Hey, I know that it is possible to edit Sims3Pack content from the Sims store by removing the encryption with S3RC and using the Sims 3 Pack Multi Installer to extract, but is it possible to do the same thing with any of the original or even vanilla in game CAS content? If so, how can it be done?

I ask because in the one of the career outfits (i.e: military) there's an item of clothing (i.e: the footwear) that is a part of the default uniform for the male variation of the default career outfit, but for some reason it is not available for the female variation of that career outfit. It's a weird development decision & kind of annoying.

Absolutely, that's how all CC exists :p

You can access and clone any content from the game using a program called S3OC (Sims 3 Object Cloner).
If you untick the option to 'Renumber' when cloning an item, the program will grab the original / default files and your edits will be a default replacement. If Renumber is ticked, it will be a standalone piece of CC.

Interesting, so to this boomer techno dinosaur, where do I find the original/default files when I open up S3OC, and where is the 'Renumber' option?

When you open S3OC, you'll want to go to the Cloning tab at the top of the window and choose CAS Part.
It will take a moment to load the list. Then you can click on 'Name' near the top to sort alphabetically, then click EP/SP to sort by expansion. Everything from the base game will be first in the list.

You then look for the part in the list- the names are quite descriptive, but you can also click on them to see the thumbnails.

When you have the item you want selected, click 'Clone or Fix' in the right-hand pane.
Renumbering will be in the list of the options in the left-hand pane. The rest is usually acceptable to leave on the default options, then you click Start to save your .package.

But where's the location of the file where all the vanilla default CAS items are kept?

Because this is what it gives me (see attached)

Settings > Game Folders, make sure they're pointed to the install location for the game and each expansion.
For example, my base game is at C:\Program Files (x86)\Electronic Arts\The Sims 3 - but this might be slightly different if you installed the game through Steam or the EA App.

So if I installed the game on Steam, what would be the typical file path for the steam version (if you happen to know)?

If you right-click on the game in your Steam library, Manage > Browse Local Files will take you to your install location

So I've gotten to this part of the game files (see attached), so where do I go in these files to get to the default file in question?

The male boots are different from the female boots. If you want the male style boots for female, you will have to make them. I did this a while ago, but as height altering. Also note that the male boots are taller, so you'll also have to remake the female uniform to work with the new boots. I use TSRW, so if @Cardinalsims wants to tell you how to do this in s3oc, it's not a problem. Open male boots in TSRW. Change appropriate CAS flags for female and age group. Save work and as package. S3pe, export the geoms to work folder. Open the female uniform in TSRW and save work and package. S3pe, export geoms.

Import boots and outfit to Blender. Resize boots to female foot size. Adjust outfit bottom to match tops of boots. Export both. Use MTK to convert to .wso, use current boots and outfit .wsos to add mrphs, and replace the meshes in each work file. Rinse and repeat for L2 and L3. Save work and packages. Because you only changed boot flags, all textures are the same as original, and don't need to be replaced. Hoever, if you want distinct ID's, you must export the textures, rename and import back.

Next, you need SimOutfitter tool by Cmar. https://modthesims.info/showthread.php?t=440057

Open Sims 3 GameplayData package (copy to work folder, don't mess with original) open CarrerCostumes xml. Scroll to <CostumeFemale>career_fatigues_female</CostumeFemale> and copy, career_fatigues_female. This is the carrer outfit for the one I think you're trying to change.

Open SimOutfitter and paste the outfit name into the box. Add CAS parts you want for the outfit. NOTE: These parts don't have to be default replacements!!! Also not that any NPC tied to the old outfit may have to be taken to CAS, but newly generated NPC's will have the new outfit. CAS parts can include any outfit, top, bottom, shoes, accys, and hair.

To get the CAS parts for your outfit, you need the CASP from each item. So, open that package (again, doesn't have to be a default item) and export the CASP to your work file. In SimOutfitter, click "Add CAS Part". Go to where your CASP is, and click on it, and it's added to your outfit. If there is more than one preset, it will ask which preset you want to use. Rinse and repeat for each Cas part you want. To save, File> write outfit.

Open s3pe. Import the Outfit file and save. Put any packages containing your new outfit, and the outfit file package into the packages folder.

This is a default female mail carrier for KW, yet to be uploaded. Note the boots.



This is a list of CASP I used in making the default maid SIMO. I couldn't find the mail carrier. ut you get the idea.



Any thing you don't replace, will use the game default.

You may prefer to follow LadySmok's instructions above, but just to answer this:

You don't. This just revealed the install location of your game, which you can see at the top of the file explorer is at the path C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\The Sims 3 - this is what to use in S3OC's game folder settings.
Then S3OC is what you use to browse the game files.

Thanks for the link.

Yeah, it's just takes me out of the immersion, because as an fps gamer & military geek as well as being a simmer, I know for a fact that irl for a military utility uniform (which the sim career outfit in question seems to be portraying), beyond the fitting, there practically isn't any differentiation in the design for men & women; they wear the same pants & boots (1st picture and also this picture which wouldn't upload on this post).

The differentiation more so lies in their dress uniforms (2nd picture).