Getting error when loading content from other folders

spswafford

Hello,

I have content from other sites loaded into their own folders with the name of the site as the top folder. The hierarchy is the same as what is set up in the DS content folders, I just like to keep them separate. The problem I'm running into is when I try to load some items, I get an error about some files not found, and gray boxes where the item would normally load. I think what is happening is the items are trying to load they are looking to the DS content folders for their files and not finding them. Is there a way to tell them where they should look for their files (point them to the correct folders) when I try to load them?

 

Thanks

BeeMKay

Yes, it's pretty simple.

Open DAZ Studio. In "Edit", go to "Preferences". In the "Preferences" window, select the "Content Library" folder. Click on "Content Directory Manager". A new windw will open. In "Content Sets"-->"Current Directories" select the "DAZ Studio File Format" directories. On the left hand menu listing, under "Directory", click "Add". Now you can select the folder where you have your new content. In my case, the folder I add is "Downloaded Content/DAZ Magazine". I then repeat the same step for the "Poser Formats" directories. This is important, as most content has DAZ&Poser format files, so it will not work/you get error messages if you just install your new folder in the DAZ Studio File format. Click "Accept". The window will close. In the "Content Directory Manager" Window, click "Apply", and then "Accept". Again, you do not have to do this if your folder is already known to DAZ Studio.

Here's a screenshot from DS 4.8, but except for the Connect folder (which you don't need for external content), it's the same.

spswafford

If I understand you correctly, I have already done that. To clarify, here is an example of G3F hair that is in my Rendo folder.

BeeMKay

Well, that message means you either haven't installed properly, or have the wrong settings in your content directory manager. Are you sure you also linked the directory under Poser?

EDIT: Can you check out this post in regards to unzip and folder structure etc? https://www.daz3d.com/forums/discussion/comment/927004/#Comment_927004

SpottedKitty

It's possibly both installation and CDM settings. Look more closely at the screenshot — a Content Library base folder must never have the Data, Readme's, Runtime and Textures folders visible. What's causing the problem is that DAZ|Studio is looking for files in a folder inside the content base folder, but the files actually exist in a folder inside a folder inside the content base.

BeeMKay

You're correct, spotted Kitty, I missed that tidbit. It does look like a faulty installation.

So, the first thing to do would be re-installing everything properly, and then double-check the path.

plarff

BeeMKay said:

You're correct, spotted Kitty, I missed that tidbit. It does look like a faulty installation.

So, the first thing to do would be re-installing everything properly, and then double-check the path.

For interest sake my installation for manually adding add-ons is in C:\Users\Public\... folder and not C:\[username]\... folder. I can only assume when i installded DAZ that i chose to install so Everyone / user can access it and not just my profile.

So go to the C:\Users\Public folder and see if you can find maybe a DAZ3d installation folder there???

spswafford

Ok, found the issue. I unzipped the file again to see what it does. When unzipped it creates an My Library Folder (top). Created within that folder are folders for Data, Docs, People, and Runtime. After unzipping, I was copying the My Library folder directly into Rondo folder (top). When trying to use the item and getting the error, it is looking in the Rendo folder and looking in the Data and Runtime folders there instead of the Data and Runtime folders within the My Library folder. I moved the folders up to the Rendo level and can use the item without error. 

SpottedKitty

That's the main reason why you should never blindly unzip a non-DAZ installer directly into your live content location. You should always at least look inside the zip to check what its folder structure is like, whether there are unexpected top-level folders, whether any critical folders have misspelled names (it happens), or even whether the folder structure is correct (this happens too). Many people prefer to unzip to a dummy folder on your desktop, check the zip contents, and only then move the folders across into your live content location. As a bonus, this also lets you see exactly where your shiny new content files are, so they don't vanish into the unmapped depths of your content files.