Caw FAQ's........Links to Tutorials, and Resources. Textures, & Troubleshooting from EA Caw Forum

Caw Tutorials & Information


Hello Everyone
This is an information archive listing for all the pertinent information out there concerning Caw. You can help by alerting me of any new information out there you don't see listed, or you can write a tutorial of your own if you see information lacking. Just post with a link to the information, and I'll include it under the appropriate heading.

Thank you for your help.

Also let me know if there are any broken links, or typos 




Caw Troubleshooting, Latest Patch Info, Error Messages.

SOLVED: Cannot open Edit in Game, not a version mismatch issue
Edit in Game Opens Sims 3 Launcher
Need help trying to figure out what the heck is going on? Go here.....
Create A World - CAW not running? CAW running slowly? Updated as needed by Simsample @ MTS
Steam installation, and Caw by LittleMinxUndr @ ts3tutorials

This thread is a compilation of some very useful info about creating a world, at MTS, and also around the web......
Useful Resources, Common Issues, and Much More Check here for links I may have missed. Armiel at MTS keeps this updated.



Other Active Caw Forums

MTS: Create a World Forum
Mod The Sims: Caw WIP
Simlogical: Worlds & Towns
The Sims Creators' Consortium: Caw Section
Create Your World  Un mundo para ti This is a Spanish speaking forum, you can use Google Chrome to translate
Pasimfic Wiki  a Create-a-World database
Carl and Pam's The Sims 3 Caw Forum
SimsExpressie CAW Resources



Beginners Caw Tutorials & Walk Through

The first two tutorials are from EA, and came out with the Caw tool. The rest of the tutorials are good basic tutorials written by Simmers in the community.  This is all I know about right now. As usual, If you know of a good tutorial here, or on another site, post here and I'll add it to the list.

EA's The Sims™ 3 Create a World Tool – Beta Walk Through
EA's Create a World Beta pdf

CAW tutorial - First Contact by Anushka @ Carl and Pam's The Sims 3 Forum
HOW TO CREATE A WORLD - THE SIMS 3 CAW TOOL GUIDE by Krrank......Learning to use CAW, the easy way. Tutorials and Downloads.
Shalua's Create-a-World FAQs @ ts3tutorials
Sims Wiki: Tutorials: Creating Sims 3 Worlds by HystericalParoxysm
Video Tutorial: How to Create a World - Part One By The Sims Supply
Video Tutorial: How to Create a World - Part Two By The Sims Supply
Video Tutorial: How to Create a World - The Basics By The Sims Supply
Creating A World That Doesn't Suck by TVR Designs @ Sims 3 Wiki
Building a world Part 1-6 By Stw 402 @ tscc, The Sims Creators' Consortium
Building a world Part 7-10 By Stw 402 @ tscc, The Sims Creators' Consortium
Building a world Part 11-12 By Stw 402 @ tscc, The Sims Creators' Consortium



Tips & Tricks from Other Cawsters

How to: Find an Object In the World Layers Panel by Rflong7, EA Caw Forum
Create A World Tips to get you started by Richdre @ tscc, The Sims Creators' Consortium
Beta Testing a World..........Tips & Tricks @ tscc, The Sims Creators' Consortium



Height Maps

Procedural Generation of Terrain Discussion and Tipsstarted by aminovas  @ EA Caw Forum
PNG Height Map Tutorial with CS4 by Juleslessthanthr33 @ wordpress
Creating Your Own Height Map Sims 3 Wiki @ TSR
How to create a world using Real-World Height data by Napalm_VFR @ EA Caw Forum



Textures, Terrain Painting & Sculpting

Custom sculpt tools - can save HOURS of work [updated with tutorial] by Zerbu @ EA Caw Forum
How To - Making Sure Your Terrain is Flat by Rflong7  @ EA Caw Forum
Making Transparent Textures by Simsample @ EA Caw Forum
Source Texture Organization Getting all those textures organized, with pictures for easier identification by auntielynds @ TS3CC II
How to extract textures from EA Worlds by auntielynds, EA Caw forum
How to paint your rocks by HturnerP, EA Caw forum
Create A World - Terrain Painting Tips by Simsample @ MTS
Textures: *A full list of CAW Default textures- In photos * by lovingreds, EA Caw Forum
Downloading and Installing Textures for Caw EA Caw forum
The Easy Way to Create Terrain Textures. by Jericosan  EA Caw forum
Create a World: Terrain Tools Sims 3 Wiki @ TSR
Making Craters in CAW by Rflong7, EA Caw Forum
Terrain Show! (show off your terrain and tips!) at MTS Great thread with tips and tricks of Terrain Painting, including how to erase them.
Help building a realistic pier @ MTS Different approaches on creating piers, and barges in Caw.
1. How to Build a Boat Pier by bunbunnyny EA Caw forum
2. How to Build Underwater Lots & Dock Ports by bunbunnyny EA Caw forum
This goes with my How to Build a Boat Pier tutorial. It's the second part to it!



Roads & Bridges

Basics: Road Gradation Tool EA Caw Forum
Possible to replace placed roads with different design, quick and dirty? by Simsample @ MTS....Post #7
Tutorial: Replacing Existing Roads in Caw @TS3CC II
List of Street Names by Rflong, EA Caw Forum
CAW Basic Road Tutorial by Richdre @ The Sims Creators' Consortium
CAW Custom Roads Tutorial by Richdre @ The Sims Creators' Consortium
Basic Bridge Tutorial by Richdre @ The Sims Creators' Consortium
How to create a bridge In CAW by ryanmountford2
Video Tutorial: Create a World, Bridges By The Sims Supply
Video Tutorial: How to make a layer and delete roads in Create a World for Sims 3
Video Tutorial: How to Connect Roads
Tutorial: How to Create a Highway by Jasumi @ EA Caw Forum



Meta Data Objects Tips & Info

The Fog Emitter object gives special effects in game - a list by mikitta47 EA Caw Forum
Fog Emitter Effects Animations Series  by SimEve , Creative Works Blogspot
The Easy-Peasy Distant Terrain Tutorial by HeyWhatReub, EA Caw Forum
Aligning Distant Terrain by Kiwi tea @ Pasimfic Wiki
Lists the names of each distant terrain alongside their positions and rotations
CAW Spawner Tips for a Medium Sized World by Richdre @ Bear Mountain Creations
Which Spawners Have What by Regina @ CS3 @ TS3 Tutorial Archive
Using Fog Emitters in Caw@ TS3CC II
CAW Plants Cheat Sheet by HystericalParoxysm  @ MTS



Recoloring Rabbitholes, Plants, and other Objects

*Custom Bridges Tutorial (NO Custom content!)* by ThomsonJamie @ EA Caw Forum
Piddlesam Easy Tutorial to Recolouring Rabbitholes by Piddlesam @ TS3CC II
Adding & Extracting Metadata Objects: Recolors, Rabbit Holes, Trees, ect. by auntielynds @ Simlogical



Routing, Routing Paint, & Camera Routing

Find Routing Issues Quickly and Easily by Daniel @ Sims 3 New York Blog
Perfecting Routing, an OC approach to routing paint... by Eyelem @ TS3CC II
Basics on Sim-Routing in Create a World-Tool by armiel @ MTS



Waterfalls, Rivers, Surf, & Caves


How To Build A Cave by 8NiSci8 , EA Caw forum
How to make your waterfall look realistic by Sim Outlaw, EA Caw forum



Exporting, Thumbnails, Installing & Uploading Your World

Routine to Export a World by Junceda EA Caw Forum
How To Create-A-World 24Bit PNG with Paint by cllevett   Youtube Video
How To: Make Sure CC Doesn't Piggyback in on Your World Export by auntielynds, TS3CC
Installing your World without Uploading to the Exchange by auntielynds, TS3CC
Changing the WPID File to Give Your World a Different I.D. to re-upload to the Exchange by auntielynds @ Simlogical
Video Tutorial: How to Export Your World - Includes instructions on how to make a 256x256 .png image, how to export, & install/upload your world.
Thumbnails: 24 bit Png Image Creation with Paint.net by auntielynds  EA Caw forum
Pre-made 24bit pngs for Caw thumbnails Download



Lots, Lots, & Lots

Residential lot cost by default by mikitta47 EA caw forum
Lot Types in The Sims 3 (Up to University) by ThomsonJamie @ EA Caw Forum
Rabbit Hole Wiki by FaithofKaela  @ Rabbit Hole Wiki Blog
* Community Lot Guide & Check List by Geminiagre @ EA Caw Forum
Ways of fighting "Sprawl" or "lot creep" already available. by Damienf519 @ EA Caw Forum
* The Sims Wiki: Lot Assignment Info This tells you exactly what each lot assignment does, By Kiwi Tea
This list can be sorted alphabetically, by type of rabbithole, by size, or by expansion/store set required.
Rabbithole lot sizes by Kiwi tea @ Pasimfic Wiki
Sunken or Raised Lot Fix by Amaholus, EA Caw Forum
Set Front of Lot CBedna01 EA Caw Forum
Tips for perspective and terrain conformation by Roswin @ TS3 Tutorial Archive



Lot Building Tuts

List of Building Tutorials or How do I do That? EA Creative Corner Forum
*How to build an Apartment - In 8 steps* (Deconstruction Method) by lovingreds EA CAW Forum
Working with Late Night Apartments by LoCatus  @ TS3CC
House Apartment Building!! by MrCrumplebottom1 EA Caw Forum

Tombs
The Sims 3 Tomb Creation Guide @ Carl's The Sims 3 Guide
The Sims 3 World Adventures – Tomb Building #2 @ Sims Programs
The Sims 3 World Adventures Tomb Creation 101 @ planetthesims.gamespy.com
The Sims 3: World Adventures Building Tombsl @ IGN
Tomb Building: The Processor by TS3 Wiki at TSR
Tomb Overview by TS3 Wiki at TSR
Tomb Building Basic by TS3 Wiki at TSR
Tomb Building Advanced by TS3 Wiki at TSR
Tomb Building: Triggers and Activated Behaviours by TS3 Wiki at TSR
Tomb Creation 101 by TS3 Wiki at TSR
Making a Resetting Trap in 10 Easy Steps by glen416 EA Caw forum

TOMBS:How To Use The Processor's "AND!" by bunbunnyny
How to Build Subtopias & Cave Complexes: Lost Worlds to your Tombs! by bunbunnyny
How to Create Underwater Passages (Great With Tombs!) by bunbunnyny
How to Create a Countdown Timer for Your Tombs by bunbunnyny EA Caw forum
How to Make a Specific Statue Activate a Specific Switch by bunbunnyny EA Caw forum
How to Lock, Unlock, and Re-lock a Pushable Statue From Being Moved by bunbunnyny EA Caw forum
How to Create Musical Tomb Triggersby bunbunnyny EA Caw forum
How to Build 2-D and 3-D Platform Tombs by bunbunnyny EA Caw forum
Video Tutorial: TS3 Tomb Building youtube

Island Paradise Tuts
Sims BR's Tutorial: How to Place Diving Spots in Other Worlds by mcrudd EA IP Forum
Guide to Houseboats in game & in CAW by SimGuruSemedi EA IP Forum
IP Caw Version 1.18.46 Up! Discussion & Troubleshooting Thread by the Community EA Caw Forum
Quick Stilted Foundation Guide to Fitting Lots onto Water by Joolster EA Creative Corner Forum

Pre-Populating your World &/or Providing a Save Game

CAW Population: Populating Worlds in Create-a-World by Kiwi-Tea @ Pasimfic Wiki
CAW Population: Balancing Your Population by Kiwi-Tea @ Pasimfic Wiki
Save Game TravelDB.package Info by DOLLDRMS1 @ EA Caw Forum
discovery that if you are going to offer a save game file there is a risk of providing a bloated save game and a suggestion to reduce the size of that save game.



Troubleshooting

Create A World - CAW not running? CAW running slowly? by Simsample @ MTS
Edit in game loading and crashing Issue's @ TS3CC II
CAW crashing on high end computers? Solution using CFF Explorer by Geminiagre EA forum



Misc Information & Tutorials

Do you know: How to tell if CAW has been updated? by ellacharm3d  @ ellacharmed Blog
How to: Make a World Logo by SimExpertJared  @ EA Caw Forum
Making a world a City Simsample @ MTS easy instructions
Making high resolution world maps tutorial by Vagabond @ EA Caw Forum
Creating an Initial Flyover in Caw by Pyronium3 @ Pasimfic Wiki
CAW fog "invisible water" workaround by Wyndhane @ TS3CC
Converting Google Earth Buildings to Sims 3 CAW Deco Objects by Tjstreak EA Caw Forum

Editing Premade Worlds MTS
Video Tutorial: Import full neighborhoods into Create a World with objects, lots etc. by Magicmavis (SimTuts)
Getting a Downloaded World into CAW by SimAd @ tscc
How to: Decrapify a .world file so it will open in s3pe Post #6 by auntielynds @ MTS

Turning a world into a vacation hot spot by Stw402 @ MTS
Changed my world into a vacation world by Simsample @ MTS
Resource responsible for determining the characteristics by Simsample @ MTS

Modding the Create-a-World Tool to Unlock Hidden Features by Simsample @ MTS
SuperCAW Pre-made Patch by a @ Simlogical

Sea, Sky and Light parameters- let's learn! Simsample @ MTS
Advanced tutorial "Tweaking your worlds, custom sea/sky/rabbit holes/emitters by Stw402, EA Caw forum
HOW TO MAKE WEATHER FOR YOUR WORLD: by ltd2mp87 EA Caw Forum

CAW resource packaging routines Simsample @ MTS
Re-installing Caw, How I do it by auntielynds MTS
Why CC Should Not be Packaged with a World, & How to Ensure it Isn't by Simsample, EA Caw Forum
How To: Upload Caw Files to Share by auntielynds EA Caw forum
Pinstar1161 Legacy Challenge Rules People that play your world may also want a lot with the correct requirements for this challenge. You can change the lot value in the Property Window in Caw.
Water Levels from Twinbrook and Bridgeport Simsample @ MTS
How to add description to your household so it stays before exporting from edit town. by Buttonsginger  @ TS3CC II



Dutch Tutorials

(Don't forget to change the language to dutch and than copy the link)
* Creëer een Wereld Bibliotheek: ervaringen, tutorials, inspiratie by SimLibby EA Dutch Forum
* Tutorial CAW: hoe te beginnen in/met Creëer een Wereld by SimLibby EA Dutch Forum
* Tutorial CAW: afbeelding, exporteren, installeren, uploaden by SimLibby EA Dutch Forum




Resources

Direct Link to the Current Create a World Tool Download:
http://thesims3.com/content/global/downloads/caw/worldtool.exe
Archived WorldTool Downloads from Previous Patches @ Cawster



Custom Content

Create A World - Modding objects to show up in CAW Metadata by Simsample, MTS
Distance terrain disappearing when editing Hidden Springs More good info here on cloning objects to show up in Caw. by Rain90, MTS

Making Create-a-World Recognize Custom Content @ Mod the Sims
Game Help:Installing Sims 3 Package Files/Setup and Files at Mod the Sims


Moonlight Falls Distant Terrain
All of the Distant Terrains can be found at Cawster
Deco Buildings, Planes.............Some cool stuff tjstreakssims.blogspot.com/
Caw Resources Section @ MTS @ Mod the Sims
Sims 3 Packages for use in Create A World world builder (CAW) by O-Decaff/LeRoy157
Simming in Magnificent Style Check this out for neat objects for Caw like working road overpasses, and new skyscrappers. Creations by Carlos
Cacti for CAW by sleepalldaypartyallnight  @ MTs
3 Awesims Cornices that are actually fences at Awesims
LunaSimsLulamai. Souce for some of those Skyscrappers, & Cool Objects at LunaSimsLulamai

Rabbithole Rugs
[LN or Base Game] Rabbit Hole Replacements (The Rugs are back!) by Jynx @ MTS
More links for the Rugs from TadOlson
All of the Rabbithole rugs through Into the Future @ simsl3gacies.com



File Sharing

Terrain Texture Links, & Custom Roads by auntielynds @ EA Caw Forum
EA World Caw Files @ Cawster Resource Repository
Animated Items for CAW! Lighthouse flare, pigeons, animated windmill, and sciencesmoke by Aynat EA Caw Forum
Share your Heightmaps Here HturnerP, EA Caw forum
Riverview, Twinbrooks, & Bridgeport missing objects for Caw Includes the Riverview Bridge! YAY! by Simsample @ MTS
Winter Trees, Shrubs, White and Pastel Roofs- Altered Image Files by auntielynds @ tscc-The Sims Creators' Consortium



Programs

Delphy's Sims3pack Cleaner Checks your sims3packs for unwanted CC. tut on how to use it; Subject: Tutorial for Custard (Sims3pack Cleaner)
Uses for S3PE in World Creation.........Tutorials auntielynds @ Simlogical
These are the tuts covered:
Designating a World a City
Recovering Caw Files for an Exported World
Changing out the WPID File
So you can upload more than once to the exchange, or install more than one version of your world to your game.
Adding & Extracting Metadata Objects: Recolors, Rabbit Holes, Trees, ect.
Deleting the _KEY file to fix the Brown Uck



Posting & Starting Threads, Info to get you started

**The Guide To Getting Your World Noticed**#Contributors get cookies!#



Misc.

Subject: Petition for EA to release the "Create-A-World -- BETA" tool on the Mac platform
This is an organized thread for Mac users.