Before I suffer from foot in mouth disease,  My definition of the dropdown list may be different than yours, mine is say when you select the head, you click on the drop down list and get skin scalp, skin head, lips, nostrils, teeth, gums etc. or if you have a dress on, the drop down menu lists say dress, hem, sleeves etc.  If that is what you are referring to than yes both Poser 5 and Poser 8 is the same.  If you are referring to the Poser Surface and the nodes that are attached, they are also the same.  If you are referring to something different, I need to learn that, RV.  Jan