I had to reinstall my runtimes. I hated it. it took forever!!!  By the time I was one quater the way through I needed a retread on my mouse finger!!!

I wrote a program to do it for me so I could sip coffee and watch the computer do what they are meant to do i.e. do stuff for you!

I thought others might have the same problems so I am making it available free, gratis and for nothing. All I ask is a "hey, I'm using it" email.

It installs content delivered in zip files or the newer Daz installers and it endeavours to tidy the readmes into one folder too. It will install one, two or HUNDREDS of content ZIP files or Daz installers all in one go.

http://www.hud.org.uk/installer.zip

Try it, I love it!

wouldn;t it be far easier to just back up your runtimes on DVDs, and then just copy them from the DVDs back onto the system?

With multiple runtimes, management is far easier then using one massive runtime.

Gareee,

Of course. And I do have many small runtimes... but I wanted to reorganise them and this was my solution. Delete everything and reinstall into many (new) runtimes.

Cheers!

ah.. that makes good sense then.. and I'm sure there are people who will benefit from this!

Hi. Thank you. I can't wait to check this out. I was in the process of reorganizing my runtime and I made a mess of it. I think I need to re-install but I could not face the task.

Some time ago I had dumped all my geometries and textures into the main runtime because Poser could not find them in the many seperate runtimes I have even with search set to "deep" but then I tried to move the geometry and textures back into the seperate runtimes so I could use some clothing and texture conversion utilities that couldn't handle this set-up and I made a big mess of it.

Now I have all the geometry and textures back in the main runtime and the other runtimes set for absolute paths but it is all a mess and I am running out of memory and need to cull my runtimes or better yet just re-install them judisciously. I may have to wait till I get an external drive to back-up on since all this would be hell to back up on CDs.

I am curious, does your Daz installer unpacker dump to seperate folders or to the main runtime? I would sure love an app that would dump the Daz installers into seperate folders so I could zip them and archive the zips. The zips would be easier to manage then these .exe files I can't look into.

Purely of idle curriosity, why don't the earlier Daz installers work with your app? Can you explain to a lay person what these Daz installers are anyway?

In ancase, thank you so much for sharing. I have always wanted something that could batch run Daz installers.

Quote - I am curious, does your Daz installer unpacker dump to seperate folders or to the main runtime? I would sure love an app that would dump the Daz installers into seperate folders so I could zip them and archive the zips. The zips would be easier to manage then these .exe files I can't look into.

Purely of idle curriosity, why don't the earlier Daz installers work with your app? Can you explain to a lay person what these Daz installers are anyway?

In ancase, thank you so much for sharing. I have always wanted something that could batch run Daz installers.

Well, I hope it helps for you. To answer your queries, it will install to any folder you wish. All will come clear when you read the readme included with the program, but briefly, you set up a list in test file of all of your different runtimes (they need not exist before you runt the program) for example:
D:RuntimesV4
D:RuntimesProps
C:Program Filese frontierPoser 7
Then, you put the install files that you want to install to a particular one of the above runtimes into a folder and run the program. You choose which runtime this run is for and let it rip.. 

The reason it cant deal with earlier Daz installers and what a Daz installer is:
A Daz installer is the thing you receive from Daz when you buy something from them. Its like a normal program installer with a wizard interface etc. Daz have had several of these over the years each with a slightly different wizard. My program runs the installer and then drives the wizard interface automatically. It has to recognise each wizard page so it knows where it is and what button to press next. If it doesnt understand the wizard, because it is one of the earlier Daz installers it "gets confused" and stops. (actually, it only pauses and lets you take over that particular install, after which you can continue with the rest).

I use mostly V4 so I have mostly the newer, most recent installers, I could make it work with the earlier stuff from Daz but it simply takes time. If anyone really wants it then I will do it.

Cheers

Thanks very much for this. I'm hoping to replace my current rig fairly soon and starting with some fresh runtimes sounds like a good idea!

Thank you, will give it a go. :)

I am thinking about this thing, the runtimes file organization of libraries by file type and storage of resources has not made sense since Poser 3. Now I have a muddle of runtimes where the geometry is either in the Geometries or a Library sub-folder. The textures are in hard to track down cryptically named Texture sub-directories, and even major vendors will have parts of a scene in Figure, Prop, Pose and Materials sub-folders that have inconsistant folder names.

What would be radical would be an application that by-passed the need to install in a linked runtime at all! An interface that would let you load content into a scene from sub-directories of contant as downloaded or un-zipped into folders containing their own individual runtime structure. Could you imagine clicking on an un-compressed product runtime from an explorer interface and having figures, props and poses available in one window!!!

I could just organize my content external to any runtime and have the app read the geometry, textures and  .cr2s into the scene on-demand. I wonder if this could be done by the app loading the runtime sub-directory from the product folder into a Tempoary Runtime such as the "Downloads" runtime, setting up a content tab, and then clearing that runtime at the close of the session if desired. The only thing I would want is for the loader to allow one to browse from a directory tree and even better to have a thumbnail display and a file search feature.

Maybe a system where at the start of a project you could drag copies of the content you intend to use and it would be automatically set up as a temporary project runtime you can delete when you are finished with it. I was doing this manually for a while but got lazy about it and allowed my runtime to get clogged up and massive.

Could you imagine having just the main figures installed in runtime and be able to load everything else only as needed?

I think ockham's freestuff Loader.py comes closest to working this way... I used it extensively PoserPro through Poser 6 but have been using the Library tab since going to Poser 7. Before that I used to have to swap out runtimes on P4.

Quote - I think ockham's freestuff Loader.py comes closest to working this way... I used it extensively PoserPro through Poser 6 but have been using the Library tab since going to Poser 7. Before that I used to have to swap out runtimes on P4.

Not come across this freestuf loader.py... can anyone point me at it please...

Quote - Thanks very much for this. I'm hoping to replace my current rig fairly soon and starting with some fresh runtimes sounds like a good idea!

Hey! Karen! How's Sheffield?... and how are you?

Facing eternal runtime re-org and installing mayhem, I am game to try out this app.

Whoopsie - there is re-distributed content in that one ??

Quote - Whoopsie - there is re-distributed content in that one ??

What do you mean? There is no content in the zip file at all...

I have got High Tension for V4 included in my unzipped item. 

When unzipped, the archive has a folder called runtime in addition to all the other files there.  There are poses and the cr2 files.  Is this supposed to be there ?  If yes, then my mistake.

edited for typos.

Sorry, I cannot find any content in the file. Here is a DIR listing of it:

DIR /s

 Volume in drive C has no label.
 Volume Serial Number is BEB4-60BC

 Directory of C:Installer

06/11/2007  11:06   

 Directory of C:InstallerInstall Files

05/11/2007  15:18   

 Directory of C:Installertemp

05/11/2007  15:18   

     Total Files Listed:
               7 File(s)        804,078 bytes
               8 Dir(s)  90,247,462,912 bytes free

edited for typos

Can't explain that. Sorry. Its not in my file.

No worries.  Sorry to cause you the distraction.  I can't explain it either.

Cheers.

Very odd. No problems. Good luck if you decide to try the program... I will help any way I can.

There's nothing untoward in my download, either... It would be useful to have support for older DAZ installers, since those are the most pain to use. The earliest ones start searching your disk for your Poser installation and have to be cancelled. Later ones don't do that, but they default to your Poser directory and have to be rebrowsed every time. No pressure, since this is a freebie, and you may not even have examples of every DAZ installer out there - but as a thought for later enhancements, it would be appreciated.

I do have one or two of the older installers... I will have a go at adding that. Will post back when done.

Hey EnglishBob,

Quote - It would be useful to have support for older DAZ installers, since those are the most pain to use.

Done. Well for 4 earlier types of installer. New version is 1.1 and is available at the link above.

Have fun, let me know how you get on please.

Darn, now I have to install some of those old Platinum Club freebies. :) Thanks, I'll let you know.

This is an outstandingly usefull tool -  works perfectly with early daz installers - even runs under '98! This will really be usefull in the future. espically with daz content.
 
Thanks very much for creating this programme.

Quote - This is an outstandingly usefull tool -  works perfectly with early daz installers - even runs under '98! This will really be usefull in the future. espically with daz content.
 

WooHoo! Thanks for the feedback. Glad it is useful!

I made a very small update to add spotting a couple of more readme names.

Link is sill as above.

Another small change to increase reliability. V1.1.1 at original link

Umm... well so far about 150 people have downloaded this. I wouldn't mind some form of feedback. Only mrsparky above has said anything so far (thank you mrsparky!).

Any comment at all would be appreciated, good or bad as long as its helpful.

Please... ?

I have a major installing spree coming up, when I can face it - but I gave it a quick whirl on a couple of zips and a recent DAZ installer. All seemed to go well. I "installed" to a temporary folder anyway (no distrust implied, I do that anyway so I can put library files where I want them). One question though: when a DAZ installer has a choice between (say) DAZ|Studio / Poser 4 / Poser 5 etc., how does it know which option to choose?

Quote - I have a major installing spree coming up, when I can face it - but I gave it a quick whirl on a couple of zips and a recent DAZ installer. All seemed to go well. I "installed" to a temporary folder anyway (no distrust implied, I do that anyway so I can put library files where I want them). One question though: when a DAZ installer has a choice between (say) DAZ|Studio / Poser 4 / Poser 5 etc., how does it know which option to choose?

Hi, it always chooses "Poser (All Files)" which seems always available. That's why it is just for Poser content. 

I could have a go at reporgrammin it to choose "Highest version of poser content". i.e.  Poser 6 then Poser 5 Then Poser 4 depending on what is available. 

An alternative would be "Highest starting at Poser 6" or "Highest Starting at Poser 5" or "Highest starting at Poser 4"  or "Poser (All Files)" or "Daz|Studio"

Thoughts?

I downloaded it. Had some compressed files I wanted to run through it.

It only gave me three options. "V4", "Props" and "Poser7" and no browse button to select another destination. I don't even have V4 or Poser 7 so it came down to the process of elimination.

I read the readme files carefully, especially step 5 and I have no clue how to use this...

From the readme file: "2. Edit the file runtimes.txt. Make one line for each of your runtime locations. Use the full path to each location and check it carefully. There are three example lines in the file. Just edit them as you require."

Damn my bad eyesight! :)

With all the sales going on I've really put this one through the paces and no problems.  It's been a real blessing.  Thank you!

Thank you!  I was dreading installing everything I got during the recent sale at DAZ.  This made it a snap!  Works great so far.  I haven't tried any zip files yet, though.

Is there a limit to how many files can be installed this way?

A big thanks for this great and extremely useful little program!  I'll drop you a note when I've had a chance to use it.

Yeah, OK, I can say that I tried installing 3 things, two were for V4 and the other was some environment-related item. 

The app asked me where I wanted to install the V4 items, and I told it to put them into the folder called "V4 use".  It installed accordingly, with readmes in your default location. 

No issues.

I would take care about the temporary folder though.  I think that extra stuff was cached there (inadverdently for the original distro), and that's how I could see it.  Apart from that, can't see it working incorrectly.

Quote - Thank you!  I was dreading installing everything I got during the recent sale at DAZ.  This made it a snap!  Works great so far.  I haven't tried any zip files yet, though.

Is there a limit to how many files can be installed this way?

Only limit is your disk space! LOL. Thanks for the feedback. I'm glad its helped. I use it myself even for individual files!

Quote - Yeah, OK, I can say that I tried installing 3 things, two were for V4 and the other was some environment-related item. 

The app asked me where I wanted to install the V4 items, and I told it to put them into the folder called "V4 use".  It installed accordingly, with readmes in your default location. 

No issues.

I would take care about the temporary folder though.  I think that extra stuff was cached there (inadverdently for the original distro), and that's how I could see it.  Apart from that, can't see it working incorrectly.

hi infinity10,

Thanks for the feedback... Was strange that. Maybe I will mod it to delete the temp folder when it finishes.

Quote - With all the sales going on I've really put this one through the paces and no problems.  It's been a real blessing.  Thank you!

themomster,

Thanks for the feedback. Glad it helps!!

This is wonderful!  I'm one of those people who keeps only the figures installed in the P7 runtime, and I create a runtime for each project I'm working on.  This little program just made that SO much easier!

Thank you!

Beth

Beth,
I'm really pleased it helps. I love it too, even though I do say so myself! LOL

And thank you for your feedback too!

New version. Version 1.5 is out. 

Added the capability, in the case of DAZ installers)  of selecting the version of Poser you want to install for.

Added the capability of installing for D|S too instead of just for Poser.

Use the original link in the first post.

Have fun.

Adrian

p.s. Beth, I never thought of doing what you do (the runtime per project), cool idea! Real easy, as you say with this program

It keeps thing more organized because I'm usually working on four or five projects at the same time!

Thanks again.  My life is easier now! 

Beth

I'm installing my content on a new laptop and taking the chance to further organise my runtimes too which means installing from scratch. I've installed to 3 different runtimes so far and everything has gone smoothly. Thank you very much for this useful utility,

Quote - I'm installing my content on a new laptop and taking the chance to further organise my runtimes too which means installing from scratch. I've installed to 3 different runtimes so far and everything has gone smoothly. Thank you very much for this useful utility,

Janl
Thank you VERY much for your feedback! Glad it helps.
Adrian

Tiny update to make it a little more reliable with some Daz installers 
New version 1.5.1

Download from the link in the first post.

Cheers

As always, any feedback most appreciated

I also seized the moving to a new PC to organize my runtimes new (still at it).

Would love to see a program do it, but I think there's no other way than unzip (or run the exe) and than tediously rename and move all the newly installed stuff to the right folders. For example, I name the texture folders exactly like the product name followed by the creator's name. Originally they are often named first after the creator or they are in a subsubsubfolders like "texturesmilleniumfiguresfemalefiguresV4MollystexturefilesKarlotta" and so on. Never to find again. In my V4 runtime these textures would be in "texturesbodykarlotta_Molly". I know that Poser has probably to look a moment longer after the textures, when applying the MAT pose, but I find them in a moment too, if I want to change something.

The same applies to all folder and item names. If I would't rename and reorganize them after installation, I would drown in cryptic subfolders and never find the stuff again. Example: "props!!!fritz3drecreational propsM3 sportsBasketball" goes to "propssportBasketball_fritz3d".

Quote - I also seized the moving to a new PC to organize my runtimes new (still at it).

Would love to see a program do it, but I think there's no other way than unzip (or run the exe) and than tediously rename and move all the newly installed stuff to the right folders. For example, I name the texture folders exactly like the product name followed by the creator's name. Originally they are often named first after the creator or they are in a subsubsubfolders like "texturesmilleniumfiguresfemalefiguresV4MollystexturefilesKarlotta" and so on. Never to find again. In my V4 runtime these textures would be in "texturesbodykarlotta_Molly". I know that Poser has probably to look a moment longer after the textures, when applying the MAT pose, but I find them in a moment too, if I want to change something.

The same applies to all folder and item names. If I would't rename and reorganize them after installation, I would drown in cryptic subfolders and never find the stuff again. Example: "props!!!fritz3drecreational propsM3 sportsBasketball" goes to "propssportBasketball_fritz3d".

I so wish I had your patience!!!

I just found this thread and the programme, so it might be some time before I can use it.
My problem is I have a new PC (Quadcore) which is running Vista 64 bit, and about a hundred million petabytes of runtime to rebuild (at least that's what it seems like after two weeks of slow progress - LOL!)
Unfortunately, Vista 64 bit does not like installers of any kind (ESPECIALLY Victoria 4.1, though V4.0 is okay), so I'm just hoping your programme will help with the simple stuff.
Don't expect me to post back too soon, though, as Vista frequently proves uncooperative.
Frank

ps: And just transferring the Poser 6 and 7 Runtimes from my XP Pro system to the Vista system doesn't work, as Vista uses a different file hierarchy. I tried it and it made such a mess I had to re-install Vista, which took almost five hours just to run the Setup file on the 1 Tb hdd.