If people are so worried about getting credit when their characters, poses, etc are being used, then how about this idea to make it easier. Adopt a standard format for the readme file. A zip file with a formatted readme file could be unzipped into a temp directory. A program could then read the standard formatted readme file, collect a list of the directories contents, and update a database. Another program could be written to query the database based on character name, pose name, etc. This would make it a lot easier to "give credit where credit is due." I have downloaded a lot of files from the free stuff and sometimes I do not readily know who the original creator was.

heyas; i still say, name the fool readme.txt as something ELSE, like the same name of your model/texture/prop/pose/collection-of-things. then it is easy enough to store that file in the directory with the item. you wanna know who did it, open the txt file with the same name of the item. simple! also! if you make a texture, put yer name ON the texture, in the empty spots. even more simple! finally... i haven't tried this yet, but i'm about to. create an image file that is a blank square, and has your name in the corner somewhere. import this as the background in poser, so when you save the figure/object, the rsr has a thumbnail with your name right in it. pack up the rsr with the zip file, badda-boom badda-bing, your name is plastered right THERE everytime somebody uses your figure/prop. also, write-protect the rsr. (dunno if the attrib will unzip, but it can't hurt.) then the end user can re-save the figure without destroying the named thumbnail pic.

Good idea, but it will only work if you have one text file for each prop or whatever. I've done quite a few groups of things like my 'shackles' galore set. I wouldn't want to have to include 20 or so text files to go with that lot. But there again, I'm not particularly bothered if my stuff gets used without me being credited.

maz: no no no. all your shackle props go in one prop library, right? so you have one txt file there called 'shackles.txt'. it goes with all of 'em! silly. :)

Database mgt ain't my gig, but I really liked milamber42's original suggestion. In addition to tracking the authors for credits, sounds like a handy tool just for finding stuff in my own archives. (I know I've got that damn "AudreyII" man eating plant somewhere, but can't find it by guessing filenames and don't recall the author) Wouldn't standardizing a process like this make everyone's file management easier? Couldn't something like this be easily set up (by one of you smart guys) for a ubiquitous program like Word, or Excel, or whatever their real database program is? A type of macro where a standard format record is merely added to a searchable table or database.

What about some remark lines within the data files? They are all plain text and can be read/edited with any text editor. But will they be overwritten when you save a modified version from within Poser? I don't know much about such technical stuff.

heya; wal, yeah every time you save an obj, the program you're using takes out all the remarks and puts its own in. dunno if cr2's etc even HAVE remarking abilities.

Something I thought I'd share that solves a lot of "credit" problems for me with d/l'ed models, assuming of course there is a readme with the model. 1) Always read the "readme.txt" before installing 2) Create a folder in your root Poser directory called "ReadMeFiles" 3)Save the readme.txt to that folder (remember you already have it open :-) but rename it to a more descriptive title (if necessary :-), e.g. "Bushi-eyes.txt" or "ziggy-table.txt" It's not a hard system to implement and makes it a lot easier to not only find a creator when you need permission to use something, but also makes you look really smart when the "who made this" questions come up here from time to time & you can answer them :-).

I wish there was just some author-info in the models like when you give a name to the model, give an author-name too, and have it so you can turn off this option (so it'll be transparent to the user) then when exporting images you should also have an option to include as a comment on the image (not written on the image itself) a list of all contributors...hassle free for everyone in that case =) SewerRat