Regularily i am using free stuff i have downloaded from several places. I think most of us are doing that. Regularily as well there are some elements missing, mostly textures. An example: The church from digitalstudio (available in the free stuff section). Two files are missing there: conc04.jpg and d_wall.jpg. So why not adding a "lost and found" to the FAQ section where people can search and luckily find these missing things. Maybe someone else is more lucky and does have these things or even the creators are reading the search entry and can react to that. What do you think?

One day your ship comes in - but you're at the airport.

Walther, I don't know how somebody else could find these missing files, if the creator of the object has not given it away? Wouldn't it be easier just to write to digitalstudio asking for the missing files? Guitta

Yes Guitta, in this case you're right. But in other cases, when you don't know really where the things originally came from, it's not so easy. And from the names and descriptions maybe someone else - or the creators - can identify and help. Was only a thought to install something like this. Walther

One day your ship comes in - but you're at the airport.

sorry,error is repaired. Digitalstudio

This is not to blame someone - it will probably always happen until programs offer something like "collect for give away" (common in the dtp world) where all used elements are collected via the software itself. But anyway, thanks! And thank you for the nice model(s)! Walther

One day your ship comes in - but you're at the airport.

I think it's a great idea, but I think it needs to be broader than just Vue. Maybe Rosity could put up a group thing like they have for the modeling wish list (or maybe even a free stuff forum). That way people from whatever forum/gallery could mention this in there and get a wider audience to find these missing files. Maybe send it to the Rosity PTB, Gebe. People could also use this to report missing links. Also it could provide a forum to ask permission for using a prop that is labeled non-commercial in a render that will wind up as a print. I recently asked this question to one of the free stuff people because of a commission work and got permission to do so, because it was their intent to allow it, but hadn't changed the flag when Rosity changed to the new flagging system.

Cool idea Wabe...

Walther, I think that such a place must be "directed" by a software. It is hard and would be an enormous work to do this by hand. Search engines are in all the free stuff pages, where things generally are easy to find. And if something is missing (a jpg i.e.), just ask to the creator. Sometimes the forums can be helpful too. But always remember that, even if we have a file, we mostly cannot give it away, because the creator has indicated this restriction in his readme file. ShadowWinds, if you find dead links in the free stuff, just write an IM to me or another moderator. When I find some, I generally contact the creator immediately. But of course, I cannot control all the free stuff links. I also think it is easy to ask the creator for permission if you want to use a model in a commercial work or whatever. That's in asking that Gloria Gast allowed me to convert her Christmas objects into VOBs for us Vue users:-). Of course, a databank would be nice, but think how many thousands of files needs to be indexed! :-)Guitta

Guitta, you are everywhere - thanks for the corresponding link. Mostly you are right. And it is absolutely obvious that if you use something for professional work, to clear up the rights to do so before hand. But this is hobby and absolutely unprofessional :-)) With the missing things i think it is not so easy sometimes. Are you always able to remember where you have downloaded (some materials f.e.)? I think i am not so badly organized, but in some cases i really can't remember. Or sometimes the creator is not available anymore or does not have this issue any longer. And sometimes it could be that someone else does know a little more and remembers when reading the names of the missing things and can help. I don't want to have a "database" thing. Much too much effort. The intension was to use the helping hand of some friends. Related to a software? Well.. Aren't we all using different pieces of software for our outstanding images? Poser for the characer(s), Vue/Bryce/whatever for the architecture, Photoshop/Paintshop/whatever for the postwork. It is a little like sending all people with questions like "how can i do this in Vue..." to the technical support from e-on. Possible. But where is the fun of a friendly community? But we shouldn't strech this too much. If it is not a good idea, ok. I will forget it. lol Walther

One day your ship comes in - but you're at the airport.

Walther, if you have an exact idea how to do that, can you tell me?

Very simple. Like the wishlist for Vu 5 for example. Or our so valuable list of useful links and software. That's all it needs - i think.. You see that something like that works. Digitalstudio imediately reacted and solved the problem. Exactly like my intention was. In this case ,of course, i could have sent a message. But - as i said before - this works only when you know where to send the message, AND how do other users with the same "problem" find out that it is solved? If they look into this message they are automatically informed ... Walther

One day your ship comes in - but you're at the airport.

I think one of Rosity's biggest problems is communication. The moderators, who have lives of their own, get overwhelmed. It may only be a few in here, but I'm sure the Poser/Bryce moderators get hit quite hard with such indications. The moderators also usually don't want such talk to interfere with their own forums. I think it would definitely be less work for all around (except maybe a Free Stuff Forum moderator) to get a system that is encompassing.

I think the best way to do that is in a forum of it's own, personally, because this would also give people a chance to thank free stuff people for their great things, something that the current system doesn't allow. Also, ask if people might want a product in free stuff, tell when servers are down or up and for how long, help free stuff artists find webhosting, etc. I could see a hundred different uses for it beyond just as wabe said. In Wabe's case, the free stuff artist could announce in such a group about the missing file, indicating to all to redownload it, rather than have to answer 50 IM's to various people that inquire. We have one for the marketplace and every gallery, why not for the resource that is used the most probably.

So that would be my take on it...

You can easily have such a thread Walther, ShadowWind, just start one and I will put a link to it in the FAQ:-) Guitta