on the horizon for D|S? I've got the last update and most of the plug-ins...where do we go from here? I personally would like to see a "universal" file structure, like the one for Poser so I don't end up with nine billion little individual files that I can't find anything in. Perhaps some new expansions on universal adaptabilities? I try to read the DAZ D|S forum but I can't find a darned thing in there...too much chaos...so I come here for logic and reason.

What do you mean by a universal file structure?

I hate to keep referring back to the competition, but Poser has an established, easy (once you get the hang of it) file structure that allows depositing individual files in grouped folders. I've noticed that D|S insists that everyone has their own file, which makes looking for individual objects a real problem at times. Also, there are the occasional file groups that want to install an entirel new "runtime" rather than place their individual objects into established files. If I'm looking for a particular texture, I should be able to go to the textures folder, look up the name of the producer/creator, and access that texture. As I said, I hate to keep referring to Poser, but that type of structure...

One of the problems is that DAZ has given its own PA's very little guidance on library structure, even when specifically asked to do so. For Poser formatted content, we continue to use Poser rules, but for DAZ|Studio native files, it's a free for all. My first product was just released with a D|S specific set of files, and I followed the format that was used for the base content that comes with the D|S download. I think that DAZ assumes that it doesn't matter, as most users will eventually move files around to suit themselves, and there are no "rules" about where a specific library file can go, as there has been with Poser. As long as you leave the Runtime folder and its contents alone, you can rearrange the Contents subfolders and files to your hearts content, and D|S will still load the content.

The Data folder needs to be left alone too. But I can't see why you'd want a rigid library layout, if that's what you are asking for - people complain endlessly about having hair in the Figure library, and having figures and their mat files (and their material files, if you're using P5/6) is a pain.

I am trying to promote the nested system for library formating the individual figure should be the parent for all files meant for it, so for example: if you buy a clothing package from me for aiko you will know that any studio files for that package can be found in the People/Aiko/Clothing folder. If its hair it will be in the People/Aiko/Hair folder and than textures for that product will be in a subfolder of the product, to my mind this is a lot more organized than the poser system where I am forced to put things in places that don't make sense. and spread them all over the library rather than keep different parts of the same package together.

I think that's basically what I'm doing, too, Will. How are you handling files that apply to more than one figure, e.g. poses and hair? I have a "Multi-Character" or "General" folder in my Poser Runtimes for stuff like that. Would you suggest doing the same for D|S, with subfolders for each category?

well hair has specific fits, and the same with poses, they are designed for specific figures, so I prefer to use the same system putting them under the figure that they are designed for, as far as other things if they are designed to fit people in general than yes perhaps a general folder under people though I will try to avoid that personally, I do use seperate folders for General Props and Environments though if a prop is designed for an outfit say, it really should go with the outfit.