It just dawned on me what you were asking....you were having failure to load issues.   So, I selected one of the backdrops to see what would happen, and I got this error (see capture).  Hope this helps.

~skylab    : )

This capture is from the P8 Materials folder.    Have no idea what I'm looking for, but did recognize the backdrops in the Mat Collection in first capture.   Showing this capture in Materials in case the information helps in any way in terms of file types.   I went ahead and loaded all the P8 content, had left it out thinking I'd not be able to use it.   Figures and such are all there now. 

Going off for the night.

~skylab    : )

Wasn't sure how to do this, but will try.   This screen capture came from the XL Library P8 Mat Collection folder.

Know what you mean....when I opened the scene file included with this set, I was amazed, and it made me hungry to learn more:
http://www.renderosity.com/mod/bcs/index.php?ViewProduct=60203

Hi LL....I checked the PDF that came with XL, and page 4 mentions a few limitations, and page 3 addresses navigation.   I remember seeing on the CP site that XL would only show PNG, no RSR files.   I did notice a free RSR to PNG converter in Rendo free stuff....has worked it's way to near the bottom of page 2 by now.   I think one of the more pricier managers like PzDB here at Rendo is one that will do everything...but costs plenty.   I've got a coupon that I'm considering using on it....which would bring it way down in price, but that would be about the only way.   It does have a 30 day trial, which might help you in what you are trying to do, to get organized.   Product is here:
http://market.renderosity.com/mod/bcs/index.php?ViewProduct=72733&keyword=pzdb
...and free trial is here:   http://www.rocketshiptechnologies.com/software/pzdb/Free1.asp

I'm at the stage where some things that are yet over my head, I wouldn't even know how to go about looking for them.   But, am also aware that a year from now, I probably will know.  .First time I opened Poser I nearly fainted...I got past that and learned the basics, so the rest will come in time.   So, the things that are missing for you, I probably have never searched them before....but will look and see what I can find.

~skylab    : )

Hi LL, wondered how things were going.   Noticed you mentioned getting XL and something about not wanting to load everything into Poser 8.   Here's a screen capture of mine, I put red arrows to indicate how, when pressing the yellow magnifying glass icon, the box pops up that picks up all the runtimes....and I placed arrows indicating the various runtimes scattered around my drive.  I didn't do anything to get it to function this way, it just did it upon installation.   I don't know if the ShaderWorks thing helped the recognition of these runtimes, or if it would have done it anyway.   If you haven't tried the yellow magnifiying glass icon, give it a try....and if it does work, just pick a runtime, and then for example if you want a prop, click on Prop and hit the Search button at the bottom.   If you have large runtimes, give it a few seconds to populate.   So far so good for me.   I'm like you, I just want to enjoy the program I purchased...and even though you are much more advanced than I am, I think we share that common interest at least.   And considering I'm probably old enough to be mother to some of these guys....well....pictures speak a thousand words....haha.

~skylab   : )

Forgot to mention, about XL Library, some in this thread link below expressed difficulty getting XL to recognize Poser 8 runtime at first.   I think this was painless for me because I had already run the ShaderWorks script which searched and found all my runtimes.    Worth checking this thread one more time just to make sure, if you've made changes to your system since you used the ShaderWorks method:
http://www.renderosity.com/mod/forumpro/showthread.php?thread_id=2778635

Wanted to make sure I posted this for you so that you didn't encounter any more messes.   The only issue some may have with XL is that it only shows PNG, not other images, but if you know your runtime fairly well, you can select things with missing icons simply by the name that shows.

Signing off now...have a good evening.

~skylab    : )

Hi LL....well....from the looks of things, time for a little tradition vs tech humor.     You might be interested to know, I've worked XL Library hard today, loading ga-zillions of props and figures, and it's been working fine with no disappearing acts.   I've shut down numerous times, rebooted, done all sorts of things to try to make it misbehave, and so far it's working fine.  To tell you the truth, I have to say I like it better because it can remain minimized on the task bar when not in use, so it gives me more room for control dials where the Library would normally be....and because of the larger icons and the search feature, I'm even finding long lost props.   So....don't give up... this might work for you if all else fails.   After thinking it through, I just couldn't see relaxing all the security on my computer just to get a hard to read menu to show.   Hang in there, you're giving it a good run.  

I won't be on as late tonight, tomorrow is a work day.   Will check back tomorrow evening.

~skylab  : )

Well hi....you're still on.   I pop back and forward....working on putting up a little cartoon website for the fun of it ( 3dtoonz.net ) ....so I work on it awhile, then check back over here, then sometimes check over at DAZ since I started with Studio before graduating to Poser....but the DAZ forums right now are not the place to discuss these issues.   I prefer the more mature approach over here at Rendo.  

Would love to have your knowledge.   You mentioned two areas I need much improvement.....the whole business of MAT files in order to create a few free textures and such....and lighting.   Lighting  often makes or fails to make the picture.    My favorite part of 3D is posing, expression, and animation...but even the best of these can be ruined by poor lighting....so I have much to learn, and had looked forward to better lighting capabilities in Poser 8.   I didn't realize I'd be tipping through a technical mine field to get there....haha....oh well.  

I started out using mostly DAZ human models, but am moving more toward comic characters that animate more freely.   I guess my high aim for the future would be learning to use lip sync for realistic human animations, but must crawl before I can walk....haha.    So....my TOONZ site is a place to crawl for now.

The weather is due to jump to 100 here by Monday....so whatever hit you is probably heading eventually to us.   Not looking forward to it at all, but hopefully it will pass after about three days.

Signing off for now, will be back on tomorrow evening.

~skylab    : )

Hi LL...seems you are making progress of some sort.   You have much more knowledge of the program than I do so you might be able to help them solve the issue.   I'm seeing other threads popping up with similar disappearing library issues.   I'm sitting back and watching now since there was little I could do once I shared the screen captures.    I did notice a thread today discussing XL Library here:
http://www.renderosity.com/mod/forumpro/showthread.php?thread_id=2778635
...so I tried it and it is working beautifully for me.   I'm not a content creator, just a hobbyist, so it will meet my needs.  Guess I'll be out of the loop for future Poser upgrades, but that's the way things go.  

Yes, it's hard to say whether this is late night or early morning...haha.   I'm east coast US so it's a little past  5 a.m. here.  

I'll be stopping in to check on progress, I still may learn something from all this.   Have a good evening/early morning, whichever, and I'll check back tomorrow evening.

~skylab  : )

**lululee**, thank you a thousand times for posting this.   The information and instructions helped me decide in favor of this workaround.   It's great!   I'm happy, and Andy is happy...and Dimension3D, wherever you are, thanks for P8 XL library.

~skylab   : )

EDITED TO ADD:   I also want to thank TrekkieGrrrl for all the great props she shares.

Hi LL, glad you made it back on, and glad you are making progress.  Am leaving this up to you now...I've only about a year of experience using Poser and can only go so far with the technical issues.  Will continue to watch the thread in case there are further solutions.   Hang in there!

~skylab    : )

Can't answer for LL, will have to wait until they come back on to respond.   For myself, it was "screwed up" before the ShaderWorks fix was applied (see previous posts plus another thread on the subject).   The ShaderWorks script is part of Poser 8, pull down under scripts and you will see it.   After multiple installations, it was an attempt to work around the problem so that the program could at least be functional.  Otherwise, would have had to return the program for a refund.  Thanks again for trying to help.   Good day to you.

~skylab

Thanks TrekkieGrrrl. . .was trying to keep on the bright side of things, I'm sure there must be a solution somehow.   I don't use Norton, but I do have McAfee, and it can be equally relentless in its pursuit of anything it suspects as intrusion of any sort.    It gives no option to disable during an installation that I can see.    And I agree with you, I don't "use" Internet Explorer 8 either except when absolutely necessary....my main browser is Firefox and for that reason I was hoping to not have to relax settings too much on Firefox.

I tried the little animation just to see what it would do.  The sunglasses on Andy were imported from another runtime as an object and darkened in Materials.   I'm able to open Poser Pro scenes... so for now that's the only way I can set up a complicated scene....which is better than nothing....or Andy would really be hanging his head...haha.

bagginsbill, I'm not sure if LL ever saw Andy on the opening screen.   He did appear, and still appears on mine, but that's all I've got.   As for LL's screen shot showing other libraries....after trying the method I posted earlier (quoted below), LL was able then to open scenes from Poser Pro and work with content....as I am also able to do, because the ShaderWorks script caused Poser 8 to "recognize" our external runtimes.   So....would be hard to tell if P8 is recognizing LL's other content on its own, or because of the help from ShaderWorks (see below).   I'm sure LL will be on later and could answer that.

QUOTE FROM MY EARLIER POST:   . . .since I had already previously set up external runtimes, and still have Poser Pro on my drive....decided to try the method I saw in one of the other threads, an animation at this link that shows how to get one of the python scripts to recognize all the runtimes on your drive....go here and watch if this stuff sounds a bit technical to you:
http://shaderworks.rois-sorciers.com/tutorials/P8_firststart/
As you can see, part of what is being done in this animated demonstration is they are going up to scripts, partners, ShaderWorks, and then selecting import_runtimes...then it will ask something about "killing the scene"....which basically means it's going to force the program to shut down in order to make the changes.   Once Poser 8 can "recognize" all the external runtimes, then, if you have an older version of Poser still on your system, you can go set up your basic figure, props, whatever, just load it in any sort of way, save it as a scene, and then go to Poser 8 and open the scene and work with your content.   If you try to open a scene without running the python script, Poser 8 will ask to search for every single texture...and that gets old real quick....haha.   I know this is a round about way to get content into the program, but at least you can use it until a reasonable fix is established. ... END QUOTE

~skylab  

Oh well, guess me and Andy will give up for the evening.  Thanks to everyone who tried to help.

~skylab