No, Ron, I didn't totally ignore everything you said. In fact I agreed with you that such missing item errors can occur, I've had them too. The question here is one of what a PZ3 file can do, NOT what it always does. Your statement that a PZ3 can ONLY be a list of references is simply incorrect. If you look at the examples I provided, that is obvious. The Gym Studio file which you apparently have is evidence of this. There are no external .obj files included, the geometry is included in the PZ3. The bench1.obj loading error is a result of an erroneous reference in the file. I showed you two ways to eliminate the error. Apparently, you are so enamored with your own view that, you did not bother to try it. The BatGirl figure is another example. Again, I tried to show you that various items of geometry are included in the file. As Nance suggested, take the time to look. Is that so difficult?

You would be correct in saying that a PZ3 CAN contain references to external .obj files and not having those files will cause the errors you mention. The BatGirl PZ3 has a references for the boots and the P4Nude Woman .obj files. If they aren't there, you'll get an error. You'll never get an error asking for the mask, cape or gloves. Neither will you find corresponding .obj files for them anywhere because the .obj geometry is in the PZ3.

Now I don't pretend to know the ins and outs of what gets included or what gets referenced, only that both are possible, as evidenced by the specific examples given.

Final example. Find an .obj file, not one from poser, just something from 3DCafe perhaps. I chose a beer bottle since I could use a beer after this discussion. Open Poser and load long-suffering Posette. Go to import->Wavefront obj and import the file. Uncheck all the options, scale, floor, etc. The obj. may be huge and hide Posette but don't touch it. Immediately save the scene as a PZ3. Close the scene. Go and delete the .obj file you imported. Back in Poser. open the PZ3. Everything is there, Posette and the model, even though the imported .obj is deleted. Now, close Poser. Get the .obj out of the trash or load another copy into a text editor. Look at the first lines of vertex data in my case:

g Bottle_object_1
v -0.456887 1.190007 0.456888
v -0.449994 2.013380 0.449994

Now open the PZ3 in the editor. Scroll or search for the object in my case I find:

prop Beer_Bottle
{
geomCustom
{
numbVerts 1250
numbTVerts 0
numbTSets 0
numbElems 2488
numbSets 7464
v -0.456887 1.190007 0.456888
v -0.449994 2.013380 0.449994

Do those 'v' lines look Familiar? They should, it's the same geometry, now embedded in the PZ3. I don't know how much plainer I can make it. Someone in PoserTech can probably tell you what gets embedded and what gets referenced and to what degree you can control that.

I'm not denying or trying to invalidate your experience with PZ3's just saying they can do more than you maintain and that your blanket statement based on your experience and consequent assumptions is incorrect and amply refuted by a few simple empirical exercises. If you choose not to do those exercises or doubt the validity of the results, then yours is a purely dogmatic position, closer to superstition than reality.

I'm sorry if that sounds harsh but you have a knack for sometimes communicating in a manner which does you an injustice, as I know that is not your intent, nor does it accurately represent you. You may choose to again refute what I have shown, but I have nothing further to say in the matter.

"Democracy is a pathetic belief in the collective wisdom of individual ignorance." - H. L. Mencken