After using Poser for several years, I have collected a huge amount of content in 489 runtimes (each several hundred MB, if not GB, in size !) - and that's still growing.

I have tried using various runtime management utilties, but each has its own quirks and falls short of perfect. With 489++ runtimes, the new content management library tab in Poser 7 is still fairly tedious to set up manually.

After thinking about it, perhaps it could be possible to write an XML utility to manage the LibraryPrefs.xml file.

What I am getting at is this: instead of manipulating which runtimes to load inside of Poser7 via Library GUI, could there not be an extra layer of runtime management utility which can then switch among LibraryPrefs.xml ?

In other words, I can have one LibraryPrefs.xml for just environments, another for all the girlie stuff and female figures, another for just the hunky guys and all their weapons and vehicles, and another for creatures and animals, etc etc.

..... Or am I missing something here ... ? Should I tweak the content management library section in an XML editor manually ?

I don't know how to code for XML - could try. Did read up a bit about it, but don't really understand the innards of the coding.

So - LibraryPrefs.xml switcher application. How about it ?

How about this: a stand-alone application that shows a tree of your libraries, and you can checkmark what libraries you want in the coming Poser session?
Shouldn't be too difficult to write in .NET (so it will be Windows only, alas).

That would certainly be very helpful, but since Poser7 WinXP version can only refer to one LibraryPrefs.xml at a time, there needs further meta-level automation - perhaps a way to "swap" different versions of the LibraryPrefs.xml file itself ( I figure that part would still have to be done manually).

There is a similar concept in Semidieu's Shaderworks (SW) application, but the manual adding of Poser runtimes requires some prior organisation of runtimes so that the application can find then at the right "depth" of folder levels.

  Have a look at the Poser Python Scripting forum..... in the box at the top, they have a wishlist and a link..... either, or both might help. Lou.

Thanks, will do so.

Any time. Lou.

I suspect Semidieu is the best starting point.  He's been doing great
things with XML.  Maybe you could ask him directly in the P7
forum at RuntimeDNA.

I know how you feel, evey time I need something I spend time looking and looking and looking for the mod. even a database to keep info on all of my stuff would be nice. Something with pictures and a search.

Can any one help us...

Advanced library at http://neocron.lunarpages.com/library will to the job

that site don't work

I find Poser Advance Library and Shaderworks, plus 3PDOExplorer all very useful apps.

What I am proposing is a file manager utility for a group of different LibraryPrefs.xml files, each of which specifies a different collection of runtimes.  Semidieu has responded in the Poser Python thread for this item.  Might be interesting to see what develops.

Cheers, All.

http://www.neocron.lunarpages.com/library/

It works just fine, but it's easier when a link is clickable. I have the misfortune of having to use IE at work, and its uber-clunkiness makes it quite difficult to select text. Then you have to manually copy and paste into the address bar. Ugh. I love Firefox :)

Back to the matter at hand, I agree with the recommendation of Advanced Library. It's everything you wish Poser's library could be.