Coming soon the Marketplace (and available for pre-order): the MAT Pose Creator, version 4.0 What's new? Well, for starters, there is no more Access database file. What? Am I crazy? The database was the defining feature of the MPC! Not to worry- the MPC still uses a "database" to store its information, but in "flat files". After listening to the suggestions of users (and finally finding the time to recode the program), the MPC no longer uses a bulky 1M Access file. This means that you (the end user) do NOT (yes, do NOT) need any "data access" supporting files nor do you need Access or Office on your PC! In fact, due to this change, the MPC may work with Windows 98 and even Windows 95 (though I still highly recommend upgrading to a more recent OS like Windows 2000 or XP). And what about the "Poser 5 doesn't like my MAT pose" issue? That's solved also- this new version will create native Poser 5 MAT poses. Yes, that's right- the MAT information found on the familar Poser 4-style interface will be converted to Poser 5's "shader node" based system. And what about all those Vicky 3 textures that you've converted from your Vicky 2 characters? The new version of the MPC makes MAT Pose creation quicker and easier by including the Vicky 3 materials and parts definitions. (Okay, sure, you can just download the free MPI "import" files and make MAT Poses for Vicky 3 with the older versions of the MPC. But now, this information is included with the program.) This new version will be ready for sale on my website around Feb 25, 2003. (It may take a little while loger to be added to my Marketplace here due Renderosity's product testing process.) You can pre-order your copy by going to the [Marketplace](http://www.cocs.com/poser/marketplace.htm) on my website. Note: every person who purchased a previous version of the MPC will be eligible for a FREE copy of this upgrade. Since this new version uses a new database format, you will have the option of converting your existing database to the new format -or- using the database files that are included with the program. --John

How about a user-definable option to save as CM2, HD2, or FC2 files - or even LT2 files that won't turn off existing lights when they're applied? The only way I can keep my Poses library under 2,500 folders is to rename and move MATs into other libraries. (I'll probably be pre-ordering soon, btw - the improved features look terrific!)

leather-guy- Good suggestion. I'm still debating that point, though- cm2 files are for cameras. Yes, people use those files to store pose information, but still... Okay. I'll add that feature. :) Or maybe not, I don't know if it's safe... Okay, I'll add it. --John

Yes, I move all my MATs to camera. Excellent idea to add that. Incidentally, which folders apart from camera will accept renamed poses? :] Fish

Besides cameras, they will work from hands, faces, (poses, of course), and lights. when moved to lights, though, they have an unfortunate tendancy to turn off the lights in the scene.