is there any easy resolve to package props or characters for distribution that captures all the material and texture files associated with the item?  I've seen some softwares in the past but seeing much now.    Any help would be great, 

thanks much,

You can get a python script that will read a cr2 or other file and give you all the geometry and texture references that it contains. Material files, poses etc are not linked to the prop or figure though so theres no easy way.

Look in the Poser Scripts menu.

Scripts > Utility > collectSceneInventory

You'll be given the option to either save all the required files to a folder or to just list out all the files being used by the scene.

If it is a Poser figureprop etc that you have created and wish to make up a user friendly distribution zip then this tutorial will help.
http://www.philc.net/WinZip_tutorial2.php

Current versions of Windows allow you to create a compressed folder so you do not need Winzip, but the principles are the same.

Hope that helps.

OK,  so I'm getting the feeling there is no 'easy' way.  Looks like i'll be constructing a blank runtime to move into and package. 

I'll spend bit more time on your site there phil, 
thanks for the link.

A runtime off the root folder ( c:runtimeetc) is the way to go . that way the paths in the zip will be correct and treated as relative paths to the extraction folder. 

If you set Poser to shallow or none it will reduce the search for files and tell you if any file refrences are wrong.

Make sure to prune any unnecessary folders from the runtime before making the archive  (or not include them to begin with). I've run into several items with - for example - empty camera, light etc. folders in them.

"Democracy is a pathetic belief in the collective wisdom of individual ignorance." - H. L. Mencken

Appreciate all for the help, suggestions and tips.   Phil's site also a good resource.  All makes some sense now and moving forward.

Thanks  much,
Harry**
**