Help with organizing library the right way
anise_leinen_390fa63a2b
Posts: 107
Hi all,
So I'm starting to really add new content to the libraries (I mostly use Poser, but not always), and I can already tell that I'm going to end with a monstropolous ungodly mess if I don't straighten it out now. Here's the question: what is REALLY the best way to organize library folders so that they don't end up being totally impossible to work with? Where exactly should new content be downloaded (existing folder? New folder? Top level, or by opening runtime and libraries?) All advice appreciated! :)
Daz 3D is part of 
Connect
DAZ Productions, Inc.
7533 S Center View Ct #4664
West Jordan, UT 84084
Licensing Agreement | Terms of Service | Privacy Policy | EULA
© 2024 Daz Productions Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Comments
The best way is a matter of choice - some people split by figure (Victoria 4, Michael 3 etc.), others by genre (SF, Fantasy, Modern etc.), others by type of item (clothes, hair, props etc.). Certainly using multiple content libraries makes sense, however you split them down, though even there there are people who do otherwise (indeed, some users prefer to install only what they need for the current project, then reset their content to its base state).
Thanks for your reply, but I think what I'm looking for is information that is extremely specific. I think the major reason I'm ending up in a mess is that I'm not installing to the correct folder. Should it be the top level folder for a pre-existing library ? Should it be a new folder saved in public documents? Should I go into the runtime of a pre-existing library and install it there? I don't think I'm really doing it right, which means that things DO show up, but in weird ways that can't be the best way to do it. For example, I downloaded a free candle prop and got it into Props in the Poser library (somehow... not sure how...) But it came with an entire runtime and all library folders of its own. All of them were empty except for the one that had the candle in it. That just CAN'T be right. :(
You point installers or unzipping utilities to the folder that holds the Runtime folder. Note, however, that if you manually unzip a a zip for the DAZ Install Manager you will get an extra Content folder - you need to take the files out of the Content folder and place them in the folder which holds the Runtime, which should merge them with the existing Runtime (Mac users need to be careful as the default behaviour there is to replace rather than merge, which you definitely don't want).
I think I'm figuring it out. Yes and yay. :) One question down, 445974398745984.pi to go!!
That's what we are here for :)
When merging something like that with your current runtime, the empty folder structures in the item downloaded usually mimic ones you already have and so will simply blend in with what is already in your runtime, no harm done. Just to be safe, I clean up and test any runtimes before I merge it with my base.
As to the other questions of what the right way is, it's basically like Richard mentioned. It's like asking what the right recipe is for baking a loaf of bread.
Alternatively, if you ask half a dozen of the old-timers here, you'll get maybe ten different answers. None of them wrong. All you can really do is select an organisation method that's a "best fit" for how you think.
I can see anise_leinen's demise because I have the same trouble and have in the past. It's why I've left my ds pointing at my poser runtime even though I'm not a poser user. I'm reloading ds textures but I'm not sure if I'm overwriting or duplicating...
And making bread is way easier. %-P
Well, HOPEFULLY the demise part doesn't happen... to either me or the computer. That would not be good. :) It does seem like there are so many ways to handle organizing libraries, but at this point, I'm mostly trying to avoid actions that would ruin everything else and cause the computer to blow up.
You DO understand that I don't understand what you mean?? Clean up with bleach and a sponge? Test by administering the SAT's? Should I be allowed to post anything when I've been working out in the hot sun all day? :)
Hehe, ok.. well if that didn't make sense, it's not likely something you'd want to try. It comes down to the idea that doing something manually is often more stable then an automated route if you know what you are doing. If not, the standard don't try this at home applies. There is a lot of research to do before what I described made sense based on your response, which is time intense. Based on that, I'd say you are probably best using the standard install procedure or something relatively close, and asking for help on an item by item basis when you run into problems. Otherwise you will end up like me, spending your first year or two sorting out your library rather then making art. The good news is you came in at a good time, as the DIM simplifies things for anything you purchase from DAZ. Good luck :)
What I've done is keep them in the poser format because it make sense, sort of. I have separate runtimes for all my characters, and then for clothing I merged them all into one with separate folders. Now that said, I was installing the poser files not the daz files. I think I'm missing out on the custom shaders but I'm still not sure how one thing finds the other.
A character file that is a piece of clothing is hard coded to look into specific folders for it's bump and texture files. If I put them into another folder then they're broken. Tried that. Ok now I'm rambling. Too much coffee.
Anyway, all I've ever got thru the years is put them anywhere. Well that breaks them and I'm compulsive to the point of everything needs to be put in a certain place so I can find it. I've been at this since ds1 and still can't figure it out but now that I'm coming back in, I'd like to do it right.
I took a year off from daz to move my home.
Well Gary, in your case I would say that the DS shaders are sometimes just an adjustment to gloss/specularity, which is easy enough to fix, but other times are radically different. The cameras and lights... totally different. I also keep much of my stuff in the poser folder structure if much of the model is in the poser structure already because one can move much of the DS files over to the poser structure. The trick is, that if one has a DS version of something, and they move it to a corresponding Poser runtime folder, it will be invisible in DS unless there is a corresponding poser file of the same name.
What does this mean? Well, say I have an item that has Poser base files with DS materials. The DS materials are in the DS runtime area and the Poser files are in the Poser runtime structure. If I move the DS files to a materials folder in the Poser folder structure they will dissapear inside DS. But, if I make a blank text file and name it the same as the DS material with a .pz2 extension and place that in the folder with the DS material, the DS file becomes visible and usable. Note, one can use existing poser material files if they have the same name as the DS file and DS will default to using the DS material, but then the Poser version is taking up (not very much) extra space at that point while not doing anything. DS lights and cameras can be moved to the Poser runtime, just include an appropriate .lt2 or .cm2 file.
As to your other point of moving things and them breaking, this might help. The items that show up in the interface, the DS files that are not in the Data folder for instance, or the Poser files that are in the Runtime/Libraries/ folder (ie... not in the textures or geometries folder) are files that are basically shortcuts on steroids.. they include information about piecing together the geometry and textures and are at the top of the food chain so to speak, so they can be moved as a general rule. The items in the Data, Textures, Geometries folders, and some I'm not thinking of at the moment, are the basic building blocks and therefore cannot be moved as the previously mentioned script files are hard coded to find them in specific places relative to the file that called them (the .pz2, .dsa etc...) and that is what breaks things. Think of it as recipes that include instructions for finding the ingredients. One can move the recipe, but if they move the flour, the recipe doesn't work.
The Problem with the Poser runtime is that it is a mess itself, with materials and props scattered all over the place.
I should note, this does not always work. One should always work on a backup of the item in question, preferably in a tmp runtime structure, and test it before implementing it in the main runtime.
Reads that over... and over... and over again. It'll all make sense someday. :)
Anyway. If you want to hear crazy, I'm putting together a long, long, long text file of lists and notes about every single file everywhere-- what it is, where it is, how it would be used...
(runs off cackling maniacally. It MUST be the sun today. ):)
Am I the only NUT who thinks that for Daz Studio (DS only folks) the Category's feature is the best thing sense sliced bread? All my content installs as default the way it is designed to install. I then edit my POSER only content (for me mostly other sites) in the Runtime then I add it to my DS paths if it is not added to another runtime folder like Clothing V4, then I use Categories in DS to put all the Items in the place I will use it the best. Some go into more than one category.
I have stuff like this...
Victoria 4
Textures
..Low Rez
..High Rez
..Elite Rez
Clothing
..Everyday
..Sci Fi
..Fantasy
Each figure and each item (sets, Props, Camera) goes in a place I set up and know it goes into.
EDIT: Just noticed this was RUNTIME only. They can be done in to many ways to really cover, the Best for you is whatever method you find is the best for you.
No, I use the categories also, just in my case I organize the base runtimes also. I agree that most would be better served to avoid messing with the base runtimes and just organizing in the categories like you suggest, especially now with the DIM installing things. If one changes the base runtimes and the dim updates something, it will throw everything out of wack again.
I hope DAZ eventually sorts out the underlying runtimes as leaving it the mess it is will limit their ability to grow DS beyond it's current state much I'm afraid. (Whoever came up with 'runtime' anyways?)
Since we are speaking of DIM I have noticed that quite a few of my products are still missing from the DIM downloads... Several are for older products such as Aiko 3 & The Girl along with others like The Nautilus from 20,000 Leagues as examples. There are many more but too many to list here... The way i found these was by going through My Product Library of purchases that shows whether products are associated with DIM or not.
Should we be notifying anyone at Daz when we notice missing items? If so do we just submit a request to T/S or submit a bug report?
Thanks.
Daz is still converting the older files to the DIM format I'm thinking sku 5000< are still being done at this time.
sorry to hijack a thread... but I'm working on the same thing.
Although my librabry is working in poser-format, I'm having to start to use it as a DAZ format and it is not... as neat...
but because merging so many files into simple 'character bits' 'pose bits' 'hair' and 'scenery' has given me untold amounts of problems, i've had to keep it in poser...
Is there a list of folders anywhere that HAS to be there? other then content and runtime of course...
Also, why am I finding duplicates of my 'data' folder appearing just about everywhere?
The content folder doesn't have to be called "content", and if you have a folder named "content" inside your actual content folder, that can cause problems. The only folders that have to be directly under the content folder are "Data" and "Runtime". Can you go to Edit > Preferences > Content Library > Content Directory Manager, expand the "DAZ Studio Formats" and "Poser Formats" sections, and post a screenshot?
here's my current list... there's a few things in there that I have removed recently and amalgamated (were in the poser formats, but I think I've got them where I want them) and feel free to ignore the saves folder...
This is a collection from nearly every 3D content site on the net (not to mention every free forum I can leech off without too much guilt...)
I understand I'll have to have my 'content' folder (i'll keep it called that so I don't confuse it...) added as both a DAZ and a Poser format to ensure all the content I have shows up... the rest I plan on cutting down to just; saves, content DAZ, content Poser...
the content folder (or !content as it's going to be named) will be moved to the G-drive and everything to it... but I keep finding folders that are full of sub-folders full of things... i've got about nine 'people' folders around the place and I didn't make any of them intentionally :S even got two 'DAZ People' folders I found last night :S
Thanks for the help though
Here you go... took a look for you.
BIG EDIT: Also remember the TOP most Daz Format folder is where the DATA files will be saved It should be E:Daz/content.
Unfortunately, here's where the problem lies; The 'runtime' folder does not show up in the 'content' nested directory, or the 'Shaders' folder and 'people' folder.
The Saves folder is for convenience because in there are all the templates I regularly use and don't want to have to navigate through the saves folder for.
The problem I am having is that when I try to conglomerate these to one folder, half of them don't even show up. EG, runtime, people, shaders and other such folders I have to use the 'merge to scene' dialogue for.
I am also trying to find out why I have 'Data' folders appearing and moving everywhere. Stopping files from opening on a day-to-day basis because it can't find the files it used yesterday (when I have not moved anything, I should point out)
[edit] is there a reason why my 'data' folder is moving it's contents and duplicating itself? there's one appeared in my 'saves' folder not long ago. i have nine on the E drive alone
2 words.. nested folders. Jade showed you which folders were no longer needed. If you have a runtime structure INSIDE those other folders, then they need to be moved 1 file directory upwards.
Usually by this point, it's easier to just back up your scenes and custom work, wipe it (the library, not the DS install) and start over with DIM. lol
As far as /data showing in /Saves, it's because you have /Saves mapped as a library directory. If it's not a location where you want characters, morphs, textures, etc to go, then don't map it.
Here is a Snap of my ONE DS4.6 Content folder. As you see they all are in the one place. All my content loads and is usable.
ALSO my DS4.6 Paths.
then I need to find someone who knows why these folders aren't showing... I really don't want to uninstall and start again... topped off with a side of 'why are my data folders breeding!'
thanks for trying though, I appreciate the help
If you mean Showing in DS it is Because they are listed in a Nested way. Runtime WILL not show in DS but the content will. DAZ Format on left..
eh? hang on... where's your 'runtime' folder appearing there?
people, poses, presets, props -should be read-me's and runtime-, scenes, scripts...
THAT is the problem I am having... got EVERYTHING in a runtime folder (from where it started installing itself from old DS3 installers) and it won't show up anywhere unles that is the one I have put as a content folder!
i'm not talking about getting it to appear as a poser format and a DAZ one, i'll be doing the same as you have here once it's all on one hard-drive in one folder, but for now, I want to know why the darned things are not showing certain folders.
Runtime is THE Poser side, It's just a content folder. The Folder NAME never shows but the Content does.
DS4.6 only Reads content Folders, readmes are not content so it does not show.
'Runtime' follows the Poser way of doing things. You essentially have a DS library and a Poser library all in one library without having to map 2 separate folders.