Correct Location of Shader Files for Zip - Question

parrotdolphin

I made a bunch of shaders or maybe they are shader presets or both. They are made from scratch in Shader Mixer. They are for DS 4.6. I want to package them into a zip file. Do I use this folder structure?

My Library\Runtime\Textures\parrotdolphin\some_name - for the textures
My Library\Shaders\parrotdolphin\some_name - for the shaders/shader presets (duf files)

And then tell people to unzip to their Users\user_name\Documents\DAZ 3D\Studio folder?
Is it the same for Mac?

I am really confused on how to package them.

Thanks for any help!

Jaderail

Let me check my last DS4+ thing and I'll let you know...

Jaderail

Yes that will work... just remember if any data files are created in the save to add the data folder with just your content folder in it as well.

parrotdolphin

Thanks Jaderail. It just saves a duf and a png file. I did notice in the duf file it has:

"asset_info" : {
"id" : "/Presets/Shaders/Pd-DirtyPretty/Check Weave/CheckWeave Black.duf",

Is there a purpose to this? Should I change them to the correct folder structure? Like this:

"asset_info" : {
"id" : "/Shaders/parrotdolphin/Pd-DirtyPretty/Check Weave/CheckWeave Black.duf",

It didn't seem to make any difference either way.

Jaderail

That is only the default info for the created by tags most will never see. I just create my files and then Temp move the working files from my content folder and then run a test of my Zip file in a Empty Content folder I plugin to DS my Paths for testing. Be sure to list the Test folder as Both a DS path and a Poser path. I just create a folder like this to use...

D:/DAZ TEST Content
.....Runtime

And drop my files to it and then test.

parrotdolphin

Jaderail said:

That is only the default info for the created by tags most will never see. I just create my files and then Temp move the working files from my content folder and then run a test of my Zip file in a Empty Content folder I plugin to DS my Paths for testing. Be sure to list the Test folder as Both a DS path and a Poser path. I just create a folder like this to use...

D:/DAZ TEST Content
.....Runtime

And drop my files to it and then test.

Thanks again Jaderail. You are most helpful.

I am not sure what you mean by "Be sure to list the Test folder as Both a DS path and a Poser path." Do you mean add the test folder to both DS formats and Poser formats in the Content Directory Manager?

Jaderail

Yes... If not the Texture folder will not be read.

parrotdolphin

Even if the Runtime folder and the Shaders folder are both under the same folder?

Jaderail

Yes, the way DAZ Studio works is Content Under the DAZ Studio Formats is ALL content NOT in a Poser Runtime folder, and All content IN a Runtime folder (even if in the top folder) must be listed as a Poser Formats folder as well so DAZ Studio reads the Poser side... Like this...

parrotdolphin

Doesn't it get the location of the textures out of the duf files? I put my Shaders folder and my Runtime folder under this path: C:\Users\parrotdolphin\Documents\DAZ 3D\Studio\My Library. I only have this path under the DS formats, not under Poser formats, and it finds the textures. Sorry, I'm kind of confused by this and just want to understand it.

fixmypcmike

DS will use relative paths for files in known content folders, and absolute paths otherwise. If the content folder with the textures is not listed as a Poser-format folder, the .duf file will have the absolute path, so while it works on your computer it may not work on anyone else's.

parrotdolphin

Ok, I get it. Thanks!!

The duf files have relative paths in them. Like this: "/Runtime/textures/Pd-DirtyPretty/pddp-BumpTie.jpg" I checked them in notepad++. I do a "find in files" for the string jpg and again for the string "/Runtime/textures/Pd-DirtyPretty/pddp- and make sure the same number of hits is found for both. I do finds for some folders above Runtime too, and make sure that nothing is there. I do that for Poser materials too. It's a handy check.