DAZ Install Manager Woes
BackDoor3D
Posts: 160
Howdy all,
Well, got back from summer holidays here in the land downunder on the 10 January and I've been hard at it with my creations since then......
Day after I got back I decided to update DS to the latest version of the Gen Release. 4.6.1.39 using DIM. Basically so I would get all the accompanying updates as well as the current Beta version.
Everything appeared to go to plan...until today at around 5PM.......[sigh!] Bought some content from the DAZ Store, ran DIM to install the content and....BAM! my Categories, Smart Content etc., went into meltdown..[boo, hiss].
Basically I had no Categories, Smart Content or Products in my Content Pane. Tried several different methods to get it all back, four times to be exact.....nada. They would sporadically disappear again and again.
This has happened to me many times before and to be very frank, I'm sick of it.
So, I restored all my databases from earlier today using Time Machine (OS X), stopped the CMS service first of course. Uninstalled DIM, started the CMS service....and all appears to working as it was when I started work this morning at around 8AM.
Why oh why, when installing DIM does it install its own CMS into a completely different folder and have its own CMS service???? Doesn't make sense IMHO....and it breaks the DS connection to CMS........[Boo].
Not happy Jan. Won't be using DIM again until someone explains to me all of the above and more importantly fixes the damn thing.
Well, that's my 5 cents worth.
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Comments
When this happens, it's almost always because the CMS service has failed. All that reinstalling and database restoring you did is pretty much guaranteed not to make any difference, since that isn't your problem. You said you tried different maybe-fixes, was one of them using the CMS on/off switch routines? (I know how to do this in Windows, but not in MacOSX.) One possibility is that when you updated D|S, the CMS wasn't updated; some people have reported glitches with that. Can you get at a "CMS update" option anywhere, maybe in DIM?
(Aargh, stoopid forum wiped my reply and substituted the original post when I hit "submit". I was able to recover my reply, though.)
The only issue a user has when the Smart Content, Categories and Products fail most of the time is the CMS Database file has an error. For most users just deleting the old database and building a new one will fix it. If you use Custom Categories be sure to EXPORT your User Data on a regular schedule. I have had my Database crash out from a DIM install twice and All that was needed was for it to be rebuilt.
Here is a fast way to trouble shoot a bad Database.
#1 Was it working properly and then stopped? Solution IF the CMS is running in Task manager it is ONLY the Database File.
#2 Was it working and Stopped after a System Update installed? Check to see if CMS is running in Task Manager. If running its the Database.
#3 It stopped After a Update to my System, could be OS or Anti Virus. Check to see if the Update Stopped the CMS as a NONE allowed task.
#4 It still does not Run after being set to Allowed as a Service in the OS or the AV. Rebuild the Datbase.
Installing over will not fix the Database as it will be left on the System and Read by the Just installed CMS. And a VERY bad DataBase file HAS caused the CMS to fully fail and stop Running. So Delete your DataBase. Reboot your PC and check if the CMS started Running again. If it does all you need to do is to create a new Database file.
Another TIP: Never Install content with DAZ Studio OPEN. That can and does cause DATABASE errors as the DIM or CMS is adding MetaData to the Database while the Database is OPEN, that is not a good practice. Close DS before any install, DIM or by hand.
I Hope this helps.
Hi.
Following your instructions with great interest (been having probs with my 'smart' side of the products.
I am ready now to proceed to the next section 'Rebuild Database' ... so ... How do I do that?
Is there an option in the database management' part of DAZ (I mean in the tabs section)
Thanks in advance, and for the info up to now, which is very easy for me to follow.
Vinny
When this happens, it's almost always because the CMS service has failed. All that reinstalling and database restoring you did is pretty much guaranteed not to make any difference, since that isn't your problem. You said you tried different maybe-fixes, was one of them using the CMS on/off switch routines? (I know how to do this in Windows, but not in MacOSX.) One possibility is that when you updated D|S, the CMS wasn't updated; some people have reported glitches with that. Can you get at a "CMS update" option anywhere, maybe in DIM?
(Aargh, stoopid forum wiped my reply and substituted the original post when I hit "submit". I was able to recover my reply, though.)
Stopping and Starting the CMS Service on OS X 10.8 is pretty much the same as with Windows, in that there is a Shortcut to do it, Start/Stop.
Are you saying that when I updated DS to the latest Gen. release that the DIM install does not update the CMS to a corresponding version?? How bothersome if that is the case.
I have had to fix this particular problem over a dozen times in the past so I am pretty ofay with doing it, even if it is not the "Accepted" or "Preferred" method that I employ. It works well for me.
Basically I replace the database that has been corrupted, then Reset Database, then Re-Import Metadata and User Data.
Then, all is well with my world once more.
The CMS always used to be updated as part of the D|S installer, before the DIM came along, because part of the D|S installer invoked the CMS installer. Now, from DIM users' reports of glitches, I'm not sure what's happening. At one point I think CMS updates were tied to DIM updates, but I'm not sure if it still works that way. Have you tried downloading the D|S standalone installer and running that? I'm sure I remember still seeing the "CMS install" option the last time I updated D|S with the standalone.
The CMS always used to be updated as part of the D|S installer, before the DIM came along, because part of the D|S installer invoked the CMS installer. Now, from DIM users' reports of glitches, I'm not sure what's happening. At one point I think CMS updates were tied to DIM updates, but I'm not sure if it still works that way. Have you tried downloading the D|S standalone installer and running that? I'm sure I remember still seeing the "CMS install" option the last time I updated D|S with the standalone.
Yeah, you are correct in that the standalone DS installer does invoke/install CMS as part of the whole deal.
I will download DS manually and reinstall DS see if that cures the CMS connection dropout issues.........stay tuned!
Yeah, you are correct in that the standalone DS installer does invoke/install CMS as part of the whole deal.
I will download DS manually and reinstall DS see if that cures the CMS connection dropout issues.........stay tuned!
OK. I have attached a screen image of my CMS / DS Database Folder. Does anyone know which files I delete to fix / rebuild the database?
This is OS X 10.8.5.......and of course I will stop the CMS service first!
Dunno if this is relevant, but if the techies at DAZ could let me know if this is the correct CMS version for DS 4.6.1.39.
If not I will manually install DS 4.6.1.39 to correct the problem.
Cheers
Hi.
Following your instructions with great interest (been having probs with my 'smart' side of the products.
I am ready now to proceed to the next section 'Rebuild Database' ... so ... How do I do that?
Is there an option in the database management' part of DAZ (I mean in the tabs section)
Thanks in advance, and for the info up to now, which is very easy for me to follow.
VinnyYes the Content DB Maintenance Menu is all that is needed to rebuild a clean Database once the old one is gone. I use the Content Library Tab mini menu (four line thing) to open the Content DB Maintenance menu. As long as all your files are installed to MAPPED folders (Daz Studio see's them) and the Metadata files exist, OR you installed with DIM you can create a new Database just by using Re-Import MetaData. It will take TIME to do its job. Once it Finishes you must EXIT (Close it) DAZ Studio and then Reopen DS before the new file will be read by DAZ Studio. I prefer to do a Full PC ReBoot at that time so The CMS is cleared as well and Also loads the new File after a OS close.
Yeah, you are correct in that the standalone DS installer does invoke/install CMS as part of the whole deal.
I will download DS manually and reinstall DS see if that cures the CMS connection dropout issues.........stay tuned!
OK. I have attached a screen image of my CMS / DS Database Folder. Does anyone know which files I delete to fix / rebuild the database?
This is OS X 10.8.5.......and of course I will stop the CMS service first!The .Ind file is the Index file. It is the only one that needs replaced.
OK. I have attached a screen image of my CMS / DS Database Folder. Does anyone know which files I delete to fix / rebuild the database?
This is OS X 10.8.5.......and of course I will stop the CMS service first!The .Ind file is the Index file. It is the only one that needs replaced.1
Thank you very much. Appreciated.
I going to perform a reinstall manually tomorrow to try and fix the CMS connection dropout problem which has despite what I believed to be true is still not fixed.
I have only one question.
Q. Do I need to stop the CMS service prior to the reinstall of DS 4.6.1.39?
Cheers
YES and use the CMS uninstaller just for good measure. I always do at updates.
An update on my progress with the reinstall of DS 4.6.1.39 manually.
All seemed to go very well. Very well indeed!
It would seem that a manual install of DS (and CMS) has fixed the CMS drop out......so far, so good.
The steps I employed are as follows:
1. Open DS and Export User Data (very important)
2. Close down DS
3. Stop the CMS Service
4. Uninstall the CMS (there is an uninstall shortcut in the DAZ Studio Applications folder)
5. Initiate a manual install (after first downloading DS from my account).
6. Start the CMS Service (if not already running)
7. Shutdown my computer (Cold Boot)
8. Start my computer
9. Check CMS Service is running
10. Start DS
11. Check that all Categories, Product Listings and Smart Content are all there.
12. Hoorah! Success
13. Back to work creating my creations!!!
Cheers, and thanks to all who replied and for the advice.
I will be using the above method from now on. No more DIM for me!
TTFN
DIM is not the issue, I'm a 100% DIM installed user and I still have the CMS and my Database working properly. But DIM is not needed, so if you prefer to not use it that is a personal choice.
I'm sorry but I am going to have to disagree with you on that. DIM has always given me grief on my iMac.
Not so on my Windows 8 PC though as DIM works very well indeed. Not entirely sure why they differ. Maybe it's just luck of the draw...LOL
To summarise, I will only be performing manual installs as previously stated on my iMac, and DIM installs on my Windows PC.
The upside to having both platforms is that I can check for updates on the Win PC using DIM and if available manually install them on my iMac and DIM install on my Win PC.
I know it sounds convoluted but I prefer to do it that way from now on.
Please don't get the wrong impression I love DIM. Just wish it wasn't so painful on my iMac......[sigh]
Maybe it is just an issue with my iMac and not DIM at all.......food for thought.
Thanks for all the advice tho. Your a gem.
Stiks
For what it's worth, evidence of glitch reports since the introduction of CMS seems to indicate it "just works" on some peoples' systems, and "just doesn't like" some others. If there's a pattern, even for such basic differences as "PC or Mac", it hasn't emerged yet.