I have hated Poser 11 since the day I bought it and almost immediately went back to using Pro 2014 (game dev. version.) Since Bondware now owns Poser and the SM license servers are no longer working, I apparently can't use the only version of Poser I actually still care about. When I try to open PPro2014, it says the grace period for activating the software is past, and when I enter the S/N, it says I have exceeded my maximum activations. I honestly haven't used the software for over a year and now it seems like I never will again.

By the way, I did download the Poser 11.2 update, which now allows me to open Poser 11 (which I still hate) -- but all that did was break Reality. I now get a mainWacros error: "An errror occurred importing addon Reality : ERROR: need more than 3 values to unpack." Yes, I did reinstall Reality in an attempt to fix the problem. No, it didn't work.

Super frustrating when programs "improve" their way into obsolescence. This feels very much not-worth-my-time to screw around with.

Re-installing Reality isn't going to work. Believe me, I've tried. It has to do with Reality not recognizing the new version formatting of Poser. But help is on the way. Just be a little more patient. The creator has been notified and others are working on a workaround for the problem.

Thank you for your patience.

Well, that's some good news. Would be nice if I could also still use Pro2014. Filed a ticket and am hoping I will be able to open the program again at some point.

karibousboutique posted at 7:56PM Sat, 21 September 2019 - #4363164

Well, that's some good news. Would be nice if I could also still use Pro2014. Filed a ticket and am hoping I will be able to open the program again at some point.

I have a workaround for the Reality problem. Sitemail me with an email address and I'll send you the files for testing. Otherwise, it'll be generally available in a few days, I expect.

If there's anything else I can do to help you enjoy Poser 11.2, let me know :)

Cheers, Snarly

Reality working n Poser 11.2:

Or if you really want to keep using PP2104GD go to PGPortal.smithmicro.com sign in and Under Licenses find your Poser 2104DG serial number and make it permanent. Will last as long as your computer remains running. This server should stay up as it is also where SM houses their MoHo Licenses.

If you upgraded from PP2014 to PP2014GameDev and can live without GameDev features, you can "downgrade" to PP2014 (no GameDev). PP2014 without GameDev lives without activation.

Richard60 posted at 2:50PM Sat, 28 September 2019 - #4363179

Or if you really want to keep using PP2104GD go to PGPortal.smithmicro.com sign in and Under Licenses find your Poser 2104DG serial number and make it permanent. Will last as long as your computer remains running. This server should stay up as it is also where SM houses their MoHo Licenses.

This definitely did NOT work. Now I can't open the program OR dump the clients anymore. (I tried clearing the clients and starting the program before making it permanent -- this did not work.) Now I have a read-only license that still won't open on my machine. The software is so old that it was registered on 2 other machines that don't even exist anymore due to hardware failures and upgrades. I'm still very fed up at this point.

Kerya posted at 4:34PM Sat, 28 September 2019 - #4363489

If you upgraded from PP2014 to PP2014GameDev and can live without GameDev features, you can "downgrade" to PP2014 (no GameDev). PP2014 without GameDev lives without activation.

Actually, I just discovered myself that Poser Pro 11 has all the Game Dev features.

please try Uninstalling poser using geek uninstaller or Revo Uninstaller on windows ( or drag it into the trash on Mac ) Then reinstall it, your licence should be picked up automatically, allowing you to once more open and use poser.

Add Snarlygribbly's AVFix to get reality working again.

EClark1894 posted at 3:35PM Sat, 28 September 2019 - #4364621

Kerya posted at 4:34PM Sat, 28 September 2019 - #4363489

If you upgraded from PP2014 to PP2014GameDev and can live without GameDev features, you can "downgrade" to PP2014 (no GameDev). PP2014 without GameDev lives without activation.

Actually, I just discovered myself that Poser Pro 11 has all the Game Dev features.

Yes, but the "upgraded" libraries pane broke my workflow and I stopped using Poser 11 less than 2 weeks after buying it. I was immensely frustrated that the "improvements" got in my way. Truth told, my complaints are not terribly relevant anymore, since I haven't had a genuine Poser workflow in at least a year -- I just don't use it anymore. Still, it was nice knowing that I had it available if needed. If I ever feel the driving need to use Poser again, I'll have to fumble with 11. Snarlygribbly's Reality workaround at least allows me to use Lux again.

structure posted at 3:44PM Sat, 28 September 2019 - #4364623

please try Uninstalling poser using geek uninstaller or Revo Uninstaller on windows ( or drag it into the trash on Mac ) Then reinstall it, your licence should be picked up automatically, allowing you to once more open and use poser.

Add Snarlygribbly's AVFix to get reality working again.

Nope. I looked at my Poser Pro 2014 GD license on Smith Micro's license server before I took the advice on this thread and made it permanent and I do not believe any of the activations listed on the site were for my newest computer -- they have "first activated" dates before this machine was even built. There is therefore no way this machine will ever be picked up by the server, especially now that it is "read only." I have a ticket in to Smith Micro, but I'm NOT optimistic. The PCs that were probably "activated" do not even exist anymore -- which isn't surprising, considering how old the software is. Somehow, my new machine (less than a year old) was not activated on the SM server. Therefore I can try reinstalling until my fingers fall off. The license server isn't wrong -- I DID exceed the maximum number of activations, simply because I've been using the software since 2014, which was THREE computers ago for me.

Thanks, all, for the assistance, but I think I'm just giving up. When I inquired about the issue through official channels here, Renderosity sent me an email saying that I should have read their messages about the Poser 11.2 update. Which, you know, I actually did read -- and which have absolutely zero correlation to Poser Pro 2014GD licensing issues. I am done banging my head on a wall over this. Either SM will take pity on me and magically fix the license or I'm hanging up my Poser days.

For the record, I don't do "online rage-quit drama." I'm just frustrated that there isn't a way to use software I legally paid for and I have enough other tools now to forgo any more angst over the issue. I still will shop here -- just not for Poser content. DS only, I'm afraid.

Have managed to open PPro2014 with my old, "non-game developer" S/N. Annoyed as heck that I can't use what I paid for, This is a load of baloney... I don't want product support, just the ability to open a program I legally paid for.

Hey, Bondware -- you're supposed to fix this for me!! Smith Micro got back to me faster than you did!!

Thank you for contacting Support. The Poser Product line is now being developed by Bonware and Renderosity.com. As the developer and distributor for Poser, they will be able to assist you with all questions about your Poser Product. This includes Activation and application usage, as well as accessing installers and updates.. All questions and reports of issues should also be directed to their Support Team here: https://support.posersoftware.com/

I already contacted support. I was told to upgrade to 11.2, which I DID DO. Nobody is willing to fix this issue and I'm beyond fed up with it. I DID follow all pertinent instructions BEFORE SM stopped maintaining its licenses. I was unable to get it to work then and am still unable to get anything except Poser 11 to work now.

This is crap. I take back what I said about not doing dramatic rage-quits. I've owned Poser longer than any of the last FOUR software companies who developed it. I've been a shopper here for just as long. And it's crap that nobody is willing to flip the stupid digital switch that lets me OPEN MY FREAKING SOFTWARE.

Seriously. FIX THIS.

Smith Micro sent you a form letter knocked out by a bot. Bondware has real people working on the issue, and it's going to take slightly longer than some bot sending you a canned response. Sorry you're having issues with your software, but so are a lot of other people, so it might help your cause to turn down the attitude a bit. Yes, I understand the frustration of having work flow disturbed, but there's a score or so third-party engines out there, all with specific needs. They know it's a problem. They're working on it. Your patience would be appreciated.

SeanMartin posted at 9:11AM Sun, 29 September 2019 - #4364730

Smith Micro sent you a form letter knocked out by a bot. Bondware has real people working on the issue, and it's going to take slightly longer than some bot sending you a canned response. Sorry you're having issues with your software, but so are a lot of other people, so it might help your cause to turn down the attitude a bit. Yes, I understand the frustration of having work flow disturbed, but there's a score or so third-party engines out there, all with specific needs. They know it's a problem. They're working on it. Your patience would be appreciated.

I'm sorry, but you're mistaken. Smith Micro sent me THREE messages from real people. (Did you not notice the typo in the first message?) All of the messages explained that Bondware now owns all licenses of Poser, including Pro 2014 Game Developer and it is up to Bondware to settle the issue. I received those emails from Smith Micro on a Saturday, just a few hours after sending the initial complaint. The ONLY communication I've gotten from Bondware took days to get to me. And in it, they told me that I should have read their messages and I need to update to 11.2. This tells me that they didn't actually take the time to understand my issue -- I DID update to 11.2. And I hate it. I would like to use the OTHER version of the software I bought. It's a valid complaint. Their handling of it is incredibly frustrating. I've found that asking for help in a public forum can help when private inquiries fail. Expressing my frustration is part of that process. They might listen when a very longtime customer is very upset.

My understanding is that Bondware is simply not planning on fixing the issue. Instead, they're trying to make it sound like it's MY fault that my program won't open. The only email I've received from Bondware on this problem consisted of two links to Rendo's news blog and a scolding about how I should have read them already. Which I did. And which didn't fix the problem. I've been trying to get this fixed since I read the email announcing the "early adopter of 11.2" messages. I never felt like those applied to me, as my issue ISN'T with Poser 11. Smith Micro wasn't much help then and won't be ANY help now. And it's vastly unfair that the first messages sent to me (which escaped gmail's spam filters) about the drop-dead date to arrange permanent licenses came too late to get the problem resolved.

Bottom line -- I was Bondware's customer and I was very unsatisfied with their proposed "solution" (which was not in ANY way a solution, just a "sucks to be you. We aren't fixing that.") And it's not like I'm requesting SUPPORT for the software. I just want to OPEN it. If Bondware patched 11.2 to talk to a new license server, they can patch 2014Pro to do the same. Or they could update it to remove the remote license check entirely. But they aren't going to do that because there aren't enough people like me to justify the time involved. So I'm just going to get screwed. I'm supposed to use THEIR version of a piece of software (Poser 11) I've loathed since it was released and pretend like this fixes things.

It doesn't. And as a result, I'm unable to use software that is legally licensed to me. They own the license. That makes it their service failure. Poser 11.2 does NOT have the same functionality as 2014Pro. I'll have to put on my big girl panties and suck it up, but I don't have to do so happily or quietly.

I think that they simpy cannot reactivate GameDev, since they don't have access to the SM license server. Bondware gave everyone with an active licence a version of the actual version of the software. it's not like they removed some features from it, acutally Poser 11 can do a whole lot more than GameDev. Ok, so you don't like the library. Use the old one. Install Adobe AIR on your computer and execute LSMGUIAIR.exe, when Poser 11 is running. This is the external version of the original library, it does work with Poser 11.

If you still feel screwed, just state which other problems you have. Maybe we can find a fix for that too.

Just a question since you stated you have PP2104 & PP2014GD what features of GD do you use that Poser 11 can't? Kinect and Reduce/hide Polygons are the only two that come to mind. Kinect you could capture the motion and export it as a BVH and Reduce/Hide export the result and use both in PP2104. Fixing your issue maybe simple or it might not be possible. As an example one day I want to use the number keypad on my keyboard and found the 0 key dead. Bought a new keyboard it also had a dead 0 keypad. Turns out it was a program that had nothing to do with the keyboard (no shortcuts etc.). Also it was basically only on my computer. How do you solve that? Another is that in 1995 my squadron got 16 brand new 486 computer with Win95 and office. The two that my shop got (one was mine) would not import a text file into Access. The other one in the office also would not import text into Access. All the rest did. Tried to reinstall Win95 and office using multiple different install disk sets. No help Found the register key on a working machine and compared to mine and it was the same. Installed their key on my machine and it worked. Reloaded Win95 and Office and it was broke again. Installed the key and it fixed it. Point being same machines all made within a day of each other same install disks same everything except two would not work and 14 did. Where is the blame in that?

Bondware gave you a solution for the missing features of 2014GD and for the most part your regular 2104 still works. if they gave a fix that didn't work then what? If it worked in their test machine it must be something on your end and I doubt they have the time at this moment to spend fixing a piece of software that hasn't been sold in years.

Yes, but the "upgraded" libraries pane broke my workflow and I stopped using Poser 11 less than 2 weeks after buying it. I was immensely frustrated that the "improvements" got in my way. Truth told, my complaints are not terribly relevant anymore, since I haven't had a genuine Poser workflow in at least a year -- I just don't use it anymore. Still, it was nice knowing that I had it available if needed. If I ever feel the driving need to use Poser again, I'll have to fumble with 11. Snarlygribbly's Reality workaround at least allows me to use Lux again.

I do not understand how "the "upgraded" libraries pane broke my workflow" Poser 11's library can be detached the same way poser 2014's library could be detached, as can all of the windows. Perhaps there is something different that you mean than way I read this?

Nothing can be done about your Game DEV version, simply because SMITH MICRO, not Bondware closed the licence servers. It is never going to work again. Bondware are doing all in their power to make sure everyone has a legal working copy of poser. Making poser into a viable, usable program is something the entire Dev team are continuously working on.

If you want to run Game Dev, Bondware cannot help you, only Smith Micro can do that.

I really don't see the issue with how 11 is so different from 2014. Here they are side by side. I was able to set them up almost identical. Things are a little smaller in the 2014 version because it was on a smaller monitor. (Hence the black line) I really can't see how you could love one so much and so vehemently hate the other. They are so close in behavior and can be set up similarly.

Your rant is the equivalent to taking a broken coffee maker back to the store for an exchange and being told they no longer make that model so they give you the next best machine, but it's not exactly the same so you throw a fit.

structure posted at 12:29PM Sun, 29 September 2019 - #4364754

Yes, but the "upgraded" libraries pane broke my workflow and I stopped using Poser 11 less than 2 weeks after buying it. I was immensely frustrated that the "improvements" got in my way. Truth told, my complaints are not terribly relevant anymore, since I haven't had a genuine Poser workflow in at least a year -- I just don't use it anymore. Still, it was nice knowing that I had it available if needed. If I ever feel the driving need to use Poser again, I'll have to fumble with 11. Snarlygribbly's Reality workaround at least allows me to use Lux again.

I do not understand how "the "upgraded" libraries pane broke my workflow" Poser 11's library can be detached the same way poser 2014's library could be detached, as can all of the windows. Perhaps there is something different that you mean than way I read this?

Nothing can be done about your Game DEV version, simply because SMITH MICRO, not Bondware closed the licence servers. It is never going to work again. Bondware are doing all in their power to make sure everyone has a legal working copy of poser. Making poser into a viable, usable program is something the entire Dev team are continuously working on.

If you want to run Game Dev, Bondware cannot help you, only Smith Micro can do that.

I am completely aware of what the problem is and I know it will not be "fixed" in any way that satisfies me. Smith Micro might run the old license servers, but since they aren't talking to my computer and SM is unwilling -- or legally unable -- to reset license activations on their server, I am stuck with software that is either one generation older or newer than the one I have been using for the last four years. Knowing what the problem is does not solve it. And since Bondware owns ALL licenses for the software (as stated by both SM and Bondware), it really is their service issue. They may have inherited it, but it's still theirs to solve -- or, as is obviously the case, ignore.

I have used the Adobe Air library plugin since it was integrated back in... 2010? Is Poser inoperable without this plugin? No. Is it cumbersome to me, personally? Yes. Having a, separate, floating, "stays on top of other windows" Library window MATTERS to my workflow. I understand that you can use the Adobe Air library to browse through Poser 11, but you cannot use it to add items to a runtime. Since I had no reason to embrace Superfly and Poser Pro 2014 had pretty much everything else I needed, I just reverted back to 2014 after deciding I disliked Poser 11. There's probably another third-part library manager that would work for me, but honestly, it's a moot point now. Poser 11 isn't new, by any stretch of the imagination. If the functionality didn't grow on me in the years since I bought the software, it isn't going to magically become comfortable to me now.

I truly do understand that my single quirky issue isn't going to influence any development decisions. But I also understand that I have arguably better software with better content from a different company that was free and works better for me at this point. Bondware may want to retain and/or draw former users of Poser back to using it regularly. I wish them the best. I will, however, be uninstalling the non-functional software from my machine and will not be using it anymore. If they manage to develop something amazing with Poser 12, I can re-evaluate my choice then. In the meantime, I'm done looking for assistance or validation. I won't be getting the former and don't need the latter.

There is nothing unusual about wanting or getting validation. You have a right to be upset over a change you didn't want and can't control. I might be wrong and please correct me if I'm wrong but besides Game Developer no longer working, you also have an issue with the library. Have you tried using a browser as an external library? The trade off is the library isn't on your screen at all times but you get a full page of items during searches. The browser "trick" works with Chrome, Firefox, so far all browsers. Also adding figures, props, and poses et al; works just like the regular library. How would that do for your workflow? I agree with you that your personal workflow, that you had down pat, is important.

External Library Page at the bottom the page.

Poser 11 Pro. Do you feel the renders are different? Slower?

Is it Reality (the plug-in) that is frustrating to you? (I have reality as well but prefer Firefly) Did you answer Snarly's request to test it out? (I know you're busy but if it solves a problem it might be worth your time) See @4362968

Kara, what do you want to happen that will bring you back?

It would appear that the only thing the P11 library cannot do that the pp2014/p10 library could do is stay on top. Which seems to be THE issue in this case.

Adobe flash was dropped from a lot of software because of all the vulnerabilities, it is unlikely that it will make a comeback.

structure posted at 5:17PM Tue, 01 October 2019 - #4365303

It would appear the the only thing the P11 library cannot do that the pp2014/p10 library could do is stay on top. Which seems to be THE issue in this case.

Adobe flash was dropped from a lot of software because of all the vulnerabilities, it is unlikely that it will make a comeback.

Phht! Oh ya. It's being dropped by Adobe sometime next year. Does this mean that ALL Libraries that aren't external will stop working? What does Adobe Flash do in Poser? I mean, why is it even there? I'm not being sarcastic. I really just want to know.

Abode Air/ Flash was used in the previous versions of Poser. The current Poser 11 does not use it.

Let it go. She's already said she doesn't care even if the issue is fixed.

P11.2 can still use a web browser to display a library; I have one of my workstations set to do this. You have to manually edit a preference file, which has an "enable external library" (or something like that) from the default 0 to 1.

I think it was libraryprefs.xml, at C:\Users\admin\AppData\Roaming\Poser Pro\11

Look let it go the initial poster has all but said they are happy to move to DS. Good! Good bye to them and happy rendering. All that keeping this thread going is doing is lettung it turn into a Poser Troll. If the OP is happy then drop it All of this over one person that isn't WILLING to embrace a new version is beating a dead horse. Poser NEEDS to move forward, not backward.

March 2020 I Get the same thing as the OP : try to start Poserpro (upgraded as they asked), get the "grace period" and "serial number expired" message and now I see there is no solution. My Poser is dead after 20 years and I don't even have DS for consolation.

Darth, I need some clarification if you please. Are you saying you can't open Poser 11.2? At all? Because I just did a reinstall, and it's working fine for me. No Problem.

Moved to Poser 11 Technical forum.

In despair I tried a reinstall of Poser 11.2 which I already did (getting La Femme on opening). And hey, it works again though now I get 11.2 Bondware. Didn't notice that before. Otherwise, none of the links to Smith Micro still work and at Content Paradise my account with serial numbers is no longer accessible. I really don't need this kind of stress.

SM shuttered Content Paradise before selling Poser to Bondware. And as far as SM is concerned, there is no further support from their end.

Is there an alternative for 3D people other than Poser?

If you are talking about software then there is DAZStudio that is free. You will get the Genesis series of figures included. Now if you are referring to figures that work in Poser, then you have Dawn, Dusk, Project Evolution, Victoria 4, Michael 4, David, Stephanie 3 Petite, etc. Which one do you mean?

My work flows include 3D people. Architectural renderings and the like. Poser has taken a turn lately that has interrupted this work flow with complete idiocy. From what I can tell, they have given up on the software themselves even though they still charge a premium to use it. So yes, I do mean a substitution for the software, Poser. Thank you for your quick response.

I'm still looking for a fix to be able to use Reality to render on Poser 11 Pro. I have ver. 11.3.740, I believe. Whatever the latest update is. Any help on that? I REALLY like using reality with Poser; did some of my best renders with it...

Try avfix from here https://www.poserlounge.nl/PLWP/ my copy of reality works and I have the same version. there's a python script called avfix.pyc that you can run for a single need, but there is also one called poserstartup.py that you use to replace your existing file of the same name. You'll probably want to do that. There are instructions in the zip file to help you better than I can.

Thanks!!! It worked like a charm, and Reality is up and running again. Snarlygribbly, whoever they are, are AWESOME. :)

Woo yea. Im still using 2014 without gamedev features. They broke a lot things while adding features after that version. Some stuff did get fixed, some things are still broken or worse in 11. I'm sticking to 2014 for animation as long as possible or until they fix 11. I really hope they fix some things because I def want to move to the current version. Speaking of which, does anyone know if there is a place to submit bug tickets and feature suggestions?

I thought Smith Micro had made my Poser pro 2014 Game Developer permanent, but I got the screen saying it needs reactivation in 3 days. I guess it dies on September 2nd, 2020.

I've been a dedicated Poser user for a long time and I've acquired quite a library of models and scripts. Among the scripts I like to use are some of Ralf's (D3d) but I had written to him before he died and they only work in the 32 bit version, so I'm guessing they won't work in Poser 11.

MY QUESTION: Has any body recently found a way to go back and re-load Poser Pro 2014 and get it running recently?

Since I paid for the software and Game Developer and have done nothing to change anything and no one supports it or cares about it, are there any craccked versions where I could enter my legally paid for serial number and have it activated? Preferably a corporate legitmate cracked version?

Going back in time if Poser had a kill switch I NEVER would have bought the darned program in the first place.

I really don't want anything to do with Poser software anymore. A set of code that self destructs by defintion is unreliable.

No, you can't legally use a cracked version. You can enter your poser pro 2014 serial number and downgrade to that, or you can upgrade for free to poser pro 11 at posersoftware.com. I personally recommend that. Poser Pro 11 can do everything the game dev does and so much more. People talk about Superfly and I prefer that render engine over firefly, but there are many other features. But if it's not for you, you can go back. Or you can do both. I do have 2014 and poser 11 on my computer and I have had them both running at the same time.

Gotta say, while I personally am enjoying 11.3 currently (new user, can't compare to any other version), I must agree that this new world where the software companies retain control over the software even after you've paid for it in full is not a welcome development.

I have no complaints with Bondware or Renderosity, but what if they sell Poser a few years from now to some company who isn't so great? Point being, it seems our licenses depend entirely on the good will of not only the current owner of Poser, but every future owner too. In other words, we don't actually own the software, we're renting it for a one time fee.

This would seem to be kind of a big problem for any company whose business model is built upon selling asset add-ons for the software. As example, I only paid $80 for Poser so whatever happens I can live with it, as that's a totally fair deal. But will I invest $1000 in asset add-ons knowing they could all be yanked away at any time?

Back in the 90's I built and owned a small list hosting company which I sold for significant dollars to a much bigger company. They all seemed like smart good people at the time of sale, but within 6 months they totally trashed the service to the point of collapse. Stuff like that does happen.

PS: Thanks to the above for introducing this newbie Poser user to Reality, looks pretty interesting.