viewing texture files within Poser. One of the real weaknesses of Poser5 (maybe 4 as well) is the fact that you can't see the texture you're loading until it's loaded. Plus I don't want to have to go through the hassle of creating Material files for each of them. I'm sure there must be some really useful tool that runs within Poser that I can do this with. Any ideas?

I never thought about using the Windows Explorer :) This is what I had in mind. I'm just use to Vue and Bryce with their "built in" thumbnails, which apparently Poser does not have. Using Windows Explorer works, but since I don't use "thumbnails" for my default window setting, it looks like I will have to set it each time. But then it's better than before! Thanks a lot for the tip :)

Yup, the thumbnail is what I need. I thought about P3DO, but I believe it's a standalone program as opposed to a script or plugin specifically for Poser. Lisbeth! I just noticed that your computer speaks a foreign language!! Ha! Don't hit me with that SPAM can Lisbeth!! :) I know I can set thumbs for all my folders, but frankly I just turned it off not long ago :) There are times when you just don't want your "OS" thrashing about rendering images :) And I checked "do not cache thumbs" a long time ago, because of the system file it creates that sometimes refuses to let go if you want to delete an empty folder...a real pain in the arse. As a result, new thumbs have to be created each time. I have "icons" as my default setting for all folders. In most cases that's fine, because a folder still has the "image viewer" on the left side of the folder (if you're using the default XP settings), so you can see an image if you want to. But in Poser I need some way to see what the texture looks like before selecting it. If there is no Python script or Poser only plugin for this, then I can use Windows Explorer and simply select the thumb view each time. As long as I have your attention Lisbeth (or anyone), I'm starting to get enough stuff in Poser that it's taking longer for stuff to load. Here's my question: In P5 you can have multiple "Runtimes". I'm thinking of creating another one for all the stuff that I don't use all the time, but that gives me quicker access than burning to a CD or moving it to "my documents". I'm assuming that Poser loads only what is in the Primary Runtime (the one it created). Is my thinking correct on this or do I have to move it completely out of Poser to lighten the load?

hmm.. You always have my attention, Sandy L But in this case I don't know the answer. I would think the same as you, that it would only load the default Runtime, but then again... I mean... we're speaking of POSER! Poser 5 even! so... probably not LOL

Heh! You're probably right! :) But if I don't hear from anyone else on the subject, I'm going to give it a try tonight and see what happens. If all else fails I can create a Runtime in My Documents and pretty quickly transfer stuff if need be. I have plenty of space on the harddrive, but the more I add to the default runtime the slower Poser gets.

I have a disk totally dedicated to different libraries for p5 (ie: house and outdoors, my creations, v3, mike, etc.) and have found that when I save a file and exit - it loads the last folder that i was using and not the p5 folder when next I start.

Thanks Cruzan....that's good to know. Am I right though in assuming that it only loads one runtime at a time? So if I create multiple drives it will just load the one and speed will be improved?

Yes, and it definitely is faster doing it this way - even faster than using the pboost utility - if you have the hd room. I got a 120 gig on sale at officemax for $99 [w/rebates] and another ide controler for a blank pci (dont notice diff between mb ide and controller) slot and totally dedicated it to daz, pw, renderosity, etc. for all my 3d (bryce, carrera and poser are main ones) and the speed is great! Tried doing the same with my old machine as 3d server but the lan connection is just 2 slow (intel built in 100mps lan hard cabled).