Initial Setup Questions
Hello all, long time member, just haven't been here in a long while. So I am finally upgrading my DS version (from 3 beta to 4.6 Pro). Obviously there have been some significant changes, and I need some help with the setup.
I've done quite a bit of reading on the forums, and I haven't seen anybody ask/answer my question specifically. I'm looking to start over on my library, and here is what I have.
Currently my library is set up to be on a dedicated external drive with the following path Z:\DAZContent\Content
When I used DAZ last, I could go ahead and simply organize my content inside DS without any real issues, and I could just dump all my installs into the Content file folder.
However, I've always been curious as to why someone would want to specifically edit their content library to where their files would look similar to this:
Content
Animals
People
Props
Buildings
Etcetera. I'm sure this is an old Poser format, which back when I used DS 2, it almost made sense, but I could never wrap my head around the benefits of doing this and usually spent a lot of time searching for content. Which, when DS3 came along, and I could organize my content in DS itself, I was pretty happy.
But now I'm seeing a different/new setup with DSP 4.6 -
My Library
aniBlocks
Animals
data
DAZ Studio Tutorials
Light Presets
People
Etcetera. So from what I've read, all one has to do is create the My Library folder in the destination that you want, ensure that you point both the DIM installer and DSP 4.6 at that location. The question is, all the sub folders, are those now created automatically with the new installers? If not, what's the purpose of having them? Is the "My Library" the new "Content" folder? To keep DSP 4.6 happy, and since I'm starting over anyway, should I follow the same procedures to have DS look at my external drive with the exception of it pointing to the "My Library" folder? Do I need to create the sub folders (if not automatically created) and point DS to look at those folders? Lastly, the last time I used DS, if you had more than 7 different content locations for DS to look at, DS got really mad at you and would either shut down, or not show all your content. Is this the same now or have things improved?
Adam (can't remember his sig) helped me a ton last time, and I still have his guide from back then. We ended up shooting a lot of e-mails back and forth to make my system run correctly before March Madness 2010 came along, which helped a ton when I, probably like everybody else that year, spent way more than I had intended :P
Also, MasterChef - I'm back, and getting into the groove. If you're still here, again, thank you for the Princess Dress, and hope we can collaborate more.
Gods it's good to be back, and I hope I don't overwhelm people with all the questions. I just want to make sure that this is a smooth transition with content, files, folders, locations, and the new upgraded program.
Thanks all!
-Nox
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Comments
The DIM or Installers will create the proper folders at install. You just need a Content folder and the Programs set to the proper folder. That is all I did and DS4.6 works 100% for me.
Ok, so after I delete my content folder to start over, as it's an absolute bloody mess right now, should my new file path be Z:\DAZ 3D\Studio\My Library ?
My plan is to:
1. Uninstall DS3
2. Uninstall all content as the paths are probably all screwy
3. Delete the rest
4. Create the needed starter path
5. Install DSP 4.6
6. Point DIM and DS to the new path for installing content
7. Install all my content in one blast thanks to DIM
8. Install all the independant installers from ocity, and other sites. Speaking of, how does that work with the file paths? Should I install each one, and then drag to the appropriate section? ie. any characters would go in the proper character folder?
Thanks for the input!
That will work 100%, the osity and other Zips I just do the old way. Open to temp folder, open the folder, Select all, Copy and then Paste into the My Library Folder with Merge used. I'm on Win7 so Merge works a charm. Everything goes into the proper folders that way.
I'm also on Win7, but the last system I used for DS was XP....Soooooo
Can you explain that?
Get your ZIP file from SITE, Unzip the file to a Folder the File will be like this in the Folder...
ItemName... this is the top folder
..Data
..Materials
..Runtime .. These are the Sub folders you see when you open ItemName.
I just Select all...
..Data
..Materials
..Runtime ...of these And then I go to the My Library Folder and open it, I then PASTE inside the My Library folder. I get a option of MERGE
for any Folders that have the Same names, I just say Yes and let them merge. Its just like hand moving each Folder but better.
Awesome, thank you. I have a couple of more questions since I started this after I got back to my laptop.
I installed the Genesis Starter Essentials, had to change some directory paths in DS, which I figured I would have to. But then I installed just two additional items - Morphing Python and the Cold Blooded mats for it. However, I could not find them in the My Library folders. I did, however, find them in the Poser folders where the ReadMe pointed to. Any reason why this is? After I install the 3-4,000 items I have, I'm betting I'm going to have to do a lot of searching for each one, and then click/drag them over to the My Library section just to make sure I am able to find everything. Unless y'all have any suggestions?
Thanks again, so far this is working awesome, and much more organized than the way I had it previously.
Also, the files that I've seen others post, I'm noting some differences. Such as, the "shaders" folder is not in the My Library folder, but rather on my laptop's hard drive (instead of the externale) in the same folder that the unstallers folder is located. Any idea why this is? Will a "shaders" folder be created in the My Library folder once I install some others? Should I move it manually to the "My Library" folder?
I know, a lot of questions, and y'all are awesome for helping an old artist come back into the swing of things. I really appreciate it. Thanks!
-Nox
Make sure the folder you installed to is listed under Poser formats as well as DAZ Studio formats and you should find them there in the Content Library, Poser Formats>Folder>Library type>folder with the files.
I have DIM install all my content to the following path: Z:(External)\DAZ 3D\Studio\My Library
However, in DS it doesn't show under DAZ Studio Formats > My Library
It is showing up in Poser Formats. DS can see it, no problem at all as it is set up to look at that location. I was just curious why it wasn't visible in the My Library section of DS like it should be.
Poser-format content will appear under Poser formats, only native files will appear under DAZ Studio Formats. That's be design since the two sometimes behave in different ways. You may also get DS native content (presets, and with DS 4.5 scenes in .duf format) tucked into Poser formats with a Poser file of the same name in which case DS will load the DS file and not the Poser file.
If you Use DIM and it installs all content, the content IS in the Proper place, the My Library folder has a Runtime in it just so DS can use Poser format items, it always has and that is the proper why for things to work.
To find content you need to get used to the two methods of content now used, the Smart Content Tab which uses Metadata to find content, and the Content Library Tab which uses the older DAZ Studio Formats and Poser Formats sections. I use Just the Content Library Tab because it always shows all my content where Smart will only show content that has the Metadata (Smart) file.
NEVER, move files in My Library unless you REALLY understand the file structures first.
By moving I meant while inside DS. I remember in DS3 you could click and drag in the Content Library to another location, as well as have copies in different sections. I remember this was really useful when if you had different hair styles that worked well for M4 and V4/A4. If you had clothings and hairs separate in different folders based on what the figure was, when working with a figure you never really had to leave the figure folders.
As do I. I remember in DS2 they didn't have that. I also don't use the Smart Content tab at all - I closed that Pane/Tab fast.
Ok, so 650 installs completed, 2300 in DIM remaining. I opened up DS, and went to go do some arranging, when I found out that for some reason - I can't :( Unless I'm doing it wrong. I'll go back to the Morphing Python example. In Poser Format > Figures > DAZ Animals is the Morphing Python figure. I can't seem to click and drag, or copy and paste that into the DAZ Studio > My Library > Animals folder. Is there a new way to move these items around?
In truth I never Drag and Drop any more, I right click and Categorize the items that way. Tip the CMS must be working.
Can you explain please?
Categories do not work Just like it did in DS3, You should have a Categories Folder in the Content Library Tab that is your Default Category. Other than that its much the same. See the Images Below. To Add items to more than one place just expand all the paths you need and Check the last folder of each. To add or Remove Folders you just do it in the Category Folder.
So to combine the two format lists (DAZ and Poser), and make all my content in one location, this is what has to be done? And it can be organized and categorized individually to each user? Meaning my OCD tendancies will be met? lol
Just make one Category for DAZ and One for Poser, I see no reason it can not be just like you want it.
Yes, in Categories you can mix DS-format and Poser-format items.