I've been gone from Poser for some time and--having just bought a new (bare bones) "Cheesegrater" Mac Pro--and thinking of getting back into it. But I have a slew of questions!

1: Back in my day, on my Windows machine, the models to have and use were Michael and Victoria. Are they still usable in the new version of Poser? If not, what are the current "these are the best two to use" models?

2: Will all/most of the other models and skin/textures I bought still be workable? Or do I just start over?

3: I want to put the main Poser program on the computer's main drive, but would like to buy a hefty external drive to put all the models, objects, skins/textures, and other bought content. Is this possible...(easily possible)?

I look forward to your help!

---DamianHart

1. Yes, Michael and Victoria still work in Poser 11. As far as I know, all versions still work. From version 1 to version 4.

2. As far as I know, your skin textures will work on the models they were created for, no problem. If you want the textures to fit other figures they were not created for, I'll have to let someone else answer that. You could though, look into getting a texture converter to convert your existing textures to fit the newer figures.

3.Yes, you can put the main Poser program on your main drive and your libraries on another drive. It should be fairly easy on both your mac or Windows Machines. Hooking a Mac drive to a Windows drive may be more interesting. Don't know if that can be done.

Yup, Michael and Vicky are still the standards despite several generations of new "standards". Look at EClark's survey thread just above this one. The majority of the answers mention M4 and V4.

Thanks for the input. I've been slowly getting it all back together. Which brings me to new questions:

1: I say "slowly" because I have had issues with the Install Manager. I can't seem to find a way to TELL it where I want the files to go and it seemed to insist on putting them in my internal drives "User" folder. So I thought..."Ok, I can cope with that." After some reading, I went to my external drive, made a Micheal folder with a Runtime sub-folder, and then used Install Manager to download a couple of packages to the User folder. I then COPIED the Runtime folder from User to my external. I started Poser and used the "Add Library" button to point to my new "Michael" library. It said it was completely EMPTY! So I've now reverted to a One-Package-At-A-Time download a package, unzip it, then copy the files to the external drive...and they do appear in my new Michael library inside Poser.

The question is: Is there a faster way? I have (from my past) 15 pages of packages that I could work through.

2: I've re-discovered that I have a lot of clothing, eyes, props, poses for M3 and V3. (I even have some for M2 and V2). Will any of them work with M4 and V4? I kind of remember some sort of converter....am I mis-remembering?

3: It seems I've got M5 and V5 in my list of things I've bought at some point...but it seems to indicate that I need a "Genesis" figure....?

4: DazStudio vs Poser? In a simple sentence or two? (A lot of the things I see when I'm downloading my files seem to say--or hint--that DazStudio is needed...?)

Thanks all you Wizards!

I have never used the uninstall manager and always unzip and manually copy the files to my runtimes. I know this is a long job but you could just start with the basics and then install more content as a when you need them. Others might be able to guide you to a more focused use of the install manager.

Props should still work but if they are smart props for a given figure like say a gun that loads being held by a figure in the left or right hand they may need adjusting. Other than that most most content such as eyes and poses will only work correctly on the figure they were created for.

Up to and including M4 and V4 Daz figures worked in both Daz Studio and Poser from there on in all the V and M figures need a version of Genesis to work and are designed to work in Daz Studio only. They can be made to work with a conversion program called DSON but you will need to research that as it can be a subject all on its own but there are other threads here that will guide you.

The main difference between Daz Studio and Poser still exists in that Daz Studio is free and then you have to pay the price of content, Poser you have to buy but it comes with a lot of free content. That is a simplistic answer but for many it is the deciding factor. After you start using either of the programs a lot of personal preference kicks in which may also depend on what you are using the programs for. Downloading any files from V5 and M5 upwards will always say DS is required because that is the software they are designed for. Be aware also that while M4 and V4 remain popular there are other figures available that are more recent. Paul, Pauline, Dawn and Dusk, and La Femme are all included in Poser 11.2 with more besides. For Daz the more modern figures are obviously the Genesis figures.

Exactly what are the problems you are experiencing with the install manager? I have experience with DIM in loading both DAZ and Poser specific files from the DAZ3D site without any problems.

The Install Manager problem (as it is) is that I want to put my content in a big 4-Terrabtye external drive rather than on my Mac's regular internal drive. But Install Manager doesn't seem to allow me to specify where to do the installation of the content....or at least I was unable to find a switch/preference for it.

When you click on the settings gear on the upper right-hand corner, you will open a contextual menu, select advance. Under the installation tab, the lower left-hand corner, click the + button that will open a browse window to select and add your additional external runtime to the list. When you want to install your DAZ3D Poser content into that runtime, go up to Content Path Shortcuts and select the runtime you added to the app. Accept the setup.

That is one way. The other way is directly from the main display. Click the checkbox for Show Details in the lower right-hand corner to open the lower display. You can add and select content folders from there.