Sims 3, some useful info.

[Spacerox]

So, just a few random bits and bobs.

Saving Households as .package files:
Now, most people know that sims saved to the bin through CAS become .sim files that are found in Documents > Electronic Arts > The Sims 3 > SavedSims but were you aware that households saved in the Library actually are saved to the Library bin with relationships intact and etc?

So, if you have a family, you don't have to export and share as a .sims3pack to preserve their relationships and everything, you could just save and make sure you document the time that you save the Library file so that you can name it appropriately, the same way you would a Lot file.
You should also be able to use this method to preserve sims that have skills leveled or share a family with their decorated house without having to use the launcher to install them.

As with lots, those files are saved to your Documents > Electronic Arts > The Sims 3> Library directory.
If you choose to share families this way, please name them something descriptive enough that they are easy to pick out for yourself.

[Regina]

This is a great thread idea!

What I do when saving lots and/or families to the bin is that as soon as I save one, I minimize the game then go to the Library folder and sort by date so the most recent files are at the top. I then copy the file that was just created to a sub-folder and rename it. I found this to be much easier than keeping notes of which families or houses I had saved then trying to rename them later. Once they're copied and renamed I delete the original from the bin within the game.

I like to make sure I have all the files properly named, like all my stuff I start out with bsi_Regina_filename.package (or CS3_Regina if I'm uploading it here). I rename the files I download from everyone else too to include their names. This helps keep them organized better in the folders, so if I'm wanting to make sure I have one of Pary's lots installed, for example, I just look through the file names that start with Pary_.

When I download lots in Sims3Pack format I extract the houses and rename the extracted files as well. I keep a back-up of the .package file in case I end up deleting the original and wanting it back later, plus a back-up of the original Sims3Pack file just in case I really mess things up and need it.