Installing From Zip Files

Seliah (Childe of Fyre)

Alright - I've been using Poser since version 4.0, I've been toying around with DS so far off and on since the first one was released, could never get used to it.. finally am using it more on this version since I can actually deal with the GUI for once.

Problem I'm having is, I do NOT understand the file structure. At ALL. Just seems like everything is going wherever, like there's no standardization at all with the installers. Some things go under Content/People/Clothes, same TYPE of item (such as a clothing item) can also be installed to My Library/CreatorName/Item/...

What the heck?

Add to this, I'm currently trying to install a few of Wilmap's things - love the work she's doing, and would really like to use them. But I can NOT figure out the folder structure, or where the heck things go, and the read-me file has zero installation instructions. File structure is just confusing the heck out of me here. I do not understand it.

Example : With the Genesis Trench Coat (the 1940's style one). Daz's zip files begin with Content/ and then go from there. The one I'm currently working with starts like this :

Genesis Trench Coat/data/...
Genesis Trench Coat/People/...
Genesis Trench Coat/Runtime/....

I don't know if this is supposed to go under Content/ or the My Library/ folder or what. Poser zip files are fairly self explanatory, and if all else fails, the file extension is a good give away. CR2 is under Figures, LT2 is under lights, MC6 is under Materials and so forth. With DS everything, but EVERYTHING is .duf or .dsf and there is NO indication of where it goes! With exception of .JPG for textures usually and .PNG for thumbnails...

I've attached a screen shot of what I'm talking about. I could really use a little help on this, because as it stands right now, I can't figure out any zip files EXCEPT for the Daz ones, and it's becoming more than a little messy, and more than a little frustrating. :/

Thanks.

DISCLAIMER :
I am NOT, I repeat, NOT, picking on Wilmap! I just happened to be working with one of her zips when I finally reached my enough point on the frustration, and am only using her zip to illustrate the confusion - I could use ANY DS zip file.

fixmypcmike

In this case "Genesis Trench Coat" is a proxy for your content folder (e.g. "My Library") -- you want to take what's underneath "Genesis Trench Coat" and merge it with the folders underneath "My Library". The main rule is that the Data and Runtime folders have to be directly below the content folder, whatever it's called.

Seliah (Childe of Fyre)

Hi Mike.

So.. then what is the difference between the Content/ and My Library/ folders? And why do we have both?

I apologize for being a pest. I'm just trying to get a grasp on the file structures here.

fixmypcmike

They're just arbitrary names, they could be called anything. In DS, as in Poser, the Runtime is labeled with the folder containing it. Originally, the DS folders were Studio > Content > Runtime, so the Poser Runtime was labeled "Content" and the DS-format content was labeled "Studio". I think for DS4 "My Library" was intended to have a clearer meaning.

Seliah (Childe of Fyre)

I see. Alright. Thank you for your help!