Ok, I made a gallant attempt to install Poser from scratch again!

I 've quickly progressed to my usual point of quitting. where?

M4 is installed. Character loads, clothes seem to work.

MORPHS

The Morphs appear installed - they appear as tiny pics, in the library. but alas---- none of them work! Correction, one or two actually show up in a list and work. The rest, MIA.

I'm baffled that this Achilles heel of the entire Poser system ---- has not been addressed --- by MULTIPLE VIDEO TUTORIALS how to manage this!

Really don't know who you think you are kidding with such threads, we know you hate Poser, take your own advice and quit.

Did you run the batch file for the morphs?

Yes, this sounds like the batch file hasn't been run. You need to run it when you install Poser or M4, or when you install new morphs.

This is a DAZ thing, not a Poser thing.

thanks all.   This all sounds key.  But without seeing actually visual tutorial examples,  I'm still  lost.

Morphs still don't work. Various multiple reinstalls haven't helped.

Finding and clicking "bat" files hasn't helped. Putting everything in same C root folder hasn't helped. 

baffled.

Install 7877_1_dpc_M4Base.exe

It's very important that the correct path is chosen. The path should end with the Poser folder.  If you choose any other folder, like Runtime or Downloads, the file hierarchy will not be written to the correct folders and subfolders, and M4 will not work like it should.

Install 7878_1_dpc_M4Morphs.exe

It is critical that the target folder for the Morphs++ be identical to the folder for the M4Base installed earlier.  So, the path should end with the Poser folder.
You should be able to find the Morphs++ in the Library in: POSES --> DAZ's Michael 4.0 --> Morphs++.

I ran this a few times til I got it right. Don't give up yet!

You got this!

thanks,  this is what I have so far.

heres my C drive

Next, you have to visually check what's installed and where it was installed. You can do a search from this folder for "m4" or "inj" and organize the results by date to show latest date first.

Can you make Windows File Explorer display all file extensions? That "hide extensions for known files" is on. Uncheck that option.

That Poser.exe assigned as a text document... What is that? You have to clear the .exe file association.

I kinda have to be somewhere by 10pm, but I'll be back tomorrow around noon.

Download the M4 install packages again and place them in a different folder. NOT the Poser folder or subfolders.

Create a new folder on C: named something like "M4". Run the installs from there. Once it works, you can delete the install packages and that folder.

Download the M4 install packages again and place them in a different folder. NOT the Poser folder or subfolders.

Create a new folder on C: named something like "M4". Run the installs from there. Once it works, you can delete the install packages and that folder.

Cool, once you finished installing the two packages, go into Runtime \ Libraries \ !DAZ and run DzCreateExPFiles-M4.bat

Wouldn't it be easier to install M4 and Morphs++ using the DAZ install manager?

DAZ Install Manager is convenient but it still has a bit of a learning curve to it.  If you are unfamiliar with DIM's set up, you can very easily screw up content installs very quickly.  DIM would be my preference with DAZ purchases for both DS and Poser but I feel knowledgeable enough not to destroy my runtimes in one fowl swoop.

Poser 11 has an import feature.   You will find this at file > install from zip archive.

anyone know if that will work?

thanks

It works if the ZIP files follow the same hierarchy protocol established for Poser runtime folders.  Unfortunately, DAZ files begin with a top level folder called 'Content' which prevents Poser from accurately installing content into its Library.  You will find that many users that offer free content will not follow the hierarchy either, usually nesting runtimes into top level folders with either their names or the names of the file.  I always check those files and make the necessary changes to allow Poser to install content into the right places.  Typically, I do manual installations after the quick check.

It works with files from this site (paid content). It will not work with anything from DAZ, as hborre describes above. I usually open the zip files from DAZ, and copy the Runtime folder which is inside a stupid Content folder, directly into the appropriate folder's runtime on my external drive where my Poser runtimes are located.

From here:

Move this:

To here:

thanks all.

I've uninstalled Poser 11 now.  I've cleaned out all files { I think }.  But I'm still confused.

I guess, I'm looking for a fool proof plan/  roadmap to proceed, if that's possible?   A check list, if you will.

There is no foolproof way, each individual develops their own workflow to install content.  The majority will unzip the files into a temporary folder to check the integrity of the runtimes then move them to their final destination, wherever that will be.  Others use a reliable installer of some type.  For me, I use DIM to install DAZ products, it is reliable and I am familiar with it.  For freebies, I open them in Winrar, examine them and then install the content into the appropriate runtime of my choice.  Renderosity has changed the way of installing content so that is not too much of a concern for me presently.

Here is what I do.

If it is from this site, I use Install from ZIP.

If it is a freebie or from another site, I install manually following the screenies I presented above.

And that's it.

Personally, I tend to drop folders that contain complementary materials, poses, etc under the name of the cloth, under the name of the vendor of the cloth

This requires to do things manually. Till Poser 7 included, I used to rely on the zip's organization, a real error and a complete nightmare, as even vendors tend to organize better and better, resulting in their stuff to be dispatched unorganized.
It took me months to get things organized, now I prefer to extract the zip, check that the desired structure is there, than I move the result in a dedicated runtime (characters, clothes, props, landscape, etc...)

Examples of this are Nirvy's and Renapd's (RPD... in the example below) great additional packs. Even then ZIP files are stored this way:

I started manually installing content during a time when some vendors were putting what I regard as material files in the poses folder, at least that way i always know where to start looking.

I keep the 'purchases' folder as a sandbox where I combine related new assets, paid or freebie, to test, weed, rename and rearrange as I think best: a top level folder with lead content item, supporting items, and a folder for materials. Useless folder hierarchy levels (with just the maker's name for example) are deleted. Readme files get names that make sense

Once completed,  the cleaned-up tree is moved to final destination. 

I've started to dump Readme's into a Documentation folder containing appropriately labeled subfolders.  Those particular files have become a mess over the years with no valid descriptions nor organization.  

I've started to dump Readme's into a Documentation folder containing appropriately labeled subfolders.  Those particular files have become a mess over the years with no valid descriptions nor organization.  

I do the same removing all the read mes and documentation and store them outside the runtime folder.  Any PDF manuals are also removed and stored separately anything else is generally deleted.  I have all the downloads sorted in a Poser folder with yearly sub folders and the yearly sub folders have monthly sub folders so I can gat any documentation back if required.

yeah,  I've noticed that  some vendors are quite haphazard where they file materials, poses, etc.  I thought management would have been stricter about enforcing a certain set protocol.   I mainly notice this with scenery models,  since my figure attempts are obviously needing all around work.     Or maybe there all perfect but my installs are just prone to variations?

yeah,  I've noticed that  some vendors are quite haphazard where they file materials, poses, etc.  I thought management would have been stricter about enforcing a certain set protocol.   I mainly notice this with scenery models,  since my figure attempts are obviously needing all around work.     Or maybe there all perfect but my installs are just prone to variations?

I am still sorting out my very old runtimes and there is total chaos in the documentation with some of it not even giving what the prop, clothes, etc were for, ie victoria 1 or 4.  I can feel for anyone else that is taking the task on!  LOL  Patience and lots of chocolate are required!