I'm not sure you can even do this but here goes.  I find it tiring and even a turn off to have to manually place unzipped files into their respective folders. To clarify: .obj files into (insert folder name here) .png files into (insert folder name here), .jpg (insert folder name here) and so on. especially when a pack has such a huge list of such files.

And if your hard drive dies as it eventually will, oh boy. Well, I'm copying my content and other folders and their content onto a portable HD. The theory is that if I have to reinstall I just copy the folders to their proper runtime locations in DAZ and Poser. That's the theory.

Suggestion? Well, if possible have an .exe file that installs the stuff to the proper directories. Now given how various people set up their directories, that may asking way too much for you guys but I'm asking anyway. Having to do this manually currently has me avoiding buying new material right now. I thought (I'm a newbie) I just bought stuff and install it. Didn't realize I had to manually put the stuff in. After doing that with some  6-8 pruchases, one which had a HUGE file list, I'm gun shy in a manner of speaking.

Well, Jason, I hate to tell you this, but there was a survey recently on Renderosity asking that question specifically - "Would you prefer executable installation files over zip files?" and the answer was a resounding NO.  By a very wide margin.

Vendors here create and upload zip files because that's how we are instructed to prepare the files.  And, evidently, that's exactly how the majority of customers prefer it.

Quote - Well, Jason, I hate to tell you this, but there was a survey recently on Renderosity asking that question specifically - "Would you prefer executable installation files over zip files?" and the answer was a resounding NO.  By a very wide margin.

Vendors here create and upload zip files because that's how we are instructed to prepare the files.  And, evidently, that's exactly how the majority of customers prefer it.

BANG! I'm dead!

? The zip file should contain the structure of Runtime, what's wrong with that?

Quote - ? The zip file should contain the structure of Runtime, what's wrong with that?

Not only should they, they MUST contain the proper Runtime structure or the product will be rejected.

Yes that's what I do. It sound strange to me someone puts all together in a folder without structure. Maybe some people in freebies, it's a pain, I agree.

I just bought a major pkg. a while back and not only did I have to "find" a file...I had to make a folder to put that file into and place it where it belonged.

So yes, even vendors and whoever checks things will screw up once in a while.

Quote - ? The zip file should contain the structure of Runtime, what's wrong with that?

I don't recall saying anything was wrong with it. I only recall suggestion there be an executive function that installed the files to their corresponding directories. I bought some DAZ stuff that did exxactly that so that's where I got the idea. I then recall a post saying a vote was once taken on this idea and the majority rejected the concept. And that was that, I never contested the vote or attacked the fact there will be no executive command for artists' content files.  However, after spending so much time installing files, often one by one into directories, I find it discourages me from buying more content. While on the topic another comment. I believe at least one product I bought, the files were organized as a group according to the folders they belonged to. By organized I mean I didn't have to hunt and peck. Example the biggest file lists on one product I got had various files scattered and mixed so I had to read down a long list to find a specific file to copy into the proper folder. This took a huge amount of time to the point I gave up and just didn't bother to install it. Now the funny thing is, when I print out the .txt file it shows the lists categorized the way I mentioned but on the actual unzipped lists the individual files are in mixed clumps. But another product I mentioned, the unzipped files-everything that belong to a specific directory whether it was .png, obj and so were all together so I simply copied and pasted into the proper directory.

Finally, as I said in my first post, what I suggest may be way more than what's possible when packaging files. So artists' may not even be in control of how an archive software packages them. So there's a suggestion and an acknowledegement but stating that anybody is wrong.

Quote - I just bought a major pkg. a while back and not only did I have to "find" a file...I had to make a folder to put that file into and place it where it belonged.

So yes, even vendors and whoever checks things will screw up once in a while.

Exactly, I had to do that too for some files. Thank you posting this so I can see I wasn't the only one. I had at one point convinced myself it was just my ignorance and nothing more.

I love a lot of stuff I see on Renderosity and feel very lucky we even have a Rebderosity. But I don't really have time to especially with big products with HUGE and LONG file lists to install them. Since I have no way of knowing which are like this and which have smaller file lists, it discourages purchases, at least for me.

How are you unzipping? Unless you are very unlucky in the items you download most things should be set, so all you need to do is merge the Runtime from the zip into your main Runtime. It can be a bit tricky if you are on a Mac, and if you want to unpack t a temporary folder for testing, and of course some items will contain errors - but having the thing in an exe doesn't offer any guarantees against that.

Quote - How are you unzipping? Unless you are very unlucky in the items you download most things should be set, so all you need to do is merge the Runtime from the zip into your main Runtime. It can be a bit tricky if you are on a Mac, and if you want to unpack t a temporary folder for testing, and of course some items will contain errors - but having the thing in an exe doesn't offer any guarantees against that.

I'm PC. I use Smith Micro's StuffIt. Not sure what you mean by merge the runtime. Example of what I mean below and in a way I hope it doesn't give away the artist as I'm not here to cause grief for anybody.

..:runtime;geometries:(artist name):(content pack name):

a3(name).obj

.obj list continues with about 30 items

..:runtime;libraries:character:(content pack name):

A3-Boot.cr2

.cr2 and .png list continues with about 50 items and so on.

Now the above is from a print of the .txt file but I assure you in the actual unzips that I extract to a temporary folder I call "LOOKSEE the files come out mixed. For example I will see some .obj files listed with .png and .cr2 files meant for diffrent directories. So when you say merge runtime, I honestly don't know what you mean. Do I see a runtime file in the list somewhere? NO but I did see .txt, license, and product files.

And once more, my original question about incorporating .exe files that loaded material into their specific directories was answered. There was a vote and the majority said thanks but no thanks. The majority has spoken and I for one am not contesting it though I'd have voted very differently.

I prefer installers too.

The files should be zipped in a Runtime with the structure to just unzip on the Runtime directory and you're done. Everything else is bad done.

Quote - The files should be zipped in a Runtime with the structure to just unzip on the Runtime directory and you're done. Everything else is bad done.

In that case, I'll return to the giant pack and follow your recommendation and see what happens. An installer would make things easier but I'm sure those who voted NAY had their reasons which a newbie like me hasn't the foggest notion about. Anyway, thanks for taking the time to offer the advice you gave.

If someone can't make a ZIP with the files in the correct structure, what makes you think they'd be able to produce an installer that would do better ?

Quote - If someone can't make a ZIP with the files in the correct structure, what makes you think they'd be able to produce an installer that would do better ?

In my experiences, sometimes a person doesn't think about something until someone asks about it. There's a tale that Christopher Columbus on returning from the New World was told at a royal summer his accomplish wasn't worth the praise he received because anyone could have done what he did. He's said to have challnged his critics to balance a hard boiled egg on one end. No one was able to do so and they claimed it wasn't possible. Christopher then accomplished the feat and on doing so told them anyone could do it but no one had thought of the solution. Do you know how he achieved what they could not?

Some people make a bad packaging and use abosulte urls and not relative urls. Or don't follow a correct structure. With the correct structure, it's easier and faster to just copy a Runtime over the one you have instead of using an installer. Also, the readme of the product SHOULD include the dirs in which product items are. I saw many people don't do this.

Could you take a screen shot of your options as you use Stuffit? Using the folder names in the zip used to be an option in WinZip and I'm wondering if Stuffit is the same. Since you are using Windows you should be able to right-click on the zip and select Extract all... from the menu, which will open a simple dialogue asking where to place the unzipped files - does that place your files in their original folders in the target folder you select?

Quote - Could you take a screen shot of your options as you use Stuffit? Using the folder names in the zip used to be an option in WinZip and I'm wondering if Stuffit is the same. Since you are using Windows you should be able to right-click on the zip and select Extract all... from the menu, which will open a simple dialogue asking where to place the unzipped files - does that place your files in their original folders in the target folder you select?

I don't think ihave done it precisely as you described. Mainly because the files as shown in the StuffIt listing weren't in the same order as they appear in the .txt file. Fearng I would end up having them go to places unknown and force me to hunt them down to place them in their proper directories, I unzipped to my yemporary folder called LookSee and then from there copied the files to the folders the .txt file told me they should be. That meant hunt and pecking. though I sincerely thank you for your help and suggestions, I'm loathe to continue monkeying with this. I happen to have iClone 4 and though I think the avatars and selections of clothing etc is inferior to DAZ/Poser, one thing I can be sure of. When you download and install provider content it goes exactly where it should and all you do is fire up iClone and start using the stuff. In cases where this isn't true you just open the corresponding feature (props, accessories etc) and apply the import function and there it is ready to use. I'd love to see this ease of use true for DAZ/Poser so content providers' stuff can be put to immediate use without so much fooling around as now. But for now I'm done as I have to get some real work done as opposed to more tinkering.

Installing to Daz is that simple...

you simply take the runtime folder...and everything thats in it and  drop it on the runtime folder in your Daz program and let it overwrite and everything goes exactly where it should.  Then tell Daz to search for content when you open the program and it will put everything in for you to see and use.

Quote - Installing to Daz is that simple... you simply take the runtime folder...and everything thats in it and  drop it on the runtime folder in your Daz program and let it overwrite and everything goes exactly where it should.  Then tell Daz to search for content when you open the program and it will put everything in for you to see and use.

Except that doing that on a Mac doesn't add the files, it replaces the folder tree and it's contents with the dragged files.

Stuff StuffIt and download the free 7Zip utility.

Yes but he said he has a pc...

so mac ppl ignore me..lol

Quote - Yes but he said he has a pc... so mac ppl ignore me..lol

Your right, I missed that and the references to StuffIt threw me off. I'm wondering if it could be something as simple as not having used the "Extract with paths" or whatever StuffIt labels that option as.
That would certainly explain the lack of folder structure on extraction.

I would prefer exe file same as DAZ also but I voted zip files at the recent Renderosity poll. Having exe or zip files is really a much of a muchness. It's the quality of the content within that's really important.

IMO the quality control of content / file structure at Renderostity is not  on par as DAZ, therefore with zip files I can fix up the content / file structure and rezip them for archiving. Having said that the QC at DAZ is not 100% either.

If you've ever had your hard drive fail (I had 2 fail in one year) then you'll understand the pain of rebuilding your content/runtime libraries. Exe files do make it easier, but exe files with poor content / file structure are a nightmare waiting to happen.

Recently I purchased Dimension 3D Runtime Repair (on sale here at Renderosity) and it has been an enormous help to fix one of the most common errors, i.e., wrong file paths. It's not fully automatic and you have to be really careful about file association, but it's still a fantastic tool.

I think every content creator (or the QC department of content sellers) should have Runtime Repair in their toolkit so we content buyers don't have Daz Studio / Poser freak out on missing / wrong addressed files and then fix them (after market) ourselves.

IMO a lower QC for conent / file struction is Content Paradise. Often I find OBJ / OBZ files are not in a folder under the Geometries section where they rightfully belong. This is OK for Poser but for DAZ Studio it becomes a nightmare. Then again I guess CP will has a "Not tested in DS" get out of gail clause somehwere in fine print. Sigh!

BTW I think PMD files should also go into a folder under the Geometries section. The reason would become apperent if you ever rename or move a folder (that has the PMD) under the Character / Pose / Prop sections.

not re3lated,m but you know what drives me completely insane

People and their damn exclamation points. You buy something and its like !!!yournamehere

Are egos really that big it makes your week to know your at the top of someones Runtime ?

Makes it hard to alphabetize too...lol

EXACTLY !!!

Trying to keep a  neat and tidy Runtime, instead you have ooo-ooo me first me first... honestly.

Theres a reason forums ban "I got first post" posts...it isnt clever...it is ANNOYING

LBAMagic  - Regarding dead hard drives which I have also faced, here's a possible solution that did work for me. Acronis True Image Home (http://www.acronis.com/promo/ATIH2011/ATI-ALL/index.html?source=us_google&ad=ati&c=5336852657&k=acronis%20true%20image&gclid=CPiT7aDb7aQCFRYM2godgSWA2w).

I clone my hard drives, and perhaps overkill by re-clonign them anytme I install at least two new software programs. example is I recently installed camtasia Studio 7.1

and DAZ 3D Advanced, and Poser Pro 2010. This morning I cloned my C drive. I will clone D and E this evening due to them having a month's worth of new work files

saved to them. If my original drive(s)  die, I just remove them and install the cloned drives then clone those. rarely happens but has twice over 8 years. Mainly due to my own foolishness.

tomorrow, I expect to use an old 100GB HD installed into an enclosure to copy all my content and other DAZ/Poser directories in hope of avoiding having to install files like the ones

**I discussed here. The theory is to merely copy them straight into the program if the need arises.
**

Quote - People and their damn exclamation points. You buy something and its like !!!yournamehere
Are egos really that big it makes your week to know your at the top of someones Runtime ?

There used to be a reason for the exclaimation marks, but it ceased to be relevant when when P5 was released.

When I start peoviding content for Poser i am going to put one of these before my name:

!@#$%^&*() RPStudios

see how that works LOL

Quote - When I start peoviding content for Poser i am going to put one of these before my name:  

!@#$%^&*() RPStudios

 

see how that works LOL

It won't, aside from * being an illegal filename character, even Renderosity would reject on grounds of stupidity.

Yeah, and god knows the last thing Renderosity needs is stupid people roaming around...

Quote - LBAMagic  - Regarding dead hard drives which I have also faced, here's a possible solution that did work for me. Acronis True Image Home (http://www.acronis.com/promo/ATIH2011/ATI-ALL/index.html?source=us_google&ad=ati&c=5336852657&k=acronis%20true%20image&gclid=CPiT7aDb7aQCFRYM2godgSWA2w)

Hi JasonWynngard, Thanks for the link. I'll check this out.

I recently bought a larger external backupdrive but after 1 month it's software started to not work. Starting & shutting down Windows then took longer and it would freeze sometimes. I uninstalled the software that came with the backupdrive and that fixed the Windows issue. Now it's just a dumb external harddrive. My drive woes are driving me nuts. LOL....sigh!

Quote - not re3lated,m but you know what drives me completely insane. People and their damn exclamation points. You buy something and its like !!!yournamehere

Hi R.P.Studios, I soooooo much agree with you. My runtime folders are a war of exclamation marks!!! LOL.

P.S. What's happening with these Posts creating huge line gap spacing in our text?

Quote - > Quote - LBAMagic  - Regarding dead hard drives which I have also faced, here's a possible solution that did work for me. Acronis True Image Home (http://www.acronis.com/promo/ATIH2011/ATI-ALL/index.html?source=us_google&ad=ati&c=5336852657&k=acronis%20true%20image&gclid=CPiT7aDb7aQCFRYM2godgSWA2w)

Hi JasonWynngard, Thanks for the link. I'll check this out.

I recently bought a larger external backupdrive but after 1 month it's software started to not work. Starting & shutting down Windows then took longer and it would freeze sometimes. I uninstalled the software that came with the backupdrive and that fixed the Windows issue. Now it's just a dumb external harddrive. My drive woes are driving me nuts. LOL....sigh!

P.S. What's happening with these Posts creating huge line gap spacing in our text?

LBA, naturally I can't guarantee things will work perfectly for you. What I can do is share my experience with Acronis. Since using it for the past 3 years, it has never failed me. But then again I use it in what might be an atypical manner. My idea of backing up my drives is to clone them. I re-clone if I install 2-3 new software packages or have significant new work files. Acronis has never faild to do that and has saved my neck more than once due to my own stupidity, a pair of darn cats that pranced and lay on my keyboard while I took a break, and a drive that just flat out failed. So having a fully cloned back up drive is the way to go for me. Acronis' ridiculous ease of use has me sold.

Now about the spacing on messags, it seems when you hit the return key it creates extra space. At least on my end it does.

Quote - > Quote - ? The zip file should contain the structure of Runtime, what's wrong with that?

Not only should they, they MUST contain the proper Runtime structure or the product will be rejected.

It is easy to complain and criticize. generally, when we find our complaints or criticism are ill-founded we're slow, shy, or unwilling to step forward and admit as much. Thus I'm here to say to vendors who I bought stuff from the advice given tome about EXTRACT ALL solved my aforementioned problem of installing files via hunt and peck.

It seems that StuffIt when extracting doesn't include the structure folders. But if you tell it to extract all, it does. I didn't know this but can't claim an excuse because I HATE reading manuals with a passion. Long winded explanations, misinformation, poor English, and ofetn confuses things worse. Not all but too many software manuals have poisoned me this way. But there are times when I SHOULD have read the manual. thsi seems one of them.

Anyway, when I used EXTRACT ALL to my LOOKSEE temporary folder, there was the Runtime folder and its subfolders. All I had to do was open subfolders and copy them to the proper DAZ/Poser directories and that was that.  I tested Poser to see if stuff showed up where it should. All was well. Indeed, some stuff that didn't quite work well before now works fine.

Thanks for the advice (you know who you are) on how to extract the files properly.

BUT! Other stuff I said like preferring an .exe file still stands. AND not all vendors include file structures as mentioned above. I have two that don't. Don't aks me to state which because as I said before, I'm not here to cause anyone grief.

So I guess I may be buying future content afterall. How about a cave complte with cave drawings a la caveman art? Maybe even a fire place in it and file that lets you place a animated flickering flame into it.