You know, I've been a Poser user since the first version and been a member of the community since the PFO days, but embarrasingly enough, I still can't get a grasp on what it takes to create multiple runtimes.  I've done some reorganizing within my Poser 5 and 6 runtimes, but that's it.
I found the tutorial at DAZ that everyone points to is very lacking.  For example, it doesn't explain exactly what should go into the runtime folders (geometries, textures, etc) And whats the deal with the stuff in the !Daz folder? And finally, what utility programs (there are several available) should I use to help make this task easier.

Didn't Dr. Geep have a tutorial?  If he does, I can't seem to find it.

Thanks for any assistance.
pzrite  - a.k.a Leee

Attached Link: http://forum.daz3d.com/viewtopic.php?t=9060

Oh, I just saw you tried that one.

All you have to do really is decide on a location you want your runtimes to be.

Create a folder.

Give it the name of whatever you want your runtime to be named  IE:  Victoria3 Stuff

Open the folder and create the following in there:

A folder called "Runtime"
A new text document that you rename to Poser.exe (say yes when it warns you about the extension)

A runtime is a runtime is a runtime and they all work the same and all have the same base structure of folders.  Check out your Poser 6 runtime.  That's essentially the same structure as your external runtimes. The only difference is that external ones sit outside the Poser program folder on another part of your hard drive

The poser 6 program folder path is:

ProgramsPoser6RuntimeLibrary  .......
ProgramsPoser6RuntimeGeometry
ProgramsPoser6RuntimeTextures

If you decide to have your external runtimes in your MyDocuments folder for example, and you create an external runtime called "Victoria3 Stuff", the path will be:

MyDocumentsVictoria3 StuffRuntimeLibrary ....
MyDocumentsVictoria3 StuffRuntimeGeometry
MyDocumentsVictoria3 StuffRuntimeTextures

It's exactly the same as your poser 6 runtime, only it sits elsewhere on your hard drive.  You install files to your external runtimes in exactly the same way.

As for the !DAZ folder, make a copy of each one and paste them into the Poser 6 runtime folder in the same place (top level of the Library folder)

well heres how i do mine.

step 1: create a newfolder on desktop called poser stuff, poser items, ect..

step 2: inside create additional folders, one for each character, buildings,plants,hair,fairy ect...

step 3:inside each folder there should be , runtime-geometries,library,textures,readme, ect...

library-character,face,hair,pose,hand,props, ect....

then install each zip archive you have downloaded into the corisponding file that you wish,

in poser5 add each folder inside of your step one folder to the library+

or only the ones you wish to use for the project your working on.

same works with daz studio
except for with daz i also create an empty studio folder too.

hope this helps

netta

Attached Link: ShaderWorks

Basically, all Deltas and Hide folder (the !DAZ folder) must be in the Poser 6 main runtime.

I put every geometries and textures in the original Poser 6 runtime... Why ? Simply to organize the other runtime without taking care of the file references.

Attached Link: Basic Runtime Structure

If you want more than 1 external runtime, make as many copies of it as you like, and change the name of each one to whatever your runtimes will be called.

If you use python scripts (skin shader) they should stay in main P6 Runtime. If you have cr2's saved in P6 and then switch the textures and geometries to another Runtime, you will get filesearches forever unless you use a clever organizer that can sort out the filepaths. This is why many keep Geometries and textures in P5,6. Same with python scripts and the infamous !DAZ! folder. The 500 Daz INJ REM folders(Full Body, Head, Expression, Chest., etc) can be dumped off P6 to another Runtime. ...just some "heads up" before you start.

I'd add that often it's handier to follow dr.Geep in creating less runtimes but making use of the subfolder option.
It's not funny to have to switch runtimes every time you want to change an item.
Poser will always be a mess as there's hair in the figures folder, characters in the poses folder etc etc. But, my opinion, clear name giving and subfolder organisation are at least as important as creating an endless number of runtimes.

I started with nine, and now I have merged them into three. Architecture/Vehicles is a separate runtime, and Fashion/Props is one. All the rest is organised in the main runtime with subfolders.

Thanks everyone, you've been a great help.  I think I see the light now!

And now all that remains is the gigantic task of reorganizing everything.  This could literally take days, but I guess in the long run, it'll save me time whenever I'm trying to find something in the future.

Quote - in the long run, it'll save me time whenever I'm trying to find something in the future.

 

Yes it will. I started with only 2 or 3 external runtimes, but over time I divided my files up even more and now  I have about 40 runtimes, and I know exactly what I have installed and where to find it.  I don't find it a problem going from runtime to runtime to apply things.  It doesn't take long to open a runtime in Poser,  and it's  nice to know that if I'm looking to apply hair that when I go to my "Hair Runtime" that the only thing I'll find in there are hair files.  The same thing with Poses, Lighting, V3 Clothing, V3 Character Addons etc.  

It is a real time saver.