Okay, so I had to reformat my computer, but before I did I saved all of my DAZ scenes onto a CD. I re-loaded a fresh copy of DAZ studio and now I'm having trouble loading my old DAZ files into the new copy of studio. The errors say things like they can't find certain textures and stuff like that...is there any way I can load them w/o the textures? Just the basic bodies w/o clothing or hair? Pllleeease say there's a way to do that!! Thanks!

The poroblem is that DS dont save all thing in the scene...you need to instal all your stuff again so you can use the scenes again. The scenes work loading the installed stuff from your computer.

 In DAZ there is a folder called data in the content folder. when you
open an item for the first time DAZ puts information concerning
that item or object in that folder. So now that you are opening your
DAZ Scene files DAZ can not see that it has opened that object before.
The easiest way around this is to open a temp scene and load the
objects you need to use save and close. To find out what is not
loading you can read the log.txt file. Load that object in a temp file
save close then open the original file.
I now backup my complete content folder. The readme stuff on a
separate DVD.

Okay, I did that and it worked, thanks!

One other thing...if I were to reformat my computer again, how would I save ALL of my DAZ stuff to a CD or DVD? I want to have it so that I can just download DAZ/Studio from my CD and have it already have my stuff in it. Is that possible? So I don't have to re-download everything all over again?

Thanks, you're very helpful. :)

Also...I downloaded the Millennium Dragon LE from DAZ, then I tried to download the 12 textures for it from here: http://www.cyclopsstudio.com/3D_Downloads.htm. I've downloaded and extracted them all, but I can't find them anywhere in my files and they're not showing in DAZ studio, even tho I directed them to the content folder. Any ideas as to what's wrong? Thanks again. :) :)

I have those. You need the whole set You will find it in pose ( LM_Mildrag )

I  use Nero and burn the content folder to DVD disks. It will take
a few of them. My Content folder is 95 gigs.

My Set up:
Install Bryce/DAZ to your C: drive.
order a maxtor one touch ( found cheply on eBay ) set that up.
Copy the DAZ  Studio content folder to your external drive. Create Folder DAZ and
Sub folder Studio Move content to Studio.

In DAZ  Studio press F2 ( preferences ) go to directorys

DAZ Studio Content Directories  =  E:/DAZ/Studio/content

Poser Content Directories = E:/DAZ/Studio/content
Poser Content Directories = E:/Poser

Other imported Content Directories = E:/DAZ/Studio

Also create a scene folder to save files

Bryce/
         DAZ
         Scene Files
         Render
         Print

In this way If  I Crash my C: Drive I do not loose me files.
My Maxtor One touch is a 750 gig but you can get 250 or 300
I save all my artwork to the Maxtor drive and copy to DVD
Trust me I lost it all once.

Quote - Also...I downloaded the Millennium Dragon LE from DAZ, then I tried to download the 12 textures for it from here: http://www.cyclopsstudio.com/3D_Downloads.htm. I've downloaded and extracted them all, but I can't find them anywhere in my files and they're not showing in DAZ studio, even tho I directed them to the content folder. Any ideas as to what's wrong? Thanks again. :) :)

Be sure you downloaded   LM2003Mildrag_MATS.zip
That will but th set up files in your pose directory

LM_Mildrag

You should see it there

Just a note on the above Doing that will also keep your C:/ Drive frome getting to full.
The more you have on the C;/ Drive the slower it will become.

Wow...this sounds like a good plan, soon as I can afford another USB drive.  I've got a Seagate 120 Gb  external that's a piece of, shall we say, unproductive hardware?  I've complained to Seagate and they said if I'd send the drive and $125.00 US they would attempt to fix the drive.  I paid the same amount for the drive at WalMart, who wouldn't take it back because it had been opened and it's against their policies to allow computers or storage devices to be returned after opening them.

I'll keep an eye out for a Maxtor One Touch...who knows?

Great, thanks for your help, I'll give it a shot!

One last thing...is it necessary to buy the external drive, or can I just save to disks? I'm not going to be doing a ton with it, I just want to keep the basics. Does just saving the content folder keep everything I've downloaded so far?

Dang, the Mil Drag textures still aren't working. I've tried sending them to the Runtime folder and just plain content folder, and I downloaded all of them. I can't figure out why it's not working!

In my experience its faster to save to an external drive or ram stick than it is to save to disks. I have nero and a dvdrw and it often takes forever to do a decent backup.

One thing I keep my eyes on is whether the zipped directories are set up correctly. Some stuff unzips to a god aweful mess.

I downloaded a couple of the files to have a look, and the *pz2 [pose] file is just slapped in the textures folder here:
RuntimeTexturesLyrraMildragLM_mildrag_amberLM_Mildrag_Amber.pz2
That file needs to be moved to an appropriate directory in the RuntimeLibrariesPose directory. He likely has All the pose files in the wrong place.

Oops, I just downloaded the MATs [http://www.cyclopsstudio.com/zips/LM2003Mildrag_MATS.zip] file, and the pose files are in the RuntimeLibrariesPosesLM_Mildrag directory.

I recomend an external drive but you can save your content directory to DVD disks.
In time you will wish you had it on an external drive and DVD's.
My DAZ content folder on my ExDrive is over 150 gigs. if that was on my C: drive
That would slow my computer down some. For me that is important. I run from
a DELL XPS Laptop.

Once LM2003Mildrag_MATS is unzipped you should see a LM_Mildrag folder
in the pose directory.

Oh another idea that helps speed things up I use if anyone wants.
In Figures, Pose and Props ( DO NOT CHANGE ANY OTHER DIRECTORY )
I combine items  For example I will just show V3 You should get the idea
This works great.

Figures
          +!  V3 Clothes
              +StrapTop
              +V3 Dynamic
              +Sagies
              + Conforming
              +and so on
          +!  envirement
               +Sub Folder

Pose
         +!  A3
         +!  SP
         +!  V3
         +!  V4
         +!  V3 Clothes
              +Sub Folders
         +!  V3 Pose
               +Sub Folders
         +!  V3 Skins
               +Sub Folders
         +!!  Objects
              +Sub Folders
         +!!  Wings
              +Sub folders
          +!!!  envirement
               +Sub Folder

Props
       +!  envirement
       +!  objects
       +!  Plants

Well you get the Idea.
It takes a little work but I tell you I don't spend 10 hours trying to
 find that piece of  what ever that goes with what ever.
When I'm working with Akio All I have to do is look in all her folders.

I know I'm rambling
Good luck and good rendering

Combining directories is a really good idea, especially now that V4 has been released. I have scads of directories for everything from V1-V4 and M1 to Apollo Max, not to mention 3rd party stuff.

Yeah, I combine directories too. Um...about the MilDrag thing, I am still really confused. When I downloaded them and directed them to the DAZ content folder, they popped up in runtime. That's all they did...so I tried to move the .pz files back up into general content (isn't that where the regular pose files are?) and they still didn't pop up. I'm not sure what's going on, they're the only files I'm having trouble with. I guess it would help to know where to place each TYPE of file, i.e. the .rsr, .dsb, .bum, .png, .pz2, .jpg etc. I have NO CLUE where any of these are supposed to be, sometimes they just go where they want and I'm not sure which folders they need to be in.

I'm sorry if I'm a difficult case, I just don't understand this yet....lol. Thanks again for everyone's help and patience!

Most content that is not Daz specific should wind up in the Runtime folder. You should be able to locate the link in the content tab of the Daz window, you will see a dropdown list with stuff like:
camera
faces
figures
hair
hands
lights
poses
props

The pose files you want can be selected from the Pose sub directory. I realise this would make more sense if I could include a screen shot but I need to retrieve my imageshack password first :(
If you move pz files from the default directory Daz can't find them. The program is set up to also look for Poser content in Poser Specific Directories which is why NON Daz stuff winds up in a Runtime folder. instead of a DAZ Content directory. Most of the stuff I use is in a Runtime folder in the Content directory.

As to file types:
.bum are bump map files that are used by Poser4. Poser 5 and up use jpgs and whatnot.
.rsr are Poser Icon images for poses, props, figures, etc
.png these are Daz icon files generated when you save content, like poses, scenes, Daz lights, etc. Basically, they do the same thing as an .rsr. Each Pose for example has a Thingy.pz2 and a corrosponding Thingy.rsr or Thingy.png
.pz2 is a pose file found in the RuntimeLibrariesPose directory
.cr2 is a poser character (or figure) file. found in the RuntimeLibrariesCharacter directory This is essentially the same thing as a .daz file (Daz scene file)
.obj This is the object geometry and is found in RuntimeLibrariesGeometry. This is the actual 3d object itself.

Don't worry about the questions, we know it can get confusing. :)

**foxygoddess
**Are the files showing up yet.
**
**

Yes, they're working now! Thanks so much both of you for helping me figure this out. Those screen shots helped clarify a lot! And thank you Madbat for also clarifying what files go where. :)

No prob. I'm glad you have it sorted out!

Your very welcome were here to help :-)

Okay, one little issue. For some reason, when I try to load the Pearl coloration it says it cannot locate the rainbow reflection map (EPB_CRainbowA.jpg) and I have it, but it must be in the wrong place? Also, where do the shared textures go? Currently I have both the rainbow reflection map and the shared textures under Runtime-Library-Poses-LM_Mildrag-Reflection Maps. There's also another set of reflection maps separate from the rainbow one that are the colors I guess, like copper.jpg, gold1.jpg, gold2.jpg and so on. I am having problems getting my gold to show up (it looks just like the amber) and of course the pearl and diamond aren't matching the example image, they look more gray-silver. These reflection maps are located under Textures-Lyrra-Mildrag-Reflection Maps.

I think I just have jumbled files!

DAZ is really picky.  One reason it will never be a professional tool is because content is so hard to manage.  It should be like 3DS Max.  Point to the directory, and it finds your content.  You should have a window that pops up and asks you to specify a folder where your maps are found, or your models, or whatever.  What good is the content search if it doesn't find your installed files?

I just got through reloading my library, and NONE of my files open.  If I have to make a temp file for every bit of my content to open my preexisting files, then it's ludicrous.

I've spent a ton of $$ for content.  And it's just impossible to deal with this.  It works, a little at a time, but it's almost as bad as redoing every file, because I can't remember every piece of content I used for some of my larger pieces.  The really annoying thing, is I used all the default folders, and didn't move anything.  Program should have better coding so that the 'data' is saved with the file, not separately!

I know this isn't anyone's fault here, but I have to rant!  :)

DAZ is gonna get a letter....  :P

ShariaAsen,

I haven't moved anything yet, and from the sound of it, I won't be.

I do totally agree with you, DAZ Studio is one of the worst organised pieces of software - ***ever!

***I keep looking at threads that talk about organising things, but it's so intensely complex to do that, that I just leave DAZ in frustration and stick to making models, rather than trying to create scenes with pre-made content.

This is frustrating since some scenes really don't work without a figure in it...

Plus there's some really nice stuff out there that it would be really nice to be able to use.

I I would try Poser as I have Poser 7, BUT and that’s a big BUT
Poser has no place that I was able to find to tell it where you keep
your Runtime directory.  Mine is kept on an external network drive
as the content is over 300 gigs. I uninstalled it and stayed with Daz.
In my opinion the Daz tree is much better the first plus is that you
can go into Preferences and point to it. If you have a problem Daz
is just an email or phone call away, they are always very helpful.

Can't afford Poser7, have Poser5 - don't like it, feels clunky.

Daz isn't so clunky, but just darned frustrating.

I agree I have Poser 7 I finaly got it to see my files Still Clunky.
I have been using Daz for three years now and I find it alot smoother

Sorry for intrusion, just to thank you, specially LightHorse, thanks to him, maybe some hair will stay safely on my head! I think I have AT LAST undestood, Very intersting post! Friendly, Locus Solus.
(ps: Received this morning V4.2 in my download reset).

You are entirely welcome :-)
Happy rendering

When you get content for use in Studio 90% of the time it is going to be in Poser format and folder layout.  Don't blame Studio for the wonky folder organization.  Study this tut, it is old and doesn't cover some of the newer folders and files in Poser 5-7 but it is still useful.

http://www.morphography.uk.vu/fileguide_1.html

Yes, I agree, most of the disorganization comes from the downloaded content itself going all over the place. However, Daz never had any real kind of structure in place like Poser has with the runtime directory. characters in one designated place, props in another, poses here, textures there etc. Usually when it comes to Daz content, I wind up moving it around, and opening, fixing and re-saving into the new directories I make to organize it all.

Come to think of it, there is a folder template for Daz content here in Rendo Freestuff somewhere.

It is true, the directory of DAZ get's clogged up. I once had enough of it and organized it my way.
Geometries, texture, Figure and so on I organized (inside Main folders) by the figures(V3,V4 and so on). Was a heck of a lot of work(S-Notepad got a damn good workout).

What get's me is from time to time, I get a cr2 or pz2,3 file pointing to a directory, that no way in hell exist. I can understand freebies have this problem, but "expensive" gear?

Lucky that DAZ does not crash when it comes across this problem(cant find the path to something), does poser really crashes, if that happens?

That kind of thing is not supposed to happen, Rendo is supposed to test that before it gets released to market I believe. I can understand if I move something that has a full path specified in a file, then I'm asking for it... but things like texture files, geometry, and deltas should not be moved. but rather saved into their proper directories when making a zip file to upload. Dumping everything into one file for a user to figure out is no help either as you still have to go through a bloody deep search for each item you load, or else give your text editor a workout.  I understand some people have no clue what goes where, and want to share stuff, but there are a lot of people who have used Daz/Poser for long enough that they should know better..that's just sloppiness.
Sorry...that's my pet peeve...rant over.

I've never known Poser to crash when this happens but I rarely use it.

Sorry, Ladies and Gentlemen, it's me again, I have read this topic twice from the beginning to the end, and found that very interesting and instructive. but,

1. I think a good summary could be found in the new banner of the DAZ|studio forum here above. 

2) the only one Character I have bought for this moment at DAZ is aelwen's Vanessa for V4, a very nice character, who came in a bundle containing, sold together, Vanessa + Vanessa dress. And I was surprised to see that the caracter's installers put files (figure, morphs, textures...) in a certain directories, and the dress from the same bundle installed its own morphs, mats, props, textures in directories completely different. I think it's willingfull, there could not be another explanation. As you have perhaps noticed, there is quite no new vendors/products remaining at DAZ. It seems they have all shifted elsewhere.

1. As I explained in a very long post (which I cant retrace, I'm not still easy with navigation in this gigantic forum) I have opted to a radical solution to this problem, (a Gordian-knot solution) which is to install only the stuff I need for my scene. This idea came to me while watching a 30 minutes long video  tutorial where I notice that 80% of the tutorial duration ones see the tutor navigating along kilometric directories to pick some stuff he needed and 20% of duration only to work really. Guess he makes the same thing when he works in the real, so you can get an idea of his productivity. 
   So I spent not few times to organize with accuracy, not my files, but my installers, managed in comprehensive directories, each product with the .mht (IE7 save file of DAZ-site page) the .jpgs (images samples), and the .EXE (installer). 
   considering that a DAZ installer runs within 10 seconds, I install in few minutes all the stuff I need on a cleaned (5Gb) disk-partition (H:), regardless of any kind of subdir, all with NO uninstall, and clean all D|S other preferences-lookup. H:, only H: always H:. , the stuff, the scene, and the renders. Once my scene is finished, I backup this entire partition on a cd and format it. (quickformat, less than 1 minute). So I have no longer any problem, an no longer any contact with this directory hell. That is not THE solution, but that is a solution. If you think that it is stupid, don't hesitate to tell it, I'm a beginner, so I can hear strong thinks without grimacing.

I just wanted to thank you, and to say at last: when you have no longer problem somewhere, just make a step forward, and soon you will get back your dear worries. For me these have the name of CARRARA.
Friendly, LocusSolus.          

Quote - That kind of thing is not supposed to happen, Rendo is supposed to test that before it gets released to market I believe. I can understand if I move something that has a full path specified in a file, then I'm asking for it... but things like texture files, geometry, and deltas should not be moved. but rather saved into their proper directories when making a zip file to upload. Dumping everything into one file for a user to figure out is no help either as you still have to go through a bloody deep search for each item you load, or else give your text editor a workout.  I understand some people have no clue what goes where, and want to share stuff, but there are a lot of people who have used Daz/Poser for long enough that they should know better..that's just sloppiness.
Sorry...that's my pet peeve...rant over.

I've never known Poser to crash when this happens but I rarely use it.

It does not happen that often (wrong path to directory, mainly the mat_ pos file for textures is the culprit). I did not changed the main structure of the directorys. Morph/Deltas I didn't touched at all.

But in the for example inside the Geometries directory, I createt folders by the figures name(A3, V3, M3 and so on), inside that one a folder like Dresses, Ancient etc. The same I've done inside the Main "Folders"(Textures,Figure, Poses, Props). The downside is, lots of editing cr2's and pz's files!

At least now I got everything for each Figure/Prop, only a click away, without shifting through "hundreds" of folders to find one item for a figure. Some vendors sadly name their product (add ons like texture maps files/folders, they choose a name, which hardly points to the product it was made for) after installing you wonder, "what was this one for"(Unless you only had one item to install)?

With Poser crashing, when it cant find the path to something, I read on the DAZ and Rendererotica forums. I don't know if it's true or not.

Quote - Sorry, Ladies and Gentlemen, it's me again, I have read this topic twice from the beginning to the end, and found that very interesting and instructive. but,

1. I think a good summary could be found in the new banner of the DAZ|studio forum here above. 

2) the only one Character I have bought for this moment at DAZ is aelwen's Vanessa for V4, a very nice character, who came in a bundle containing, sold together, Vanessa + Vanessa dress. And I was surprised to see that the caracter's installers put files (figure, morphs, textures...) in a certain directories, and the dress from the same bundle installed its own morphs, mats, props, textures in directories completely different. I think it's willingfull, there could not be another explanation. As you have perhaps noticed, there is quite no new vendors/products remaining at DAZ. It seems they have all shifted elsewhere.

1. As I explained in a very long post (which I cant retrace, I'm not still easy with navigation in this gigantic forum) I have opted to a radical solution to this problem, (a Gordian-knot solution) which is to install only the stuff I need for my scene. This idea came to me while watching a 30 minutes long video  tutorial where I notice that 80% of the tutorial duration ones see the tutor navigating along kilometric directories to pick some stuff he needed and 20% of duration only to work really. Guess he makes the same thing when he works in the real, so you can get an idea of his productivity. 
   So I spent not few times to organize with accuracy, not my files, but my installers, managed in comprehensive directories, each product with the .mht (IE7 save file of DAZ-site page) the .jpgs (images samples), and the .EXE (installer). 
   considering that a DAZ installer runs within 10 seconds, I install in few minutes all the stuff I need on a cleaned (5Gb) disk-partition (H:), regardless of any kind of subdir, all with NO uninstall, and clean all D|S other preferences-lookup. H:, only H: always H:. , the stuff, the scene, and the renders. Once my scene is finished, I backup this entire partition on a cd and format it. (quickformat, less than 1 minute). So I have no longer any problem, an no longer any contact with this directory hell. That is not THE solution, but that is a solution. If you think that it is stupid, don't hesitate to tell it, I'm a beginner, so I can hear strong thinks without grimacing.

I just wanted to thank you, and to say at last: when you have no longer problem somewhere, just make a step forward, and soon you will get back your dear worries. For me these have the name of CARRARA.
Friendly, LocusSolus.          

Your way I think, is another solution to the "clogging up" problem. Just with me, I usualy get a bit carried away with some scenes. Like: "Something is missing in there, doesn't feels right." So I add a "few" more props/figure to the scene.

If you know upfront, what sort of scene you wanna create, your system is perfect. But what happens, if you "need" to add something to it?