Bought PBoost a month or so ago and now have my new PC. It's time to set Poser 4 up from the beginning (using PBoost). So, I was looking for some advice or suggestions from people who have used it (and perhaps from peoplw who wish they had done it differently). Currently, not knowing much about the software, I planned to set up "banks" based on named figures like, M2, M3, V2, V3, etc. The V2 bank, for example would have all clothing that went with V2 (etc.). And I'd have other bank(s) for structures or animals. I figured I could, for example, set up V3 and then save her off, load the M3 bank, set up M3, pull V3 back in, and render my scene...but I fear I am over-simplifying things. Like, for instance, how DO I pull V3 back in? And, if I DO pull V3 back in, will there be any problem in finding all the things V3 (and her clothing needs) such at textures and geometries (since they came from another bank)? So, rather than setting up my Poser 4 to be "controlled" by PBoost in a dreadful way, could some of you share your experience with me? Thanks in advance!

One thing before even starting, get the compatability utility and see if PBoost will operate on your machine. Next, get either the free version or the Pro, pay, version of Correct reference and run it. This will clean up bad texture paths. essential for the smooth operation of PBoost. Your idea on seting up you banks sounds pretty good. Switching back and forth is fairly simple: but since I'm still using the older version I'll let someone running the current version explaine. One thing that I can say, you will not be switching geometries or textures around.

You're spot on the way you want to set it all up. It does take a while to get everything into each of the banks but it's worth it in the end.

What i'd suggest is install vicky & everything that goes with her into the main runtime, then use PBooost to set up a bank with her name, after that it's just a case of clicking & dragging everything into the right places. Then you can start on the next figure.

Once you have everything done, while using poser select the special folder that pboost sets up in the library choose the bank you want & hit the swap bank button & there you have all the things you want to use together.

One other thing to do before you start swapping is grab a copy of CorrectReference & run it on your runtime as this should fix any lockups you might get when swapping banks. ps I'm still using PBooost v1.4, I don't know if V2 is out yet.

Message edited on: 01/20/2005 12:46

I purchased PBoost 1.4.2.19. I have XP Pro, so as I understand it, I can't "switch banks on the fly". But to make sure I understand, I can load V3, put some clothes on, and save her off, exit P4, Pboost to another bank (say, M3), restart P4, and load V3 back up (the one I saved) and render without a problem. Is this correct?

I've done this extensively for awhile. Here is my best suggestion:

If you have Vicky 3, Mike 3, etc., consider having one bank just for each character's INJect and REM Poses, and another for their characters and clothes. Ex:

Vicky3
Vicky3 DAZ
Mike3
Mike3 DAZ
(I'm not sure if PBooost allows a space between words. But yo get the idea.)

Remember Vicky has a very large clothes closet. Also the other characters can get large collections.

You might consider something like this, in addition to the DAZ Pose files:

Character Library

Vicky Characters
Vicky Clothes
Vicky hair

Pose Library

Vicky Poses
Vicky MATS
Vicky Clothes MATs

I've found it's easier to create your Banks first. Before you install a particular item, switch to the Bank where you'll install it.

Ex: To install Vicky 3's Morph packs, switch to the Vicky3 DAZ folder.

Does that make any sense, or help?

Message edited on: 01/20/2005 14:43

Yes, that helps, Bobbie_B, well, 'cept for whatever REM Poses means. "I've found it's easier to create your Banks first. Before you install a particular item, switch to the Bank where you'll install it. Ex: To install Vicky 3's Morph packs, switch to the Vicky3 DAZ folder." Now, this makes sense. So, your suggestion looks interesting but let me check the workflow that would be necessary in: "Vicky Characters Vicky Clothes Vicky hair" Load V3. Apply injections/morphs. Save off. Exit P4. Change to Vicky character bank ('cause I have XP). Load V3 back up from before. Apply one of the V3 characters to V3. Save her off. Exit P4. Change to Vicky hair bank. Load P4. Then V3 again. Then apply some Vicky hair. Save V3 off again. Exit P4... well, you get the idea. So, in practice, does this work well?

yes you can switch banks on the fly. I do all the time with poser and XP. there's just some tips you need to remember. first run Correct Reference / pro. second when you switch banks, switch back to Pbbost in Poser. (Eg: you are in Figures: Vicky 3. if you open Pbooost and swtich banks to your Mike one you'll get a lock. Poser is holding open the current bank. - if you in Poser switch figures to Pbooost then switch to Pbooost and swap banks, since all banks are now closed by poser, it'll work.) it works trust me... ;)

I've been able to switch Banks, back and forth, on the fly, without closing down Poser or PBooost. I believe CorrectReference (CR) goes a long way to making this happen. I'm absolutely convinced that CorrectReference Pro (CRPRo) is a godsend when it comes to getting all those references correct.

CRPRo checks texture references, geometry references, Injection references, and you can set it up to ask what you want to do with duplicate references.

By the way, I used PBooost with Windows XP and the NTFS filing system. They key to getting rid of lockups is to fix all those bad references.

Oh, you probably know that abbreviations are easier than spelling things out. So we have INJect & REMove poses for DAZ (INJect and REMove morphs), etc.

Chuck, in the long run, you know best what works for you. It's always good to get a few ideas and take what appeals to you.

YEs, to repeat in the last post: you need to run CorrectReference Pro when you add new stuff to your Library. If you put clothes on Vicky & save her to the Character Library, you may not be able to switch banks right away.

However, the absolute best solution for lockups is to let CRPro fix your entire Poser installation at the start, then run it frequently after that. By the way, I now use Poser 5 exclusively, and I don't feel a need to use PBooost in Poser 5. But I still recommend PBooost to any Poser 4 users.

Message edited on: 01/20/2005 16:53

Message edited on: 01/20/2005 16:54

Thanks guys. Well, if there's one theme that's apparent, I need to spring $35 for CRPro (smile). As to assistance and suggestions? Sometimes people will mention a way of doing something that never even occured to you. Or suggest a slight improvement to what you are planning. Glad to hear there is a "workaround" to "hot-swapping in XP with NTFS".

If you've not already, check www.hogsoft.com for info, and an explanation as to the cause of the need for CR/CRPro - basically it's an unfortunate interaction between NT/2K/XP software protection and a bug in Poser (written for Win9x), and affects other applications as well as Poser - e.g. some Win 2K's own network file transfer routines ;-).

One thing to bear in mind: the Poser installation itself is full of bad texture references. I noticed a bunch of calls for "pict" textures, when they were really "tif" files. Then there is the P5 Boy's watch, which has a missing texture. Poser keeps looking for these textures, and hangs things up. Now add all your new Poser content, and you just have more complications. In Poser's case, what you don't see can hurt you.

I never thought to check the main poser5 runtime until you mentioned it B_B & found loads of dodgy references, thanks for the info :)

You're welcome.