Quick-Step Guide

Requirements for SimTracker2.0:

Screenresolution: 1920x1080

MS Office Access or Runtimer Access

SimPE 0.77.69.25 + MS Office Excel or LibreOffice Calc

SimPE: https://modthesims.info/showthread.php?t=630456

Please, redownload SimPE if your version number is lower than .25 at the end.

Please, read the whole Quick-Step Guide before Syncing anything!

If you have MS Office Access go to step 2

If you don’t have MS Office Access start with step 1:

1.  Download Runtimer Access for free:

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/download-and-install-microsoft-365-access-runtime-185c5a32-8ba9-491e-ac76-91cbe3ea09c9?

Select the “English” and the correct bits (64-bit for more modern computers).

Follow the installation instructions.

2.  Opening SimTracker2.0 for the first time:

You might see this screen:

Go to the properties of the file and unblock it. This is totally normal! I have uploaded this file and downloaded it again on the same computer and even then I get this:

Please, go here for more information and English screenshot: https://superuser.com/questions/590787/what-does-it-mean-when-a-file-is-blocked-in-windows

3.  Change these settings in Access to avoid annoying popups

• Open Access and go to: File à Options à Client Settings à Confirm à Uncheck “Action queries”

4.  Where to save the file SimTracker2.0

• The Access file SimTracker2.0 can be saved in any folder on your computer with a few things to keep in mind:

  • Place the SimTracker2.0 Access file in the same folder as the picture folders exported from SimPE. (LotImage, FamilyImage, SimImage)

  • Since prebeta v5 it’s also needed for the feature “Photoalbum” to create a folder named “PlayImage” and save it in the same location as the other folders.

This is crucial for the tool to display images correctly.

5.  Open SimTracker2.0 and Configure Settings

• Open Main Menu → Settings first.

• Adjust preferences, and options before importing any data.

This ensures everything works correctly from the start.

6.  Prepare Your Data

• Make sure you have initial (SimPE) data ready to import: lots, family (= households), and sims.

• When importing many records at once, double-check to avoid errors or incorrect data.

Important: The imported data must exactly match the format exported from SimPE. This means the order of fields (= columns) and content, such as unique IDs.

7.  Prepare the Folders

• Place the SimTracker2.0 Access file in the same folder as the picture folders exported from SimPE. (Like mentioned in step 4.)

• Since prebeta v5 it’s also needed to create a folder named “PlayImage”

This is crucial for the tool to display images correctly.

8.  Import Data

• Go to Data & Lists → Backup, Import & Export.

• Choose the relevant import option for Lots, Family (= Households), and Sims.

• Copy/paste the rows from Excel to the records (= rows) in Access.

• Confirm that the imported data appears correctly in the corresponding tables.

• Don’t forget to Sync!

If tables like ImportedLots, ImportedFamily, or ImportedSims are completely empty, errors will occur for sure when accessing SimTracker2.0 categories. Leave at least 1 record!

a.   NEVER SYNC WHILE A TABLE IS EMPTY! It will cause issues.

b.  NEVER DELETE THESE TABLES (sync issues)

                         i.   tblSims

                       ii.   tblSimsPhysicalTraits

                      iii.   tblSimsHouseholds

                       iv.   tblSimsAttraction

                        v.   tblSimsHeight

                       vi.   tblSimsDefaultTraits

                      vii.   tblSimsCareers

                    viii.   tblSimsSchools

                      ix.   tblCollege

                       x.   tblSettings

                      xi.   tblLots

                     xii.   tblHoods

                    xiii.   tblMaintenance

9.  Explore Data & Lists

• Besides the main imported data, there are many extra categories for custom information that can be used in SimTracker2.0.

• These extra categories cannot be exported from SimPE, but they allow you to track additional details about your world.

• Go to Data & Lists and explore the different categories to input this (custom) information.

• These lists can also be exported from a previous version and imported into a new version so you don’t need to type everything again.

10.  Explore SimTracker2.0 Categories

• Go to SimTracker2.0 to navigate to the main categories needed while playing The Sims 2.

11.  Explore and Run Reports & Letters (Expected by the end of 2026)

• Go to Reports & Letters to generate overviews and other fun documents.

12.  Export (= backup) Data

• Use Data & Lists → Backup, Import & Export → Export to back up your current data or share it with others. (They can import it into their SimTracker2.0.)

• Back up the Access file, which is SimTracker2.0, regularly like you should regularly backup your Neighbourhoodsfolder.

13.  Troubleshooting

• If an error occurs, note the Run-time error number and/or the exact steps that caused it.

• Screenshots are very helpful when reporting issues.

• Try to redo the steps to trigger the error again before reporting it.