Attached Link: http://www.mort.net/tromnek/prpc

I've updated the Poser Remote Procedure Call (prpc) project.

This is a Poser-Python project that creates a way to load and save Poser content using external windows applications like, Windows Explorer, P3d0 and Advanced Library.

It works with Windows versions of Poser Pro-Pack, Poser 5 and Poser 6.
See the attached link for the new web pages for this project.

The new version (1.34.22) adds the ability to load Material Sets and Collections. Also new to this version is the ability to save Poser content.

The project also supports 'Client Modules'. Client modules can be seet to run automatically before or after a file is loaded or saved. Thus it can process a file or perform some other operation in the Poser scene.

The following client modules are currently avaliable;

Pose Filter
Filter incomming pose files to apply only translation and rotation to selected figure body parts (partial pose files on-the-fly).

Conform To
Automatically conforms a newly loaded figure (clothes, ...) to a pre-selected figure.

Delete Lights
When a incomming light file is loaded, it will delete all the current lights in the scene before loading the new light file.

Thumb To File
Helper module for windows explorer so that when you send a thumbnail (.png or .rsr), the real poser content file (cr2, lt2, ...) will load.

Thank you! Got it! I use only that (with P3dO) since I found it a month ago and you were so kind as to explain it all to me. Now when you say: "Material Sets and Collections" what do you mean? I wonder if it means I'll be able to apply materials (P5-P6 materials) to the models? France

This has been a remarkable utility since I started using it. Much thanks for your continued work!

Yes, apply or save. You need the latest version (Dizzi gave me the code to load these). Material Sets (.mt5 and .mz5) Material Collections (.mc6 and .mz6)

Please check out the client modules!
I rarely get comment on them and I think they are the coolest feature of the project.

Message edited on: 11/23/2005 23:05

Thanks for your continuing support of this system; I now only use the Poser library palette when I absolutely have to. I must admit I haven't really played with the client modules yet - just force of habit, I keep forgetting to load them. ;/ I wonder if there's some way to load one or more Python scripts when Poser starts, maybe via the preferredState scene?

Wonderful, you have a pride of place on my Python palette and thereafter your client modules! Keep it up and the coperation with P3DO and AL both of which I use. Since all my workflow now seems to involve Python one way or another I have decided to try and learn it myself. When you get 5 minutes (grin) you can sort out Shade! Once again, thank you.

Thank you for the update. I use the script everyday with AL. Poser Filter also gets a good workout ;) As I've said before I'd be lost without these scripts. Very grateful to you.

I am so happy that materials can now be applied from P3dO! After using that combination for a week, I reinstalled everything in my various runtimes accordingly: two libraries only (character and material) with subfolders for other categories within the main library (figure.. poses... props... cameras... etc are together). Now I'll be able to integrate the material library to that folder tree! Youpi! Thank you so much for making life easier! ;o) BUT... I don't know what client module is. ;o(

France, normally PRPC would send the unaltered file to Poser; but it has the option of processing it before sending it on its journey. This is done by additional Python scripts which need to be loaded when Poser starts.

They have to be specially written to "hook" into PRPC. These are the ones that are available at present (quoted from tromnek's post):

*Pose Filter
Filter incomming pose files to apply only translation and rotation to selected figure body parts (partial pose files on-the-fly).

Conform To
Automatically conforms a newly loaded figure (clothes, ...) to a pre-selected figure.

Delete Lights
When a incomming light file is loaded, it will delete all the current lights in the scene before loading the new light file.

Thumb To File
Helper module for windows explorer so that when you send a thumbnail (.png or .rsr), the real poser content file (cr2, lt2, ...) will load.*

Thank you. Ok, now I know what it is, how does it work? ;o) Do I have to apply 2-3 python script each time I need one? To apply the poses to selected figure body parts, would I have to load the python script for it, then select the body part, then apply the pose from P3dO? I'm sorry, I don't understand. ;o(

Once you've run one of the client modules, it stays active in the same way that PRPC does - you only need to run it once. So once you run the PoseFilter module, it sits there permanently looking for PZ2 or P2Z files being applied from P3dO. When it sees one, a box pops up that allows you to select the body parts you want the pose to apply to. Hope that helps - as I said, I haven't used the client modules much so I hope I didn't miss anything vital.

Ah ok! Now I understand! I'll try them then. ;o) Thanks!

Another question... I looked in my prpc folder and there is the pose filter script. But I don't see the conform and the delete light scripts. Where do I get these?

Go to the downloads section at tromnek's page, then follow the link to Client Module development. You'll see the modules on a new page, where you can download them in .py format (not zipped).

Thank you again! ;o) I didn't click on this link before because I thought, since it says "development", it was for programmers. loll (language barrier here)

Hi. I like what I see in the screen shots on the site but not being at all technically sophisticated I can't figure out hoew to get there. Above are the teo files I downloaded and what they look like unzipped. I tried the .py in Poser 6 with the free versioon of P3d0 running but nothing happened. I did not see on the site how to actually get it going... only how to use it once it was I think. Can you describe what I need to do once the files are unzipped? Thanks.

Attached Link: http://www.mort.net/tromnek/prpc/prpc.html#installuseopt

I don't see the contents of the prpc13422.zip file (but rather, Advanced Library). Make sure you unzip the prpc13422 file. :-) You'll have to launch the .exe file as part of configuring your system (but it's a one-time thing -- once you've done it, you won't have to do it again). Each step is pretty much covered at the link. If you run into a problem, post back here where things went astray.

(thanks to everyone for the help answering questions)

EnglishBob re: Auto loading PRPCd.py
Don't try and autoload the server daemon. I tried this with the poserStartup.py and the server crashed. There wasn't a valid scene at that point and the server daemon needs one when it initialized.
Even if this did work, I wouldn't recommend autoloading any python script. If a new version of the script cause Poser to crash you could have big problems. Also, after installing a new service release, changes might cause the same problem.

I updated my web page to warn against autoloading.
I'll work on instructions for adding it to the python scripts palette when I get a chance.

thanks again for all the support help.

I think this stuff must just be beyond me :( but I sure hate the Poser interface. Shown above... this dialog box and nothing happens.

You're getting there momodot. That box tells you it's loaded and let's you configure, if you want or need to. You can minimize that box.

Now. From Windows Explorer, P3DO or Active Library, you should be able to navigate to what you want to load, right click on it, go to "send to" (*) and slide over to the 'ip127.0.0.1port49160' and let go of the mouse button. The file should then load in Poser (see the "Usage" section of the link in my previous post).

• P3DO also has a "Send to Poser" selection, I don't know about Active Library.

Message edited on: 11/24/2005 10:16

Message edited on: 11/24/2005 10:17

It's waiting for you to send something to it. You need to setup windows explorer or P3dO or Advanced Library and send something.

Re auto loading: Another problem with autoloading using PoserStartup.py is that the poser script has to run for the whole time that your Poser app is running. Due to the way poserStartup itself is called, there is no way to safely end the loaded routine, as the routine you loaded is essentially Poser to the OS, so anything you do to it - like closing it - impacts Poser too. You can fudge it so it doesn't actually kill the Poser task, but that results in a modal dialogue box coming up with a serious sounding error message, which you have to manually close to allow Poser to proceed. Not elegant. So until/unless CL/EF change the way poserStartup.py itself is called (to spawn rather than start it?) using poserStartup.py to load an external rountine is a no-no.

There is a tutorial on the Daz site somewhere for adding extra button banks to the Python Palette:- http://www.daz3d.com/support/tutorial/index.php?id=1224 Then you can have easy access to all the scripts.

PabloS, thank you. I will try this when I can get back to my home machine. I had expected an "explorer-type" interface, I had not realized I should open a real "expore" window and use "send to" to load. This is a clever set up. I like it. I'll be back to let you know how it went :) I will look at the documentation again and try but can I load any sort of Poser content with this "send to" set-up? Thanks again.

Attached Link: http://www.mort.net/tromnek/prpc/prpc.html#issues

*"...but can I load any sort of Poser content with this "send to" set-up?"*

As I recall, the only limitation is files be uncompressed and you can't load pz3 scene files (in P6). It would also be a good idea to look at the "Limiatations, Bugs, and Issues" section (at the link).

Note to tromnek: In your limitations on P6, I believe you mean to say "You should not load documents/scenes (pz3 files) thru the server daemon." (not pz2).

Uncompressed scenes (pz3) Only. Everything else can be compressed or uncompressed. I'll try and make this more clear on my web site. Thanks PabloS. I just made your correction to my web site.

To be free of those libraries!! Thank you! -------------------------- I have the following OS question regarding WindowsXP if you don't mind going kinda OT: 1. How do I clean-up (remove items) from my "send to" choices? 2. How can I get rid of top level "open with" items, that is items in the main right-click menue not the "open with..." sub-menu? How can I move items to the "Open with..." sub-menu? 3. Is it possible to set folders to "Thumbnail View" as a folder default on my system so I can see the Poser Thumbnails without having to switch views? -------------------------- This is so much faster than the P6 libraries and I like navigating by the "explore" folder tree. It is a really great application! Thank you.

1. Open explorer and go to c:documents and settings%user%send to (where %user% is the name you're logged in under. You'll find shortcuts in this folder representing each of the send-to targets. Just delete the ones you don't want. 2) Fiddly - you usually need to dig through the registry - not recomended for the feint-hearted or inexperienced 3) Set the current folder to thumbnail view. Open the Folder Options... dialog from the tools menu. Click the view tab. Click the Apply to all folders button. Click yes on the pop-up message. Now all folders will default to that view. -- Mark

And to get back on topic, I've been using PRPC with P3DO for the last couple of weeks and I don't see me ever going back to the old way of doing things. So much faster and easier. Highly recommended. Thanks for writing this tronmek (and yarp for P3DO). -- Mark

Thank you Mark. Those items were a big help. I have not figured out P3DO, do I need the paid for version to use it to load content to Poser? I can't really get much from the free version but viewing library contents and converting between .png or .rsr I have not successfully managed to use it to view mesh or load content. How can I get it to load content --though I am very happy with PRPC I must say--? Thank you for your patience.

(back from thanksgiving dinner)

The free version works fine. You need to download their 'Poser Plug-in Pack'. Install it, then read their Poser Python Help
(?->About Plugins->PoserPython)
for instructions on setting it up to send files to PRPC for loading.
The current 'free' version doesn't support saving files, but it will soon.

There is another library browser/organizer by Dizzi called Advanced Library which also supports this PRPC.

I tried the client modules this morning but I must be doing something wrong because none of them works for me. ;o( That was the bad news. The good news is that the material apply nicely via prpc now and this is what is most important to me because I can put all related files in the same folder+subfolders. Ok, the conform script: I clicked on the conform script to activate it then I choose the piece of clothing I want to load in the scene and conform to the figure already there. Nothing happens. The clothes load but it doesn't conform. The pose script: it applies the gestual poses just the way it did before, nothing different. Applies them to the whole figure and I don't see a question or anything. The delete lights script: it froze my Poser the first time it encountered a light file that didn't already include a "delete existing lights" inside. So what have I forgotten to do? Thanks.

There should be a check box to "enable" each module. This way you can turn it on and off. Also with "Conform To" you need to pick a figure to conform the stuff to, before you load the clothing. Delete Lights I don't understand what you mean. Can you explain it again.

I don't see any check box. When I click on the scripts in the python main menu, it doesn't do anything. In P3dO, when I load a conforming figure to the scene, it loads it but does not conform it. When I apply a pose, it applies the pose to the whole figure and there is no check box there either. Where is the check box supposed to be? For the lights... Many light set already delete the existing lights before applying the new (RDNA lights all do that) and when I load a RDNA light with P3dO, it works fine. But I applied a light set that would not have deleted the existing lights if I didn't use prpc delete lights script. In that case, it freezes my Poser and I have to alt+ctrl+del it. I tried twice with 2 different light sets that normally would not delete existing lights before applying the new lights and I got the same result.

(btw. What version of Poser and service release are you running) Let's try the PoserFilter client module. After you have started the server daemon PRPCd.py Run the Poser Filter client module. Make sure you have a figure loaded and that it is selected. You now should see additional items in the server daemon's window for the PoserFilter client module. There should be an 'Enable' checkbox. Check it so that the client module is enabled. Click the 'pick body parts' button. You should see a window showing figure made out of buttons for the various body parts. Click a button to select/deselect parts. Green buttons are selected, Red buttons are not. Now load a Pose (pz2 or p2z) file into Poser using P3dO. Let me know how that stuff works (or doesn't). I'll need to look into the delete light thing. Are any of the light sets that bombed a common light set? Maybe I have it and can use it to test.

One more thing. Are you running the server daemon that comes with P3dO or the one from my website? The client modules might not load unless you are using version 1.34 of the server daemon (PRPCd.py). The latest 'Pro' version of P3dO has version 1.34, in the plugin pack. The latest free version of P3dO does not yet have the 1.34 version.

Okay that's the part I was missing. I thought that just by clicking on the script in the Python main menu in Poser it was enabling the script. I never thought of looking at the prpc main window that was already in the taskbar. ;o)) So now the lights work. The partial poses work. But the conform script doesn't work. I tried with different figures and different clothing items and I always get the same result: a popup error message that reads like this: "You need must select a figure to 'Conform To'. Cannot proceed with 'Conform To' operation." And not only it does not conform to the figure but it renames the figure with the name of the clothing item with a #2 at the end if the model is named Figure 1 in Poser. In the screenshot, cp1-dress 2 is Lina and cp1-dress 1 is the dress. If I load the dress by itself in the scene, it has the name cp1-dress 1. I hope this helps you help me. ;o)

Good for the first part. Now for Conform To. In the 'Conform To' section of the server daemon window: There is a list box that should show all the figures in the scene. This list box is only updated when you move your cursor to that list box. So if you load a new figure you need to move your cursor to the list box for the list to update. First, Load Lina. Now, go to the list box for the 'Conform To' module. Select (click once) the entry for Lina. Make sure 'Conform To' is enabled (using the checkbox). Now, load the dress using P3dO. (you will get a confirmation prompt if you have 'with confirmation' checkbox checked for the module) It should have auto-conformed to Lina. I don't understand the 'rename'ing issue. That should not happen. The client module doesn't do anything with renaming stuff.

Everything works just fine now. Again I was selecting Lina in Poser instead of looking in the menu for the script. I understand real fast but you have to explain for a long while. ;o) And now that it conforms, it does not rename Lina either. Thank you so much for your patience AND for the great scripts!!! France

No problem. I think you will find the client modules can be really handy. That's why there is an 'Enable' checkbox, so you can load them once and just turn them on and off as you need them.

I'm sure I will. I use only prpc and P3dO now to work in Poser and it saves me about 80% of the time spent on a scene! I love it!

I keep getting the following error message. What isn't set up properly? I'm using Poser 6 and WinXP.

Joe

---

Traceback (most recent call last):
File "", line 1817, in ?
File "C:Program FilesPoser 6RuntimePythonliblib-tktkMessageBox.py", line 87, in showerror
return apply(_show, (title, message, ERROR, OK), options)
File "C:Program FilesPoser 6RuntimePythonliblib-tktkMessageBox.py", line 75, in _show
return apply(Message, (), options).show()
File "C:Program FilesPoser 6RuntimePythonliblib-tktkCommonDialog.py", line 49, in show
w = Frame(self.master)
File "C:Program FilesPoser 6RuntimePythonliblib-tkTkinter.py", line 2249, in init
Widget.init(self, master, 'frame', cnf,, extra)
File "C:Program FilesPoser 6RuntimePythonliblib-tkTkinter.py", line 1750, in init
BaseWidget._setup(self, master, cnf)
File "C:Program FilesPoser 6RuntimePythonliblib-tkTkinter.py", line 1725, in _setup
_default_root = Tk()
File "C:Program FilesPoser 6RuntimePythonliblib-tkTkinter.py", line 1487, in init
self.tk = _tkinter.create(screenName, baseName, className)
TclError: Can't find a usable init.tcl in the following directories:
{C:/Program Files/lib/tcl8.3} {C:/Program Files/lib/tcl8.3} C:/lib/tcl8.3 C:/lib/tcl8.3/library C:/library C:/../tcl8.3/library ../tcl8.3/library

This probably means that Tcl wasn't installed properly.

Message edited on: 03/22/2006 11:37

It (probably) means that Poser 6 didn't get it's python stuff installed properly. Was this a fresh install of Poser 6 or did you 'copy' it from a previous installation? Or, Do you have the 'real' python installed? If so, maybe the you have a 'path' setting that is overiding Poser's configuration.