Hi all,

I know that a CR2 files can be opened in Notepad, but I keep hearing reference to hacking a PZ2 and OBJ files. Where can I find more information on how to do this? 
I also know that files can be modified using Python, again that would be something good to know. Can somebody point me to a post or tutorial?

Thanx in advance

Obj files cannot be opened with a text editor.  That file contains the geometry for your model.  You would need a 3D modelling program to open that.

Attached Link: EditPad Website.

Quote - Obj files cannot be opened with a text editor.  That file contains the geometry for your model.  You would need a 3D modelling program to open that.

Wrong!  Wavefront .obj files are text files.  I wouldn't recommend 'editing' the geometry in a text editor (unless you really know what you're doing it there for), but they can be opened in a  text editor for sure. :)

I wouldn't use NotePad for Poser files.  They tend to be very big (10's of MB).  NotePad chokes on these regularly. EditPad or UltraEdit are much better for text files of this size.  Also realize that compressed Poser files (crz, ppz, p2z, ...) are zlib compressed and will open as gibberish in a text editor.  You must first decompress the file to text-edit.  I use WinZip - drop the compressed file into it, drag the decompressed file out, and away you go.

Really??  I had no idea!!  Well, obviously, I had no idea or I wouldn't have posted as I did.  That's interesting.  I might have to play with that idea a bit.

I modify OBJ's all the time, not to change the geometry but to change the names of groups, or make changes to the material references. I have modified the geometry in OBJ's before, to do scaling and that sort of thing, but I usually have written a program to do it, rather than trying to do it by hand.

I use a text editor called Lemmy, which is a Windows version of the good ol' Unix editor vi. It can handle quite large files, but I don't really recommend it unless you know vi in the first place. It is definitely counter-intuitive for people used to Windows-type editing.

Ditto Captain Jack.  If you're going to build models for Poser, you'll have to edit
some OBJ files sooner or later.   Poser's way of using Groups and Materials
doesn't agree with most 3D modeling apps, so you'll often need to change 
Group or Usemtl lines to get the desired combination of body parts and materials. 

Manually editing the numbers in the OBJ file is definitely not advisable; I use
Python for a few 'batch actions' like offsetting or centering, but it's usually best
to let the modeling app take care of the vertices and facets.

IMO EditPadLite is the stormtroopers on your poser-battlefield. edit: @Victoria_Lee btw - say, what's the better about Pro? is it worth it?

in OS X, BBEdit is highly recommended for editing cr2, pz3 and obj files. n.b.: always use the "save" command, and never the "save as" command.

Quote - IVictoria_Lee btw - say, what's the better about Pro? is it worth it?

Bigger files, color coding for html, asp, python ... I think it's worth it but I'm prejudiced.

Quote - in OS X, BBEdit is highly recommended for editing cr2, pz3 and obj files. n.b.: always use the "save" command, and never the "save as" command.

Seconded!  I used to own BBEdit with my first Mac, but sold all of my software (licenses) with it.  Since then, I haven't repurchased only because I do most of that type of work on Windows with UltraEdit.  But I purchased it specifically because it handled these files.

If you're on a Mac and don't want to buy BBEdit for whatever reason, TextEdit will open uncompressed Poser files. It's slow, but I have worked with it successfully. I suppose one could also run vi via the Terminal, but all I have to say to that idea is ACK! (I'm not very good with vi anyway.)

If you prefer to not view your files as a huge mess of plain text formatted to look like programming code and requiring herculean amounts of scrolling, you might want to check out CR2Builder. It uses a tree view to make editing the relevant parts easier, and doesn't load any morph deltas into memory to keep things running smooth, even with huge PZ3/CR2 files. It also has many Poser-specific time-saving features that simply don't exist in other editors, since it was written specifically for dealing with Poser's file types.

Quote - If you prefer to not view your files as a huge mess of plain text formatted to look like programming code and requiring herculean amounts of scrolling, you might want to check out CR2Builder. It uses a tree view to make editing the relevant parts easier, and doesn't load any morph deltas into memory to keep things running smooth, even with huge PZ3/CR2 files. It also has many Poser-specific time-saving features that simply don't exist in other editors, since it was written specifically for dealing with Poser's file types.

CR2Builder Rocks!  I use it daily.  And EditPadPro (light is more than adequate too)

When I have to edit a Poser file, I usually use Metapad, although for quick editing of .cr2 files, CR2Builder is my first choice.