Relocating My DAZ 3D Library

johnbuckeridge

Hi there everyone.  I've had to free up some space on my C Drive (OS Windows 10 64bit) to an external drive.  Of course, now I need to redirect DAZ Studio to its new home.  I seem to remember I start off with > Edit > Preferences but can anyone remind me what I need to do after that?  Cheers!  

Richard Haseltine

Then Content tab, Content Directory Manager. Don't forget that if you install content with DIM it will store the absolute path (starting with the drive letter) in its list of installed files (the manifests, which it also needs to be able to find): if you kept the zips you can just select things in the installed tab after updating the locations, then use the right-click menu to reisntall using the current paths; otherwise you will either need to edit the paths in the .dsx files directly or risk not uninstalling all of the older if there is an update.

3Ddreamer

My new desktop is arriving next week - I have my library on an external drive and plan to make that the same drive letter as it currently is (D:) Can I check what folders do I have to copy across to get the manifest files for Daz Studio and DIM? Will still have the plug-ins to reinstall.

Richard Haseltine

In the Advanced settings tab of Install Manager you will be able to find the locations used.

3Ddreamer

Thanks Richard - I was meaning the folders on C: I'm thinking files in these -

C:\ProgramData\DAZ 3D

C:\Program Files\DAZ 3D

and maybe

C:\Users\XXXXXX\AppData\Roaming\DAZ 3D

Richard Haseltine

The first and last are not movable files, and generally are not large. You can choose where to isntall DIM itself, then set the desired application install paths (32 and 64 bit) in the Advanced Settings before installing the applications.

3Ddreamer

Thanks Richard :-)

johnbuckeridge

Richard Haseltine said:

Then Content tab, Content Directory Manager. Don't forget that if you install content with DIM it will store the absolute path (starting with the drive letter) in its list of installed files (the manifests, which it also needs to be able to find): if you kept the zips you can just select things in the installed tab after updating the locations, then use the right-click menu to reisntall using the current paths; otherwise you will either need to edit the paths in the .dsx files directly or risk not uninstalling all of the older if there is an update.

Thank you for your help there, Richard.  Mostly sorted out, DAZ Studio is now happily connecting with the new location.  However, one holdout appears to be DAZ Central.  I've had to install half a dozen new assets via DAZ Central because I'm having trouble with my log in (al completely different problem and already in hand)  but those are not installing correctly.  What would be the likely installation path for DAZ central installations? 

Richard Haseltine

Daz Central should use whatever paths are set in DIM, if you set that up first. Or do you mean Daz Connect (installing through Daz Studio itself)?

johnbuckeridge

Richard Haseltine said:

Daz Central should use whatever paths are set in DIM, if you set that up first. Or do you mean Daz Connect (installing through Daz Studio itself)?HaH

Ha!  No - I nearly did write that in error, but no; DAZ Central it is.  I'll move onto DIM next in that case.  Thank you again.  :) 

johnbuckeridge

Richard Haseltine said:

Daz Central should use whatever paths are set in DIM, if you set that up first. Or do you mean Daz Connect (installing through Daz Studio itself)?

Right, it's the weekend again so I've finally had a chance to look at this properly.  So, to recap, I've moved My Daz 3D Library from my C: Drive to my external F: Drive.  Mostly all good, but now I have to work out how to move DIM and then DAZ Central across as well.  Richard told me to sort out DIM first, as Cantral uses the same pathways.

Turns out, however, there are several options and I don't really want to mess about with relocating files until I know what I'm doing.  Pictured is what I've come across so far.  Pic 1 is Daz Content Manager, of course, showing what I've moved to F: Drive so far and what still remains in C: Drive.  The other pic shows possible files I should move - or not?. Also, the icons I have pinned to my taskbar for DIM and Cenral have both now whited themselves out, which presumably means their links are already severed somehow.

Would anybody be able to tell me which files I should move and which files I should leave well-alone?

felis

Which content library is it DIM is installing to?

And do you actually want to move the applications, e.g. Das Studio and DIM? They are not part of your content library. And if you want to move them you should not move them, but uninstall them and reinstall them on the new location. And for DS, if you have installed using DIM, you should uninstall/reinstall the same way.

And if you have moved your content, you would want to update the manifest files with the new location. Else can't DIM find where the content is.

johnbuckeridge

felis said:

Which content library is it DIM is installing to?

And do you actually want to move the applications, e.g. Das Studio and DIM? They are not part of your content library. And if you want to move them you should not move them, but uninstall them and reinstall them on the new location. And for DS, if you have installed using DIM, you should uninstall/reinstall the same way.

And if you have moved your content, you would want to update the manifest files with the new location. Else can't DIM find where the content is.

That's just the problem - I'm not entirely sure.  I mean, I'm pretty sure I downloaded Studio directly from the website and then installed it via Central.  All I want is to be able to access products in-Studio which I have installed or will install via Central or DIM since I moved My Daz 3D Library to my F: Drive.  Right now the few I've put in since then (via Central)  have shown up as blank grey icons with yellow exclamation marks.  I'm afraid I don't know about 'absolute paths', as Richard mentioned in his first response up above. I've come a long way in the last three years but am still a pretty untechnical boomer, lol.

felis

I don't know Daz Central, only DIM (my undertsnading is they should use the same path, unless you manually have changed it).

So what path is listed in DIM for installation (you can find it under the gear icon > Advanced settings > Installation (I think))?

And is that path defined in Daz Studio in your content libraries?

johnbuckeridge

felis said:

I don't know Daz Central, only DIM (my undertsnading is they should use the same path, unless you manually have changed it).

So what path is listed in DIM for installation (you can find it under the gear icon > Advanced settings > Installation (I think))?

And is that path defined in Daz Studio in your content libraries?

Thank you for this.  And yes, I believe from Richard that where DIM goes, Central will follow.  I thought it easiest to attach a screenshot of the current installation data. 

felis

Ok, so you are using the default path for installation. That means that anything new will be installed where it always has.

If you want to move that you need to either change custom or add a new with the desired location, and after that change Content path shortcut to the new.

But in order to get Daz Studio to know where it is, you must update the paths in Content Management in Preferences.

johnbuckeridge

felis said:

Ok, so you are using the default path for installation. That means that anything new will be installed where it always has.

If you want to move that you need to either change custom or add a new with the desired location, and after that change Content path shortcut to the new.

But in order to get Daz Studio to know where it is, you must update the paths in Content Management in Preferences.

Right, this is what I've tried so far, without success.  Content Manager I haven't touched, but I've switched DIM Custom pathway to my F: Drive.  This is the only change I've made since my last posting.  Didn't work.   What would you say I need to change in Content Manager, do you think?  For example, the CMS Cluster Directory is still pointing to C: Drive, but it doesn't seem to include My Daz 3D Library.  I'm floundering a bit here.

MelanieL

If you are trying to make DIM install to your new library on F: drive then you have to select your Custom library in the drop-down I've flagged - you are still telling DIM to install to "Recommended".

 

namffuak

To amplify - if you click on 'show details' at the bottom of the Installation tab DIM will show you where th content will instaal; if you have more than one installation directory defined, the content path shortcuts becomes a drop-down list allowing you to chose which directory to use.

johnbuckeridge

MelanieL said:

If you are trying to make DIM install to your new library on F: drive then you have to select your Custom library in the drop-down I've flagged - you are still telling DIM to install to "Recommended".

 

My thanks to both MelaniaL and  namffuak for your help.  I've followed advice from both of you and updated accordingly.  I don't know if I'm just being thick, but my actions still aren't working.  New attachments show latest settings on Installation and details.  I wonder if I should be making changes to Manifest Archive as well?

felis

I am not sure what is working and what not.

If you install a product in DIM, and after installation find it (in installation tab) and list the installed files (r9ght-click at the right), are they then where expected?

johnbuckeridge

felis said:

I am not sure what is working and what not.

If you install a product in DIM, and after installation find it (in installation tab) and list the installed files (r9ght-click at the right), are they then where expected?

Thank you so much for your help.  You inspired me to uninstall and then reinstall the faulty products and it worked!  Thank you everyone who contributed.