Hi, this might seem like a pretty basic question, but does anyone know if I buy a figure from the marketplace that is labelled as PC Only, can I use the Poser MacConverter to convert it for use on a Mac, or is it a lost cause? I just don't want to waste my money if it doesn't work! Cheers, RCT

Most of the time it should be OK. I'm on a Mac and I've purchased a few items labeled as "PC Only." I bought one item from BAT Labs' store and it worked fine. One of Richabri's building packs did require me to edit the cr2 file and shorten the name of the obj that it referenced. The path name was too long apparently and certain items wouldn't load. Once I got that fixed however, things seemed to work fine. I have that problem with the occassional d/l from Poserworld as well. Sometimes a product is labeled "PC Only" because the merchant doesn't have the ability to test on a Mac and probably doesn't want to deal with pissed off customers screaming about problems. Anyway the short answer based on my experience so far is: Most figures should work. No guarantees though.

It's labeled most likely beacuse the creator had now way of testing it on a Mac I've found only one or two poser things that I couldn't get working on my Mac and they were 'cause the creator did weird things with the file :-) As long as it's not a utility like Tailor, Us Mac folks can use it :-)

Yes if it's a zip file, no if it's one of those stupid installers like Daz and other control freaks use (exe).

Just extract the exe onto a windows desktop and move the resulting files over to your mac, that's how I do it.

Yes if it's a zip file, no if it's one of those stupid installers like Daz and other control freaks use (exe)

All DAZ downloads give you the option of either an exe or sit file. Obviously, we Macsters need to choose the sit. I've never had any trouble with their installers.

BTW: The DAZ installer for the Mac (not sure about the PC version) searches for the Poser folder--the one that contains the Runtime folder et. al.--and in doing so, looks for the folder named Poser with the tiny tm (for trade mark) following the Poser name. If you've renamed your Poser folder and deleted the tm, both the Poser and Runtime folders will be invisible to the installer. That'll give you some trouble until you put the tm back.

On a PC you can't use special characters like in file/foldernames so it's not a problem on a PC. :o) On a PC, a (probably wellknown) trick is to click Cancel as soon as it starts searching, at least if your Poser is anywhere but the C: and then direct it manually to wherever you want it to extract to. You could then also choose to do it to a temp folder if YOU are the control freak ;o) And want to place stuff manually... Isn't there something about certain MAT poses that are different from PC to Mac?

Yes, on macs the texture names need to be less than 20 characters. eg newV3bodywithgreattits.jpg would be too long and the mat pose wouldn't work as poser wouldn't find the texture. Love esther

There is a limit to the length of file names but it's 31 characters not 20. I'm on a Mac and I have loads texture names longer than 20 characters.

I've dl'ed hundreds of "PC Only" files (both commercial and free) for my Mac and been able to use every one after processing them with MacConverter and a little patience. That's a success rate of 100%. The one kind of "PC Only" download that won't work is applications which I knew in advance not to try. You'll be okay with any kind of pure data file (textures, characters, etc.) However, any kind of application that processes or creates this data (texture converters, morph managers, etc.) probably will not work on your machine. (The "probably not" is because Python scripts will usually work on PPP and up.) You did not say what you type of product you were considering, but if it's a some kind of data file you shouldn't hesitate because of the "PC Only" issue. As you see there's plenty of help available here if you should run into difficulty after purchase. T Jobe

Thanks for all your help. Damn! Now I've got no excuse not to spend even more money! :-)

Thanks for all your help. Damn! Now I've got no excuse not to spend even more money! :-)

With MacConverter and MacInstaller, we are better off than most PC folks. We can organize, decode, change, clean up and install where we want things. MartinC has done all of us a tremendous favor by making and releasing these tools. I always extract to a temporary file if a presupplied installer is used. I keep almost all of my textures outside of the Runtime so MAT poses get snitty, but that is my decision. I have had to go in and rename or shorten the name of some files. If you are buying a CD with stuff, you will want to get the Joliet decoder (it can be found through VistaInternetProducts' useful links). DAZ CDs are coded properly, but VIP and PhilC are among the ones where the file names will truncate to 8.3 format. Jolietting will save much time and frustration. (It has to do with how the CDs are burned.) I can't think of anything which was "PC only" which didn't install, although some required a bit of massaging to get the path or file names shortened. I try to eyeball everything while it is in the temporary folder to catch this sort of nuisance before opening it inside Poser itself. This may be bad for your wallet, but the good news is that you can indeed use so many more items to create the scenes you want. Carolly

Carolly... I'm curious.. Should CD's be burned AS Joliet or NOT as Joliet when made on a PC in order to be readable on a Mac? I think my Nero makes them Joliet by default but I'm not sure if that's good or bad :o) It would be good to know, should I EVER need to send something to a MAc user :o)

Definitely Joliet.

Joliet CDs are actually ISO9660 CDs with 8.3 names plus an extra part including the long filenames. I don't know about OS-X, but OS9 Macs (by default) will not read the long filenames and use the 8.3 versions underneath - in other words: "default" Macs will display 8.3 filenames no matter whether you turn Joliet on or off.

BUT... you can direct your Mac customers to http://www.tempel.org/joliet/ and recommend to install the "Joliet Extension". This is a must have, and once it is installed the Mac will start to use the long filenames.

So the results are:

1. Joliet off

• 8.3 names on PC
• 8.3 names on Mac
• 8.3 names on Mac with Joliet Extension

1. Joliet on

• long names on PC
• 8.3 names on Mac
• long names on Mac with Joliet Extension

So, Joliet wins 2:0... :-)

Thanks :o) Joliet it is then :o)

Martin, I am about to (gulp!) install OSX on my hardworking G4. (I can't delay any longer, but I'm so nervous about switching.) In order to use your tools, will I have to reboot in OS9 or something? And, BTW, thanks so much for all you have done to make our lives easier and our work better. {hug} Carolly

In order to use your tools, will I have to reboot in OS9 or something?

I've been using Martin's tools in Classic since I first started running Mac OS X. (Along with Poser 4, which worked fine despite technically not being "supported" by CL.) If you're sticking with Poser 4 you'll need to keep your Mac OS 9 System Folder anyway to start Classic. With Poser 5, MacConverter isn't needed as much. However, you still need to convert rsr and pef files. (Though pef files are relatively uncommon, and rsr files are slowing being replaced or at least supplemented by PP/5 png previews.)

Good. It was something that I was fretting over. Once you get a procedure automated (drop zipfile onto 3 aliases and then the stuff is installed and ready to go), it is foolish to snag it up over some small but absolutely vital application. Thanks, Carolly