The Sims (Windows)/Unused Text/Help System

This is a sub-page of The Sims (Windows)/Unused Text.

Comprehend the strings of the Help System: the omnipresent "Did You Know?" pop-ups plus the Newbie household tutorial.

tutorial.iff (Newbies Tutorial)

0-4

String ID's for mere testing purposes.

Dialog prim string set
ID	String	Translation Note
0	This is a test.	!
1	my 300
4	gz $Local:0

8-55

Some lines went scrapped simply because other indexes of the exact same text have been assigned to the tutorial routine, and they're oftentimes a little less polished than their final equivalents.

Dialog prim string set
ID	String	Translation Note
8	Now that you know how to control the view it's time to go into LIVE mode. Press the LIVE icon below.	000a 1Tutorial: Dialog07 NOT USED Notes: This is the translated string but is not being called. Copy this text to Tutorial.iff:1398034979:301:011 which is being called.
17	Curiously, $Local:1 objects are in use.	!
21	[F]	! deleted
29	That's right. To move an object move the hand cursor over it, then click and release to pick it up. Move it to the new location and click again to drop it. Try that now.	1Tutorial: Dialog24 Notes: Not currently used.
31	If you don't give commands to your Sims they will decide what to do on their own. Their behavior is based on their current needs and their personality. Let's look at Bob's personality now. Click on the Personality button below.	000c 1Tutorial: Dialog26 NOT USED Notes: This is the translated string but is not being called. Copy this text to Tutorial.iff:1398034979:301:033 which is being called.
44	rel	!
55	Clicking on the image of a person in the Relationship Panel brings up a popup that describes the state of the relationship.	000f 1Tutorial: Dialog35a Notes: CHANGE Needs to be rewritten to tell player to click on Bob to find out about the relationship.

HelpSystem.iff (Did You Know?)

2

It seems that the game originally forewarned players about the potential life risk involving fixing one household's broken lamps, instead of only touching upon the subject after the tragic incident happened.

Dialog prim string set
ID	String	Final Equivalent	Translation Note
2	*Sims can get electrocuted when changing bulbs. Maybe you should call a repairman to do it.	Sims with low repair skill can get electrocuted when fixing electronics. Develop more mechanical skill or call a repairman in the future.	!1Help - cut Notes:warning for lamps This is a help system warning for a 1/100 chance of dying while changing a light bulb

14

Given that the Newbie household tour already offers an in-depth Buy Mode tour, it was probably deemed unnecessary to reintroduce the Buy Mode in normal gameplay.

Dialog prim string set
ID	String	Translation Note
14	*This is Buy Mode! Here you can buy things for your Sims to provide a happy and more productive life. You can also sell items to get some quick cash. To sell an object pick it up and hit delete.	!1Help - cut : Buy Mode: Notes:Buy Mode Help #1

25-90

Meant for the cases when a character has a history of going to work in a good mood, but is unable to get a promotion due to their insufficient skills.

Dialog prim string set
ID	String	Translation Note
25	$Object is performing well at work. Sims can only get promoted if they are also qualified for the next job level. $Object does not have enough Mechanical Skill points for a promotion. Study Mechanical at a bookcase to increase $Object's knowlege in this area. $Object may also need some other skills. Check the Job Panal for $Object to see what the qualifications for promotion are. If you are unsure on how to do this then click on "Show Me How".	!Need Mechanical. Object is Sim that needs it.
26	$Object is performing well at work. $Object does not cook as well as the other Sims at work. Could this be holding $Object back? Read Cookbooks at a bookcase to increase $Object's knowlege in this area. $Object may also need some other skills. Check the Job Panal for $Object to see what the qualifications for promotion are. If you are unsure on how to do this then click on "Show Me How".	!Need Cooking. Object is Sim that needs it.
28	$Object is performing well at work.Ah, the perfect body, it is a shame that $Object does not have one! Working out is a great way to earn more Body Skill Points as well as feeling better about oneself. $Object may also need some other skills. Check the Job Panal for $Object to see what the qualifications for promotion are. If you are unsure on how to do this then click on "Show Me How".	!Need Body. Object is Sim that needs it.
29	$Object is performing well at work. $Object is having difficulty communicating at work. Try practicing speech at a mirror. After talking to yourself for a while you just may be able to talk yourself into a promotion! $Object may also need some other skills. Check the Job Panal for $Object to see what the qualifications for promotion are. If you are unsure on how to do this then click on "Show Me How".	!Need Speech. Object is Sim that needs it.
30	$Object is performing well at work. $Object is not as creative as their employer would like. Try painting $Object into a promotion with the Easel. A promotion can also be earned for a song, just try playing a piano for a while and find out how. $Object may also need some other skills. Check the Job Panal for $Object to see what the qualifications for promotion are. If you are unsure on how to do this then click on "Show Me How".	!Need Creativity. Object is Sim that needs it.
90	*$Object is performing well at work. Other Sims at work seem to be outsmarting $Object. Getting more Logic Skill would help to manipulate them into seeing you in a higher position. $Object may also need some other skills. Check the Job Panal for $Object to see what the qualifications for promotion are. If you are unsure on how to do this then click on "Show Me How".	!Cut - Notes:Need more Logic for job. Object is Sim that needs the points.

44-50

Complementary cut Buy Mode tour dialogs.

Dialog prim string set
ID	String	Translation Note
44	*The objects in buy mode are displayed in the catalog sorted from the lowest cost to the most expensive?	!1Help - cut
47	*If you do not have enough money for an object its price will display in red. It also will have a red outline around it in the description pop-up.	!Cut - Notes:Buy Mode Help #5
50	*You can remove windows and doors easilly by drawing a wall over them.	!1Help - cut Build Mode Wall Help #3

55-134

There is a fair deal of unused strings that give a shout out to The Sims' official website. One of them mentions HomeMaster, which happens to be one of the multiple names that the game's official standalone floor/wall-making tool was given until it ultimately became HomeCrafter shortly after the game's first retail release.

Dialog prim string set
ID	String	Translation Note
55	*You can download more wall paper from the web. Visit www.thesims.com!	!1Help - cut Notes:Build Mode Paint Help #3
56	*You can make your own wallpaper. Download HomeMaster from the web. www.thesims.com.	!Cut - Notes:Build Mode Paint Help #4
134	*Visit www.thesims.com to download more floor patterns, wall textures, characters and objects.	!Cut - Build Mode Global #4

85-87

Unused Build Mode guides that consistently refer to terrain mode as terrian mode.

Dialog prim string set
ID	String	Translation Note
85	*When lowering terrian [sic] you can raise it by holding down the shift key. You can also hold shift to lower the terrian [sic] when in raise terrian [sic] mode.	!Cut -Notes:Terrian [sic] Mode #1
87	To level terrain, click and drag out a rectangle. The land will all become the same height as the spot where you first clicked the mouse.	0New 1Help: Build Mode: Terrain Tool: Tip04 Notes: Appears at random when Terrain Tool is selected. Tip describes how to level terrain.

101

This help box would appear in case a player builds a house without wall and floor covering, but the final game isn't particularly sensitive to this.

Dialog prim string set
ID	String	Translation Note
101	This room is too rough around the edges. $Object would prefer that it have wall and floor covering.	!Not possible

53-148

Loads of duplicate, untranslated building tips.

Dialog prim string set
ID	String	Translation Note
53	You can paint or wallpaper a whole room by holding down the Shift key. Click while holding the Shift key if you like it, or release the Shift key if you decide against it.	!Dupe of 301:139 1Help: Build Mode: Wallpaper Tool: Tip01 Notes: Appears randomly when Wallpaper Tool is selected. Tip mentions that entire rooms can be painted by holding down the Shift button while painting.
131	Click the Undo icon to reverse the last change you made--keep clicking it to undo previous changes. You will get money back for undone actions. Once you leave Build Mode, your changes will become permanent. After that, you can delete them, but you will lose some money.	!Dupe of 301:093 1Help: Build Mode: General: Tip04 Notes: Appears randomly when the Build Mode icon is selected. Mention that most architectural items can be deleted to receive money back.
133	If it's too late for Undo, you can get money back for most architectural items by deleting or selling them. Things that can be picked up can be deleted using the hand tool. Other architectural tools have more specific instructions. Click the thumbnail of one of the selections under each tool to learn how to delete it.	!Dupe of 301:101 1Help: Build Mode: General: Tip05 Notes: Appears randomly when the Build icon is selected from the Control Panel. Tip describes how to delete or sell architectural items.
139	There are several wall coverings from which to choose. Use the right and left arrows on the Control Panel to scroll through the selections.	Wallpaper: Tip03 (dupe) Notes: Appears randomly when the Wallpaper Tool is selected. Tip describes how to scroll through the wallpaper choices.
141	To remove paint or wallpaper, hold down the CTRL key while using the Wallpaper Tool. To clear a whole room, hold down both the CTRL and Shift keys while clicking the mouse. TIP: Remove paint and wallpaper from a room before repainting it; that way, you'll get some of your original money back.	!Dupe of 301:055 1Help: Build Mode: Wallpaper Tool: Tip02 (dupe) Notes: Appears randomly when Wallpaper Tool is selected. Tip mentions that some CTRL key can be used to clear a room of paint or wallpaper. Also mention that money is reimbursed for removing old wallpaper.
142	To delete doors, select the Door Tool and hold down the CTRL key. When the door you'd like to delete is highlighted, click to remove it. TIP: You can also remove doors by drawing a wall over them.	!Dupe of 301:103 1Help: Build Mode: Door Tool: Tip02 (dupe) Notes: Appears randomly when Door Tool is selected. Tip describes how to delete a door.
144	Sims can't get out of a swimming pool without a ladder.	!Dupe of 301:094 1Help: Build Mode: Pool Tool: Tip01(dupe) Notes: Appears when pool has been built but a ladder has not been added.
145	Stairs connect the first story to the second. In order for them to be placed, there has to be open area on both floors. They can also be used outside to connect to balconies, just make they can connect to a floor tile on the second story.	!Dupe of 301:106 1Help: Build Mode: Stairs: Tip01 (dupe) Notes: Appears when Stair Tool is selected. Tip describes basic instructions for placing stairs.
148	Now pick up an object by placing the mouse over it, clicking and releasing the mouse.	!Dupe of 301:042 1Help: Mini Tutorial: Sell Item: Tip02 (dupe) Notes: This mini-tutorial shows you how to sell an item. The mini-tutorial sequence is Buy Mode: Tip01, Sell Item: Tip02, Tip03