I've got a MAT file that changes the color of the "Fingernails" material. In my MAT file, the instruction goes to "Fingernails". I've applied the MAT to a figure whose nails are named "fingerNails" (note the difference in case placement), and the MAT file doesn't work. Instead it just adds a "Fingernails" element to the drop down list but doesn't actually affect the model. Is there a way to use both versions of fingernail spellings in the MAT file? I tried the idea below but that doesn't work. Any other ideas? a slash instead of a comma? a colon? figure { material Fingernails, fingerNails { KdColor 0.337255 0.133333 0.109804 1 KsColor 0.643137 0.643137 0.643137 1 NsExponent 50.0194 textureMap NO_MAP } } Or should I urge the creator of the figure to rename those (and any other) materials that use a naming convention that's unconventional to names that are conventional? Thanks if anyone has an idea. Dave

The figure creator should follow standard poser conventions to avoid causing confusion. Of course, no one can force him/her to do it, but in the end, it only creates havoc if you invent your own bizarre material names. The general idea is to use the materials names given by Curious Labs or DAZ (the 2 industry standards). This also applies to body parts and other things like that. Poser is intensely case sensitive, and it doesn't like being messed around with. mac

Sorry, I didn't answer your question. I know of no way to fix this. A MAT file will apply whatever material it contains to the figure. If the material in the MAT isn't in the figure, it'll just be added to the end of the list. If you make a MAT with the material 'supercalifragalisticexpialidocious', that name'll be added to the figure. Of course, it won't do anything, except give you a fright, but there you go... mac

Of course, I could just include a material call called "fingerNails"; but then I'd be needlessly adding a 'fingerNails' element to other figures that have that material group named as Daz does ("Fingernails")... But it doesn't look like I can get away with lumping the two different spellings into one call. Thanks, mac. Dave

Could you possibly use "$CURRENT" to name the material in your MAT file and make sure you have the fingernails selected before applying your MAT? I had to use that designation in my MAT files for changing the colors of Dynamic Hair in P5. Don't know if that will work here, but might be worth a try!

I didn't know about the "$CURRENT" call. Interesting but the MAT is part of MAT set product I am updating and I'd rather not have to have people make sure the nails are selected. The figure that has the different material name is not a major one so I'm not going to worry about it. It's just when I saw that the set was not working on it, I investigated and that got me writing my post. Thanks for the "$Current" notion though - knowing that might help me in some other endeavor. Dave

"$CURRENT" works only for calling body parts (actors) and props and hair, i.e. replace "prop figureHair" or "actor Head:1" with "actor $CURRENT". But you can't call materials that way, and the $CURRENT flag only works in Poser 5.

Thanks for clarifying it scourge! I wasn't in a position to test it because I thought I be misunderstanding what he was asking. I was right that I thought I was wrong. Figure that one out and you win the cubey doll prize!

"$CURRENT" works for materials in mt5 files.