Question: How to strip program and start over from scratch

havoks.eye

Hello! I've been a newbie with Daz3d for a couple years. I unfortunately haven't had a lot of time to work with it even though I've had the program a few years, including PC+ subscriptions on occasion. Between work, family and getting a degree, I haven't been able to put in the time to understand the ins and outs. In that time, I also was unfortunate enough to have a crashed desktop computer and three damaged laptops. Apparently I should stay off computers. lol

In any event, I managed to save much of my third party content, but it was mixed in with DIM and Daz content, and somehow got mixed up in file structure. In an attempt to fix the issue, and to put content in a place that is much easier to locate and not buried in five different locations throughout the hard drive, I have uninstalled and reinstalled, changed directory locations, and various other content management fixes. I have cruised through the forums and cannot quite suss out a fix.

At this point, I want to strip the entire program from my computer to do a fresh install as if it has never been on the machine in the first place. I want to start from scratch. When I uninstall and reinstall, the same database issues still exist, and content that should be viewable is no where to be found. Any suggestions on how to strip it and start over?

fastbike1

Studio requires you to explicitly name the content paths. You can do this in the Content Directory Manager dropdown (top right corner of left pane)

havoks.eye

Thanks for the reply! :-)

"Studio requires you to explicitly name the content paths."

I did that, but somewhere along the way in trying to add additional content, something got screwed up. Now when I select either the Smart Content or Content Library tabs in the pane, there are many items missing, items that were there before. I make sure I have nothing selected in the scene, or even if something is selected I make sure Filter by Content is uncheck. The items are still on the hard drive, but difficult to locate. I spend 20+ minutes locating items in my computer's File Explorer. The problem isn't limited to third party content or purchased content either, basic items bundled with the program are not showing up.

The whole mess prompted me to uninstall the program and reinstall the program. I double checked my Content Directory path names, then redownloaded/installed assets using DIM. Then I went back to Daz, and it made me install everything through the new(er) content install thing. After it spent another two hours installing my items, the issue of missing items still remains. For example, I navigate to figures, and I see characters that I installed/own, but I don't see Genesis, Genesis 2, G3F/M, or G8F/M, which should definitely be there.

The problem is so multilayered and the problem also stems from the occasional times I tried to fix it throughout the past year. I would get so frustrated, I'd just walk away and let it sit. Now I don't remember all the things I did, didn't do, or forgot to do, that I can't even give a good samaritan a good idea of how I screwed the pooch. lol Thus the need to start completely over.

Edited: I should also note that the version I uninstalled in the first place was an older version, I don't remember which, and installed the new 4.9, which seems to have a different folder hierarchy in the location at first glance. 

havoks.eye

UPDATE:

I manually deleted all my files (saving a backup in a separate location), after I used CCleaner to delete registry keys and fully uninstall the program. I started with a fresh download of DIM and installed the program only. When I opened it, it looked just like it had, my layout and style as well. Content finally shows up in the Smart Content and Content Library tabs. It seems odd that the items show up after a fresh install, when I haven't yet installed them through DIM. Is that because of this new internal install service?

 

fastbike1

People seem to be confused about DIM and Connect and think they need to use both. For items that are not Connect only (most items) you only need to install with DIM OR Connect.

AFAIK, DIM and Connect don't communicate, certainly Connect doesn't look at your "normal" Content Library. So, if you install with DIM, then go looking for your Content in the Connect Tab, Connect will tell you you need to install it (because it's not in the Connect Library). This is an either/or choice. Install with DIM or Connect. Do not install the same content with both.

tmtmtm_f56c8d4bda

You should also look into rebuilding your smart content database. I don't remember off hand how to do this. But there exists a menu item somewhere that does that. 

I learned that fr M a YouTube video with the topic of "converting G3 to g8 content" or something like that. 

havoks.eye

fastbike1 said:

... you only need to install with DIM OR Connect.

Thanks for that explanation, fastbike1. That explains the difference a bit better than what I was attempting to assume.

tmtmtm_: As far as rebuilding the smart content database, I know I've done it in the past, but I can't remember how to do that either. lol. I suppose I'll have to do a YouTube search on that.

As I installed the program, and then the content through the fresh DIM install, items are now showing up in Content Manager. I haven't investigated everything to make sure that DAZ downloaded content all shows up, and I have not added in third party content yet... that's another adventure and a half.... sigh

Thanks for all the ideas!

 

havoks.eye

I spoke too soon.

So I want to start with Victoria 5. The icon shows the error exclamation point.

Turns out I had my directories pointing to the wrong folder somehow, so I fixed that and the icons show up correctly, but...

I still get the same error saying the file does not exist.

I navigate to the location I have installed everything to, and the files are there, so I'm having a brain fart as far as how to proceed to fix it.

Geminii23

Did you get this resovled?  I am having similar issues.  Have done a clean install on a brand new Mac.  Tried re-importing metadata.  SmartContent and my 3rd Party custom items are a total mess now.

Thanks.