Yesterday (April 26th, 2020) when I fired up Poser, I got a message window informing about an update being available. Currently I am on Pro 11.3.740 So I checked the download page, and indeed the downloadable files for the 3 main download have a fresh date indicated, April 26th 2020.

However when I checked the "Release Notes", they don't mention any version beyond 11.3.740. So I went to the forums and also worldwide Google, to see if any update is mentioned beyond 11.3.740, but there isn't any post ever since yesterday mentioning a new update.

I hesitate to download and install for no serious reason, because complex installation there is always a risk of spoiling something, causing a lot of additional work to fix it. "Never touch a running system", as the computer bible says...

How comes, my Poser application indicated an update available? Have the files just been re-uploaded without changes, causing a new date stamp and faulting Poser in assuming there is something new existing?

The latest production build is 11.3.816. There have been a few minor updates since 11.3.740 including fixes for Queue Manager cross platform rendering and fixes for certain content creator tools. If you haven't encountered problems in those areas, there's probably no rush to upgrade.

Oh thank you so much! So it has probably just been forgotten to update the "Release Notes.txt" file in the download section.

Generally, the "Release Notes.txt" on the Downloads page are culmulative for 11.3 and do not mention specific builds. If you're seeing something different, can you point me to it?

Does it mean there is no way for me to verify as a customer which is the latest downloadable Poser 11.3 build? Only by re-downloading it and re-installing it and then starting it and verify in the "About" tab if there appears a new number? Or if it has remained the same after re-downloading and re-installing? Why is it not just being mentioned and documented in the "Release Notes.txt"? At least, this is what I assume release notes are made for? No offence intended, like I said, I'm just puzzled. Obviously I must have missed an updated build somewhere in between, because I was not aware I was not on the latest build (which you say was 11.3.816, while I assumed I was up to date until yesterday with 11.3.740?) If developers want to save the work for describing changes for updated builds in the Release Notes, at least the current most recent published build number could be indicated, which would take a minute or two for typing and uploading?

Fair point. The full version number of the latest production build has been added to the title of the Downloads page.

The Release Notes are a different beast as that gets updated along with the software and flows through the development process before a version/release number is known.

Thanks for the feedback.

While I admire the effort that Renderosity are putting into Poser all I basically want to do is to use Poser to create art. After 11.2 was launched I was constantly being told there was an update available but 11.2 was working fine for me so I just turned off the update notifications. It remains the same in 11.3 so I can continue to play with Poser without having to constantly update. I trust that Renderosity will inform me when there is an update I really need to install.

It really would be useful if the update notes would NOT be cumulative, but different for each, especially when I am told the update is available by the software. I'm not a coder or expert, but I don't recall any other software I use where the release notes are cumulative--if there is a change, there is a separate readme when I install the new version.

To be honest, except for a few minor fixes such as keeping up with Apple or Windows and other third party providers, all I've seen from Renderosity is a concentration on using Poser to navigate and find things in and for its library. While completely understandable and probably even appreciated by many users, I would rather use the development time in fixing long time bugs and streamlining the features. Sure, I'd love to have Poser 12 released with new features, but I'd be willing to wait while they squash a few bugs and grant a few wishes. After all, there's no use in releasing another feature that doesn't quite work right.

hornet3d posted at 3:37PM Tue, 28 April 2020 - #4387603

While I admire the effort that Renderosity are putting into Poser all I basically want to do is to use Poser to create art. After 11.2 was launched I was constantly being told there was an update available but 11.2 was working fine for me so I just turned off the update notifications. It remains the same in 11.3 so I can continue to play with Poser without having to constantly update. I trust that Renderosity will inform me when there is an update I really need to install.

See, there are different levels existing, where "update" is only a vague overall expression. In Poser 11.3.816 ,

11 is the version number, so Poser 12 would be called a new version. A new main version is usually called "upgrade", not "update", and usually for most existing softwares you pay for a new version, because the implemented new functionallity needs funding.

The second number, 3., is called a "minor release", it usually contains new functionallity but not to the extent of a new version. So the "minor release" offers you whatever new functionallity the developers offer, without asking you for a payment. In the latest minor update to 11.3. the main issue was the cut in the license support from Smith Micro side, which forced the new owner to release a minor update with a new licensing functionallity, so Poser wouldn't stop working only because Smith Micro had shut down their licensing server.

The third number, which was the topic of this thread (and which has, in my oppinion as OP, been fixed in the mean time) is the "build" number, also called "patch" number or "hotfix". This is a new status where the developers have not added new functionallity, but have fixed bugs. They are constantly working on solving reported issues, and when things get important enough to make a new build available quickly to those who suffer from problems, then a new build is being released. This can happen even after only a month or so, which is good, because the new builds are being done for reasons, there are customers who have problems and want them solved, while other customers may not even be aware, because they don't use elaborated functionality or they are on different operating systems or hardware or drivers. So basically, new builds are always a good and recommendable thing. Programmers don't do them just because they are nasty or feel bored, after all... However, like Tim mentioned above, if your system is running well, and you never encountered problems or reasons the way it works, then you can easily skip a build and just keep using the recent minor release. In this case, forget about the third decimal number. Only if you contact customer care and complain about a malfunction, these will most likely ask you to first try the latest build, because the malfunction mentioned may have been fixed already before with another build.

Skipping a minor release is a little different. Sure, if your system works well and you are satisfied with everything, you can skip it. But the latest Poser minor release 3 was done (and luckily early enough) to avoid shut downs of Poser due to server shut downs at Smith Micro. So in my oppinion: much recommendable. Otherwise you could just wait if a breakdown of Poser happens, then still do the minor update. In other cases, if you skip a minor update, you may be missing new functionallity which the developers have added, sometimes in advance for a new major version, when marketing department wants to add value to the running version and not wait for the full new release. So in my personal oppinion, also a "minor update release" in very most cases is recommendable to do. The new library function is an example for such an added functionallity free of charge, which people didn't want to delay until a new "major version" (which would be Poser 12) comes out. So they included it in a minor update, which was needed anyway to replace the dying Smith Micro licensing servers.

When it comes to cumulative software release notes, these are meant for customers to inform themselves about what has changed when, and which is the latest of them all, and such things. This way, every customer can read the history since his personla last update, and can judge and decide on his/her own, if they want to do the listed "minor" or "hotfix" update, or not. Like Tim mentioned above, the hotfix builds somehow cause problems for technical reasons to be included in the release notes. This is why he chose to now indicate the latest build number at least on the download page, so clients can verify which is the latest available and compare to their own installed build numer and decide whether or not to use the latest build. Now in this case, the improvement with hotfixes are not contained in the release notes. However, now you can at least check and verify on the download page, what is the latest status, and if you really want to check what has been improved with hotfixes, you can still ask in the forums or customer care. At least, you KNOW and can monitor the hotfix/patch builds, and maybe after a while decide to use a new build after numbers have gone high.

Looks like they have fixed the bug where dynamic cloth sims didn't stick if you are using a preferred scene if you didn't save the file which got broke when they fixed the same issue if you weren't using a preferred scene :)

ByteFactory3D posted at 6:40PM Wed, 29 April 2020 - #4387614

hornet3d posted at 3:37PM Tue, 28 April 2020 - #4387603

While I admire the effort that Renderosity are putting into Poser all I basically want to do is to use Poser to create art. After 11.2 was launched I was constantly being told there was an update available but 11.2 was working fine for me so I just turned off the update notifications. It remains the same in 11.3 so I can continue to play with Poser without having to constantly update. I trust that Renderosity will inform me when there is an update I really need to install.

See, there are different levels existing, where "update" is only a vague overall expression. In Poser 11.3.816 ,

11 is the version number, so Poser 12 would be called a new version. A new main version is usually called "upgrade", not "update", and usually for most existing softwares you pay for a new version, because the implemented new functionallity needs funding.

The second number, 3., is called a "minor release", it usually contains new functionallity but not to the extent of a new version. So the "minor release" offers you whatever new functionallity the developers offer, without asking you for a payment. In the latest minor update to 11.3. the main issue was the cut in the license support from Smith Micro side, which forced the new owner to release a minor update with a new licensing functionallity, so Poser wouldn't stop working only because Smith Micro had shut down their licensing server.

The third number, which was the topic of this thread (and which has, in my oppinion as OP, been fixed in the mean time) is the "build" number, also called "patch" number or "hotfix". This is a new status where the developers have not added new functionallity, but have fixed bugs. They are constantly working on solving reported issues, and when things get important enough to make a new build available quickly to those who suffer from problems, then a new build is being released. This can happen even after only a month or so, which is good, because the new builds are being done for reasons, there are customers who have problems and want them solved, while other customers may not even be aware, because they don't use elaborated functionality or they are on different operating systems or hardware or drivers. So basically, new builds are always a good and recommendable thing. Programmers don't do them just because they are nasty or feel bored, after all... However, like Tim mentioned above, if your system is running well, and you never encountered problems or reasons the way it works, then you can easily skip a build and just keep using the recent minor release. In this case, forget about the third decimal number. Only if you contact customer care and complain about a malfunction, these will most likely ask you to first try the latest build, because the malfunction mentioned may have been fixed already before with another build.

Skipping a minor release is a little different. Sure, if your system works well and you are satisfied with everything, you can skip it. But the latest Poser minor release 3 was done (and luckily early enough) to avoid shut downs of Poser due to server shut downs at Smith Micro. So in my oppinion: much recommendable. Otherwise you could just wait if a breakdown of Poser happens, then still do the minor update. In other cases, if you skip a minor update, you may be missing new functionallity which the developers have added, sometimes in advance for a new major version, when marketing department wants to add value to the running version and not wait for the full new release. So in my personal oppinion, also a "minor update release" in very most cases is recommendable to do. The new library function is an example for such an added functionallity free of charge, which people didn't want to delay until a new "major version" (which would be Poser 12) comes out. So they included it in a minor update, which was needed anyway to replace the dying Smith Micro licensing servers.

When it comes to cumulative software release notes, these are meant for customers to inform themselves about what has changed when, and which is the latest of them all, and such things. This way, every customer can read the history since his personla last update, and can judge and decide on his/her own, if they want to do the listed "minor" or "hotfix" update, or not. Like Tim mentioned above, the hotfix builds somehow cause problems for technical reasons to be included in the release notes. This is why he chose to now indicate the latest build number at least on the download page, so clients can verify which is the latest available and compare to their own installed build numer and decide whether or not to use the latest build. Now in this case, the improvement with hotfixes are not contained in the release notes. However, now you can at least check and verify on the download page, what is the latest status, and if you really want to check what has been improved with hotfixes, you can still ask in the forums or customer care. At least, you KNOW and can monitor the hotfix/patch builds, and maybe after a while decide to use a new build after numbers have gone high.

Having been a field trial technician in the past I had a vague idea to how software is updated, what I did not know was the significance of the numbering system in this case so thank you for the information. I do understand there is a lot of work being put into this and that the aim is to improve Poser overall, it is just I tend to be somewhere behind the leading edge of technology rather than at the front of the bleeding edge. Perhaps that is something to do with being a retired field trail tech.

hornet3d posted at 2:42PM Wed, 29 April 2020 - #4387705

Having been a field trial technician in the past I had a vague idea to how software is updated, what I did not know was the significance of the numbering system in this case so thank you for the information. I do understand there is a lot of work being put into this and that the aim is to improve Poser overall, it is just I tend to be somewhere behind the leading edge of technology rather than at the front of the bleeding edge. Perhaps that is something to do with being a retired field trail tech.

Having been a dee jay back in the 80s, I used to try to be on the cutting edge of technology, but I learned a cold hard truth, those who lead the way get charged more and encounter all the bugs. Or just encounter tech that doesn't catch on. I'm looking at betamax and the Zune.

My falls included the Zip Disc and the Mini Disc.

Hello. I updated not so long ago to version 11.3.813 and now see there is a newer version of .816. I never bothered copying the .813 text file so i don't know what is different between version .813 & ,816, if there is any significant difference at all. Can i miss out the .816 version and wait for the next big update or do i have to install each in consecutive order? Thanks :)

@patlane the Poser software downloads are all complete, so you aren't required to install each one if you wish to skip. Unless there are release notes which mention changes to content, you don't need to download and install the content with each software release, either.

@patlane Release 11.3.816 includes some fixes that are important to content creators that use the Setup Room.

Wow, I haven't used the Setup Room since Roxie. I hope they fixed that inner thigh issue.

Thank you an0malous & Tim. My first thoughts was to wait a while. Perhaps i should copy the text files in future to study each update as they come. And yes an0malous, i am going to delete my second content download and pretend it never happened. I have begun to use the setup room quite a lot recently so it may be best to run the new update. Thanks Tim. Pat :)

Will 11.3.816 do anything that my current 11.3.813 doesn't, apart from the setup room? The release notes still say Poser 11.3 - Released 2020-03-19 I really don't want to go through the extra steps of getting my plugins and scripts working again if it's not really essential, because at this rate it is beginning to look like something that will have to be done weekly