Hello All. . .as I am about as new as a newbie can be, I am going to ask (what is for me) an essential first question: exactly how, (in minute, easy-to-follow, idiot proof step-by-step instructions) does one (me) install products into Poser/Daz? I realize that this is probably as ridiculous a question as one can ask, but I haven't a single clue as to what I'm doing. . .When I purchase from Daz it is mysteriously and automatically deposited somewhere and shows up when I look for it. . .I have content I have purchased elsewhere (not Daz) but cannot use it as I don't know what to do with it and it doesn't come with instructions detailed enough for me to understand what I am to do and where to find the folders they refer to. . .any and all help will be greatly appreciated! Thanks, Randall

Hi ya You have confused my by saying Poser/Daz. And I don't have enough information to give you minute step by step information..... IF you are using Windows AND you really did mean Poser.... Are you comfortable having two windows open at the same time on your machine?? If so... Find your Poser Runtime.
It should be in something like Program FilesSmith MicroPoser Pro 2014 Inside Runtime, You'll see a bunch of folders....
Geometries, Libraries, Textures, Python, etc.... Now, Go Back up one lever so you see Runtime. There may be other folders beside it. Now, in another window, go to where you downloaded your new toy. Double Click the Zip file. it will open up and show you Runtime & Documentation if it 's a current file from Renderosity. Select both folders and drag them from the zip file and drop them into the folder that contains Runtime. Repeat if there is more than one zip for the product. ONLY the Documentation folder items will over write.

Good luck!! Andy!

First, clarify which platform you own. If you are referring to both, the folder hierarchy for each platform is distinctly different, only the content readme will specify the exact locations to install each. The websites where you purchased your content must surely contain descriptions and software specifications. Double check if your application matches the site specs; if they're incompatible, you may not be able to get a refund.

Hello. . .thanks for the replies. . .I own both Daz and Poser (hence Poser/Daz) and am seeking information on how to install for both. . .and yes, Andy,I can have multiple windows open. . .and hborre, the sites I have purchased from are not as specific as you might imagine or hope them to be. . .I know one of the purchases is only for Poser but the rest claim to be able to work in both platforms. . .I have attempted on many occasions to open and and install the contents of my purchases. . .in fact, the entirety of today was spent doing just that. . .I have gone to Poser (Smith Micro) as well as Daz and in the Runtime folders copied and dropped the files. . .first I dropped everything into it, (runtime into runtime) but that did nothing. . .then I opened the runtime files (libraries,textures, pose, materials etc.) and copies each to its apparent counter-part. . .that did nothing. . .I watched several conflicting you-tube videos (as I have done in the past). . .after 7 hours of coping and pasting and dropping files into folders I gave up. . .I did manage in Daz to get a jpeg image of SAv Aram hair to show up but Daz program could not link the image to any known file. . .and so. . .that's where I'm at. Any suggestions? (I would upload pictures but I no longer know how to print an image of my desk-top screen since Windows 8 was installed)

Print Screen on your keyboard should capture your desktop; you will need to edit the image to isolate areas of interest. As posted above, the folder hierarchy for both platforms are distinctly different and you must strictly adhere to the way files are copied over from compressed content. Although there is a runtime folder in the DAZStudio content folder, it serves a different function than it does in Poser. And unless you intend to link the content folders to both DAZStudio/Poser, it will only lead to much confusion and disorganization. I would rather keep content for both separate. I can attempt to give you a thorough overview how you should approach dispensing content for both formats and what to look for when analyzing zipped content for installation. This is going to take a little time to organize and present. In the meantime, whatever you learn on your own, please share it with us so we may be on the same information level. I will post something soon.

Hi hborre. . .Learned how to once again capture my desk top and open it in photoshop. . .so here are some of the things I have tried: I have color coded the files hoping that will make things clearer;

I have tried these methods for both Poser and Daz (although NOT in Daz with EdinburghM4 as it is strictly Poser). . .I think you can clearly see what I've been trying. . .any clue why none of it works? Thanks again for the help with this.

What I am seeing is the creation of subfolders within your Poser folder which does not work very well. You are creating a runtime within runtime, libraries within libraries, etc. To make easy on yourself, go to the top level of your Poser folder, go back to your zip runtime folder, highlight and drag to the Poser folder itself. Not to the runtime folder. When prompted to overwrite, click OK.

Now, which OS are you running on your computer? If you are running Vista or greater (Win 7. 8.1, 10) then you shouldn't be placing any content into program files/program files (x86). Windows UAC will interfere with content access and place your actual content into a virtual location. The default installation for DAZStudio/Poser should be in a Public Document folder away from program files folder. I'm pretty sure this is complication your installations. And this is based on the screencaps you provided.

Thanks Hborre. . . is this correct? The Edinburgh file is unzipped. . .

This is for Poser. . .I'll ask about Daz once I understand this. . .Oh. . .I have Windows 8

Hborre. . .I should probably explain that each of the install methods illustrated previous were NOT done together. . .they are in order of the attempt; I undid everything each time and tried a new approach so they are all separate examples of each attempt.

In the post above, you need to open the content folder and drag the runtime folder to the Poser 10 folder. That will install the content properly. However, you will still have problems accessing your content because you are install it within the Program Files folder.

If there is another folder I'm supposed to be installing to, why not tell me where it is, and what it is?

Hectic schedule, sorry.

IIRC, when Poser is first installed, you are given 4 choices to select from as to where to create a content runtime for all your purchases and freebies. As least 3 of these options will place the content runtime in other places away from your Program Files folder which is protected by UAC. UAC will not allow reading and writing to the Program Files folder, that is why you should never place content, python scripts being an exception, into the main Poser runtime. I have Win 10, upgraded from Win 8.1, and my content folder is located under Users>Public>Documents>PoserPro 2014 Content. PP2014 is my version. If you are not sure where your content runtime is located, open Poser 10, go to your Library and navigate to the top most runtime at Show Library context menu. For you, that runtime should be called Poser 10. Hover your mouse cursor over the folder name and you will get a path popup as to where your content runtime is located. You install your content there.

You can also search your hard drive to find this particular runtime. Again this is where all content, including Poser legacy content, is installed.

On my system, this is where I have my Poser Pro 2014 Content runtime, My DAZ 3D Library, folder, and several individual runtimes I created to organize my content.

So, it would appear mine is kept in Poser 10/Runtime/Libraries/Characters. . .if I were to uninstall Poser and re-install it exactly what directory choice should I make when asked where I want it (the Poser program) installed?

My Poser path no longer indicates Program Files (86) but states instead User/Public/Documents

Well now. . .this is a bit of good news for me. . .I still need to learn exactly how this is done manually. . .and how content is installed in Daz. . .and how to import Michael 4 into Poser. . .but it's a start. . .

Glad to see that this issue is finally resolved. Depending on the M4 installation files, you will need to install differenly than other content found at other sites. My old M4 files were executable format; the new zips should be installed using DAZ's DIM (DAZ Install Manager). This app can be picked up at DAZ for free.

Don't despair, whatever you do. :) I've had DAZ for a week and Poser for 4 days now and I'm starting to feel like someday I may actually be able to do some creative work with them. So far it's been nothing but fighting the software (or rather my ignorance of it) but today I actually started understanding what is going on, and started getting some decent renders with imported content from several different sources.

And for what it's worth, I discovered you can create a folder named "runtime" anywhere you want, even on an external USB drive (as long as it's plugged in when you run Poser) and then link that folder into your library by clicking on the little folder icon with the plus sign (the tool tip says "Add Library"). So you don't need to put content any place special, you just have to tell Poser where you put it. I keep mine in a folder in "My Documents" called "PoserContent\Runtime". To tell Poser where it is, I add "PoserContent" as the folder, not "runtime". You need to add to library the folder that contains "runtime".