A look inside Sims.exe

There are a lot of great utilities out there, especially if you take the time to look. However, there is one that I seem to favor. This utility is called Resource Hacker. Taken from the official site, Resource Hacker is a freeware utility to view, modify, rename, add, delete and extract resources in 32bit Windows executables and resource files (*.res). It incorporates an internal resource script compiler and decompiler and works on Win95, Win98, WinME, WinNT, Win2000 and WinXP operating systems.

In other words, by using this, you can open a number of .exe files to change the way they look and to browse through the .exe file to see what the author may of had planned for that program, but never got to adding it. However, it doesn't decompile the source code of any program, so for all of you programmers out there, tuff' luck. :D

Now this may seem illegal, which it is. Not the utility itself, but what you edit from an existing .exe file. You may not distribute the .exe file you have edited unless you specifically have the author's premission to do so. Also for the Transmogrifier, I believe it is alright to do so, since I seen a few different looking ones in the past years. However, you can edit the programs for your own personal use. I do this myself to make things easier for me, lol.

Now, enough of the jibberish, let's get to the good stuff! If you plan on downloading Resource Hacker, then do so now. I am going to be showing you what is hidden inside the Sims.exe file. I'm not going to teach you the ins-and-outs of the program, that is up to yourself to learn. What this is about requires just eyes and nothing else.

Anyways, open up the Resource Hacker, and under "File" select "Open". Locate and open the Sims.exe file. You will see some jibberish in the sidebar, all you need to do is find and select the "Dialog" folder, and once you open it, you will see some more folders with numbers. I am going to go through these with you, so please, follow along. Oh, and one more thing. I am going to go by the folder number under the "Dialog" folder. It should be in order, if I seem to have different numbers then you, don't panic, because the dialogs should still be the same.

Folder 156 - 1033, Animation Browser
This is the Animation Browser. I'm not too big on characters, so I don't know too much about this. I guess this is where Maxis can check the animations that the Sims themselves use. They can stop, play, start, and save the animation. They can even set its length. Under that, you have some boxes which I guess is where Maxis can load different skeleton files (CMX) for the characters. Also, I think the Suits refer to the clothes that the Sims wear. Under all that, there appears to be some really advance stuff with animations and its properties. It's amazing to see what all the stuff they can do to the animations.

Folder 200 - 1033, Object Inspector
There isn't really too much to this, actually. The only thing I can think of is that this checks for Object Errors for when Maxis runs the game.

Folder 201 - 1033, Terrain Tweak
This is just awesome! I only know of two assumptions that how Maxis uses this. They either use it in 3D Studio Max as a plugin so they can edit Terrains, or they use it inside the game to change the Terrain properties. I think I will go with the second choice. Anyways, here is where Maxis can tweak the Terrains by changing its color, adding or taking away lights, and even have glass editing properties. It's odd to see that the Terrain is more advance then it looks when you see this dialog.

Folder 202 - 1033, Tree Tracer
It seems that this is what Maxis uses to create "Trees". When I say Trees, I don't actually mean the Trees in the game, I mean that this is where Maxis codes an object. Trees are built into an object's code. They link up to each other and if they are programmed correct, follow a sequence. I think it ties in with the object's behavior.

Folder 209 - 1033, Relationships
I'm guessing this is for Sims characters, but I could be wrong. What gives me this idea is the Relationship button on the Neighborhood Dialog.

Folder 210 - 1033, Simulation Globals
This is just an assumption from webmist, a member in the TSR Forums. Anyways, they think that this checks the globals for menu interaction.

Folder 216 - 1033, Neighborhood
This is one of the most easily read Dialogs. This is where Maxis adds or creates families, characters, hoods, even relationships.

Folder 217 - 1033, Tree Queue
This is just an assumption from webmist, a member in the TSR Forums. Anyways, they think that this is for those that are still working with 800x600 screens. Monitors the input frequency for display.

Folder 222 - 1033, Simulation Constants
I believe this is where they edit an Object's constant. Much like the Constant Contraption that you can find on the programs page, this will edit the amount that a Sim's mood bar will go up or down.

Folder 224 - 1033, Object Profile
This seems to either list all of the objects that are in the game, or just one object's information. I can see where the filter, update, start, and pause fits in. They probably use them when they list all of the objects. This is just an assumption from webmist, a member in the TSR Forums. Anyways, they think that this probably contains an object action. Whether or not it glows, turns on or off. I bet animator is for lights, animated objects, and if to many ticks space alien abductions.

Folder 225 - 1033, Sim Loop Profile
This is just an assumption from webmist, a member in the TSR Forums. Anyways, they think that this has something to do with the moods and energy levels. The thing that make our Sims hungry and baby to have to go to the bathroom a lot.

Folder 232 - 1033, Room Map
My assumption is that this shows the different rooms of a family's house. How they do it, I don't know. This is just an assumption from webmist, a member in the TSR Forums. Anyways, they think by the shrink and enlarge has more to do with the camera than the size. For rotation and zoom in and out.

Well, I hope you enjoyed learning all about these different dialogs found in the Sims.exe file. Too bad they can't be extracted and actually used. Only the dialogs can be extracted, but no source code can be found. In all my assumptions, I believe everything in here is from an older version of Edith.

Also, if you think you know what some of these actually are, send me an email, I would be happy to read them and update this page with your ideas! Until next time, happy learning!