File Management Questions

Deke

I've been playing with Daz Studio for a while now and want to tackle a more ambitious animation project. The first step is understanding file management and I'm looking for info or resources along those lines.

My goal is to create different characters - morphing the base figures, adding hair and costume, etc - then be able to save that and thenimport different characters into a setting. What's the best way to do this? I've tried this in the past but often I try to open the character and get a dialogue box with a list of missing files (all .dsf files). There's a long list of "save as" options. Any resource or tips on how to set this up? I'm not even sure about the terminology. Is fixing a character "baking" it? etc.

ZarconDeeGrissom

I have yet to experience that "Missing Files" bit.

I first make a few directories inside the Scene & scene subset folder for organizing assistance.

As for saving figures, cloths, and hair combos, I usually resort to "Save as - scene subset". Then tic off the bits that I want as a combo.

I know full well that some stuff needs to stay in the folder it was made in, so making the folders before you save things is far better then moving stuff around that already exists. As I found out when I tried to purge my save folder last month (CMS turned itself into a pretzel).

Deke

Thanks. I think my mistake is making things, saving them, then trying to organize them within my Mac's finder windows. That must break some links to morphs on some items. I'm trying to have the program on one drive and all the content and created stuff on another drive…so I need to make sure Daz is saving stuff where I want it. What the difference between saving something as a scene and a scene subset…or for that matter a character preset?

ZarconDeeGrissom

Scene saves everything in the scene.
"Scene subset" gives you a list similar to the "Scene" tab, where you can select what you want to save.

there is an option icon top-right where you can "Unselect" -> "All", then it is easier to go down a huge list and tic a couple items.

it will save everything the regular one will, it just lets you select specific items. importing "Scene subset" into another scene is as simple as adding a new figure, you don't need to get the menu (Right-click on a PC) and select "import into scene".

SpottedKitty

dkutzera said:

Thanks. I think my mistake is making things, saving them, then trying to organize them within my Mac's finder windows. That must break some links to morphs on some items.

No, the links go the other way — the file you save contains links to the object, morph and texture data which are in fixed positions. There are no links back to your saved file, so it should be freely movable, but there is one tricky gotcha. Are you saving into the Content Library tab, or saving using the File>Save As menu option? D|S works by knowing where its installed content files are located, so if you save into the Content Library tab you are by definition using a known location. Saving with the File menu does not guarantee this unless you know exactly where your content is installed — if you save the file into a folder D|S doesn't know about, it introduces problems which may bite you later.

FWIW, the "Scene Subset" save is the best way to go for the way you're wanting to assemble scenes, it's what I've always done. (The difference is that a full scene save will by default replace the existing scene when you load it from the Content Library tab. A scene subset will by default merge into the existing scene, which is exactly what you want to happen.)

Jaderail

Here is how it needs done. You do one of these, like Zar I do the first one..

1: Use the DAZ Studio only content Folder to save All your saves into, Right click on a Scene Folder will give the Option to Create a Sub Folder with Name. That folder will be a TRUE folder on drive in the DAZ Studio Content under the Scenes Folder once created. Do all saves of Scenes or Scene Subsets to that folder.

2: Create a New Content folder On Drive to do all Saves to. Once that folder is made go to the DAZ Studio Prefs and ADD that new folder to your Content Directories Paths as Both a DAZ Studio Format content folder and a Poser Format folder (Poser just to stay safe, as I do still save some items in the Poser file types). This will allow the saved files to be read properly by DAZ Studio.

Scene Files and Scene Subset files differ in this way.
A full Scene file will save everything loaded in the Scene Tab just as it is set at the time of the Save. To load that Scene is just a double Click. It will fully replace everything with that Scene on Double Click, you get a prompt if that is what you wish to do. With a Right click on a Scene File you can do Merge to the current scene in the Viewport (Scene Tab) and it will all merge to the current Scene you are working on.

Scene Subsets work differently, On save you get a Prompt with a list of all items in the Scene Tab. Only the items you Check will be saved to the Scene Subset file. Those files will automatically Merge into every Scene you have in the Viewport (Scene tab) on a Standard Double click load. I use Scene Subsets just for Character Creation for Animation use and Comic book type use. No need to build the character but one time when done this way.

EDIT: Spotted is correct. When DAZ Studio files are saved outside a Mapped content folder is when the pointers break. This is caused by the DAZ Studio files using Relative Paths in the files. They are used so the User can have the Content Folder(s) on any drive or in any folder as long as the Main Content folder(s) are Mapped properly for DAZ Studio use. Even the Name of the content Folder can be different and the Save files used in the new folder(s) due to the use of relative paths.