Hi,

I just got my new computer and am finally going to install my copy of Poser 7.  I haven't used Poser in the past so I want to try starting out right with it.  LOL

I've seen discussions in some of the forums about confusing Poser's Runtime can become.

Thus, before I start installing content, I'd like to see some suggestions of what works for many of you.

Do you use the Poser Runtime created when Poser installs?  Or have you created external Runtimes?  If you've created External Runtimes, would you mind telling me what they are and the reasoning behind them.

Also, if you can include any thing you feel is pertinent for me to know when setting up my runtime(s), it would be a big help.

I really want to set things up in an organized fashion beforehand so that I'm not one of those individuals who have to start all over because they can't find what they're looking for in their Runtime.  LOL

Thanks,

CyberMuses

I use both the native Poser 7 runtime as well as external runtimes.

My external runtimes are broken down by a number of things - for example, Victoria 3, Aiko 3, Stephanie 3 Petite, Victoria 4.2, Aiko 4, Girl 4, Michael 4 ... also by download locations (DAZ, Renderosity, RDNA).  I go even further when it gets to my props because I set them up in even deeper nested runtimes (props/buildings/DAZ Buildings/Interiors ... you get the idea)

The only thing I use the Poser 7 runtime for is the Base figure installations for the DAZ Mil4 characters.  Everything else I have is done in the externals.

Another trick I can offer, if you have a spreadsheet program, is design a spreadsheet that you can edit whenever you add content.  That way you know what everything is and where it's located.

I have v4 and m4 and the other figures that I use regularly in the base runtime  and all of my most commonly used props and poses.  Since I save characters with clothing and hair I dont often need to use those so they are in an external runtime. Buildings and vehicles and other major props are in a third runtime.  

I usually reduce the file patyh for props, poses and figures to remove the vendor folder and group them as buildings / vehicles / scene fillers etc.

The purpose of external runtime folders is to reduce the startup time of your application as well as providing some structure and organization of your content.  Like the others, I have several external runtime folders under various categories for easy access.  The base characters and their morph packages reside within the application's folder; content like clothing, characters, poses, props, etc each get their own external folder as needed.  Use a program like 3D Content Installer to keep track of your content installations from zip and exe files.  It is an excellent application which can easily uninstall the content you have loaded.  Word of caution though,  the zip content must have the same hierarchy structure as the runtime folder for proper installation.  It is wise to inspect content carefully.

Victoria_Lee made an excellent suggestion to initially create some type of database for your content.  You will find your content growing exponentially as you collect.  There are some free databasing programs available which you can use; 3D Content is a for purchase program from DAZ that also keeps track of web links and stores images of content.  Hopefully the bugs have been worked out with the latest version.

If you want to reduce your runtime overhead a bit, check your content for unnecessary files and folders.  Some older content have .rsr files for image icons displayed in the library.  The convention now is to use .png.  However, some content include both. You can use the free version  P3DO Explorer to delete or convert .rsr files.  Word of caution, there is an rsr file that resides in the Poser folder; DO NOT delete this.  It contains essential data for the program.

Finally, there are individuals carrying a tremedous number of runtimes on their had drive which, IMHO, is completely overkill.  You do not have to install every piece of content you own.  Many will be used once or twice then forgotten soon afterward.  Be selective, install what is necessary at present and archive the rest for later use.  I have a Projects folder just for that, projects.  I install content, create my scene, render and then remove as soon as I'm completely done.  It reduces my content load and I don't have to keep track of it again until the future.

Hopefully this services as a guideline for your return to Poser.

Just a little housekeeping suggestion.  I maintain a separate directory of content (I call it poser runtimes) which I have set up with the same runtime names (Animals, Buildings, Furniture, Props, Environments, G2 Characters, V4 Characters, V4 Clothing, M3, etc.).  When I install new content into one of my active runtimes, I then move the original content file (DAZ exe or zip file) to the corresponding directory.  That way, when the time comes to do a reinstall (and it will come!), I can simply install content one directory at a time, and all my runtimes are set up the way I like them.

This also makes it easy to back up content (directory by directory) and to split up content when one runtime gets too big.  SImply decide how to split up the content (old buildings vs. modern for example) place the content in the two directories accordingly, blow away the old runtime (buildings) and install content to the two new ones.  Presto, they each open quickly again!

BTW, I use the 3d Content Installer by Ahudson - works great on almost all installs and really automates the process.  Drag and drop a whole runtime of files and just let it go - even Daz installers.

By the way, I long ago gave up backing up to DVD's and simply bought a cheap 160 GB external drive (check out the prices, they are way down).  I copy the content runtime folders to it and then sync it occasionally.  I use this for off site - I run a home server which backs up everything nightly, but it occurred to me that I could have a sytemic failure (house fire?) and then I would have to try to reassemble all my content from vendor sites - yikes!  I also back up output (save files and WIP) while I'm at it.  Since I usually use Carrara, I also grab the carrara content I've created (it's in the My Documents folder under DAZ3DCarara7MyPresets.

Klebnor