~skylab

Looking at this reminds me of what I briefly saw when I first installed Poser 8.   I remember seeing "empty".   So....it was probably non-functioning from the beginning.    Thanks for uploading this.

I'll be offline now for awhile, but will check back again later this evening in a couple of hours to see if there is any news.

~skylab     : )

I was thinking the very same thing, that perhaps a screen shot of what we are seeing (or rather not seeing) inside Poser 8, and also apparently what you've been seeing in Firefox also, might help.   Was going to create one this weekend, but you're already taking care of it.   Hang in there....

~skylab     : )

Well, I've been Googling....trying to understand the issue better.   It seems that processes like this open a security risk even though it's local and not internet, in the event a trojan or virus is released.   Considering how some of the 3D content sites have had security issues over the past year, hackers could indeed exploit relaxation in browser security.   Windows 7 going toward flash will probably be, in the end, jumping from the frying pan into the fire....and carrying other software applications into the danger zone as well as they press onward toward compatibility.   It's worth giving much thought.   

I've been reading about several Poser content database products.   All carry a certain level of security risk, and some say so up front.   Having emphasized that, here's the list of products I've found.   It's worth looking at their documentation just for an understanding of how the programs do what they do....some are free, some have trial versions, some have PDF manual downloads which are very informative.    I collected this list for myself, but am sharing it here, in case any are interested.             ~skylab

PX - Poser eXplorer - uses IE for displaying and launching Poser content:
http://market.renderosity.com/mod/bcs/index.php?ViewProduct=62059&vendor=Dimension3D
PDF manual near bottom in Downloads, above Related products

PzDB1.1  - uses Microsoft access for database - has free trial
http://market.renderosity.com/mod/bcs/index.php?ViewProduct=72733&keyword=PzDB   full
http://www.rocketshiptechnologies.com/software/pzdb/Free1.asp  - 30 day trial and info
http://www.rocketshiptechnologies.com/software/pzdb/PzDBFAQ.asp - PDF user manual bottom  of page

XL - eXtended Library for Poser 8, uses Poser python:
http://www.contentparadise.com/productDetails.aspx?id=11143

PBooost II - not sure if this has been updated for Poser 8:
http://www.renderosity.com/mod/bcs/index.php?ViewProduct=44369&keyword=PBooost+

Advanced Library for Poser:
http://neocron.lunarpages.com/library/

P3dO with Poser plug-in:    (not sure if this launches content)
http://www.senosoft.com/softp3doDownload.php

QUOTE:  Does the library work when you run it in a browser directly? Just open /Poser 8/Runtime/ui/Flex/LSMGUI/bin-release/LSMGUI.html to try that.

RESPONSE:    For me it was the same, pulling up LSMGUI.html gives a blank, metallic gray background, the same that appears in Poser 8 where the Library is supposed to be.   There are no buttons or controls in the Poser 8 Library blank field, so you can't populate the folder by adding a runtime...has to be done through a python script "back door" approach.    I'm running WinXP with McAfee firewall, IE8, Firefox, all up-to-date.   I saw a portion of the Library briefly when it was first installed on attempt #1....but it disappeared and haven't seen it since....and after 5 attempts, and the fact that it tends to hold on to some of the previous configuration information even though I choose to delete it during re-install, seems I was running out of options.   Will use work around until solution is found.    It seems this interface was designed with Windows 7 in mind.   I won't be upgrading to Win7 so I sure hope this is fixable....otherwise, looks like I'll be out of the Poser loop in the future...would be a real disappointment.

~skylab

Noticed in thread below they are now saying that though it's not technically an internet connection issue, it is however a firewall-local issue, plus the interaction with flash.....I had suspected the firewall settings from the beginning, but some of the technical details are over my head for now.   Go here for some of the technical comments:

http://www.renderosity.com/mod/forumpro/showthread.php?thread_id=2778338&page=12#message_3495075

~skylab   : )

Great...glad it helped.   At least now you get to try out the lighting and other new stuff, and not spend the rest of your life confirming texture locations....haha.

~skylab     : )

Posted a work around at this thread if you're interested, and someone else posted info about the flash player.....go here:

http://www.renderosity.com/mod/forumpro/showthread.php?thread_id=2778571

Good luck, hope it helps!

~skylab   : )

Thanks jimros... will try figuring out the uninstall flash thing.   I updated flash this evening thinking it might help, but I didn't know there was a process of uninstalling.   I'll try it and see....would be wonderful if it solved the problem.   Thanks for posting....you must be like me, mostly read forums for info and not much of a talker.....haha.    I jumped into this particular topic because I saw others were having the same problem.

~skylab   : )

I know, it's a little frustrating when you want to try out the new stuff.   What I'm doing, 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.    I tried the UI - Flex - html and swf thing....and it got me the same thing....a blank Library.   I see no way to get McAfee to recognize .swf or html specifically for permissions.   I remember seeing some sort of warning about blocking something during installation....it came and went and that was when it happened probably.   I guess turning off security altogether and reinstalling perhaps might work.    I've already tried five times, so I'm going to wait this out and just enjoy playing with what will work.   Hope this helps...

~skylab   : )

Someone has posted a response from tech support in this thread....complicated, but worth trying:

http://www.renderosity.com/mod/forumpro/showthread.php?thread_id=2778338&page=12

~skylab   : )

Try this thread, they may have the answer to the disappearing Library problem.   Apparently there will be a fix of some sort.   Go here for more info:

http://www.renderosity.com/mod/forumpro/showthread.php?thread_id=2778530

~skylab    : )

Oh my goodness....so that's what the problem is.   I would never have thought of the IE browser clearing as being the reason.   I thought it was perhaps a firewall issue.   That explains why I briefly saw the Library content upon installation, and then it just disappeared.    Well, it's encouraging to know they are at least working on it.   Until then, I'm just loading content in Poser Pro, saving as a scene, then opening the scene in Poser 8 to tweak.    Dimension3D, your eXplorer looks interesting.

~skylab   : )

ahudson, I have the blank Library problem also.   Any ideas for a solution?  Used ShaderWorks import runtimes to get P8 to read scenes set up in older version of Poser so that it would search and find textures without  issues, but have yet to see the new Library appear.   Had a feeling it could have been an issue with firewall (after seeing in the manual that this could cause the Library to not function properly), tried to address any blocking attempts, reinstalled three times, and still no solution.   Everything else I like so far about the new Poser 8 (especially better lighting/renders), but wish the Library/Runtime had option for the old set up.