I admit I haven't used it myself, but it doesn't look too complicated. Take a look at the uncompressPoserFiles.py file in the Utility folder. Lines 77 to 118 specifically.

SVDL, couldn't you just use the gzip module to uncompress the file, save it to a directory of your choosing, then use the uncompressed copy? Hope you don't feel like I am stepping on your toes, just trying to be helpful. =)

Interesting. The hide/unhide shouldn't be too hard. Just flip the SetOnOff switch for each figure. What are you going to do, put checkboxes in for who the user wants to hide? The DropToSurface sounds very intriguing. I think you would make a lot of people happy with that script. I'm planning on working on a Render Passes script next. I haven't tried out the one that comes with Poser, but I quickly glanced over the code, and I think it only deals with lights, rendering a pass for each one. I'm thinking more along the lines of turning off figures in a scene, rendering with only one figure, then cycling through each one, then rendering the shadows without any figures in the scene. I figure then all of them can be composited and make a nice postworked image. I figured I would take a look at the wishlist and see if there was anything anyone wanted as well.

Cool. Nothing wrong with a bit of hard work!

That's a great script idea. I was thinking of doing that one myself after the one I am working on now.

I may as well just wait to see if you are working on something before I even try anymore ;-)

I just finished a script to transfer morph values from one figure to another. I needed it for something I am currently working on. I haven't decided whether to release it, or even if anyone would find it useful.

Right now, I am working on a script to copy morph values from one side of a figure to the other, so that only one side has to be morphed, then the other side can be made symmetric automatically. This is part of the current project I am working on too.

These may have been done already, I don't know, but sometimes it's easier for me to just write my own code, my own way.

So what else do you have in your bag of tricks?

You're a busy little beaver lately huh?

Any answer on this one yet guys? I am actually on my way out the door from work. I will play around with this a bit when I get home, and see what I come up with.

Okay, how about this? Try getting the "parent" of the Body actor? Maybe it would give you access to the name of the figure? I'm grasping at straws here. I wish I could give you a better answer, but I am just relying on guesswork. Sorry.

Is the Body the parent actor? Maybe it is being set to something else before you try to rename? Maybe call fig.SetParentActor("Body") before trying to rename? I honestly don't know if this would work, and I can't test it since I'm at work, but I hope it helps! It's strange that Poser doesn't allow you to scriptomatically change the name with just a fig.SetName() method.

"Marvel Comics does NOT own DC Comics. Warner Bros owns DC." Ahh, gotcha. I had a feeling I misunderstood that one. Thanks for clearing that up Doug!

Interesting, thanks svdl!

Dude, you beat me to it. That was the next script I was going to write. I am just putting the finishing touches on my morph transfer script, then I planned on tackling this issue. Bravo!

I just started using the P6 Dialogs myself. A much better solution that tkInter, at the cost of incompatibility with older Poser versions. But at least Mac P6 users can use them! (Though it would be so much eaiser if everyone just used Windows ;-)

Anyway, here is the way to do text entry:
sMsg = poser.DialogTextEntry(message="Enter a new name for something.")
sMsg.Show()
print sMsg.Text()

I don't really have time right at the moment, but I will check out your script, and throw you some feedback ASAP.

Sorry about that my good doctor. Hey, at least it was a huge post! ;-)

RamWolff, yes, that was the Image way. So many people doubted they could hold water with the big boys firmly in command of the market. What Marvel/DC/naysayers failed to realize is that comic fans are fans of the artwork. It isn't even so much about the storyline. If someone wants an A+ story, they'll read a book. The artists are the attraction. McFarlane's Spawn was one of the best drawn comics EVER. (It didn't hurt that his Spidey fans flocked to Spawn simply because it was "McFarlane" either.)

And yes, alas, in the end, even Image succumbed to profit taking. But that is business, you don't run a company just out of the goodness of your heart. But they still do some good business. I remember when McFarlane hung up his Spawn pen. He took the time to introduce his replacement (Angel something-or-other IIRC.) I thought that was a nice touch, smoothing the fans into the transition.

Artistheat, yeah, I think I remember reading a story about that once. (DC had a good point though, Shazaam was clear knock-off of Superman. Hell, they even had the same hair!)

Gryshnak, that sounds vaguely familiar, but I don't remember any specifics of it. TSR was a great company when it was alive and well, but toward the mid-late 80's, when profits started falling due to mismanagement, the company took a real nosedive on their policies. I know I have read numerous stories of attempted lawsuits, and corporate in-fighting going on pre-Wizard's takeover.

I don't think it's a prank. I actually believe Marvel and DC are playing this game.

I believe Marvel purchased DC a couple of years ago, but I don't recall the whole story right now. This gives the newer entity full power over the trademark, whereas two companies needed to share the term previously.

So why now, all of a sudden?

Here is an answer to chew on a bit...

I was at the NY Comic Con back in February of this year. It was absolutely huge. It was held at the Jacob Javits Convention Center, where they also hold the NY Auto Show every year. The place was packed, so much so that tickets were actually selling out. We are talking tens of thousands of people here. Imagine a football game crowd all looking at comics.

So, what does this have to do with the topic right? Well, Marvel had a setup at the show. It was about the same size as most other companies' setups, roughly 15x20 feet, in my guesstimation. Okay, so the biggest fish is held in the same size net? Hmmm. Okay, well their station must have been packed, with a constant trailer for X-Men 3 playing, or their artists signing autographs, right? Well...not exactly. The most people I saw there at any point was around 25, maybe 30 people. In contrast, the famous McFarlane was signing autographs, in the basement, and the line was over 2 HOURS long. Hmmm...

Let me tell you, I was a big comic fan as a kid. I loved Captain America, Batman, and Green Lantern. I would read any comic available to me though. At one point, I knew every single current Marvel Universe hero/villian. I had NO IDEA there are literally HUNDREDS of comic companies in business today! The comic con definitely opened my eyes.

I knew there was competition. I was a huge Spawn fan when Image was fledgling. (Speaking of which, when considering the "caring corporations" that are the Marvel properties, let's remember why Image was started. Marvel ripped off it's own artists, such as McFarlane, whom some consider the best artist to ever draw a certain web-slinger. Original ideas became property of Marvel, and were outright taken from artists. With the lack of creative freedom they were willing to use, for fear of losing their IP, they jumped ship, and started a new company, based on the ideals of free thought, and personal ownership. So please don't give me this stuff about "responsible" or "caring" or even ethical company stuff. Marvel has no sense of corporate responsibility, and never has, it's has always been about profit.)

So given that there is so much competition, should Marvel be worried? I mean, household names such as X-Men, or Spider-Man, or The Avengers should be easily more attractive to the consumer than other products, right? I don't think so. Given the attention I saw at the Con for all of the other publishers, and the lack thereof for Marvel, I would say the playing field has been levelled quite significantly.

Marvel is hoping to cut some of the competition out. That can be the only reason they want to play their TM card now. I doubt it will work. Do you blow your nose with Kleenex? Do you have a coke when you are thirsty? Companies have spent billions in selling their trademarks to the public, then when it backfires, and supports the competition, they immediately want to cash in and break the competition. Let Marvel try their hand in court. Yes, they may beat a small publishing house or two. But eventually, those other publishers will start getting together a group and hiring lawyers to defend the group. Don't be surprised if a birdie named McFarlane has a hand in that. Then, Marvel has bad PR, and still nothing to show for it.

BTW: The Vader totally ROCKS!

Yeah JH, I was in WalMart about a month ago when I saw those on the shelf. I was in total shock. I was just standing with my jaw hanging down. It's like a dream come true... Poor Jackson. I have lived in NY all my life. I had snow sleds. I can just imagine the scene rolling down the driveway into the street inside a tire, and being launched 25 feet by an oncoming car. cringe