Thought I had it all sorted out but got stuck on this detail:

From a user stand point, is it better to encode the whole zip file which then is unpacked in correct places or is it better encoding only the obj file? 
How do either way work with Mac and PC?
What is your user/provider experience of this?

The file has to work for both Mac and PC users, I'll be using RTeJava.
Good and bad solutions, any suggestions will be appreciated.
Thank you guys for your patience.

If you have OSX, odds are very, very good that you won't have to touch any of it. Otherwise, only the .png files need anything (everything else is in ASCII format, and OSX can easily handle the silly Windows CR/LF inserts). It's rare that I even have to bother nowadays. I use a dual G5 Mac here; been using raw PC-only stuff in it without a hassle (or even conversion) for ages now (only the really old pre-poser5 PC-only stuff presents any trouble, and all those are w/ the old .rsr files). HTH, /P (PS: may want to ask in the Macintosh forum too if you'd like confirmation).

I'd say, if you changed only the OBJ, then encode that. If there are several files that need encoding, it's easier to Zip them up and encode the result: but remember to leave your readme unencoded so folks will know what to do. :)

I'm not sure what you mean by encode the zip file, I thought RTeJava worked with the .obj files??? I agree, there is now no source file differences between Poser OS X and Windows. I would suggest that if you're using RTE make a few things very clear. 1. That an additional Software download is required to decode the files. 2. Where to get that Software from, an http:// 3. Where to find those required OBJ files and how to extract them if they're obz's. 4. Where to place the completed files. The first time I encounter RTE it took me weeks to sort out, especially as the content provider just didn't know or care, because I was using a Mac.

Penguinisto, thank you for the useful information.

Quote - I'd say, if you changed only the OBJ, then encode that. If there are several files that need encoding, it's easier to Zip them up and encode the result: but remember to leave your readme unencoded so folks will know what to do. :)

Good points. Just realized I have a bunch of files that relates to my product so it will be better encoding the whole bunch.

I first made an .exe file (installer) cause I figured it be easier on the user but CP (Content Paradise) prefer use of  zip files.

kaveman, very good suggestions. I have made "step by step" instructions with images to show how to go about. I know by experience how impossible it can be when there are no instructions.

So to sum it up (just so I have my thoughts straight around this), the product files are zipped then encoded, then the encoded file and instructions docs are zipped and that zip is the download file.
And this will work for both PC and Mac.

Isn't the RTE utility written under the GPL license? If it is, you may consider bundling the thing and redistributing it (with a small blurb in the README pointing to the URL where it and its source code can be found). Dunno how big it is offhand, though. /P

Quote - Isn't the RTE utility written under the GPL license? If it is, you may consider bundling the thing and redistributing it (with a small blurb in the README pointing to the URL where it and its source code can be found). Dunno how big it is offhand, though. /P

Hmmm... that is a very good idea. I'll contact MkDavis and check if it would be ok with him.
Thanks!

For my part, as an end user, I prefer the entire zip encoded. Helps alot when/if you have to reinstall. I imagine that you can zip the encoded zip file along with the readme and rte utility (should that prove doable).

Quote - For my part, as an end user, I prefer the entire zip encoded. Helps alot when/if you have to reinstall. I imagine that you can zip the encoded zip file along with the readme and rte utility (should that prove doable).

Yes this seem to be the ultimate solution.
I am now putting together the "step by step" image tutorial and so far the files behave as they should. Will then send it to the testers to make sure it behaves also on other computers. Then it ought to be done.  :tongue1:

While it's a good idea to send the RTeJava encoder, I'm not sure it's the same version works on both Mac and PC. If it is then no problem otherwise it could just add to the confusion. And yes .exe's don't work on the Mac, it's very frustration knowing we can use all the files within the .exe but can't get them out.

Quote - While it's a good idea to send the RTeJava encoder, I'm not sure it's the same version works on both Mac and PC. If it is then no problem otherwise it could just add to the confusion. And yes .exe's don't work on the Mac, it's very frustration knowing we can use all the files within the .exe but can't get them out.

Didn't think of that but you are right there are two separate downloads, one zip and one sit.
One could have both versions since they are only around 1Mb but maybe that would only complicate things for the end user?

KISS:-)

Quote - KISS:-)

Considering language barriers I translate that as a :"Yes, that is a good solution."  

On a Mac - will unzipping ("unsitting") directly into Poser directory work?

You know? this is kinda funny, but no... If there's a "Runtime" already there, the new unzipped bundle sits in "Runtime 1", the next unzip will park in "Runtime 2", etc... It's the one funky thing ab't Macs that gets me, in that they kept the old MacOS 'replace' behavior and not 'merge' by default. OTOH, not sure if .sit files exhibit that same behavior (Macs can use .sit and .zip and .rsr and .tar.gz and...) /P

Quote - You know? this is kinda funny, but no... If there's a "Runtime" already there, the new unzipped bundle sits in "Runtime 1", the next unzip will park in "Runtime 2", etc... It's the one funky thing ab't Macs that gets me, in that they kept the old MacOS 'replace' behavior and not 'merge' by default. OTOH, not sure if .sit files exhibit that same behavior (Macs can use .sit and .zip and .rsr and .tar.gz and...) /P

Hmmm...well I can't solve that one so Mac users would have to place the files/folders manually then.

BTW, I am "by default" a Mac user since 1986. Have an old G4 in the closet. Had to start using PC though because of the game creations I begun. Long story...   
As soon as I get enough coins in my bucket I'll buy a new Mac Pentium and use both systems - the ultimate solution.

Did you get my PM?