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Content Management - Organizer?

arnoldotgarzaarnoldotgarza Posts: 28
edited December 1969 in New Users

Hey guys (and gals)..

I have another question... And I can't seem to find the answer for it because there seems to be different points of view when I do a Google search.

I decided to buy a lot of content for Daz Pro 4R6 and it seems the program is now slower that it was before. Could this be caused by the content itself?

Because I bought items from different vendors the content was not always the same, sometime it came with installers, sometimes it was just the files, which I tried to put on their right location, but... I now have a crap load of folders, too!

Most of the installers I have used, always install the content on C:Program Files/Daz/Studio - and I don't have a way to change that because my actual directory wont even show on the options, even if I navigate to change the destination folder my actual content folder (My Library) wont show at all.

My regular destination folder, on which I have most of my content is C:Program FIiles (86)/DAZ3D/Library

The problem comes when I try to organize my content, if I try to move (copy) the content from the destination used by the installers the content don't really match the hierarchy or the folders...

I have almost 80 GB of content (none of which is my own creation, my stuff is on another folder)

--
I have read that some people keep separate Runtime folders.
Why is this? What does this do compared to having just one Runtime?
How do you separate your runtime files to split them among other runtimes?
(I know how to manage files. I am wondering if it makes any difference on what you put where)

I have ran across some tutorials on daz3d.com about content organizing, but those articles are way too old, all the screenshots are broken links, the external links are broken, and the version I have is not even close to what they show.

Any help would be appreciated.

Comments

  • JimmyC_2009JimmyC_2009 Posts: 8,891
    edited December 1969

    First of all, which OS are you using?

    Since you have a Program Files (x86) folder, it must be Vista or Win 7 or higher? You should NEVER store content in the Program Files area, it is a protected area, and your content may not work properly.

    For installing DAZ 3D content, you should consider using the DIM (DAZ Install Manager) which will put everything where you want it to go. It cannot be used for content from other stores or freebies, but they should be easy enough to work with once you have the basic setup installed.

    If you are going to use DIM to reinstall content, please post here first for advice.

    The name 'runtime' is a folder used by Poser, and by DAZ Studio as a Poser Content folder. I have several libraries, the default (DIM one) is called 'My DAZ 3D Library'. I then have other ones for 'Generation 4', 'Generation 3', 'Buildings' and so on. Each of these have a runtime folder (as well as the DS ones) for Poser Content, and Poser can use them as libraries as well.

    The old default library was called 'My Library' but DIM now installs by default to My DAZ 3D Library, but you can change that inside DIM before you install anything.

  • arnoldotgarzaarnoldotgarza Posts: 28
    edited December 1969

    I am actually running Windows 7 on the main computer.

    Yes, I have used DIM and everything works fine, but not all files I got are DIM compatible, as I said some of them come with exe files, which bypass DIM.
    Some of my other content are mostly runtime / content folders.

    Is there a directory layout sample file that I can use to organize the content?
    The reason I ask for this is just to make sure all the files are on their right organization for DAZ to find them

  • JimmyC_2009JimmyC_2009 Posts: 8,891
    edited December 1969

    DAZ Studio doesn't have a rigid file layout, except for the 'Runtime' folder which is only for Poser format content as explained previously.

    Have a look at the folder that DIM installs to, usually C:\Users\Public\Documents\My DAZ 3D Library , or wherever you pointed it to. You will find that one of the folders is called 'People', and all of the Genesis/Genesis 2 figures are stored there. People contains sub-folders for Genesis (for example) and the Genesis folder contains sub-folders for Clothing, Hair, Materials, Poses etc. etc.

    If the DAZ Studio content is inside the My DAZ 3D Library folder (or similar) then DS will see it. The same applies to Poser content (CR2, PP2, PZ2 etc.), it MUST be inside a 'Runtime' folder or DS wont see it at all.

    You really should sort out the Program Files thing, content will give problems if it is stored in there.

    What folders are you using at the moment, you mentioned My Library, do you also have a My DAZ 3D Library folder too, you should have if you used DIM?

    Almost all DAZ 3D content is now supplied in ZIP files, so you shouldn't really have any EXE installers from the store, unless of course they are plugins for DAZ Studio, which are installed to the Program Files area.

  • arnoldotgarzaarnoldotgarza Posts: 28
    edited August 2014

    Now that you explain about the runtime folder, it makes sense...

    check out my My Library for Daz

    and my content directory manager folders on Daz

    Screenshot-2014-08-19-17.27_.52_.jpg
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    Screenshot_2014-08-19_17.15_.12_(1)_.png
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    Post edited by arnoldotgarza on
  • JimmyC_2009JimmyC_2009 Posts: 8,891
    edited December 1969

    Make sure that you have the same entries under Poser Formats, as you do under DAZ Studio Formats in the Content Directory Manager, and everything should work as planned.

    Problems can arise with content not bought through the DAZ 3D store, freebies or otherwise, where the files are not packaged correctly. If you are not sure about where to put anything, post here and we'll try to help. It really is fairly straightforward, and any EXE installers that you may come across, should be pointed to either My Library, or My DAZ 3D Library, whichever one you want them in. Don't add anything to that path, it should stop at the library name.

  • arnoldotgarzaarnoldotgarza Posts: 28
    edited December 1969

    I really appreciate your help, Jimmy

    If I can ask one more thing...
    I was told not to delete files after install. Why is it that I should not delete packages after install using DIM?
    If all the files are already where they need to be, what is the need to keep them there? (I tend to have a backup of all files on external HD)

  • JimmyC_2009JimmyC_2009 Posts: 8,891
    edited December 1969

    You can delete the ZIP files that DIM downloads and uses, or simply save them to an external HDD.

    These are all kept by default in C:\Users\Public\Documents\DAZ 3D\InstallManager\Downloads. You can download anything that you have bought from the DAZ 3D store again, at any time, and it is a good idea to use DIM (at least once a week) to check for updates for the content that it has installed.

    There is no need to keep them, but I have loads of space, about 2TB, so I just keep them anyway. There is also an option in DIM to delete files after you install them, so DIM does not really need them again, unless you uninstall something, it would then need the ZIP file again.

  • srieschsriesch Posts: 4,241
    edited December 1969

    arnoldotgarza said:
    I decided to buy a lot of content for Daz Pro 4R6 and it seems the program is now slower that it was before. Could this be caused by the content itself?
    It will be somewhat slower to start DS if you have more content; For me it's enough to see, but not enough to be a problem. I haven't noticed any slowdown using it after it starts though.

    arnoldotgarza said:

    I have read that some people keep separate Runtime folders.
    Why is this? What does this do compared to having just one Runtime?
    How do you separate your runtime files to split them among other runtimes?

    I keep separate runtime folders, one per product with the folder named after the product installed into it, for several reasons.
    Mostly because is it's very easy to "uninstall" a product (in case you mess up the files by installing files into the wrong location, you accidentally delete or move a file, there's a product update, you have to manually make a fix, etc.). Just delete the messed-up folder, then reinstall the correct product into the empty folder. Originally when all my runtimes were combined, it was impossible to figure out what files belonged to what product, and this was a problem for me.
    A second is it's very easy to locate what product a content thumbnail is part of; just hover the mouse over the thumbnail in the Content Library, and you get the full path, which in my case is the folder I named after the product. Very handy for the freebie contest where you have to be able to identify the product, or when collecting vendor credits for a render, or trying to organize a lost item.
    Downsides: I do not know how one would efficiently do this and use DIM at the same time though, I think you would have to maintain a huge list of separate paths for DIM to install into, or not direct DIM to install all at once and do each separately which would be some extra work. There is/was at least one plugin that would also not work if you choose to use separate runtimes.

    I was told not to delete files after install. Why is it that I should not delete packages after install using DIM?
    Possibly they meant the files that DIM uses to determine whether your product is installed or not? That way DIM knows whether to tell you there is an update, and doesn't keep telling you there are new products to install when in fact you already have them? I don't remember offhand what/where these files are though.

    Also I wasn't sure if you already knew, but just in case you didn't: The Content Library allows you to organize your content to be shown to you in any way you want without affecting the actual file locations and therefore without having to worry about breaking anything.

  • kjmartland_5b7bfb1d15kjmartland_5b7bfb1d15 Posts: 36
    edited December 1969

    Sorry i have to come with this queston, but let me explain, i have been using Daz 3.2 advanced for few years and wanted to get into animation, after looking at the way daz4.6 works, [ thanks youtube ] i thought i would give it ago on that, 4.6 has been installed on my computer from the first day it came out, but i stayed on my 3.2 advanced [ i was used to it ] with me so far,

    So i started up 4.6 and said i need stuff in my content folders [ my library] i went into prefrences and set the path to first my own custom folder, where i have saved sets/scenes/custom figures etc, and added this, a quick check and everything showed up, infact i did a small animation, still learning this, hence the move to 4.6, today i loaded up a scene from my custom folder then i wanted to add another figure, so went to my library and then said, silly fool its not there yet, so back into prefences and added the content of my 3.2 to my library in 4.6,
    Then i went over to the content libray to load that extra figure, and found that the content folder was there but nothing in it, but also my custom folder had gone,
    So back into prefrences to add the foders again, they add but nothing every shows in the content libray any more, lost count how many time i have tried, nothing, what I'm i doing wrong ?,

    O/S Windows 7 andall content for Daz 3.2 is on externall hard drive.

  • JimmyC_2009JimmyC_2009 Posts: 8,891
    edited September 2014

    Then i went over to the content libray to load that extra figure, and found that the content folder was there but nothing in it, but also my custom folder had gone,


    You don't say what OS you are using, but you really need to run DS4.6 as 'Administrator' so that these changes you make will be saved to the correct folder for DS to read again.

    On Win 7, right click on the Desktop icon for DS4.6, and choose 'Run as Administrator' and that should hopefully solve your problem.

    Another point, you should list the path to the content folder, and you need to do this for Poser as well as DAZ Studio Formats, so that the Poser content will show up as well.

    EDIT:

    Sorry, you did say what OS you are using :)
    Post edited by JimmyC_2009 on
  • kjmartland_5b7bfb1d15kjmartland_5b7bfb1d15 Posts: 36
    edited December 1969

    Thanks JimmyC i will give this a try, strange how i never thought of it in the first place!

  • kjmartland_5b7bfb1d15kjmartland_5b7bfb1d15 Posts: 36
    edited December 1969

    So ran as adminstrator then started up 4.6, over into prefrences and on to the content manager added paths to my content on my extentall hard drive and the custom folder , click apply, accept goes to content plane, there's my folders, i clicked and doubled clicked nothing there, so i thought to hell with it, remove 4.6 off the computer there's not point clogging my system up for this useless piece of crap and stick with 3.2

  • JimmyC_2009JimmyC_2009 Posts: 8,891
    edited December 1969

    DS4.6 works in exactly the same way as previous versions, you have to list the path to your content correctly. What paths did you list for DS4.6? If you installed all of your content using the DIM, the path would be C:\Users\Public\Documents\My DAZ 3D Library.

    You MUST enter the path to your content as BOTH DAZ Studio Formats and Poser Formats in the Content Directory Manager. DS3.2 works exactly the same.

    I will ask the obvious first, was your external drive switched on and available to DS? If it was, then I have nod idea why DS4.6 would not see it, unless the path was not listed correctly.

    I can assure you that DS4.6 is not a piece of junk, and it is vastly improved since 3.2. I'm afraid that there is something wrong at your end.

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