Testing cheats

boolProp testingCheatsEnabled (True or False) is a debugging tool for The Sims 2 which is very powerful, though it can negatively effect the game. To use it enter the prompt and "true", then press the shift key while simultaneously clicking on a sim. A menu will pop up giving the player options. There are many actions possible with this cheat including making Sims grow up, changing a Sim's aspiration, moving and deleting objects that weren't movable or deletable previously, spawning cheat objects, and making Sims selectable or non-selectable. To turn the cheat off type the prompt in the cheat window with the word "false" after it.

This "cheat" also enables "force error". If a player uses this depending on what they click, they can delete a Sim or reset a Sim. It can be handy to reset a character if they are frozen but, unfortunately, it can also be dangerous.

Many times this cheat will cause family members to disappear. A pop-up will appear on the screen, saying there is an error with (insert random numbers and letters here) and give you three choices. No matter what you choose, the Sim you were using or interacting with disappears from the game. Contrary to the popular belief that you must exit without saving, the better option is via the 'Tombstone of L and D', a spawnable cheat object accessible via this cheat. All you have to do is select 'Get Family Member' and click on the name of the missing Sim. Sure enough, they will return.

It is possible for Sims to randomly die if you save your game with testingCheatsEnabled on. The only way out of this is to use the resurrect-o-matic to resurrect the dead Sim before another Sim dies.

In Create A Family, if the the cheat has been enabled prior to entering Create A Family, hidden hairstyles, clothes, eye colour, make-up and skin colours can be unlocked by pressing (Shift) + N. This must be done before entering Create A Sim. When activated, a pop-up box will appear, informing the player that has activated d"debugging mode" and hidden aspects have been unlocked. You can now give your sims NPC clothes and hidden hairstyles, among other things. The cheat can be disabled by pressing (Shift) + M.

This cheat is often erroneously called "boolprop", which means "Boolean property" or "true/false". There are several cheats that start with "boolProp".

Sims 3
A similar cheat can be used in The Sims 3. By entering "testingCheatsEnabled true" you will be able to move relationships and motives up or down, along with all the options available when you shift-click the mailbox, just like in The Sims 2. The cheat is not nearly as powerful as in The Sims 2, but it is still the most powerful in the game.