Howdy, I'm a vendor here on Rosity (still relatively new to all this), and I normally create "Props".  I've been expanding my knowledge base so to speak to try and create "Figures".  Now, I've recently converted a "prop" I've marketed here, into a "figure" and in trying to get a better understanding of all this, I had a few questions regarding some of the files it has created in the "Character" folder. 

1. I noticed that in addition to a "CR2" file, there is also a "PMD" file as well as the "PNG" file.  I'm not really concerned about the PNG file as I know it's purpose, rather, I'm wondering if I really need to have the PMD files for my purposes (plan to market for use in P5, P6 and P7 and possibly PPro).  It's my understanding that the PMD files stores the morphs as external binary morphs for my figure externally? Now what importance/benefit does the PMD file have in relation to packaging and whether it's something that should be included in the "packaging" when I zip it up for marketing, as I'm planning on using it for P5 and up?  

1. It's my understanding that PMD files work with P6 and P7.... not P5?

2. If the consensus is that I should NOT use PMD files, could I simply convert my extenal morphs back to internal morphs within the CR2 file by simply unchecking the "Use external binary morph targets" box in the "Misc" section of the "General Preferences" section?  (I imagine I'd have to re-save my figure back into the Figures Library for it take effect?) Once that's done, could I discard/delete the PMD file from my character folder without fear of corrupting my CR2 file (which will hopefully retain the morphs internally now)?

3. I've also noticed that some other figures carry "CRZ" file extensions and was wondering what was the relation/difference, if any to a "CR2" file.  (my current figure only carries the CR2, PMD and PNG files)

I used Poser 6 for all this but intend to package it for use with Poser 5 and above. 

Thanks in advance....

-J

I can't tell you anything about the details of .pmd, but I can confirm that they don't work with Poser 5.

The .crz is a compressed .cr2.  You can deactivate file compression in Poser's preferences, and there should be at least one compression/decompression script that shipped with Poser.  Poser has a compressed form for most of its file types, since P5.  

.crz = .cr2
.pzz = .pz3
.p2z = .pz2
.obz = .obj

etc.

Thanks for the info Cage, I really appreciate it.  :)

PMD files are binary morph data, not compatible with versions below 6 as Cage says. To confirm your supposition, you can incorporate them by unchecking "Use external binary morph targets" and re-saving, whereupon you can delete the PMD file. Compressed file types won't work in Pro Pack or earlier, and compressed OBJ (OBZ) won't work in P5 either. If you uncheck the appropriate preference you can save the normal version. There's also a script in your Python window which will un-compress a file for you. Since disk space is cheap, I don't use external morphs or compression by default; it's easier to use Poser file editors on the "vanilla" P4 compatible files, and possibly easier to recover from file corruption should it occur.

EnglishBob, thank you so much for your detailed info, I really appreciate it.  :)