I recently got to thinking how cool it would be if someone created a utility or if Smith Micro could manage to work it into a new version of Poser...some sort of script that would analyze your mesh, take note of the joint zones and shapes and then select zones and add bones automatically for you.  When it was done, hypothetically, you could select certain bones and delete them or join them with others as I'm sure the program would have trouble determining exactly, in all cases, where a joint was intended.

I think this could work...as say you insert a mesh you've created of a hand.  The knuckles, for example, bulge and the program could conceive this as a "joint" and know to put a bone connection there.  Or perhaps just allowing you to point to where the joints should be and then it fills in the blanks.  Any number of ways this could work I would think.

I've just found boning to be one of the hardest things in 3D to do.  I hate it and Poser's current boning system sucks monkey butt for the most part.  It's great for some things, but when you try to rig an actual character or highrez clothing item it can become extremely tedious.  It just seems that the process could be simplified a lot more than it is.

I figured I might post this as a "wish list" request to those of you out there who write programs and scripts for the marketplace.  Something to mentally chew on, maybe.

Have you ever tried writing a hierarchy file and then used the Poser command File > Convert hier file?

Like Phil says, its a lot easier..........Steve

I believe they sell these types of products over at the adult themed shops 

(c'mon, someone had to say it...LOL!)

I think my wife is looking for one of those

Phil has it. You still need to adjust some things manually , and have the obj file split into parts but the basic rigging is done.

Can you elaborate?  I made a 'lekku' (head tentacle) prop for Antonia and I was wondering how to go about rigging it.  I keep trying to draw in the bones but there are like 30 of them!!.. Would this create bones automatically?

Quote - Have you ever tried writing a hierarchy file and then used the Poser command File > Convert hier file?

What PhilC is modestly not emphasising is that he has a wonderful utility for sale that analyses the object file (which must be grouped) and then creates the hierarchy file for you and allows you to tweak it. Poser then uses the hierarchy file to create a figure. Very cool.

The OBJ2CR2 utility will work fine for clothing but will not be the best for this particular model. I feel that the best way to proceed will be to first define the grouping using your own 3D modeling application or maybe UV Mapper, then write a hierarchy file and bring it into Poser that way. The Poser manual has a good section on how to write such a file.

Other helpful links:-

http://www.philc.net/ Use the left hand menu, select "Tutorials" > "Rigging". There I have a number of on line video tutorials explaining the rigging and joint adjustment process.

Hierarchy Builder.
http://www.philc.net/HierarchyBuilder.php
This is a utility that will help you write a hierarchy file. The page includes a full explanation of what each part of the hierarchy file does. Others utilities exist besides mine.

Hope that helps.

PHI Build is the tool you want to use, it allows you to setup your bones in a hierarchy (parent/child) relationship and then creates a bone structure through Poser's File/Convert Hierarchy File...then you enter the setup room and move the bones into position.

I use this mostly for customized figures that I've created. There is no need to use this if you are creating conforming clothing as the internal tools within Poser can do that automatically.

For a snaking object such as you describe there was a utility called...let me see if I can find it

1:18  1:21

Ajax EPTube

the readme I have for it says

www.runtimedna.com    in the EasyPose section

as I recall this was free, I may have misremembered.