Sims 3 - How To: Save a Household to Library

[MrsFlynn]

How To: Save a household to Library or to Export:

Updated: May 2022

Please click the thumbnails for larger view.

1. Go to and click on the Options Menu (...) in the lower left-hand part of the screen with the dots and select Edit Town.

 -- It may give you a pop-up message letting you know that you're in tutorial mode. Click Exit Tutorial to get to the Edit Town Menu.

At the Edit Town Menu - Where you see the town in the background.



Find your family's house. Left Click on it, and select either the folder button, or the arrow with a star above it button.



Save to Library:



Share:




    -- The Folder: Saves the file to Library only. - A file that contains the family can be found in the Sims 3 library folder. [\Documents\Electronic Arts\The Sims 3\Library] Click the modified by to see the most current file.

 

    -- The Arrow with a Star above it: - (Share button) Saves the file as a .Sims3pack file which can be found in the Export folder. This will also save a copy to the library. [\Documents\Electronic Arts\The Sims 3\Exports]



Either of these files or entire folders can be backed up to a usb key or other backup media of choice.


2. Once you click either the Folder button or Share button, a pop-up menu will appear and say: Current interactions for all Sims in your town will be cancelled if you do this. Would you like to continue? Click X, for no or the Check mark for yes.



3. It will then give you two options. Save as household (Only) or Save as Household with house.

    -- Save as Household only - This will only save the household and it's family inventory.



    -- Save as Household with House - This will save the family, their inventory, and house. With household in the house.



If you use the Share button, it will pop up with  a Details box and allow you to edit the household name and description before saving. - Click inside the boxes to edit them. It will also add your family to the Households Library tab.



After that a pop up message lets you know the export was successful and to open launcher to upload and share to the Sims3.com site. Again, if you use the Share button, you can find the file in the .Sims3Pack format in [\Documents\Electronic Arts\The Sims 3\Exports] No need to upload to the Exchange to share your Sims family if you'd rather not. - Look in the screenshot below, near the bottom left of the screen, you'll notice your family has been saved to the Household Library.




Find the .Sims3Pack file in the Exports Folder: [\Documents\Electronic Arts\The Sims 3\Exports]



Find the .package file in the Library folder: [\Documents\Electronic Arts\The Sims 3\Library]

If there are a lot of files in the Library folder you can either sort by date modified to bring your family's file near the top or look at the date/time of the .Sims3Pack file and then look for the file that has that exact date/time. - You can rename the file, right-click > Rename.  Example Kennedy.package.  Don't forget to leave the .package extension or it won't be readable by the game. 




** Want to Save a House or Community Lot?

How To: Save a House/Community Lots
http://www.carls-sims-4-guide.com/forum/index.php?topic=19062.msg356791#msg356791

** Want to export households, houses or community lots out of the library?

How To: Save Sims 3 Files From the Library (Exporting Files)
http://www.carls-sims-4-guide.com/forum/index.php?topic=20751.msg380782#msg380782

How-To: Save Sims From the SimBin
https://www.carls-sims-4-guide.com/forum/index.php?topic=31201.msg443042#msg443042

Sharing Sims 3 Files via the Library Folder
https://www.carls-sims-4-guide.com/forum/index.php?topic=32055.msg509780#msg509780

If you're wanting to start fresh, but want to back up only some of the Sims 3 files and folders, check the link below.

Saving folders/files to use on a different computer or to use as backup
http://www.carls-sims-4-guide.com/forum/index.php/topic,16414.msg313134.html#msg313134


Want to Play with the Family Again?

Regardless if you clicked the Folder button or the Share button. The household can be found in Households tab in the library.

1. Click Edit Town and select your family by clicking the Household Tab in the Library at the bottom of the screen. It's the "Solid House" Tab. - This tab is selected by default.

2. Move in or place them into a house if they aren't in one already. - Click on them and choose either Move In or Place Copy.

Note: If they're in a house, you will need to find a vacant lot to place them on. You can choose to put them on a same sized lot, or place them on a bigger lot if desired. You cannot place a house on a smaller lot.

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Note: This thread has been locked as it's for informational purposes.  If you have questions, please feel free to create a new topic, here.