorate the rooms or spaces that you'll be putting the hidden markers in. You can even take out walls so you don't have to place as many hidden markers. This may help lower the cost of the lot or rent paid by your active family living on the lot.

    💡 – A Tip: Build the apartment house or building first, save a copy and then edit that when needed.

This means the markers will need to be replaced, but I have found it easier to edit the build without the markers than with them. 

Click on images to see larger view.

Want the apartment house used to make this how-to? Click Here

    ✽ – To help with Sim routing, it is a good idea to set front of lot and front door to help with routing. In Build/Buy mode:

       – Set Front of Lot - with testingcheatsenabled on, press Ctrl-Shift-Click on the space you want to be set as front of the lot. A blue line and animated arrow will appear to show you where front is.

 

       – Set Front Door - Press Ctrl-Shift-Click to bring up the pie menu and select Set as Front Door.



     ✽ – In order to have neighbors in your apartment, you need to set at least one NPC door.  This will also help the callbox to work.

        – Add a wall mailbox and a callbox. These are Late Night objects.

Without a call box, you can't call out the the NPC Sims that live in the other apartments to visit with them.

Callbox can be found in Buy Mode > Sort by Function > Miscellaneous Electronics



Wall Mailbox can be found in Buydebug > Misc. Objects



Hidden Room Markers and Public Room Markers are base game items, you can get to the via the buydebug menu with testingcheatsenabled on.
   – Buy Mode > Sort by Function > Debug [?].

Hidden Room Marker



Public Room Marker



Go to the last tab called Misc. Objects, scroll down until you see the orb called Hidden Room Marker. 

    ✽ – Public Room Markers -
This marker is for all the spaces you want your Sim to use, but not own any of the objects. For example, living spaces, such as kitchen, living room, family room, etc. Any space you want to consider shared public space.

    ✽ – Hidden Room Markers -
This marker is for rooms your Sim will not have access to. This is considered rooms where NPC Sims will be living.

** Do not put markers in your Sims' bedrooms/bathroom. This is considered their own private space.



    ~ More Tips and FAQs:

    ✽ – Editing Spaces Inside the Apartment -
Spoiler (click to show/hide)

    ✽ – Making Changes to the lot? -
Spoiler (click to show/hide)

    ✽ – Can't Change Lot Type?! -
Spoiler (click to show/hide)

    ✽ – Does Lot Type Matter? -
Spoiler (click to show/hide)

    ✽ – Assigning NPC Sims and Making NPC Doors -
Spoiler (click to show/hide)

    ✽ – Interacting with NPC Sims -
Spoiler (click to show/hide)

    ✽ – Odd Routing With House That Has a Foundation and Basement -
Spoiler (click to show/hide)

    ✽ – Q: My Sim is routing all different ways to the new lot? -
Spoiler (click to show/hide)

    ✽ – Too Many Sims in the Callbox? Or Duplicate Sims in the Callbox? -
Spoiler (click to show/hide)

    ✽ – Q: Does choosing the 'unfurnished' option take away all the furnishings, including all of the furnishings in the communal areas of the apartment? -
Spoiler (click to show/hide)



    ~ Reference Links:

http://simswiki.info/wiki.php%3Ftitle%3DTutorials:TS3_Sims_3_Apartments

Building Apartments
https://www.carls-sims-4-guide.com/forum/index.php?topic=2455.msg59615.html#msg59615

Building a High Rise Building ~ Tip
https://www.carls-sims-4-guide.com/forum/index.php?topic=3658.msg283655#msg283655

Too Many Sims in Callbox
https://modthesims.info/t/450829

https://gamelover86.wordpress.com/tag/how-to-build-a-apartment-in-sims-3/

https://hubpages.com/games-hobbies/Building-appartments-in-The-Sims-3

https://forums.thesims.com/en_us/discussion/310981/how-can-i-build-apartments

https://forums.thesims.com/en_us/discussion/820000/no-option-for-npc-door-when-building-an-apartment

https://forums.thesims.com/en_us/discussion/881815/cant-make-npc-doors

https://forums.thesims.com/en_us/discussion/893698/creating-apartments

https://www.reddit.com/r/thesims/comments/6xyyuc/sims_3_an_apartment_building_without_an_elevator/

https://sims.fandom.com/wiki/Apartment

https://sims.fandom.com/wiki/Room_markers
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Offline MrsGoodWrench

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Re: Sims 3 - How To: Create Apartments
« Reply #1 on: October 05, 2020, 09:00:07 PM »
ooOOOooooOOooo Extremely detailed  notes LOVE it. and step by step guide Thank you very much :D



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Offline babecakz

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Re: Sims 3 - How To: Create Apartments
« Reply #2 on: July 04, 2022, 10:25:14 PM »
Hello! I am desperate I have tried to find information everywhere. I am trying to build an apartment in SIMS 3 in 2022 and I can do everything but make a NPC door. All I get is make unusable by NPC - and I only get there by creating triggers. Every apartment I go into all seems so simple. Make a room -(for your SIM) make a public area - mark it with public ball, make another room mark it with the (hidden ball) Shift+click door and set to NPC door... I am not getting that options what am I doing wrong? I have the codes testingcheatsenabled true and buydebug on. I feel like it either isn't supported anymore or I am missing a step. Any help is appreciated. Thank you soooo much.

Offline MrsFlynn

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Re: Sims 3 - How To: Create Apartments
« Reply #3 on: July 05, 2022, 12:06:38 AM »
Thank you for asking!!

From what I've been able to tell the doors (if external) need to be enclosed with a fence and a gate. The public markers may need to be placed in the yard as well as up on the porch, if apartment has a porch.

As a quick refresher, here's the instructions on creating/editing an apartment on a regular residential lot:

1. Have testingcheatsenabled on
2. Buydebug on
3. restrictbuildbuyinbuildings off (so you can edit/create on the lot)
4. Be in Build/Buy mode.
5. Have both public and hidden markers placed.
6. Use Shift+Ctrl+click to create an NPC Door.
-- This can be done on all doors leading to hidden "rooms" that are facing public spaces.

Click images for larger view.

Options for internal doors.



The option does not show on external doors.



Options for external doors enclosed in a fence with a gate.

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