Howdy, I'm a vendor here on Rosity (still relatively new to all this), and I normally create "Props".  I've been expanding my knowledge base so to speak to try and create "Figures".  Now, I've recently converted a "prop" I've marketed here, into a "figure" and in trying to get a better understanding of all this, I had a few questions regarding some of the files it has created in the "Character" folder. 

1. I noticed that in addition to a "CR2" file, there is also a "PMD" file as well as the "PNG" file.  I'm not really concerned about the PNG file as I know it's purpose, rather, I'm wondering if I really need to have the PMD files for my purposes (plan to market for use in P5, P6 and P7 and possibly PPro).  It's my understanding that the PMD files stores the morphs as external binary morphs for my figure externally? Now what importance/benefit does the PMD file have in relation to packaging and whether it's something that should be included in the "packaging" when I zip it up for marketing, as I'm planning on using it for P5 and up?  

1. It's my understanding that PMD files work with P6 and P7.... not P5?

2. If the consensus is that I should NOT use PMD files, could I simply convert my extenal morphs back to internal morphs within the CR2 file by simply unchecking the "Use external binary morph targets" box in the "Misc" section of the "General Preferences" section?  (I imagine I'd have to re-save my figure back into the Figures Library for it take effect?) Once that's done, could I discard/delete the PMD file from my character folder without fear of corrupting my CR2 file (which will hopefully retain the morphs internally now)?

3. I've also noticed that some other figures carry "CRZ" file extensions and was wondering what was the relation/difference, if any to a "CR2" file.  (my current figure only carries the CR2, PMD and PNG files)

I used Poser 6 for all this but intend to package it for use with Poser 5 and above. 

Thanks in advance....

-J

If I was you I'd forget all about PMD files.  They're another way of storing morphs, as I understand it (external binary morph target) and not many people like the system and tend to disable them as soon as they install Poser. .  I'm sure someone else will give a better, more detailed explanation but really all you need to know for now is to ignore 'em.

CRZ is a compressed (zipped) CR2.

Although, even if the user disables them in thier prefs.....it only effects them when saving out a figure to the library.  I figure that is using a pmd will still load.

Quote - Although, even if the user disables them in thier prefs.....it only effects them when saving out a figure to the library.  I figure that is using a pmd will still load.

True enough but since Poser will also load standard morphs anyhow, I can't see the point in a content creator bothering to use them.

If you want to market your product to be used in previous versions of Poser, you should indeed steer clear of the pmd's.  As you said, the morphs won't work in P5. The dials will show up in the Parameter window but they won't do anything.

PMD cuts file sizes dramatically when dealing with morphs in a figure. Furthermore, it enables you to distribute morph packs without having to resort you workarounds dealing with restricted content as morph targets necessarily refer to obj files (which almost always are restricted content.
However, as has been said above, it only works in Poser5 and Poser6.

Thank you all so much for helping me to understand all this much better...... I really appreciate it.  

To back-track a bit, would it be safe to consider that since I originally created this figure while the "Use external binary morph targets" box was checked/activated, that I could simply "uncheck" that box, and then "resave" my figure back to my Figures Libary and then delete/discard the remaining PMD file that was originally created before.... all without corrupting or affecting my newly "internally saved" morph  CR2?

-J

Indeed.
It will make your filesize bigger too, as a side effect ;-)