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Where in the documentation can I find required directory structure?

fiziwigfiziwig Posts: 14
in New Users

I've downloaded a couple Rederosity freebie scenes and none of them works. Oddly, the comments on Rederosity from other users seem to imply that other DAZ user have no problem making them work.

DAZ studio tells me certain .jpg files are missing, and yet they are there, and properly named, but apparently in the wrong folders, or the folders are in the wrong place in the directory tree. But then the log file lists a whole bunch of DIFFERENT files that are "missing" even though they are not, but doesn't mention the "missing" jpg file.

I don't want the cookbook solution to this specific instance, I want the general principles of how files and directories are structured. Where in the documentation can I find information on how directories must be structured?

I'm a retired software developer and an old hand at software in general, but new to 3D, and so far the 3D part is a breeze. Posing, lighting, and redering are working in a very intuitive way that makes perfect sense. But the data formats and directory structures are a nightmare, and have me tearing my hair out! Where is the documentation?

Comments

  • srieschsriesch Posts: 4,241

    I don't know the Poser directory structure, somebody else will have to answer that.  It might be of value to look at the directory structure of a few installed working products to get some helpful examples.  However I did want to mention a few tidbits of information you might find useful to know:

    Unfortunately a lot of freebie products (hundreds!) are simply broken, with many looking for files in the wrong spot.  (Perhaps those files actually exist in those incorrect locations on the original product designer's PC, and thus work there, so only the customers know they are broken?  Perhaps some will work if other related products are installed into the same folder, thus providing the missing files?)  I've forgotten how, but if you have lots of free time and energy (or a small number of broken files, or maybe a utility to assist) for at least some of these issues you can manually edit files to fix them if you really want those products.  I've fixed a few, but I've also gotten into the habit of simply testing free content to see if even loads period, before deciding if I want to fix it, delete it, or maybe use it but mark it with "skip missing materials" if it's something I might just use a shader on anyway.

    Some products are packaged differently from others.  Sometimes the zip file is the actual content, sometimes it's within a subfolder and needs to be moved up one level, and sometimes it's not in the standard Poser folder structure at all and it's assumed that you will just manually move the files to their appropriate locations within an existing Poser folder structure.  Before you install it's best to quick give it a glance and make sure there's a Runtime folder where you expect it (for Poser content), and if not that's your clue to look at it closer.  If you plan to merge it with an existing folder, it might be handy to first unzip it into an empty test folder to see what it does until you get the hang of it.

  • srieschsriesch Posts: 4,241

    Somebody made a post here that might help out a bit: http://www.daz3d.com/forums/discussion/29951/understanding-the-runtime-and-daz-content-file-structure

  • fiziwigfiziwig Posts: 14
    edited September 2015
    sriesch said:

    Somebody made a post here that might help out a bit: http://www.daz3d.com/forums/discussion/29951/understanding-the-runtime-and-daz-content-file-structure

    Thanks. That looks like it will be a valuable resource once I get to the point where I can figure out what the heck it's talking about. It appears to written for someone who has spent more than 2 days using DAZ and knows something about Poser. Since I don't know anything about either, I guess it will be a long, uphill battle to figure it all out. I just wish that it was covered in the documentation.

    For now I've just deleted the Renderosity freebie scene that I downloaded and thrown in the towel until I get to where I have a better understandiong of what's going on. I'm just very hesitant about paying money for a package and then find I'm not able to make it work due to directory issues. That's why I'm experimenting with free content until I can actually see something work, and develop a little confindence in the installation process.

     

    ON EDIT: YAY! I got it straightened out and working thanks to your helpful reference. :)  (Hey, where's the jumping up and down with excitement smilie?)

    Post edited by fiziwig on
  • fixmypcmikefixmypcmike Posts: 19,613

    First thing to check is whether you have a folder named "Content" underneath your actual content folder (e.g. My Library, My DAZ 3D Library are the defaults).  If so, you need to take everything that's underneath that folder named "Content" and move it up one level.

  • fiziwigfiziwig Posts: 14
    Fixmypcmike said:

    First thing to check is whether you have a folder named "Content" underneath your actual content folder (e.g. My Library, My DAZ 3D Library are the defaults).  If so, you need to take everything that's underneath that folder named "Content" and move it up one level.

    Yes. That was indeed the problem. The zip file had a "Content" folder. I got rid of that, and fixed a couple other small things and it worked fine.

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