Sorting out my data base
I'm having trouble finding stuff in my content library. I spend more time trying to find content than actual editing. Stuff that used to be there has vanished. Reading through threads on the topic has left me confused. The files are there but DAZ can't see them. Where does the Content Management Service live? Can I delete/uninstall everything safely including DS4 and start over?
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What version of DAZ Studio are you using Help > About Daz Studio will tell you.
The reason I ask, is because the latest version(s) of DS allows you to use the PostgreSQL database which has been found to give a lot less problems that the older Valentina one, and in fact, PostgreSQL does not need CMS at all.
Everything that is installed to your library, will appear in the Content Library pane assuming that it is installed correctly. Smart Content relies on Metadata, and for Valentina, the CMS must be running too, otherwise Smart Content will be empty.
Can you see your content in the Content Library pane? Does the Search function work in the Content Library pane?
How do you install your content, is it using the DIM (DAZ Install Manager)?
Do the files show up in Content Library > DAZ Studio Formats/Poser Formats? Those aren't driven by the database, so if they aren't showing up there you have a different issue. Are you installing with DIM or manually?
Hi Guys, I'm using 4.6.3.52 Pro 64. Content Library shows some things but not others. I've used DIM ever since it was offered but earlier stuff may have gone to the wrong place. On the assumption my file locations might be messed up I've tried deleting /uninstalling and re-downloading with DIM.
Getting involved in the technicalities of different data programmes is not on for me. I'm very tempted to tackle a grand clean up as follows:
Save all my scenes to a fresh folder. This will preserve the work I have done.
Unistall everything showing in DIM
Go through my folders and delete anything remaining.
Perhaps download and re-install DS4 using DIM
Re-install al my purchases with DIM.
All my other scene stuff which presumably wont show in the Content Library can be accessed with pick and drag.
I believe this is not true, as some of your data files can remain behind in the original folder and are not recreated in the new folder you save to (if the content folders are mapped) or will be placed in the first mapped content folder (if saving to a folder that is not mapped.). While I THINK there are steps that allow you to recreate these, I would encourage you to make a copy of the folders you are going to delete, then quick open each and every scene file you have ever created to ensure they all load correctly, prior to doing the delete.
Speaking of which, is it possible you simply have the missing products installed to a folder that is no longer mapped, and thus DS doesn't see them? You need to both install products AND tell DS where you installed them, if they have not been installed into a location DS already knows to look in. I know you don't want to get into the technicalities, however this is one that you DO need to know about to be able to access your data. (And while this may not be the answer, if it is, it'll be a heck of a lot easier to fix than reinstalling everything.) It may sound confusing if you are unfamiliar with it, but once we step you through it and show you how and you do it a few times, it is really very easy to use, never fear.
Or, if you do believe content simply got installed into the wrong place through DIM, you can simply uninstall it and reinstall it into the correct place; you won't need to redownload or delete anything.
This might introduce new problems depending on where your "fresh folder" is. Are you intending to do these re-saves into a folder inside one of your already mapped Content locations? Have your existing scenes been saved into an already mapped Content location?
The main problem with this is that the file you save is not all of your scene — the scene file contains links to object and morph files in your /data/ folder, and textures files in your /Runtime/Textures/ folder (both of these are "invisible" folders in your Content folder). If you don't save your scene into a Content location, all those links in the scene are going to be saved as absolute folder/file paths; if you ever move your Content folders to another location or another computer, you will get "can't find file" errors coming out of your ears.
Saving scenes into a mapped Content location, the way it's supposed to be done, means that all these links will be relative to wherever the Content folder happens to be — this means you can freely move your Content folders when necessary, and the only thing you must do is change the Content Directory Management settings in D|S (and the installation settings in DIM) to match where your folders have been moved to.
Thanks Guys.
I have a pressing engagement so I will ponder on your advices for a couple of days and no doubt heed them. Re-reading instructions has two possible effects with me, one of them is good.
I'll be back
Cheers,