Well, I'm back again. This time with a probably very basic problem. Many of the Poser 4 characters, animals, clothes etc, which I download need to be loaded into seperate folders within Poser. Yup, you guessed it, I don't have a clue how to do this! I'll venture a guess that it involves Windows Explorer,about which I know dangerously little. If some kind soul would take the time to send me a sort of tutorial on how to install these downloads, I will be forever grateful. Thanks! Wayne

One of the ways I learned was to unzip them into their own directory, and that will show you where they would normally go. If you right-click on the file you should have the option to "extract to ......" You can extact it to an empty directory and it should list out the places it will go, i.e. runtimegeometriesmalenudehiman.obj This would mean that (if you have the normal setup for Poser) it would go to c:program filesmetacreationsPoser 4RuntimeGeometriesmalenudehiman.obj See how it works? Once you unzip one you will see what I mean. If you are still confused let me know. 8^) We've all been there! Marque acbts@cwo.com

Thanks for the prompt response, Marque! This seems to be what I'm doing. My WinZip extracts the files to C:unzipped. I read the instructions, which , most of the time are quite simple, and re-unzip them to where the read-me says. Some of the downloads tell me that some parts go to geometries, some to other files, etc, etc. This is what's bumming me out. I have files all over the place & still no usable object in Poser. When there are multiple file destinations, does one have to repeat the unzip to each of them? Yikes, more files all over! Or is the mysterious Windows Explorer the way? Thanks again! Wayne

Some Poser artists/creators incorporate the directory structure when they zip the file. Read any *.txt or *htm file first. Most of us put file location instructions in the "read Me." As a general rule, *.CR2 files go in ...RuntimeLibrariesCharacter and you can either pick which subdirectory in which to put the CR2 and it's associated RSR or you can use either My Computer or WIndows Explorer to create the subdirectory. HR2 files go in ...LibrariesHairetc. PP2 files go in ...LibrariesPropsetc. PZ2 files go in ...Poseetc. *.OBJ files go in a subdirectory in ...Geometries and the author's read me will tell you 99% of the time in which subdirectory it goes. BMP, TIF, JPG, and BUM files all go in ...RuntimeTextures. I created subdirectories in ...Textures just to keep all the textures somewhat organized. If you really get stumped, most authors put their e-mail address in the read me. Ask them specifically where to put a confusing file or two.

Thanks reb3603, I was hoping someone would help me out with the explanation. I know there is a page somewhere that lists which files go where, just can't remember where it is. Marque

There probably is a page or web site that has all the locations for the various Poser-related files, but I suspect you'll learn like the rest of us - diggin' around in the Poser directory (folder) and subdirectories using either My Computer or Windows Explorer. By the way, if a zipped file has both an .OBJ file and texture files (usually .JPG or .TIF), put the texture files in the same folder that the .OBJ file goes in. That way, the textures load automatically. Took me a year to discover that one!

Second the motion.

Great idea! I know I would have appreciated one. 8^) Marque

I'll tell you what, though. If you put all your textures for things in the geometry file, you are going to end up with a mess sooner or later. It will load easily, but it will also load easily if you put textures in the texture file and when you load the model, it will ask for the texture. When you load the texture, then it will find the texture the next time--particularly if you resave the model in the library with that texture. (I sort mine by type--Vicky has her own folder, as does Mike, animals, imported P4 nude woman and man, clothing, etc.--you really need to think this out ultimately to come up with a system for yourself. You will also need basically the same thing as you download and store on CD's or whatever or you will never find anything. Been there, done that S). Remember, for instance, that Vicky, as an example, has the default texture, but if you buy several and want to apply different ones at different times, what do you do then??--unless you save Vicky as a different 'character' with each different texture. Another point is clothing--you will end up with lots of various textures for a P4 dress for instance--transmaps, textures, etc.--you will want to load different tex/transmaps at various times. There is a very good tutorial explaining the various extensions and where each goes if I can find it. I believe that Storm did it originally and I'm sure it has been deleted from Free Stuff here. I'll try to locate the URL and post it. Diane

Attached Link: http://jupiter.spaceports.com/~omnitut/poser/index.html

Wow! Thanks for the help. I too vote for the newbie thing!

I just downloaded the PDF tutorial for files. Also got the transmap ones...They should save you from my questions here. Just a thought: How about making a page here for the graphically challenged? It could contain info on where to get info., tips, tutorials, etc. This would free up the regular forum for more advanced problems. What say you?

Don't forget the tutorials you can find over in the right column here under features.

Or you can get CR2Edit and just click on "Install CR2"... Dan Sorry, Win only for apps for now http://www.neca.com/~dwilmes/cr2edit.html PStart for Poser free to registered CR2Edit users. Email me for BStart, a new front end for Bryce. http://members.fortunecity.com/dwilmes/bump/texbump.html for WW tex and bump maps http://www.neca.com/~dwilmes/gallery/pics.html

You know, it doesn't matter whether you put textures that go with specific .xx2 files in the Textures folder and then tell the program where to go find them, or place them in the appropriate Geometries folder - the ...PoserRuntime is still going to fill up (I have a dedicated 3.4 gigabyte SCSI HDD just for Poser and it has 2.1Gb of files in it after a year and I use 90% of those files in any given week!). I just like putting xx2-associated texture files in the same geomerty file that the principal .obj file goes in because then the basic texture loads automatically. I just finished "reorganizing" my Texture folder for the third time, making it eaiser for me to find categories of textures when I need them at time.

Just a thought, but unless you use the textures a lot, (not meaning reb in particular) that if you have either a zip disk or a CD burner, taking them off your harddrive and storing them makes a lot of sense. The only thing you have to do when you load the model is browse for the texture on the CD when Poser asks for the texture. To get past all of this, I normally have 'white' models (I bring the models in, make all texture areas 'white' and save them as 'white' Vicky, etc.) and then just load textures/transmaps as I want/need them. Makes it much easier to change, mix/match texes and transmaps (particularly Vicky/Michael and clothing).