I have, over the years, developed a very nice way to handle my nearly 40 GB of Poser models using a current 22 runtimes.
(I know about P5, P6 runtimes, Hogsoft's runtime utils, etc-HEH! I've tried them all...) Pro-Pack is 100% RELIABLE for importing Poser models into Vue and my runtime switching only takes a few minutes- primarily WAITING for Poser to
LOAD (during which it RE-SORTS the new runtime lists...)

Attached Link: http://www.senosoft.com/news.php

Now- I don't even have to switch my RUNTIMES- I just quickly zoom to those files in that runtime- using VISUAL THUMBNAILS (RSR or PNG) and click "SEND TO" using PRPC's Python Utility that creates a tcp/ip socket
as an intermediate transfer mechanism to Poser.

Be sure you get the latest Python Plu-In (1.8) from Sensoft. SEE LINK:

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

NOW- If this could be done directly into VUE...???!!! Wouldn't THAT be great?

"Poser Remote Proceedure Call" (prpc) can be HAD on The LINK above...

I've never used VUE. Is there a macro/programming language built into it?

Attached Link: http://www.e-onsoftware.com/Products/vue5infinite/?Page=12

E-On's Python Library is somewhat up to Poser's level- I think- maybe someone else out there knows what level Vue's Python Library IS at... But there sure are FEW if ANY Python scripts available for Vue 5. With all the great promises of PYTHON in VUE- almost NOTHING has happened from what I've seen...

Tromnek - your Python Script for use with P3DO is the GREATEST thing I've seen in a long time- as it is a HUGE time saver! I still can't believe this is finally possible!

Now- if only this could be done with Vue directly- loading VOBS, MATS, etc from a P3DO selection...

Since PP2's are just STATIC files anyway- and very much like VOBS- this would be a HUGE time-saver and fantastic utility for loading all the PP2 Props out in Poserland
DIRECTLY into Vue! Wow, what a GREAT FEATURE that would be!
--Things like RDNA Trees and Plants come immediately to mind...

If the python interface in VUE is sufficient to do what I'm doing in poser, then; A client module could be created to to rewrite the PP2 to a temporary PZ3 file, load it then erase it.

You might want to contact the author of P3DO right here at 'Rosity going by the username of YARP. Send him a PM with the request. You never know what may come of it!

I did IM Yarp. He and Tromnek have already worked together with the PD3O to Poser link. I know almost NOTHING about Python versions- so I don't know if VUE's Python is up to the task- but I suspect that it IS based upon some other Python threads I've read... I think being able to load PP2's DIRECTLY into Vue would be a HUGE asset and feature! I think E-ON should do whatever they can to help also. The VUE Community really needs a Python Wizard to FINALLY make some use of Vue's Python capabilities. Ockham has made a MAJOR difference in how many people use Poser because of his Poser Python GENIUS. Having a Python WIZARD like Tromnek working with Software WIZARD Yarp to enhance VUE's Workflow would be a MAJOR step FORWARD for VUE! (Finally we are getting somewhere with Python in Vue!)

Veritas777: But you do have to have your runtimes in your LibraryPrefs.xml, if I'm not mistaken, otherwise the obj/texture-files are not found. At least that happens when I load the library stuff with my little import tool (which is, I guess, the same basic stuff Tromnek does). martin

That's why I prefer Poser PRO-PACK for all my Vue imports.
Everything imports cleanly and perfectly every time! I've been doing this since Vue 4 (and before there was a Poser import to Vue 4. In fact- I was trying to get E-On to support Poser Import YEARS AGO! I also encouraged YARP to support VUE files several years ago. These things really take TIME!)

Because I use Pro-Pack- I NEVER have any quirky import problems. The vast MAJORITY of what I do in Vue is-Landscape and Architectural- so I don't need P5 or P6.
I have P5- but I almost never use it. I process my Pro-Pack renders in Photoshop and Painter ANYWAY- so I don't need any of the P5 or P6 "features". It's been a very good process for me and how I like to work with 3D renders.

And- Pro-Pack has no WEIRD files to worry about...

But this direct import from P3DO ALSO works in P5- and probably in P6 (but I don't know as I don't use it.)

Message edited on: 11/15/2005 15:00

Sure it does - thank you for contacting me. Tromnek is working on a new version of the script that will also allow to save current scene from Poser (as a prop, hair, scene, figure, Pose,... you select what you wish). So you won't need the library palette anymore. ...and latest P3dO has a "Stay on top" option so that it can stick above Poser. I've good contacts with e-on software I'll ask them if there's a chance we can open Vue files in Vue with their Python engine. Didn't knew Vue had a python engine, this is marvellous. But I didn't got exactly how you want the props to be converted in order to load them in Vue. Can someone explain this to me, again ;) btw I'm currently shipping P3dO 1.7.8 on my website. This version has support for Vue 5 thumbnails. Some Vue Infinite thumbs are not showing but this'll be fixed soon.

btw Veritas as I can see from your screenshots you are using prpc with the send to command. Note that P3dO has a plugin called PoserPyhton (available with P3dO Poser plugins pack) that add a "Open with Poser" command in your context menu. It is just one click less but it is more clean, and it also has filter so that only Poser files are send to Poser. PoserPython comes with a prpc script but you can use the same prpc script as the one you are using with it. This is just for information purpose, both ways are ok.

Hi YARP- Really GLAD that you and Tromnek are "On The Case"! FINALLY I think there is NOW a team effort to actually make things HAPPEN with Python in Vue!!! On the PP2 import concept- the idea is to convert the PP2 into a Pz3 (or Pzz) by just converting the Header Info and making Vue THINK its a Pz_ file. In FACT, of course, you could EVEN import Cr2's this way as well. They would be NON-POSABLE- but a lot of PROPS are in Cr2 format as well. Like the stuff from RDNA and DM, as example. (I buy almost all of those guys Architectural Props- they are GREAT) The only posable thing on an Architectural Cr2 is usually the door or window- and those can be manipulated in Vue just fine. On the "Open with Poser"- I JUST discovered this last night after I made my posts. I didn't know Tromnek's Python script even existed until YESTERDAY. But now you guys know that VUE has PYTHON now... so we are all learning a lot today! Opening Vue VOB files from P3DO is a KILLER CONCEPT! It would be one of the best things that ever happened in Vue! But opening PP2's and Cr2's DIRECTLY into VUE would be FANTASTIC! I think this would really be VERY POPULAR with all the Poser-Vue users out there! By the way- the PRO VERSION of P3DO is well WORTH it! Especially when the December release version comes out...

Attached Link: https://secure.e-onsoftware.com/Products/vue5infinite/trial/

The Latest release of Vue 5 Infinite also has this added-

Improved Python:

Added tkinter library files to allow python scripts to build graphical interfaces.

Improved compatibility with HyperVue,

Corrected several scripts,

Fixed PixelFilter callback function.

Message edited on: 11/15/2005 17:34

I just looked at e-on's website and their product comparison chart. It seems to me that only the 'Vue 5 Infinite' product supports python scripting. Am I correct? Even if this product was more affordable, I'm not sure I would have time for this project (right now). However, the prpc project is all licensed under the GNU GPL and GNU Lesser GPL. So everyone has the right to take the code and make changes to it under the 'liberal' conditions of those licenses. I can of course give technical support to the effort, if needed.

Tromnek- Is this something that you could help YARP do? I know NOTHING about programming- but if Yarp does all this other software stuff for P3DO- couldn't he add this to P3DO with your help?

P3DO only handles sending filenames over a tcp/ip socket. A server daemon (like prpcd.py) needs to be running inside of Vue, listening on the tcp/ip socket for the incomming filename. The server daemon (in this case) is written in the python programming language. I don't think Yarp programs in that language. Yarp could alter a file to create the proper header (pp2->pz3), then send the filename. However, you still need a server daemon running in Vue to get the filename and load it.

Is it possible for some type of "cut and paste"? That is, since your Py script runs under Poser's Python- could its parameters be pasted into a Vue Python Py script? I know you also have an EXE file which, I think, installs an IP Manager of some kind. I think this is a FIXED Socket that your Py script looks for...and if there is a corresponding IP link in Vue... it works? Could you download the V5I 60 day Trial and see if the Vue Python would even work with your Py script?

It's really TOO BAD that the Vue user base seems to lack people who are good a Python programming. It seems like a total waste that almost nothing APPARENTLY is being done with Python in Vue...

I must admit, I'm quite interested in the project. Both for opening VOB files and opening PP2/CR2 directly into Vue. I've always thought that just showing thumbnails was not enough for that cute software. For the same reason I will also add Vue comments display to P3dO - 1.8 in december. And I'm trying to convince e-on to give me enough informations to add Vue files to the new Scene Manager (it's a new tool that show all files belonging to a 3D Scene in the same view). 1st step is to get that demo and then to contact e-on. I'll let you know then what is technically feasable.

YARP- this is GREAT NEWS! I would HOPE that Nicholas Phelps could at LEAST give you an NFR copy of Vue 5 Infinite to work with! I think this would be a total winner for P3DO, VUE, and all the users out there who would love to see this-if only someone would make things HAPPEN! ---YOU are the guy, Yarp. This whole Python in Vue deal is like the "Chicken and Egg" problem- someone has to make some INTERESTING and USEFUL Python scripts for VUE so that it will get "kick-started". BTW- if you make this a "PRO" feature- I'm sure people who seriously use Vue 5 Infinite will pay $30 for a PRO version of P3DO that makes using Poser and Vue a much more productive combination. I use P3DO EVERY DAY and could not do the work I do now without it!

e-on has always been eager to help P3dO, this is why I said they really take care of Vue users (to my point of Vue ;). I couldn't decode Vue 4 & Vue 5 thumbnails without their help. I didn't asked for a free copy, although it could help, because I don't have the time and also because my machine is running out of disk space. Senosoft has to offer me a new machine in 2006, I'm waiting for a new compiler. Then I will install all those softs : Poser, Vue, Bryce, D|S, Shade, Carrara and others that are on the 2006 planning. Anyway the demo will be of great use for this project, thanks for the link. The Python Vob opener will be free since opening a file is a basic feature in every application. The PP2->Vue opener (if I can get it to work) will be in P3dO pro. btw Doesn't a simple "Send to" open a VOB file in Vue ? I also forgot to point out that PRPC is the sole work of Tromnek. All I did in this project is the PoserPyhton plugin which is a thin Windows wrapper to call a script. Of course I support Tromnek the most as I can since his project is one of the best Poser tool, with P3dO of course ;)

I'm at a loss to understand why anyone would invest the time and money into a specialized program for Poser's ProPack. Almost everyone has migrated to P5 or P6 which imports perfectly into Vue. What am I missing here? Also, Vue's Python is actually quite good. I've used it for a number of projects and have written a number of useful scripts with it. The next version of Vue will supposedly have an even more powerful set of Python capabilities that will mimic Poser's mat pose injection system.

Hoaw, didn't got that. Sure it is far less interesting if it is for PPP only. Do Vue import Poser props, figures perfectly ? For the Python engine, a Prpc for Vue would be usefull, ther's no doubt upon this.

The PRPC project works on ProPack, P5 and P6. In fact I don't even have ProPack (very hard for me to test compatibility). I'll try and download the Vue demo and check into the feasibility of a VRPC (Vue Remote Procedure Call).

dburdick- No, of course this isn't for Pro-Pack only. Read the upper part of the thread, or go to Tromnek's website linked above, which explains that it works with P5 and P6. The reasons why I use Pro-Pack (and why many Poser "Old-Timers" use PPP) is that it was the FIRST Curious Labs software to support Python and export to 3DSMAX and Lightwave. Poser 5 came along- and was a NOTORIOUS MESS for at least two years or more, was sold to e-frontier, who FINALLY funded the software fixes to make it workable. But then they promised that P6 would REALLY fix all the problems. And- eventually- they have issued enough SR's to make it all work pretty well. Running CONCURRENTLY was Vue 4, which originally did NOT support Poser (and I was one of the very first people in the Poser Forum to import Poser objs and MATS into Vue and make it work- there was NO VUE FORUM- which I also become the primary advocate for-) But then E-on began to develope a Poser import and finally around Vue 4.1 it was working pretty well. When Poser 5 came along, it was a HUGE MESS again with Poser imports into Vue. By the time those were mostly fixed, Poser 6 came along- and again lots of problems and fixing had to be done. NOW it seems Poser 6 imports pretty well into VUE- from what I here... BUT IN THE MEANTIME- I was using Poser Pro-Pack for YEARS- successfully importing all my project files into VUE and getting LOTS of work done! I invested a lot of time in my own Pro-Pack Runtime library system for my now around 40 GB collection. It works incredibly SMOOTH and always imports everything without any problems! SO at this POINT- I don't want to screw around with importing from Poser 6 AT ALL. For all those NEWBIES that don't know all this software history- they don't understand why someone would use Pro-Pack. But if you check around with the OLD TIMERS in Poserland- you will find most of them keep Pro-Pack as their very HANDY and RELIABLE piece of Curious Labs software (Don't CONFUSE Pro-Pack with Poser 4! Pro-Pack is very different and one of the best pieces of software CL produced up until a stable version of Poser 6.) For anything that requires dynamic hair or cloth (which I rarely do) I would use Poser 6. But I bought VUE, and currently Vue 5 Infinite, because it has all the rendering features and EASE of USE that I want and need. The combo of Pro-Pack and V5I is fantastic- 100% reliable- works EVERYTIME. --I don't need P6 for ANYTHING!

I checked out the demo. It appears that everything is there to create a VRPC server daemon. They appear to have python methods to; load Vue scenes and objects import other content The python installation has networking. I was able to create a listening socket that a VRPC server daemon would need. However, The tk/tcl installation is broken, so I couldn't initialize tk, this is probably a bug, maybe only in the demo. I think if tk/tcl was working that it would be relatively easy to migrate PRPC to VRPC. The PRPC server daemon uses Tk/Tcl for a couple of things. One is for a little window and option check boxes, although they really aren't neccesary. The main thing I use Tk/Tcl is multi-task the server with Poser, allowing both to be responsive all the time. So to do a quick migration for PRPC to VRPC, tc/tcl in Vue needs to be fixed. I would have used 'Threading' for this, but Curious Labs removed that from Poser's python installation. If 'Threading' is available in Vue's python implementation that would be safest most efficient way to go.

Hi Tromnek- Vue 5 Infinite's latest update is 5.08. I don't know if you can download an update with the 60 day Trial- but since you have to register to use it- maybe you ALSO have E-On update access as well (it requires a login). The Latest 5.08 release of Vue 5 Infinite has this added- ************************************************************ Improved Python: Added tkinter library files to allow python scripts to build graphical interfaces. Improved compatibility with HyperVue, Corrected several scripts, Fixed PixelFilter callback function. ************************************************************ ALSO- As a Trial user- you may also be able to put an email into E-On Tech Support and ask them about your Python questions. If not- send me the email request- and I will ask them.

I can't tell what level the demo is. The about screen just says "Vue Infinite 5" I tried the Check for updates button but it says that they are not avaliable for the trial version. I put in a teck-support request. So I'll wait and see. btw. The tkinter library files are there, they just aren't installed properly.

The Python Link has disapeared. Has it been moved? I was notified that there was a new download for Poser 6 and tried to get it down from there Paradise site. Was hoping it might be a cure for the Vue thing. Mine worked fine with Poser 5 but says it is an illegal number which it is not!!!!!!!!! Getting a little sorry about the 6 purchase. Going to try to figure out the free program.

I use P6 -- and it imports into V5I just fine.

However, I am GLAD that SOMEONE has FOUND such a USEFUL utility for VUE python. It all LOOKS interesting to ME. Perhaps I NEED to GIVE P3DO a look.

P3dO is a 3D file manager (not only for Poser) this is why Vue support is important to me.

All can be said about P3dO Vue support is that it shows Vue thumbnails (Vue 3, 4 & 5 - Zip through for the pro version), in itself you could find it very interesting - or not. Because I would like to offer more than this I'm on the eve of adding comments and versionning support.
I also would like to go a bit further and offer a summary of Vue files like I do for Poser but too hard to do at the moment.

Yarp

Message edited on: 11/18/2005 13:48

"The tkinter library files are there, they just aren't installed properly."

If you have a Pythonlib directory containing tcl8.3 and tk8.3 directories, this was missing from early versions, then you just need to move tkinter.py up one level and it will work. If you don't have the lib directory, then borrowing it from Poser 5 works.

Yes, I've seen a couple of....uh......"fight threads" revolving around P3DO recently.

You know what they say: any publicity is good publicity. I'll take a look at the program. I use P6 more often than I do V5I -- but the added Vue functionality is a plus.

Thanks.

Message edited on: 11/18/2005 14:09

You are perfectly right it appears to have been a publicity in the end, however I wouldn't say good. I should promote the soft more than I do, but I'm waiting for the promising 1.8 update for this. One question about that Python loader vs Windows Explorer. Can't you load a Vue file, for example a VOB, by Sending it to Vue (Send to menu) from Windows Explorer ?

"Can't you load a Vue file, for example a VOB, by Sending it to Vue (Send to menu) from Windows Explorer ?" Yes (and no). I tried adding a shortcut to V5I to my send to menu and indeed sending a .vob (or .obj) file launched Vue and loaded the object into the new blank scene. However, if Vue was already running it launched a new copy and displayed the "crash" dialog about "last time terminated with an error". Alternatively, dragging a vob or obj into an active Vue window will add to the current scene. Atmosphere presets can't be accessed by either method. Nor, as you might expect, can materials. -- Mark

thanks jwhitham, I made an init.tcl and tried moving stuff around but it still didn't work. I'm not going to spend any more time on this because e-on tech support got back to me again tonight and said they would put together a new demo with a working tk/tcl installation. It's actually better that I use their installation because I do some nasty stuff with the tk/tcl environment so that multiple python-tk/tcl scripts can run at the same time. thanks again, ken

Tromnek- Glad to hear that E-on is on the case and helping you- and fixing the Python installation in Vue 5 Infinite 60 day Trial. This will benefit everyone, including other potential Python script writers out there that may not currently own V5I- but who might want to try to develope some scripts for V5I. Please keep us updated on this great project. I think it will be an incredibly useful Python feature for V5I!

Thanks Mark, Not that we can see on this thread how e-on tech support is reactive and serious.

Message edited on: 11/19/2005 00:21