I'm having trouble importing OBJ files to be jointed figures. I've tried everything and no matter what I seem to do, the setting up of standard rotation joints in the Hierch. editor doesn't seem to have any effect on my model. It has the default rotation of a bunch of random props. The names all seem correct, and I've only used standard Poser figures, haven't renamed anything, and the standard hierachy function seems to recognize the prop just fine. What's the trick here? Also, what is the step when importing a PHI file to set standard rotation to use that with obj files. I've tried importing them but I can't get any noticeable effect. I've scoured the manual over and again but to no avail. Help!

umm... if you are importing one obj with groups having the body part names, you can't just throw a hierarchy on that and make it a figure. i believe the correct route there is to hit it with the grouping tool and do the spawn props button. delete the original obj after you do that. THEN put all the spawned prop pieces together in the hierarchy editor. that is, build the figure into the hierarchy tree the way it belongs. THEN hit the standard rotation button and the create figure. (btw, the created figure appears in the new figures library folder.) of course, this isn't the method i usually use. :) if you want to do the phi route, i'd use phi-builder (if you have a pc). with that, you just import the obj and built the hierarchy tree. you set the rotation orders in this by hand. there's no automatic way to do it. though i guess you can use the sample p4man phi file, if your part names all match. did that help clear anything up?

Bloodsong... Thanks, but actually that's the method I've been using. I read your post earlier about using the grouping tool, and deleting the original obj, but for some reason the part where it puts the rotation in seems screwed. The hierarchy works fine. It just doesn't seem to put rotation in properly. Ever encountered any problems like this? Also as for using the PHI builder, I worked with several, wrote the files fine, imported them, but didn't seem to get any visible results. I dunno what to do!

heya; well, i hate to tell ya this, but don't look at me. :) i don't use the new method of making figures in poser. i use the old phi-builder/import method. what problem are you having with importin phi files? oh, poser doesn't import the hier AND put the new figure in the scene, you gotta dig it out of the new figures library yourself. if you mean you got the same rotation order as the other method... they're probably all set at default xyz. they should be set to twist/side-side/rotate, in that order. you may have to do this by hand. also, even after you get the right rotation orders, you still need to open the joint editor and put the centers where you want them, and adjust the falloff thingies. dont expect the figure to work right from the get-go. it's gotta be hand-tweaked. :) can you post a pic of your figure and what is wrong with the joints?

That drove me insane with converting Hier files. it would grind away, say everything was hunky dory, and then nothing! I finally got a clue and found the figure in the Library. Just thick I guess. :)

I always use the .PHI method, and I do one of these- (1) Write a C++ program which outputs the .OBj file and the .PHI file. (2) Type the .PHI file in with a text editor.