With all the recent topics asking how to get animals and objects downloaded from Zoo Admin into their game, I decided to post this, which will explain the two ways to get the files into your game. They will work for all downloads (buildings, animals, variants, ect.) I will be using the Fallow Deer as an example.
Method to get files in-game:
Step 1: First, download the file.
Step 2: Then, go to where you downloaded it. It should be a .zip file. Before you can use what you downloaded, you need to extract the files out of it. You can use WinZip or WinRar to extract the files if you have them, but if you don't, Windows Xp has its own extraction program. I will be extracting the files using Xp's program. Right-click and select 'Extract all.'
Step 3: Then the Extraction Wizard should open. First click ‘Next’, then tell it where to extract the files. To make it easier, extract it into the file you’re currently in and remove the text which will say something along the lines of dlver-file-name-, then click ‘Next.’ Finally, click ‘Finish.’
Step 4: One you’ve done that, a new folder should’ve shown up. Usually it’s the name of the creators of what you downloaded. Or it could be a .z2f file with a folder of the same name. If it’s a .z2f file, skip to the next step. If not, open the folder. There you should see a .dl file along with a folder that has the name of what you downloaded. Enter that folder and there should be the .z2f file.
Then move both the folder and the .dl file to ‘C: Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Microsoft Games\Zoo Tycoon 2\downloads\zootycoon_com_zt2_1033.’
This folder will only appear if you’ve downloaded Official Content from the in-game download button. Also, depending on the language of your game and what country you’re in, the file may have a slightly different name. These files are Hidden Folders. If you can see them, skip to ‘Step 5.’ If you can’t see them you will need to enable them to be seen.
To do that, select ‘Tools’ at the top of the page, then click ‘Folder Options…’ A new window will pop up.
Click the ‘View’ tab, and then there should be a ‘Hidden files and folders’ section, along with the options to see the hidden folders or to keep them hidden. Select the option to show them then click ‘OK.’
If the files still don’t show up or if you do not have the options to keep them hidden or not for some reason, skip down to the other method of getting the files in-game.
Step 5: Once you’ve moved the files into the downloads folder, it’s time to see if they work. Open your Zoo Tycoon game and see if it appears on the adoption screen/item select screen/whatever.
If it doesn’t, then try the next method.
Alternate method to get files in-game:
Step 1: Do steps 1-4 on the previous method until you get to the point where you have to move the files into the downloads folder. Instead of moving them there, open the folder that has the name of whatever it was you downloaded. Right-click on the .z2f file, then select ‘Cut.’ Then go to the folder where the .dl file is located, right-click and select ‘Paste.’ The .z2f file should’ve appeared next to the .dl file. Now select both files (the .dl and the .z2f) right-click and select ‘Cut.’
Step 2: Go to Zoo Tycoon’s main folder, which should be located at ‘C:\Program Files\Microsoft Games\Zoo Tycoon 2.’ Right-click again and select ‘Paste.’ The .z2f and .dl file will appear.
Step 3: Now it’s time to see if it worked. Open Zoo Tycoon 2 and see if it appears on the adoption screen/item select screen/whatever. If this doesn’t work either, then I’m sorry to say I don’t know what went wrong.
If you have any questions, you may either PM me or post a reply to this.