Does everyone put their Poser Models in the Poser "Runtime Folder". And if so then do you just backup the "Runtime Folder". With other 3D applications I usually like to keep all related files for one project in one folder. Is this even possible in Poser 6? I guess my dilemma is I don't want to scatter all my files in the Poser Runtime because i don't want the Runtime to be Gigantic in size and unmanagable. I want to back up each project individually. Is this possible in Poser 6 and if it is how and where do I put my Poser Files? For example If I download a Poser file named Helicopter, can I place these files in a new folder and name it "Helicopter Runtime" and place this file anywhere on my computer and access it from Poser. Will this work? and if not is there a good way to back up each project individually?

I put my charcters in a runtime called "People", except for the DAZ characters, they get their own runtime called "DAZ", my clothes in a runtime called "Clothes", animals in a runtime called "Animals", props in a runtime called "Props", etc. I can't see any reason you couldn't have a runtime devoted to helicopters called "Helicopters" if thats what you want to do. Just create a folder called Helicopters, put a runtime in as subfolders and then link it to Poser 6 by clicking the checkmark at the bottom of the library list.

Sorry but I am not getting an answer I am after. Maybe I am not explaining myself very well so I will try again. In the Poser Application there's a folder called "Runtime" and in this folder there are folders called: Geometries, Libraries, Textures etc. Well when I get a new Poser or Daz model it asks me to put the .obj files and material files into their separate folders within this "Runtime" folder. My question is this: Let's say I have downloaded a Gorilla for e.g. and I put all the files in their respective folders within the main "Runtime" folder. Well in the "materials" folder there may be hundreds of other folders with materials for other characters and animals. This will make it practically impossible to find stuff. Lets say I want to backup only the Gorilla files. I will have to go looking through all the various folders within the main "Runtime" folder and try and find all files relating to the Gorilla. If I have not used a particular file for a while I may not even know which files are related to it. So is there a way to organize my files so I don't have to go searching through all the "Runtime" sub folders for the files I want to back up?

Sorry but I am not getting an answer I am after. Maybe I am not explaining myself very well so I will try again.
In the Poser Application there's a folder called "Runtime" and in this folder there are folders called: Geometries, Libraries, Textures etc. Well when I get a new Poser or Daz model it asks me to put the .obj files and material files into their separate folders within this "Runtime" folder.

But what I am saying is you don't have to have just this one
single runtime folder. You can create several runtime
folders, each with its own geometry, libraries, and textures
subfolders in it.

So is there a way to organize my files so I don't have to go searching through all the "Runtime" sub folders for the
files I want to back up?

There are probably lots of ways, but for me the way that works
the easiest is to just create several runtimes so
I don't have to wade through one huge runtime.

Lets say I want to backup only the Gorilla files. I will have to go looking through all the various folders within the main "Runtime" folder and try and find all files relating to the Gorilla. If I have not used a particular file for a while I may not even know which files are related to it. I don't know of a tool which will do this. I organise all my download zips and installers into subfolders and back up those instead.

You can have a seperate Runtime folder for each and every Poser prop, figure, hair, light, etc. Or you can maintain Runtimes that are TYPE specific (i.e., ALL Michael-related (or whichever figure) items, ALL animal-related items, ALL vehicles, ALL SciFi items, ALL set & scene-related items, ALL items by a specific creator, ad absurdum, ad infinitum).

Of course, you're may want to pull your hair out trying to find what you want IF you categorize them too variedly (trust me on that). But by and large you can make as many Runtimes as you have capacity to store them.

Gorilla Runtimes and Helicopter Runtimes notwithstanding :)

Message edited on: 05/21/2005 06:03

Addendum: Were you to create a Gorilla Runtime (for example) for an item set that includes a Character file, a Prop file, and a Pose file (plus Geoms and Texs), and load it as an "External Runtime", Poser will assume by default that it must "fill in the blanks" and create the missing file folders for Light, Hair, Hands, etc. even if these folders are unnecessary. So don't be surprised if you see these extra file folders. Makes for some extranous folders, but thats just the way it is.

Attached Link: http://www.renderosity.com/messages.ez?ForumID=12356&Form.ShowMessage=2075638

Attached Link: http://www.mort.net/users/krm/dist/poser/prpc

I like to organize stuff just like you want to. There are few issues doing this with Poser that make it difficult/impossible. One is that Poser's library interface will only show you the standard library folders (then any folder below them). Also it filters what files it shows you based on the folder (Figures folder will only show you cr2 and crz files). Another issue is that obj and texture files are often reference relative to the current runtime folder. You will need to hand edit some files to make absolute paths for them. I have a method to load Poser content using external windows apps (windows explorer, P3dO explorer). It takes care of the first issue, but I still need to keep many textures and obj files in the runtime structure. (see attached link) Using this method I now create a folder (i still keep it in the runtime structure) for each of my characters that holds the base cr2 file for the character, pz2 files for morphs, hr2 for it's hair, and some of their favorite clothes, props and poses. This method also allows window's shortcuts (.lnk files). So I actually create shortcuts to the above mentioned content. This doesn't really help with backing up. Only with organization and a single point of access. I've seen some stuff on backing up all files referenced in a scene file (pz3). I think SenoSoft's P3dO Explorer is working on plugin along those lines.

Please see diagram: I have made a diagram of my Runtime. You all said I can make additional "Runtime" folders. What is the proper naming convention for this? Obviously if I just called the new runtime folder "Runtime" this would overwrite the existing "Runtime" folder in Poser. My question is twofold: Using my Gorilla example, can I name the new runtime Gorilla Runtime? and do I put the folder Gorilla Runtime into the master folder in Poser named "Runtime"?

I have a folder called PoserRuntimes. Inside this I have a folder called Fantasy, another one called People, etc. One for each seperate runtime. Inside of each category, I have a folder called Runtime. It is necessary that it be called such. Using your diagram, you would need to create a folder called Runtime inside your Gorilla Runtime folder that is located just under your Poser 6 folder; not your runtime folder. As far as utilities to help transfer files with their related content, there is one called Poser Organizer here in the marketplace that does a decent job. There are quirks with Poser 6 though, it seems. It doesn't seem to copy any external morph files.

Glad to see you're on the OSX :)

Put the External Runtime ("Gorilla Runtime") anywhere you like, with respect to the abovementioned overwrite exception. It can be ANYWHERE. But for clarity's sake, don't put it INSIDE another Runtime, that could just get confusing. You can have your external Runtimes on CDs, networked Volumes, external HDs, DVDs, flash drives, etc. Just reference said volume when loading (+) a new Runtime. It DOES NOT have to be inside or anywhere near the Poser program.

I have an entire 80GB external FireWire drive devoted to P5, P6, and external Runtimes. I keep P5 and P6 side by side, in their own respective folders, as installed by default. In addition, I have a folder containing a series of external Runtimes (called "Poser Runtimes"). I name them thusly*, "Michael2 Runtime", "Michael3 Runtime", "Creatures Runtime", "Animals Runtime", "Objects Runtime", etc. Within these folders is the actual Runtime (i.e., the nested Library folders, Geoms, Texs) for whichever theme/genre/character. I even have seperate Runtimes for the character specific poses. When one Runtime becomes oversized and unwieldy, make an addendum.

I load the Ext. Runtimes as necessary. No need to have a V3 Runtime loaded if i'm not intending to use her.

*"Runtime" does NOT have to be part of the enclosing folder, but I use it to distinguish the significance of the folders and to maintain the internal path integrity.

One important note: INJ/REM poses need to stay within the MAIN Runtime. BUT, aliases seem to work fine in that regard. If you have an external V3 Runtime, you can load the INJ/REM poses into it, and make aliases of them to be placed in the appropriate spot in the MAIN Runtime.

In any case, if Poser has trouble loading the file, it will almost always ask you for directions.

Message edited on: 05/24/2005 04:54

"...and to maintain the internal path integrity." By this I mean, I do not rename the enclosed Runtime folder.

Thank you all. Your advice were extremely helpful. Thank you oilscum for answering some mac questions.

Oilscum, "One important note: INJ/REM poses need to stay within the MAIN Runtime. BUT, aliases seem to work fine in that regard. If you have an external V3 Runtime, you can load the INJ/REM poses into it, and make aliases of them to be placed in the appropriate spot in the MAIN Runtime." What are INJ/REM poses?

INJ/REM poses are a way to keep the figures as small as possible. You can INJect morphs or REMove morphs with these. These are used mainly by DAZ and the Mil figures like Victoria 3, Michael 3, David, etc. One note, what oilscum said about placement of the INJ/REM poses used to be true. With the newer figures, and with the current version of Victoria 3 it is no longer necessary to keep them in the main runtime. This is true with Windows anyway, don't know about Mac.

Please help me figure out what I did wrong? Using Poser for Mac 1. I created a folder on my hard drive and named it "POSER RUNTIMES" 2. I then dragged a folder called "Millenium Horse Bundle" into the above folder. so here's my folder order: (Macintosh Hard Drive > POSER RUNTIMES > Millenium Horse Bundle > runtime) 3. Now I opened the Library in Poser 6 and clicked on the add + content button and browsed my hard drive for the folder "POSER RUNTIMES" to load this folder and all it's content into Poser. Question: In step 3, Why, when I clicked the add content button did only the "POSER RUNTIMES" folder come in but none of it's content? Why didn't the Millenium Horse Bundle folder and all it's content come in?

In step #3, you need to browse to the Millenium Horse Bundle folder to load it in.

Always browse to the folder immediately above the folder called "Runtime".

Example, mine is something like this:

Poser RuntimesFantasyRuntime
Poser RuntimesSciFiRuntime
Poser RuntimesPeopleRuntime

etc

Message edited on: 05/24/2005 18:46

Yes, Jcleaver is exactly correct. As for INJect/REMove poses, they are the morph poses that manage the higher flexibility of all the DAZ Unimesh figures (V3, M3, SP3, etc). Without ANY of them loaded, you have significantly less control over the figure's physical attributes. Unlike Dork, Posette, and all figures prior, the Unimesh figures allow you to load the morphs as necessary. IF all the morphs were loaded by default, V3 would be in excess of 100 MBs. I have not tested whether P6 Mac needs the aliases, and so I have maintained the alias INJ/REM pose system, because I have no need to fix it. The actual files are still where they need to be, and the aliases take up hardly any HD space. Funny how we all nest our extra Runtimes in a folder called Poser Runtimes :)

FYI - I do mine like this. cheers, dr geep ;=]

Before your answers were in I phoned Poser and they said exactly the same thing as you did. I need to select the folder above the runtime folder. Thanks again for everyones help.