Hi,

I am really new to this 3D stuff!

I am reading "DAD's How'd You Do That" book and finding it interesting.  UV mapper works well, but I have a problem with PHIbuilder.

My system is Windows Vista (32bit) Home Premium.  I have Poser 8, and Poser 4 (I found a used product).  PHIbuilder can be mad to work with both versions, but, has problems with the Vista UAC.  PHIbuilder requires the files to be in the program directory runtime folder! and Vista does not like this.

Is there an alternative program or the possibility of a PHIbuilder update that allows the Poser runtime folder to be configured?  The file paths appear to be "hard coded"  in the program.

(I have checked Roy Riggs website, and there is not a newer (than about 1999) version.)

Thanks,

Will

try right click on phibuilder and select RUn as adinistrator , I think that fixes it

You can now impoirt each part as a seperate obj, set up the hierarchy in Hierarchy editor , and create a figure from there. You can also write phi, files manually in a text editor.

Hi Mark,

Thank you for the reply.  I am past that problem! 

(It is easy to fix by turning off UAC, then displaying the program properties, and clearing the "block" item in the lower right corner of the properties box, click apply and quit,  Then turn UAC back on.)

The problem I have is that the requirement for the files to be in a path under C:Program Files makes the program very inconvenient!

I have to copy the subject files back and forth between folders to be compatible with the rest of the content.

I did say I got it to work with both Poser 4, and Poser 8!

Regards,

Will

As markschum said, it's fairly easy to write your own PHI files after you understand
the format.   I started out using PHIbuilder but soon realized that manual writing
was actually faster and more convenient!

ockham,

Thank you,

But. understanding the format is part of the problem.

Is there a good description some where?

Will

I turned off UAC on my laptop (at least I assume I did it cause its off) . I figured I am the only user and if I want to do something then I dont want arguements from the machine :)

I might be mistaken and gonna delete something critical , but thats life ... lol

Theres a document  http://www.sharecg.com/v/32860/PDF-Tutorial/Poser-3-figure-creation
that describes phi files .

Thanks Markschum,

I will check out the tutorial.

I tend to agree with you about the Microsoft "nanny's".  But they do help to keep out the crapware!

Any way, the unblock thing does get rid of the need for an admin confirmation in either case (UAC on or off).  Windows will just not let you unblock with UAC on (and some programs will not run with UAC off),

Will

Actually the problem is because you installed Poser in C:Program Files :)

Poser doesn't care where it's installed, but Vista is annoying about things installed to Program Files.

That doesnt' help your immediate problem though. 

**BUT:

You can actually make PHI-like files  inside Poser, with the hierachy Editor.**

Take your obj. If it's (what would be normal) one obj with groups in it, first open the Grouping tool and Spawn Props. That will spawn a new "bit" for each group. Then delete your original obj from the scene.

Next, open the hierachy editor:

and set up the hierachy as you would in Phi builder. Simply drag the things so they're parented in the right order. Remember if it's a figure (and not for instance a closet with a door) the HIP is always the main part which everything else is parented to.

 When done, click the "Create new figure" button at the bottom...

and find your new posable figure inside New Figures with whatever name you gave it.

Be aware that it will end in the default runtime, not the one you might be in when you made it. In my case, I made this in Poser 7 (because my Poser 8 is tied up rendering an animation) and my Poser 7 was in my linked Poser 8 runtime - but the pants still showed up in the Poser 7 runtime. 
 

Hope the last bit makes sense (well all of it really...) 

Hi Trekkiegrrrl,

Yes your reply does help, Thank you.

The exercise I am working on is to add joints, and bones to a figure that has noting but a mesh, and then to animate the figure to dance.  The real purpose is to learn the "internals" of the process.

Regards,

Will

 You'd still need to group it first :) You can do that directly in Poser, or UVMapper or a modeling program.

For "my method" to work, all the groups mus be separate in Poser, the spawn props will do that from a grouped, single mesh :)

Hi Trekkiegrrrl,

Thank you for the suggestions.  I will use them.

BTW I did reply to this last evening, but the post seems to have gotten lost.  So, pardon me if this comes up as a duplicate.

Thanks again.

Regards

Will
wcbncal