I'm sure this has been asked before, I expect it will be asked again. How does a Mac user load a Poser figure from a zip file created on a PC. The zip file contains all the correct files with the folder info. I understand that Aladin Expander or Stuffit can open the ZIP. I am also aware of MartinC's two utilities Macinstaller and Maconverter but do not know how to advise their use. Many thanks,

Very fast and simple: 1) Unzip the file with Stuffit expander 2) Drop the folder on MacConverter 3) Drop the folder on MacInstaller Open Poser, there it is. There are other utilities who do this, but this way works fast, although sometimes .obj created by Macconverter do not work. This may depend on the settings of Stuffit Expander where you can switch character translation on or off, I have it on and it works. Karl

In "Cross-Platrorm" prefs for Stuffit Expander: set "Convert Text Files to Macintosh Format" to "Never" & you shouldn't have any problems with any obj file. Other then that, Martins' apps will do everything else to make the PC files work, you may just put a referrence to his home page in the read me file.

Thanks guys I appreciate it :)

I stopped using MacInstaller when I noticed .BUM files weren't being moved. Is there a setting I need to fix?

duanemoody, Hmm... I just checked it with a test file, and it worked perfectly fine (the .bum was copied to (Extra)Runtime and the .cr2 was properly adjusted to reference the new copy. If it got a hiccup on your Mac, there could be a couple of reasons: 1) Macinstaller only moves textures which are actually referenced by one of the library files - if the .bum is simply a "bonus" file, it gets ignored. A future version might get an option to "force feed" unneeded textures as well, if you drag them onto it. 2) A file with the same name already exists where Poser expects it - this may happen if the .bum has a standard name which already exists in one of the default folders. Macinstaller looks at the references exactly the same way as Poser does, and if the file can be found it will not install it multiple times again. 3) You (accidently) switched the Texture PopUp to "Source" - doing so will reference the enclosed texture files where they are (eg in the folder that you dragged) but nothing will be copied. Poser will find them there on opening as long as you don't rename them or move them out of the folder. By the way... you may move the entire folder within the same volume and Poser still keeps track, just don't move the files itself to a different folder. If you continue to have problems, please get in touch with me directly and try to tell me exactly which settings/files cause the trouble. PhilC, please feel free to pass on my URL to your customers: http://www.main-rheiner.de/homepage/soft.rabbit If you have any particular questions about it, please write to me as well - I'm pleased to offer you assistance whenever it's needed. Cheers, MartinC

1. Unzip the file with Stuffit expander >> 2) Drop the folder on MacConverter >> 3) Drop the folder on MacInstaller Generally I like to open the file and see what's there, then drag the appropriate things to MacConverter & MacInstaller. There could be other stuff there (like "conditions of use" file, or bonus textures), so I look first.

Thanks MartinC I will do that.

You are too fast, so this gets out of sync... :-) Just thought of one more reason... 4) Very often creators decide to post the bump template rather than the converted .bum (because it compresses much better), so there will be a "something.jpg" or "something.bmp" instead of the "something.bum" which is referenced by a .cr2. This can't be directly handled by the converter/installer, but it is the reason which brought me to write the GraphicConverter filters - just open "something.jpg" in GraphicConverter, run the "Poser4" filter and then save it (selecting ".BUM (Poser)" as format) before you install it - that's it.

doozy, it's good to be careful and it's always better to have a look first - however it should be save to run entire folders through Maconverter, and some of the options (like the MacBinary fix) may affect/repair all sorts of files, including docs, pictures, etc. Macinstaller (as mentioned above) only installs libraries plus files directly referenced by them - any additional textures or "morph target only" .obj's will not be touched or copied.

Martin: I'm cramming MacOS and Metrowerks C++ as fast as I can to write my own version of MTmirror. Any tips? Fortunately, this app doesn't do much graphically besides display a DLOG.

duanemoddy: why dont you ask masa for the source ? Im sure he shares, if you port it to the mac and keep reference to him Karl

I was able to guess his algorithms correctly (I emailed him to verify this); the learning curve here isn't the data transforms, it's the basics of building my first Mac app.

Hi all, This is my first post here so, hi. Just wanted to ask how I can I get a copy of either one of these programs (Macinstaller or Maconverter)? Thank you.

Attached Link: http://www.main-rheiner.de/homepage/soft.rabbit

Welcome to the community. Your CD burner is about to test the manufacturer's MBTF spec.... Saint MartinC's webpage is the attached link: all the software is freeware and EVERY Mac user here uses it. Poser MacConverter will convert back and forth between Mac/PC formats and MacInstaller will install the files into the proper directories (something that PC users get automatically from decoding ZIP files with WinZip). PoserMacConverter is also extremely useful because it integrates the function of OBJActionMover, a utility users built to share figures without sending the copyrighted meshes they're built off. So, if you unzip a file and it has a readme that says you need OBJActionMover to decode the .PCF file, just drop the .PCF's folder onto MacConverter and it'll hunt down the 'seed' file on your computer and decode the .PCF. This'll all make sense before long. Morphs technically don't need to be converted because they don't have .RSR files, but MacConverter is still necessary because Poser's Load Morph Target Open... dialog is unsophisticated and requires the morph's .OBJ file to have the correct type and creator instead of simply recognizing .OBJ files by file extension -- if they aren't converted they won't appear in the dialog box. (Loud raspberry)

Attached Link: http://geocities.com/duane_moody

Sorry, that's "MTBF" -- Mean Time Between Failures. Cheap plug for my own site above: it's got some tutorials, and a slew of prebuilt head morphs for Posette and Vicky.

Right on duanemoody. Thank you for the kind links. When ya get the chance, check out this site: http://www.zacademy.com It is a real cool site that shows a person how to use a very cool product (if you have not heard of it yet) ZBrush. Lots of folks using Poser and ZBrush together. Enjoy. Again, many thanks. IPPED.