What is the uniform Runtime directory structure for Genesis and generation 4,3,2, etc. content?

Brycescaper

I've had issues with Genesis products because their 'runtime' heirarchy structure is a lot different than the classic runtime I've used all these years. I've figured out several differences (this may be a reflection of the source file formatted for Poser or DAZ):

1. MyLibrary now shows up as opposed to content. I've determined this by the structure of subfolders.

2. The Genesis 'runtime' structure doesn't appear to use the classic libraries, but people and data installed outside the runtime directory itself.

So now I have 'people' and 'data' folders inside and outside the runtime folder.and my runtime is messed up with possible misplaced and duplicate folders Aren't they supposed to all be inside of runtime (I.E. alongside the 'libraries' folder). I want to align my folders into the correct structure. Could someone diagram a sample runtime folder directory with the folders in their proper position, so I can move all like folders to its proper structure for DAZ?
If Genesis runetime directories are different, how so and where so I can reassemble them into a classic runtime structure, or even if I should? I need to understand better the complexities of how Genesis and Genesis components are retrieved as opposed to the runtime>libraries of Generation <4 figures/props. </p>

In short, what belongs within the runtime directories and what alongside it in the content directory?
I don't use Poser, and my DAZ content scenes are imported into Bryce 7, so cameras and lighting in DAZ aren't used

I use the username|documents|Daz3d|studio4|content|runtime path for my content directories

JimmyC_2009

I use the username|documents|Daz3d|studio4|content|runtime path for my content directories

DAZ Studio only files are never put inside a Runtime folder, the Runtime folder in the My Library or My DAZ 3D Library or Content folders is for Poser content ONLY. (with the exception of some textures)

All Genesis items go directly into the library folder in a sub-folder called People, not into runtime, and in your case it would be: username|documents|Daz3d|studio4|content\People

In the People folder, there are sub-folders for Genesis, Genesis 2 Female and Genesis 2 Male. Each of these have sub-folders for Character, Clothing, Hair etc. etc.

Only figures prior to Genesis are in Poser Format, and therefore stored in the Runtime folder structure, i.e., Generation 4, 3, 2 etc.

The 'data' folder, Runtime folder, and the People folder should all be directly under the main library folder, in your case 'content', but most people using DS4 will have My Library or My DAZ 3D Library.

You really should look into using DIM (DAZ Install Manager) to install your content as it always puts everything in the correct place, and notifies you of any updates.

Brycescaper

Thanks for explaining that. I didn't understand there were multiple content directories, the reason I asked is that third-party genesis products are not installing with the rest of the Genesis files, they are going into the 'classic' runtime folder, and they were malfuncioning. I keep getting this missing /data..... . dsf file and the clothing and hair would come up as a block. Now I know why. . Well, I guess I'm going to have to reinstall a fresh copy of DAZ 4.7 and let install manager reinstall all my old content from DAZ, I can assume that install manager will create the proper paths for Millenium and genesis figures seperately. Then I'll have to go to my third party downloads and see which should go where.
Gawd, with an 88GB content directory, I feel like I'm tearing apart and reassembling an automotive engine >_<</p>

fixmypcmike

You don't need to uninstall/reinstall DS, as that won't change the settings. The current defaults for content folders (both DS-formats and Poser formats) on Windows are:

C:\Users\[your user name]\Documents\DAZ 3D\Studio\My Library
C:\Users\Public\Documents\My DAZ 3D Library

The second one is the default install location for DIM; the first is the recommended location for installing non-DIM content.

jestmart

Something that many freebie makers and vendors do not understand is DAZ Studio never needed a specifically named content library folder. You could name your content library "George" if you wanted to and as long as you set it in DS's Content Directory Manager it will work.

Brycescaper

Thanks again, but new wrinkles have popped up. In reassembling my daz content libraries, what I have done is to move the entire content directory (the one I screwed up with changing the my content folder to runtime, it is no longer usable) into a different folder. What I then did like a moron is go to the main site, downloaded DAZ4.7 32 bit, and the intall manager went through and did its thing. I created a new Studio4 directory to accept the 'built-in content' that was to be installed, butunder username/ documents/ DAZ/ studio4/ I have two directories, runtime and data, and no sign of my content. I looked to see if the content was installed elsewhere, not a sign of it, otherwise I would have copied it ansd manually moved the entire structure to the studio4 folder just mentioned. I'm ready to uninstall all instances of DAZ from my computer, along with the content libraries, DAz studio folders, and completely start over,. The only problem is I have a lot of items from places like evilinnocence, renderosity, and other vendors that obviously won't show up when I reinstall my content. plus all the free content I've accumulated over the years. IMO, the only upgrades you've made to DAZ is to convert clontent into scripts, I can't even manually install my install manager content, they are all scripts instead of solid content. Daz Studio has no backward compatibiity with the bitrock installed content of days of yore. The characters are competely different, and I can't use programs like CrossDreser of Content Converter to expand my wardrobe into the Genesis figure realm. Daz 4+ should have been released as a completely different program like you did Carrerra. While it accepts the older millenium content, it is a completely new program with its own unique characters. The install manager clntent won't install where I specifically installed it, and because I just can't extract older content, being interwoven into the libraries, geometries and textures,
Yes I rant, but after ten years, along comes Genesis, and these infernal scripts, and it has completely destroyed my runtime. My free content is irretrievable, and the new scripts (please don't call genesis products, because they are scripts)and they don't work- I noticed the Actual Hair for Genesis in the figure/character library includes hair styles and color which should be in pose and , there's no sign of the Actual Hair itself, and Nordic hair does not work at all. It doesn't exist on my system. Plus, I'm getting missing .dsf errors everywhere Iturn when I try to put Genesis figures/ hair/clothing into my scenes.I'm ready to kiss off the $200 I spent on products uypgrading to Genesis, and go back to Studio 3. At least THAT worked.
Can I start over? No, because the install manager won't even put the content I've bought over the years where I can find it,. The bitrock installers worked just fine, why did you have to screw everything up with these scripts?.
I need to have a powerpoint presentation showing a diagram of what exactly goes where, and I need to download my almost 400 DAZ library items ( REAL products, not more scripts) and install them myself, just like I have done with bitrock for the last ten years. Could SOMEONE post such a diagram so I can rebuild my runtime from the bottom up? Sorry this has turned into a novel instead of a post, but I am infuriarted over this whole mess. My apologies, I just hope someone reads this post and takes it seriously.

JimmyC_2009

Can I start over? No, because the install manager won’t even put the content I’ve bought over the years where I can find it,. The bitrock installers worked just fine, why did you have to screw everything up with these scripts?.

First of all, the program DAZ Studio, and any content libraries are completely independent of one another. If you are having problems with content, there is no need whatever to reinstall DAZ Studio

I have no idea what you mean by scripts instead of installer?

When DIM installs something, you can go to the Installed tab, right click on any item, and then select Show Installed Files. That will tell you where everything has been installed to, with the Library path at the top of the list. These are all clickable links, so you can click on them, and it will take you to the folder in Windows Explorer.

Inside DAZ Studio (any version 4.xx) go to Edit > Preferences > Content Library > Content Directory Manager, and set the path for BOTH Poser Formats AND DAZ Studio Formats to point to your library folder, whatever that is. If you used DIM, and did not change the default path, that will be C:\Users\Public\Documents\My DAZ 3D Library, however, Show Installed Files will tell you path EXACTLY. DIM and DAZ Studio do not communicate in any way, you have to tell DAZ Studio where the content is installed to.

You can have many paths listed in DS as content libraries, so my advice would be to use the DIM default to install ALL of your content bought from DAZ 3D, set DS to look at that folder as explained above, then we can sort out the other paths with you.

This is really not the problem that you think it is, especially using DIM.

frank0314

YOu can dictate where DIM installs products. You can put it wherever you want. Just set up those locations in DIM

Vhardamis

You can manually install your DAZ content if you really REALLY want to but honestly there's no reason for it, yer making this whole process harder on yourself. Load up DIM, point it to the folder you want it to put everything in, and hit download. Then go read a book or something and give it time to do its thing.

There are 2 possibilities as to why you cant find the downloaded content/ zips:

1) if you are using the default DIM settings on WIN8 it puts all your content under users>public>documents>my daz 3d library
2) you have it selected on the install page of DIM to delete packages after installation.

The only things you should have to manually install is your 3rd party, freebies, or pre dIM content.

In the same place you have your DIM installed library create another folder, or several, and call them whatever you like (mine are My DAZ Rendo & My DAZ freebies). Unzip your new content, then merge it into one of these folders depending on how you wish to separate them.That's it.

However keep in mind that you should never ever place 3rd party content in the SAME FOLDER as DIM installed content, it will break the whole thing and you'll have to start over.