Where are the Morphs?

Gnaws

I've been a CG artist for 20 years. I understand CG and computers. I've worked on major movie projects. I do not understand DAZ/products.

I have an account
I have V4.2
I purchased V4 Morphs++
using DAZ Download mgr I d/l my purchase

Why does it then NOT show up in DAZ Studio?

(glad I tested this on a $7 purchase)

Jaderail

Because you have not set up the content folders in DAZ Studio to use the DIM content folder as both a DAZ Studio Format content folder and a Poser content folder. The DIM does not install to the default content folder to prevent accidental over writes of content. It uses a new Folder so it can keep a database on files only it installed so those files can be uninstalled by DIM without damaging other content that might have been installed by the user.

jaxtone

Sorry to say it but DAZ must have the most un-logical file system on earth! Maybe the following words will sound tragical to you who are lucky enough to have time to spend on learning a folder system that seems to have more holes in it than a Schweizer-cheeze but I just had to get it out of my system once and for all.

I have purchased a lot of products the latest year and guess the DAZ Install Manager does it´s job ok if you believe in miracles. I also modeled and textured and animated a lot of DAZ characters and props but just don´t get how to put them in the right directories to make it possible to share them on the market pages.

Up till now I haven´t seen one single reasonable tutorial easy enough to understand that can explain the chaos from hell that´s going on inside the Install Manager but to be true characters end up in strange places just like warddrobe items and props. I guess the designer of this system didn´t have as a purpose to confuse new users but at least he got me going nuts.

If someone could convert these lines of frustration to an explanation worth it´s name at least this man will appreciate it.

Jaderail

jaxtone I think you are confusing Smart content run by the Metadata with the actual file structure for DAZ Studio content, of which there can be two kinds or just one and it still work in renders. The Metadata is what makes items list in the Smart Content Tab as the different types of content it shows when using the Smart Content Tab folder. The File structure is what is used by the Content Library Tab, it has a Daz Studio Formats section and a Poser Formats section. Both file types DAZ Studio can load and use barring some Poser type Shaders and Poser Type weight mapping for newer Poser content (the wight mapping, no Poser shader has ever worked in DS). So to create content for DAZ Studio you can use the Poser type file structure of a Runtime for content that has poser type extensions, for DAZ Studio it is the DATA folder and other called folders, on the DAZ Studio side that matter. A DAZ Studio only Item is Stored in the Data folder just as the Poser versions are stored in the Poser Runtime but DS does not divide the data folder into sub folders like props and figures, all items go into the data folder as data files. The Textures and other files such as load files go into the proper DS Studio folder. So for a prop you have the Data folder and the load files in the Props folder, and textures can still go into the default Runtime textures folder.

EDIT to Add: Once a item is saved as a DAZ Studio only file type the obj file is no longer needed. The Data file is the obj.

jestmart

A few specific points about Victoria 4.2 and her morphs. She is built using the older legacy Poser rigging system and follows the Poser Runtime folder/file structure therefore the majority of content for her will be found under Poser Formats in the Content Library tab. All DAZ generation 4 figures, of which Victoria 4.2 is one, use DAZ's ExP system to add unlimited morph channels to the figure. Morphs built to use ExP need to be initialized by running special bat files in the /Runtime/Libraries/!DAZ folder inside the content library folder you installed the figures to and the figures and their morphs most be installed to the content library folder and never to more than one library. DIM should automatically run the initializing files for morphs it installs but that doesn't always seem to be the case. Due to the need to initialize gen 4 figures I strongly recommend creating a unique content library folder (like DAZ Gen 4) to install them to as it makes finding the !DAZ folder and bat files easier when you have to run them manually.

Gnaws

jestmart said:

Due to the need to initialize gen 4 figures I strongly recommend creating a unique content library folder (like DAZ Gen 4) to install them to as it makes finding the !DAZ folder and bat files easier when you have to run them manually.

.....dear gawd.

What's the easier solution? Avoid anything Gen 4?

Gnaws

OK I tried again. I got V4 and some poses.

http://www.daz3d.com/downloader/customer/files/prod/4779/

But, as before, I can locate the poses on my HD, but they don't show up in the Content Library? I even ran a Content Library HD scan.

nada.

EDIT:

I dont know if running that .bat file as jesmart suggested fixed it, but I found the new poses NOT IN THE CONTENT DIRECTORY, but in Smart Content > Presets. I didn't think to look there before. It may have been there all the time.

Odd, but fine if it works.

kbye

Steven-V

If they are showing in Smart Content, then they are in your content library somewhere. The question is where. You should be able to use "search" to find them. When you do, then use the Categorize feature to put them into a category that you can find again.

Honestly I agree with Jaxtone... a lot of content does not show up in the places you would expect. I understand it not showing up in Smart Content, but often I buy something and the only way to find it is with the search feature, because it doesn't show up where you think it would. New Environment? It's up under some other folder. For example, the Dreamlight DreamLounge is in its own folder, NOT in Environments. Why? It's an environment, isn't it? Note, I did not put it in this folder. DIM did. And this makes no sense.

Some products get top-level folders (protip: NONE EVER SHOULD -- top level folders in My Daz3D Library should be for broad categories only, like Props or People). Others go inside folders. Often where they go makes no sense. The Multiplane Cyclorama goes in Environments -> Landscapes? It's not a landscape. It belongs under "sets," since that's a more appropriate categorization. And I still have no idea where the Dystopia City Blocks went... Every time I want them I have to do a search. I find them that time but then forget the next time where it put them and have to search again. Note: They are NOT under Environments -> Architecture like I would expect.

I really think DAZ needs to overhaul how the categorize things by default when installing. If I download one product it's easy to find because of the blue highlighting, but if I download a bunch at once, it's a pain in the ass to find them all, because half the time DAZ puts them somewhere I would never logically think to look.

Gnaws

steven.viscido said:

If they are showing in Smart Content, then they are in your content library somewhere. The question is where. You should be able to use "search" to find them. When you do, then use the Categorize feature to put them into a category that you can find again.

Thanks, Steven!!

jestmart

DAZ has establish a structure for DAZ Studio format files and if you have a product that you think isn't following that structure you can file a ticket to report it. I have reported a few products that where released before the file structure was set and they have since been updated. Products that meant to work with Poser though are mostly still following the Poser file structure from Poser 4 to Poser 6. V4's morph injections can be found the Content Library tab under: Poser Formats / [whatever library V4 was installed to] / Pose / DAZ's Victoria 4 / Morph injections .