My 30GB hard drive is getting rather full, and the idea of importing and exporting banks has some appeal. I remain confused. Let's assume I want to access resources stored on a CD, and that the resources are not zipped. 1.) Do I need to recreate the Poser folder structure? (Runtime, etc) 2.) When I import, are the files actually copied to my hard drive? 3.) "If you are exporting to CDR, it may be necessary to export to a temporary folder first, then you can burn this temporary folder to a CD. Remember to leave the folder names as PBooost has created them so PBooost will recognise them!" What does that mean? How will I know if it is necessary to use a temporary folder first? Will PBooost take care of this automatically? Or do I need to do something? Maybe someone could explain this so a dummy like myself can understand. I'd surely like to take advantage of the "unlimited storage" a CDR can help provide.

Morning! Right... let's see... 1:No need to make any folder structures. Just make sure you have a folder to put the backups into. PBooost doesn't like putting files into the root directory of a drive. 2: When you import, the files are moved into your runtime folder. When importing and exporting, PBooost will ask you if you want to move the files, or just make copies of them. 3:You'll be OK on this, Ron, as you have XP Pro, the OS deals with CD writing as if it were simply another drive. My concern here is for people who can't just drag/drop files to CDR with Explorer... PBooost wouldn't recognise the CD in this case. Put a CDR into the drive and make it "live"... so you can drag files onto it... you know. Now PBooost will show the CD drive as a drive in the export list and you can export banks or folders to it. PBooost will move or copy the whole bank or folder across. Hmmm... have I explained this properly? H:)

Oh... the files you've moved to CDR won't actually be burnt to CD until you try to eject the CD, or tell XP to burn the "files waiting to be burnt to CD"... It really depends on the CD burning software you're using. I believe you have the same software as me, so it'll be burnt when you try to eject the CD. H:)

Boy am I dense. I use Roxio's Easy CD Creator Platinum. I'd rather just make a cd. I don't have any experience using Windows XP's CD creator utility. In fact, guess what, that XP utility is just a limited version of Roxio's program. So I'm still confused. You say I should create a folder on the CD. How the heck can I do that? I just make CD's using Roxio's program. How do I make a CD "live," or any other drive "live" for that matter?! Hey Howard, I can be a dummy sometimes... It's me not you.

DOH, I must not have a recent version of PBoost. I can't find any export or import functions.

OK, here is what I think I've figured out. You need to have a CD formatted to work like a floppy. With Adaptec/Roxio Easy CD Creator, that is the Direct CD utility. I used that sometimes before I got Windows XP. I used it on re-writable CD's. However, for some reason those re-writeables didn't seem dependable, so I don't use them. I got Windows XP and installed Roxio's Easy CD Creator Platinum. I was told that my CD Writer is no longer supported for Direct CD. That in essence means to me that there is no option to use the CD as a floppy. I don't think I could use a CD as a floppy unless it were formatted for Direct CD anyway.

ok... I think judgeing by our IMs you've got it sussed... You've now got the latest PBooost and found the Import/Export buttons... You've got quite an old CD writer so Direct CD (floppy style) recording won't work. By "it may be necessary to export to a temporary folder first" I actually should have been more specific... how about "if your CD recorder is an older type which cannot format CDRs to "floppy" style, prepare the data by exporting to a folder on your drive, then burn them onto a CD manually." H:)

This is all rather confusing. I had some old re-writable CD's formatted for Direct CD, and loaded them out of curiosity. I was able to read the CD's. I just haven't tried to write to them. My CD burner is less than 3 years old. Gee, that must be ancient. By the way, I installed the new version without uninstalling the old one. I thought something was funny. Two versions of PBooost were running! I uninstalled the old one and all seems ok now.

What verison is this discussing?? I have 1.2.1 and can not find any import/export option. Would this be a new yet unreleased verison?

Yes, we're talking about PBooost 1.2.1 That was hard for me to find. Look at the top for some arrow. I hope Howard doesn't mind that I borrowed his screenshot. Now my question is whether I can install a bunch of characters and export them to CD? If I do this, will the appropriate geometries, object files, etc. go along with them? Or do they remain behind? Can I somehow have an entire Runtime folder somewhere else that I can access from Poser? It seems some folks are doing just that.

OK, Howard, are you there? I've started to think and get terribly confused here. I assume that when you import a bank or folder it is copied to your Poser installation? When you export the folder of bank, you can either copy or move it to the new destination?! Let's say the export or import are temporary things. We don't want to keep the items in our Poser installation permanently. Is there a way to get Imported banks or folders out of our Poser installation once we're done with them?! I'm currently using CD's because I thought that is a good way to get "unlimited" storage. Maybe that complicates things? **** Are we better off making Banks or folders?! I've created lots of banks, such as Vicky MATS, Vicky Poses, Mike Poses, etc. It seems to be a good way to organize things. Of course I sometimes get lost when PBooost won't switch banks. If I understand correctly the next version of PBooost will fix that problem?

Yep... just export them and chose "move"... ... or just delete all the contents, folders and bank in PBooost. Hell... I don't want to make it too easy to delete content from your libraries!!!!! You'll thank me! Many PBooosters are using the Import/Export functions and I've not had this suggestion before... I'll think about allowing easier removal of imported libraries if I get a call for it. ... As for the bank switching... PROBLEM SOLVED!!!!! PBOOOST 1.3 IS UPLOADING TO ROSITY STORE NOW WITH THE ALL NEW DEEP FILE EDITOR! It's been a while in the making, and the DFE only deals with materials in this version... I guessed y'all can't wait any longer! Here's a brief list of additions to 1.3... The Deep File Editor alows ntuative manipulation of the material sections within Poser files, MAT/MAP pose creation with the DFE, Correction of image file references within Poser files leading to constant bank switching and faster loading into Poser, Multiple selections and operations throughout PBooost, Delete selected Geometry RSR files, Turn off bubble help, Fast&flickery or Smooth interface setting, "PBooost always on top" setting, Improved intuative "folder lock" error reporting. MORE VALUE FOR MONEY!!!!! I'll mail you a copy, Ron, as you're one of the original testers. I'd better get out of the forum and check the upload!!! Darn... and the DFE needs a tutorial!! DOH! Howard:)))))

Howard, as always, thank you for a fine product. Thanks for allowing me to have even a bumbling part in this project. Thanks for PBooost 1.3. One of my fondest desires will be to one day "tip a few" with you in a local pub. *** It kind of sounds like Importing and Exporting of banks and files is best done if you keep "rewritable" media on both ends. If you use a hard drive for both the Poser installation and the "destination" and "source" of the imports and exports. I suppose rewritable CD's would work ok?! I just don't know if I trust them any more.

During my own testing of the import/export, I used both rewriteable and write-once media. Last night I confirmed this again... ... the disk has to be formatted before PBooost can use it, though. I used CD Creator 5 "CD Direct" and, once formatted, it works just fine. I think you may just have missed the boat with your Writer... it can't format the Write-once CDs for this kind of access. Oh... and you've been a great help to me with PBooost! Thanks! Ooops... better get back to work! H:)

Howard, think about what Export and Import does. I do believe the idea is to allow you to keep the Poser installation down to a minimum if that is your wish. You accomplish this goal by keeping some things in another folder, or place. You import them into the Poser installation when you need them. You export them when you no longer need them. If you use CDR's for your "extra" stuff, you will have a one-way arrangement. You can import from the CDR. However, once your folder or bank has been imported to your Poser installation, it is there to stay. You can't move it back to the CDR. It's already there. You can't delete items from a CDR. The whole concept of Importing and Exporting resources is much handier with rewritable media. If you use a hard drive, (even a second hard drive), or re-writable CD's, zip disks, etc... you can move back and forth between the media. Move and delete, etc. I love PBooost. I love the ability to switch banks, reorganize, import and export. I just see things at a different level, and deeper than some people do. I think ahead to see just exactly what is involved in exporting and importing. Then I try to formulate the proper approach to make it work. There is nothing wrong with PBooost or the Import or Export functions. It might be a good idea to talk more about the functions and logistics in your tutorial. To summarize, Importing is a one-way procedure if you're using a CDR. You can import into Poser but you can't export back to your original CDR because it is not rewritable. Importing and Exporting has its real flexibility if you use re-writable media such as a hard drive or CDRW.

Gotcha, Ron... But sometimes it's good to put stuff you'll rarely need onto a "one-way" CDR... such as Poser4 figures... If you really need them for a project, import them from the CD then delete them from your HD when you're finished. Yes... I agree about the fact that the perfect solution is to use RW media... or better still, a large "storage" HD. Heck... I think CDR has a lot to be desired as a media... I mean, it is the only media since punched card which is write only and, as such, will quickly go the same way as said punched card. Is there such a thing as DVDRW yet? 'Cos that would definately be a goody for storing Poser libraries and, with the onset of Poser 5, whole runtime folders! Ooops! I'm browsing the forums again! Back to the tutorial writing for me!! H:)

Howard, I've seen rewritable DVD drives listed, but they're beyond my price range. Like many others, I'm hoping to put together the money for Poser 5. In the meantime I mentioned getting a new computer. My wife said: "If you got a new computer, you wouldn't be able to get any more computer stuff for a long time." I started to talk about Poser 5, and she gave me a huge frown. Hey I let my wife handle our money for a good reason. So I make a choice to try for Poser 5. PBooost has been very invaluable in helping so many people deal with their huge Poser collections. I'm really excited to have even a small part in this process.

Hell... my Poser stuff cost more than my car... ... sort of a sobering thought! H:)

Um, well maybe you have a fine car that didn't cost much?

Errr... 300. 1989 Vauxhall Astra Estate. Cough

My friend, I'm ignorant when it comes to "British currency." My 1990'ish (I don't remember the year) Dodge Dynasty cost me about $4,500.. one of those long stories. Poser costs considerably less.