Q - "how do you make a phi from scratch"

Phi Preparation:

1. Create 2 folders in your Poser Subdirectory with the following paths -
   :Poser:Runtime:Geometries:chariot
   :Poser:Runtime:Character:test
   eg for win
   C:Program FilesPoserRuntimeGeometrieschariot
   C:Program FilesPoserRuntimeCharactertest
   eg for mac
   HD:Applications:Poser:Runtime:Geometries:chariot
   HD:Applications:Poser:Runtime:Character:test

2. Open the obj geometry file in a a text editor - like Notepad for Windows or BBEdit for Mac .
   Make sure the obj geometry has groups (groups are annotated as eg "g carriage") that match the numbered groups in the phi section above . No more, no less and that the case matches . Modify the obj or phi entry if you have to . Also, make sure that the geometry file ends with 2 empty lines - necessary because of a quirk of Poser .
   Copy the obj file into the chariot folder as chariot.obj .

3. Create a new file in the text editor . Copy the phi section into it .
   Insert the following text at the top of the section -
   objFile :Runtime:Geometries:chariot:chariot.obj
   This points the phi file to the obj geometry resource .
   Save it as test.phi in the test folder .

4. Open Poser, go to Main Menu>File>Convert HierFile.., and load the test.phi file . Say a prayer .
   If the files are in their place and the geometry matches the phi entry, you will be prompted for a name - enter "newChariot" and a new character(no picture) will be saved into your Figures/New Figures library .

5. This is important - Load the "newChariot" character from Figures/New Figures, and save it again as "chariot" in whichever subFolder you like . This completes the character with a picture and will serve as your base figure .

Continue as described above .

Phi Annotation:
The numbering in the phi section above is the hierarchy(parenting) order of the groups .
The "xyz" annotation is the rotation order - "xyz" means z axis as the twist axis, x axis as the main axis and y axis as the intermediate axis .
The "tail" suffixes makes the segment whiplike when you move it in Poser .
The last part with "ikChain Chain1" describes an ik chain of name "Chain1" composed of "chain1_1","chain1_2","chain1_3" and "chain1_4"; and so on for the rest .
These chains correspond to the arm and leg chains in the standard Poser figure .

Phew . That should cover it .
PS - All this has been covered before in old posts on the forum . :)

Message edited on: 09/09/2004 07:33