Hi,

I’m Ben Margolis with Rocketship Software. We have a major new Poser Utility for you. It’s called PzDB: The Poser Library Database. 

It’s a Microsoft Access 2007 Database and it’s the first Poser Library Manager that does all the work for you. 

It AUTOMATICALLY organizes your Libraries into Groups: A Victoria 4 Group, an Aiko Group, a Superhero Group, any Groups you want! 

It AUTOMATICALLY finds related Items for you! Select an Item of Clothing, it finds the Materials and Morphs! Select a Character, it finds all the poses. Really. 

It has a powerful Boolean Search Engine with Saved Searches, so you can Load your Victoria 4 Group, load the presaved Search Pattern for Hair, and BOOM:  All your Victoria 4 hair! Not just the HR2 hair objects, but the CR2 Conforming Hair Characters too! And the hair Props, hair Materials, Dynamic Hair, even POSES that make hair for other characters FIT Victoria 4!! 

You have to see it to believe it, and best of all: YOU CAN! IT’S FREE! 

You can download a Fully Functional 30 Day Trial of PzDB right now!
(And before you ask: Yes, it comes with all the Microsoft Access 2007 components you need, and they’re free, too.) 

Its in the Free Stuff Section or just go to www.RocketshipSoftware.com/pzdb

Where there are screenshots, a walkthough, FAQ, and of course the Free Trial Download (There is a short questionnaire before the download, because to make PzDB better, we need to know a little bit about how our users use Poser.) 

We look forward to hearing from you about it. Please post any comments, questions or even reviews right here in this thread, or contact our Technical Support team directly. 

We know that Poser Library Management has been a big problem for a lot of users for a very long time. We’ve solved that problem and hope we have made a major contribution to the Poser Community. 

I can’t wait to hear from you.

Ben

Edited by bobbystahr to avoid confusion re: the Free part.. ...

THE REVIEWS ARE IN:

" I've downloaded Pzdb and am completely blown away by it! This is what I've been waiting for! ... the program appears to be a dream to use, and I can't wait to begin experimenting with loading stuff into poser from my DB screen! " 
Doug R.

" I downloaded your PzDB program, and I'm very impressed with it"
Dave P.

A couple of questions:

Is it possible to include non-Library files, like .pz3's, .obj's to import, D|S files, readmes?
Is it possible to export data, like a list of items used in a particular project?

You're a little ahead of us with the "non-Library files, like .pz3's, .obj's.."  but we're working on that. (hint: version 2)

As for exporting data,  you can export any Group or Search Result as a Poser Collection, what else did you have in mind, and please be as specific as you'd like.

Ben
Rocketship Software

Hi Ben

Wonderful program! This is exactly what I've been needing to organize my content (over 10gigs) and it works!!! I've already rediscovered content that I had long forgotten about.

Just a side note, I did have to install twice, the first time it said something about the shdocvw.dll file, but everything went great the second time through :) 

Again, I just love this program and would highly recommend it to any Poser user! I can't wait to play with all this stuff I forgot about - It's like christmas all over again!

Cheers!

Renderholics

Quote - You're a little ahead of us with the "non-Library files, like .pz3's, .obj's.."  but we're working on that. (hint: version 2)

As for exporting data,  you can export any Group or Search Result as a Poser Collection, what else did you have in mind, and please be as specific as you'd like.

Ben
Rocketship Software

Things like exporting a .csv file of items used in a particular project for documentation.  I suppose that since it's an Access database you can easily do that sort of thing if you have Access 2007 anyway.  Is all the info, tags and cross-references abnd all, stored in a single database?

I also wanted to ask -- it seems you can provide a list of keywords to match any one of, and keywords to use to exclude items -- can you do a search for items with all of a set of keywords?

My problem with it would be that it's a 30 day free trial. Then it would cost me a pretty penny that I don't have and I'd absolutely want the program...sob. But I will try it out and see...sigh.

"I also wanted to ask -- it seems you can provide a list of keywords to match any one of, and keywords to use to exclude items -- can you do a search for items with all of a set of keywords?"

That would a Custom Group. (if I understand you)

You would create a New Group, go in to Keyword manager and add all the keywords you want. Then any Item with any of those Keys are automatically in that Group, From there you might want to use a search to reduce the Group even further

Ben
Rocketship Software

PS Thanks for your input on that CSV export thing, we'll work on that.

Quote - >"I also wanted to ask -- it seems you can provide a list of keywords to match any one of, and keywords to use to exclude items -- can you do a search for items with all of a set of keywords?"

That would a Custom Group. (if I understand you)

You would create a New Group, go in to Keyword manager and add all the keywords you want. Then any Item with any of those Keys are automatically in that Group, From there you might want to use a search to reduce the Group even further

Ben
Rocketship Software

PS Thanks for your input on that CSV export thing, we'll work on that.

Not sure I'm following -- I want a search to find only items that have ALL the chosen keywords.

Oh!

Check the FAQ about using a boolean a  AND,  i.e. the asterisk (*) wildcard character.

It works, but in our tests, it seems you're likely not to find all the Items you're looking for. More in the FAQ.

hth
Ben

I've been having a weird problem adding external runtimes -- I can't add runtimes and have them show up as different runtimes in the list -- it shows whatever I last named it, which has everything, and Downloads as the only runtimes, and only the most recently added runtime has .pngs, although all the other items are there without ,pngs.

Quote - I've been having a weird problem adding external runtimes -- I can't add runtimes and have them show up as different runtimes in the list -- it shows whatever I last named it, which has everything, and Downloads as the only runtimes, and only the most recently added runtime has .pngs, although all the other items are there without ,pngs.

Thanks for your comments, we did just notice a bit of an interface problem with the Importer.
You were adding everything to one PzDB Library.  I think you'll find the new build to be a lot better.

Please check out www.rocketshipsoftware.com/pzdb/Update10010.asp

hth
Ben
Rocketship Software

The update helps immensely!  One problem and a few questions:

Problem:  Within D|S, if there is a D|S script (.ds/.dsb) in the Poser runtime with the same name as the poser file (e.g. .pz2), D|S knows to run the D|S script instead of the poser file when you double-click it.  If I use PzDB with PRPCDS, D|S runs the poser file instead of the script.

And the questions:

1) Is the Downloads runtime mandatory?  I never use it.  And can the order of runtimes be changed?

1. I haven't tested it yet, but I assume if you delete an item from your runtimes PzDB will remove it when you update that runtime?
2. Can there be an option to display the file extension on filenames?

Thanks for your comment about DAZ Scripts.
We'll look into that.

And the questions:

1) Is the Downloads runtime mandatory? 
No, feel free to delete or change it.

  And can the order of runtimes be changed?
Each Item gets a Library Number. so you can't change those. But if its important we could create the ability to sort how they appear on the screen.

1. I haven't tested it yet, but I assume if you delete an item from your runtimes PzDB will remove it when you update that runtime?
   (Why do you people keep deleteing things from your Libraries?)
   That'll be in version 1.1

1. Can there be an option to display the file extension on filenames?
   There could be, but why would you want one?
   Whether the hair is CR2 or an HR2  or a PPZ is really moot in PzDB. (finally) That was sorta the idea. The important part is that its Hair and it fits your character.

Ben
Rocketship Software

Quote -   And can the order of runtimes be changed?
Each Item gets a Library Number. so you can't change those. But if its important we could create the ability to sort how they appear on the screen.

I'm just wondering because it says the Poser internal runtime needs to be the first one, and I don't keep anything I use there, so I'd like to move it to the bottom of the list. 

Quote - 2) I haven't tested it yet, but I assume if you delete an item from your runtimes PzDB will remove it when you update that runtime?
(Why do you people keep deleteing things from your Libraries?)
That'll be in version 1.1

I sometimes buy things and decide to return them, in which case I need to delete it.  Or as just happened to me, a product that used to work in an external runtime no longer does, and needs to be moved to an internal runtime.

Quote - 3) Can there be an option to display the file extension on filenames?
There could be, but why would you want one?
Whether the hair is CR2 or an HR2  or a PPZ is really moot in PzDB. (finally) That was sorta the idea. The important part is that its Hair and it fits your character.

I like having the extensions because if there are hundreds of items (as there often are in the Pose folder) you may not be able to see the section header that shows you're looking at poses, and sometimes filenames and pngs don't make it obvious.

Thanks for being so quick to respond to all these questions!  I really appreciate it, since I have to decide within 30 days whether to buy it.

Quote -
Problem:  Within D|S, if there is a D|S script (.ds/.dsb) in the Poser runtime with the same name as the poser file (e.g. .pz2), D|S knows to run the D|S script instead of the poser file when you double-click it.  If I use PzDB with PRPCDS, D|S runs the poser file instead of the script.

It actually does this on purpose.  Mainly because Advanced Library shows both files (the Poser and the .ds/.dsb file)  I felt ignoring the request for the Poser file in favor of the .ds file would give me less flexibility (if I wanted the .ds file I could/would have clicked on it).

Now there is an exception (isn't there always).  Studio does some extra magic on CR2 and PP2 files with scripts with the same file name.  It runs the script with the CR2 or PP2 as an argument.  The best example of this is the sub-d dragon.  So I fixed PRPCforDS to recognize those cases and do the right magic tricks, since no amount of clicking on the script will fix that.  But for Pose/Material files it runs what you tell it to run.

Not sure that helps you very much (especially if PzDB doesn't show both files).
 

Simple.
The next build of PzDB will index those  .DS and .DSB files too.

Hows that?
Ben
Rocketship Software

Quote - Simple.
The next build of PzDB will index those  .DS and .DSB files too.

Hows that?
Ben
Rocketship Software

That's fantastic!  And that also means you can have the Poser and D|S mats in the same folder and still be able to run either one if you choose, which I know some people didn't like about the combined folder.  And this is another case where showing the extension would be useful.

This is really great -- many of the things I had hoped Advanced Library could do and was very disappointed.  I just hope enough of these get implemented before the 30-day trial expires.

It's great to know you provide such fantastic support, too.

I've been using it for the last couple of days and I'm loving it so far, I also have a few sugestions, should I post them here?

I love that you're loving it!

Please, suggest away.

Ben
Rocketship Software

Very well then.

1. Search box could be more flexible and use special characters like quotation marks for exact search like google does. "Car" should return only items like "Toon Car", "Car and Driver", etc, and not "ToonCar" for example, while entering  car  would return all of them.

2. Personally, I'd like hitting ENTER while on the search box to start the search.

3. While selecting the categories to include, selecting or deselecting a checkbox activates the search, this behavior could be optional. I was doing this one search that returned a great number of items and I had to wait for the same search when deselecting each category to filter it, that was 4 times the same search.

4. There's an "All on" button for the categories and libraries, there should be an "All off" button aswel.

5. When viewing the items info, there's a "copy path" button, I'd love to see a "go to path" too, even replace the copy one, since the path is listed bellow ( a "right click" there and then copy would work if one wanted to get the path)

6. Being able to rename items with maybe a warning about the implication of the action (in case there are external morphs or objs).

That's all I can rember for now, I'll post more as I use the program.

This is the way poser should work, one thing that really anoyes me (or did =D ) on its library system is the folder and item name truncation. Thanks again.

Quote - 3. While selecting the categories to include, selecting or deselecting a checkbox activates the search, this behavior could be optional. I was doing this one search that returned a great number of items and I had to wait for the same search when deselecting each category to filter it, that was 4 times the same search.

If you uncheck the "Auto Go" box it won't do that.

I have a question:  how do you delete a library?  I don't use the Downloads library but I can't figure out how to delete it.

And do you have an ETA for the next update?  In particular, recognizing D|S files.

Hioushi,

Thanks for all your comments, let me address them one by one.

*1. Search box could be more flexible and use special characters like quotation marks for exact search like google does. "Car" should return only items like "Toon Car", "Car and Driver", etc, and not "ToonCar" for example, while entering  car  would return all of them.
*> Someone asked this in another thread, oddly that guy used the example word “car” too. Here’s what I said: 

About Searching; the problem with whole-word searching is that in Poser Libraries, people often don't use spaces, sometimes they use underscores, or dashes, or just run words together in CamelCase. When you search for "car" you really want to find "Sportscar" "PoliceCar" and "Dave'sNewCar5" too. (but not "scarf" or "cartoon") (or ToonCar)

That's what the "But does not contain" field is for!

Put "scarf, cartoon"(or ToonCar) in there and repeat the search, Now those Items are gone. You can continue this process to build a really good Search Pattern, add "auto" but not "automatic"  add "truck" but not "struck" stuff like that.  Then, name it and SAVE it!

Now you'll never have to type any of that stuff again. And you can build and save as many Search Patterns as you like.

Also PzDB only strips leading and trailing spaces if you enter more than one Search term (i.e. with a comma) so a search for “ car” or “car “ or even “ car “ will work, just don’t use quotes.

2. Personally, I'd like hitting ENTER while on the search box to start the search.

You can, just hit it three times. Hitting enter once takes the cursor to the “But does not Contain” field, hitting enter there takes you to search button, hitting enter a third time executes the Search

3. While selecting the categories to include, selecting or deselecting a checkbox activates the search, this behavior could be optional. I was doing this one search that returned a great number of items and I had to wait for the same search when deselecting each category to filter it, that was 4 times the same search.

It IS optional! That’s what the “Auto-Go” checkbox is for. If you uncheck Auto-Go you can then check or uncheck any number of boxes, enter any Search, date filter, even navigate to another Group, and THEN click Search or Go.

4. There's an "All on" button for the categories and libraries, there should be an "All off" button as well.

An “All Off” button immediately (and logically) results in “No Items Found” which users thought was an error. What you really want is an “All-Off-But-One-Thing” button which we’re working on a Right-Click option. Till then, turning off Auto-Go will have to do.

*5. When viewing the items info, there's a "copy path" button, I'd love to see a "go to path" too, even replace the copy one, since the path is listed bellow ( a "right click" there and then copy would work if one wanted to get the path)

The Copy Path button is designed for use with third party Poser utilities like The Tailor, Clothes Converter, and other morph transfer utils, pose editors etc. Hit Copy Path, go to your utility and Click File, Open and then paste. One of the goals of PzDB was for you to no longer to care at all about what folder Library Items are in.

 All the other Items in that folder are right there in PzDB in the Current Folder window. Why would you want to open the folder in Windows Explorer? (btw you could just Copy Path and paste into the address bar of Explorer. You’d have to lose the filename though)

6. Being able to rename items with maybe a warning about the implication of the action (in case there are external morphs or objs).

Again this is contrary to the purpose of PzDB, which, as we say several times, is totally non-destructive and non-invasive.

We realize this is a new idea to Poser users who are accustomed to Library utilities that swing chainsaws around in their Runtime folders, but we don’t do that and we advise that you don’t either. Anything we have to “warn about the implications of…” is just something we don’t want to do.

Thanks again for your comments,
let me know if I can be of further help 

Ben
Rocketship Software

Quote -

And do you have an ETA for the next update?  In particular, recognizing D|S files.

Funny you should ask. That should be out of beta today, I takes us about a day to package up all the files and get them on the web, so look for version 1.0011 tomorrow or the next day.

Ben
Rocketship Software

Oh, so nce, most of the stuff I wanted are acually there =D. Thanks for the tips,

Well, I insist with the search patterns however, the use of regular expressions would aliviate the need of a the "But does not contain" field

"car"   =  Toon Car, Car and Driver, Car

car = cartoon, scarf, tooncar

car "-tooncar, scarf" = cartoon

I just point it out since is the way most search engines work, but not something I'd die for, there could be implementation problems I'm overlooking, or it could be less user friendly.

And I feel the need to congratulate and thank you again, you did a great job with this tool, for a first version its pretty much complete, few programs nail it on its initial release =)

Attached Link: http://rocketshipsoftware.com/pzdb/update10011.asp

**
GOOD NEWS EVERYONE!
The new version of PzDB has been released!**

Version 1.0011 Imports DAZ STUDIO files! Fixes Icons Better, Works better with Poser 4, 5, and 6, and has lots of other improvements.

Everyone should upgrade!

check out: http://rocketshipsoftware.com/pzdb/update10011.asp for more info

Ben
Rocketship Software

The update link on the page seems to be broken.

Quote - The update link on the page seems to be broken.

Try in now. It works.

Not (technically) a broken link, not sure what that was.

Ben
Rocketship Software

A question and a few requests:

Is there a way to delete a library?

Some of these features have been mentioned before, but I'd like to know which ones you're planning on and a tentative timetable so I can decide whether to buy while the $15 discount is in effect:

1. Option to display filetypes
2. Deleting obsolete entries if items are deleted or folders renamed
3. Importing folders other than Poser libraries (e.g. for D|S content folders)
4. Separate category for DAZ Scripts (.ds/.dsb) and DAZ Scenes (.daz)
5. Implementing the Keyword checkboxes on the search screen (they're there for categories and libraries, but the keyword section is always blank)
6. A mechanism for including readme files

Items 1-3 are particularly important for me.

Quote - A question and a few requests:

Is there a way to delete a library?

Some of these features have been mentioned before, but I'd like to know which ones you're planning on and a tentative timetable so I can decide whether to buy while the $15 discount is in effect:

1. Option to display filetypes
2. Deleting obsolete entries if items are deleted or folders renamed
3. Importing folders other than Poser libraries (e.g. for D|S content folders)
4. Separate category for DAZ Scripts (.ds/.dsb) and DAZ Scenes (.daz)
5. Implementing the Keyword checkboxes on the search screen (they're there for categories and libraries, but the keyword section is always blank)
6. A mechanism for including readme files

Items 1-3 are particularly important for me.

Pretty much everything you mention 1-4 has already been scheduled to be included our next major build, Version 1.1000. Including deleting libraries. Should be available in a couple of months, will read all your existing data.

Buyers of Version 1 will receive free upgrades to all versions up to 2.0

Number 5 does work, unless you have made custom Groups that do not include any Keywords. Open the Victoria 4 (or any other default) Group, you do see Keywords, right?

As for number 6, Readme’s present their own problems. But they will probably be included by PzDB2.0 which will also index a wide variety of file formats.

Hope that answers your questions.

Ben
Rocketship Software

Wonderful!  Just placed my order.

I see how number 5 works, but it doesn't seem to be very useful.  I was hoping it would list all the keywords of items in your latest search so you could narrow it down.

A few more feature requests, mostly prompted by my desire to have both D|S or Poser and PzDB visible at the same time:

1. Remember if previously opened maximized or in window
2. Remember if AutoGo was previously checked or unchecked (when you open it reverts to AutoGo)
3. "All Off" in addition to "All On" buttons for Categories/Keywords/Libraries
4. I may be missing something, but as I see it, if you're not using a Group you've created, the Keywords section is pretty useless -- it's blank if you're viewing all content, and in the pre-made groups it just includes various spellings/abbreviations for the figure in question.  If it auto-populated with all keywords for items found in your search, that would be fantastic -- you could then refine your search by unchecking keywords.  As it is now, I find it a waste of space most of the time.
5. An "Update All Libraries" option on the Import screen.
6. Options for the layout to be more useful in a smaller window:

a) ability to stack content and search windows vertically instead of horizontally,
b) ability to move the divider to shrink the search window and show more content
c) ability to disable the keyword window or auto-hide it when it's empty, or move it to the right of the Libraries window
d) ability to shrink the various buttons -- it's nice to have a great big Search button when you're starting, but once you're used to the program it takes up a lot of space.
e) The Create Poser Collections button is useless if you're using D|S or a pre-P7 version of Poser.  Even if you have P7, if you're using PzDB in place of the P7 content window, you don't need to create Poser collections.  It would be nice to have an option to hide it.
f) The PzDB import button is kind of useless, since the dropdown doesn't list the libraries, just the dates.  I use the Import screen to update my libraries anyway.