Sims MX’s Batch Resource Editor & Re-Categorization Helper Updated

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This is an update for Sims MX's Batch Resource Editor tool and its companion mod, Re-Categorization Helper, which I've been using quite often over the past few years to recategorize EA and custom content. In this update, I've added support for the latest packs, slightly expanded the scope of the tool, and fixed some issues I encountered while using it.

Overview:
Batch Resource Editor is a tool that lets you edit or generate a recategorizer mod for CAS and Build/Buy items based on an XML instruction file. You can create such XML file using the Re-Categorization Helper mod in-game, or you can write one manually. An example XML listing all available operations, as well as a few ready-to-use XMLs, are included with the download. Previously, the tool could only process items that were explicitly listed in the XML; now it can also perform bulk edits on all items found in the selected paths on your computer.

Batch Resource Editor changes:
Release:
  • Added support for the Movie and Into the Future packs.
  • Game paths should now be detected for the EA app and Steam game versions.
  • It is no longer required to provide Instance IDs ("GUIDs") in the input XML - the tool will process all resources in the selected paths if no IDs are specified.
    • Game paths can now be individually excluded from the recategorization process.
    • You can further restrict the recategorization process to resources that have or do not have certain flags.
  • You can now add and remove flags. (Previously, it was only possible to apply a new set of flags.)
  • You can now use the tool to unlink all your CC CAS parts from their "Naked" and "Previous Age" versions to prevent the "pigtail glitch".
  • Added an option to modify CC resources directly instead of exporting them to the output mod.
  • Unchanged resources will no longer be included to the output mod.
  • If default replacements are found in the Custom Content path, the tool will process them instead of EA's resources.
  • The tool can now process resources from encrypted Store files using the Recompressor tool (s3rc).
  • Fixed an issue where some objects could not be placed in the game or reprocessed by the tool after upgrading their OBJD version.
  • All Recategorization elements affecting the same resource(s) will be processed. (Previously, the tool ignored all such elements except the first one.)
11.12.2025:
  • The GUID node now accepts an optional DataVersion attribute that restricts recategorization to resources with a specific group ID.

Re-Categorization Helper changes:
Release:
  • All CAS parts that a Sim wears can now be re-categorized.
  • Added several missing flags to the Clothing Category and Wall Placement selection panels.
  • Added options to change BuildBuyProductStatus flags and the UI Sort Priority for objects.
  • Fixed the Function Sub-Sort selection panel to correctly show enabled flags.
  • Fixed issues with changing the FunctionSubCategory2, Age, and Gender flags.
11.12.2025:
  • The "Apply Last Recategorization" interaction should now always work correctly.
  • All changes made to the same item should now always be combined into a single Recategorization element in the exported XML file.
  • Added a new console command "dumpRecats" that allows you to create a recategorization XML file without exiting the game.

How to use Batch Resource Editor:
  1. Launch BatchResourceEditor.exe.
  2. Click the ? button to open the settings. Verify that all your game folders are set correctly. Select the paths where the tool should search for the items you want to modify, then close the window.
    • You may want to change the Custom Content path, for example, if you need to bulk edit CC files in a specific folder. Note that all subfolders will also be scanned.
    • The Sims 3 Store path is intended only for completely vanilla Store content (installed directly from the Store or decrypted and converted to .package files without additional modifications). Items that have been fixed/edited/decrapped should be processed from the Custom Content path.
  3. Select your input XML file, which contains the recategorization instructions. This can be a file generated by the Re-Categorization Helper mod or one you've created manually.
  4. (Optional) You can specify a different output folder for your recategorizer mod. By default, it will be saved in the OutputMods subfolder within the tool's directory.
  5. (Optional) You can choose to modify your CC files directly instead of exporting their resources to the output mod. I strongly recommend you to first check/test the mod created with this option disabled to avoid breaking your CC.
  6. Click Start and wait for the process to finish.
  7. Rename the resulting recategorizer mod if it's created and place it in Mods\Overrides.

How to use Re-Categorization Helper:
It's important to note that the mod does not re-categorize anything by itself! It only generates an XML file to be used with Batch Resource Editor.
  1. While in Build/Buy Mode, hold Ctrl+Shift and click on any object, then select "Re-Categorize...". You can choose to edit:
    • Room Sort
    • Room Sub-Sort
    • Function Sort
    • Function Sub-Sort
    • Build Category
    • Price
    • UI Sort Priority
    • Wall Placement
    • Product Status
    If you Ctrl+Shift+Click on a Sim, you can alter the clothing category, age, and gender flags of the CAS parts they are currently wearing.
  2. Select the flags you want to change and click the Ok button. You can redo your changes if you believe you've made a mistake. The "Apply Last Recategorization" interaction is useful if you want to copy all the changes from the previous item to the target.
  3. When you exit the game, all your changes will be written into the most recent "Recategorization_Export" XML in your Documents\Electronic Arts\The Sims 3 folder. You can also generate the XML without exiting the game by pressing Ctrl+Shift+C and entering the console command "dumpRecats". The generated XML file is ready to be used with Batch Resource Editor.

Changelog:

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