Shouldn't there be a install warning about storage space?
atacit_23cd333971
Posts: 101
New to Daz , just getting my sea legs with this software really and my drive has redlined already. With it storing my sad attempts at art and my purchases of "that looks cool stuff" all on my C drive I can't bail fast enough, the DIM makes sure of that. It seems odd that the powers that be have not split some of the data storage up to fix this obvious problem.
I have read a few threads on moving my files about but a few contradict each other or have left me crosseyed. Since I am just beginning this quest, is it best to start over and reinstall it all and make the DIM point to another drive or could someone point me to the definitive where to put stuff if you don't have a 10 tb C drive?
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You are the "powers that be". You're responsible for installing content on your computer.
There are dozens of threads about moving your content. Content can be moved by copy/paste. You will need to update the path to your content library in the Studio Content Directory Manager as well as update download and install paths in DIM.
To clarify, because there are so many threads about this issue, is there one definitive thread that clearly defines the steps to redirect the DIM and DS to load content to a new destination without conflict.
DIM
Ready to Install Tab
Check box, 'Show Details' - check it.
Click on the Cog, it will open up a sub window, with options to name folders and set installation paths.
I have about 30 content folders that I have set Studio to use; I have about ten of those that I install content to using DIM.
In the image shown, I don't actually use the Recommended folder; I might install a product there if I am undecided I want to keep it, (or I can't find something
, as it is the only item there everything is easy to find; i then move it to whichever is appropriate later).
As said, it is our responsibility; not only that we should know (at least a little) what the software we install is doing; blanket trust is what causes spyware to sneak past any defences present.
The only warning to new users should be to run DIM the first time in offline mode, then they can set the preferences before doing anything else
Thank you Nicstt for the insight into how those that truly have their shit together do it! I am doing a reinstall since this is only the first month in and I am following your system which goes against my nature but obviously this adventure favors the organized. Big thanks on the image, answered a lot of questions.
Jestmart, I believe you are giving way too much credit to the "common man". My friend and I have jumped into this together and he prides himself on being vastly more computer savy then myself. He is getting his ass kicked. I, having little confidence in my knowledge am taking things slower and reading....alot. We both thought this would be more of a "plug and play" universe and now we must dust off brains rusty from disuse. Run in offline mode, nonsense! Push buttons, see what happens!...ahhh shit....
ps~No offense to the common man,"us idiots" would probably been a better choice.
Daz has done a lot to make it a one-click solution for rendering; the downside there though, is that one is rendering someone elses idea, or combining a variety of people's ideas together.
Figuring the [stuff] out, after getting said [stuff] together, allows us to starting thinking about our own ideas.
If I was starting from scratch, knowing what I know now.
I don't like connect and never have. So I would still go with DIM, although I also manually install too.
I would have folders for hair; clothes; props and possibly architectural items (which I might split again; I would also have figures; and have Dforce items seperate (although clothes they have very different functionality, and in the future may include other items than wearables - (there is a bed already)); Scripts I would separate too, as well as HDRIs; Lights and Lighting Props; IRAY shaders and mats (I also put 3Delight items in here, but may seperate in the future.
I would still have a general folder, but save for when something didn't work; maybe keep the Genesis (and other) essentials there.
I have a folder now, which I copy and paste items into when using them a lot, then just simply delete when finished with - the items I copy and paste are the 'user facing ones' - these you click on to say load a hair item or character. An easy way of getting to these files is right click on it, and navigtate to that folder.
It can cause issues actually moving files that DIM has installed, which is why I say copy and paste.
You can uninstall an item; create a new folder and then reinstall it. Once done, check out the folder structure just for reference.
Edit.
Actually, I think it's time to reorganise.
Edited to remove profanity
I tried the multiple folder bit; and I ended up confusing myself AND finding some products that only worked if installed with others. I'm down to 4 now. Gen5, which used o be my Genesis folder and is now my gret dumping ground for all things installed by DIM except tutorials; third-party, which is where I manually install non-DIM packages from other sites; mydata, where I save everything I make changes to as well as scenes and work in process; and tutorials, where all the DIM-installable and other tutorials go. Studio does NOT know about tutorials.
You can do a few things to "move contents", safely...
I suggest that you create SYM-LINKS to your DATA folder, and move that one. It is usually the largest one, and is about 1/2 to 3/4 of all the other folders combined. Symbolic links treat the moved folder as if it exists in BOTH locations. Though, it is actually only in one location. The location you move the actual folder to.
https://www.howtogeek.com/howto/16226/complete-guide-to-symbolic-links-symlinks-on-windows-or-linux/
Though, first I would try just selecting your content folder and set it up as a "Compressed". (Select the folder "My DAZ 3D Library", with the second-mouse button. Then go to the ADVANCED button near the bottom. Again, on the bottom, you should select to "Compress contents to save disk space", and opt to do that to "Include all sub-folders". Then wait for about an hour, while it compresses all the dead-space of Daz's bloated files.)
The largest offender of space-killing is NOT the individual large files. It is the millions of tiny files that are smaller than your "Block sectors" sizes. Usually a block-sector that stores a "file" is 2-4KB. So, every single file with only a few bytes of info, still consumes 2-4KB (2,048 - 4,096 bytes) on your hard drive, and there are millions on mine.
In my case, I gained about 40% more hard-drive space back.
What windows does, is create a mini-file directory for those compressed files. It crams all the data into one single "block-sector", which may be hundreds of files. So instead of 100x 2,048 bytes, which is 204,800 bytes, those files now only consume 2,048 bytes. It will also use standard "fast-index zip compression", which is now built-in to all pentium chips for "on the fly decompression". (That is why windows has a "Compressed folder option", which is actually just a zip-file. That is NOT what you are doing here. Daz can't see inside of those, for some reason.)
You can sort-of estimate your space-savings, by looking at the total of the folders "ACTUAL FILES SIZE", versus the "SIZE ON DISK", in the properties tab for the folder.
I have to applaud JD_Mortal for taking the time to prepare his previous post. Although I tend to avoid symbolic links in favour of moving folders whenever possible, there are times when I have done essentially what he is suggesting where the software insists on data folders being only in the default location. I do believe that the old Windows "one drive to rule them all" approach is a bit dated and a two drive, or at the very least a two partition system is much preferable. Not everyone can or will do that, but the option should be provided as a matter of routine. (I would be willing to bet that the programmers who are building such mandatory, default data folders are not storing their OS, applications and data on a single drive.) But, yes, symbolic links do work quite well when I've needed them.
Just adding too... This is a little more complex... But...
Windows will now allow your system to treat all drives as one large drive. It is in the drive management settings, where you can partition and resize your drives. Essentially, you treat the whole array of drives as just the "C:" drive.
https://www.windowscentral.com/how-create-one-large-volume-using-multiple-hard-drives-windows-10
The issue I have with moving actual folders, is that SOME items still have "hard-coded links" within them. If they don't see certain files in the same exact path, even if Daz KNOWS the file is there, in another path... It will fail to load those items.
That is true, JD, but I'm an old school kind of guy and prefer to manage my drives myself, rather than let the company do it for me. That is why Windows Libraries are disabled and removed from the file manager on all my PCs. I recognize that many others are comfortable with the approach you mention, but none for me, thanks. If I want a RAID array, I can create my own.
Nothing from Daz should have hard-coded links, although I have found (and bug reproted) the occasional glitch. Certainly using non-default locations doesn't usually cause issues.
Does everyone using this software have a degree in computer science/engineering for God's sake? I'm had to forget everything I know about plumbing just to follow that. Well I'm off to go read for the next few hours just to have the privilege to hold onto someones belt loop for the next four years. Thanks for the help, I walk away a much wiser man and a much humbler one. I have to leave now my brain is leaking.
It's amazing how much you can learn about how much you have to learn so you can learn so much more about what you need to learn.
"Does everyone using this software have a degree in computer science/engineering for God's sake?"
"I was over at Mrs. X's house, having been called out to fix a computer that wouldn't boot. Upon arriving and attempting to troubleshoot the problem, I was able to isolate it successfully. I then called Mrs. X into the room and began to explain what had happened and what I needed to do to resolve the problem. Before finishing, she interrupted me, stating "I'm not interested in learning how the thing works, I just want it fixed!".
To me, that encapsulates the divide that exists between those who wish their computers to be simple appliances, and those who know that they are not, and never can be, regardless of how simplistic user interfaces may become.
Thanks to all for the help and patience. Great group here. The "Compressed" setting works beautifully and with the improved organizational system, I half look like I know what's going on. I'm still studying the SYM-LINKS. I want to fully understand it before I try it. Little shaky on that one still.
Heres to shrinking that divide cuz I will be damned if this toaster, I mean computer will get the best of me!
There ya go!
Quick technical info about symbolic links...
Think of them like web-links, or shortcuts... It just (points->links) to a location where the actual data is located. However, unlike a short-cut or web-link, it is more like a teleporter to the location, as opposed to just a "text link" that says "go here", it actually transports the program to the new location, so it can see the contents, as if they existed in the other location.
Similar to a "Recycle-bin"... There is one on every drive, but you access them through just one recycle-bin folder/link.
If it were to simply be a short-cut, or hyperlink, programs could not normally see what is on the other side.
You couldn't say, "Fetch this file for me", and have every program work correctly, while trying to get... (C:/real_folder/shortcut_to_D_drive_folder/real_file.jpg) {Drag and drop, and installing, is one of those instances where it MAY, or does-not work.}
Virtual-folders will allow that, but not all programs can "see inside" a virtual-folder. Virtual-folders were a windows-specific thing, a few years ago. (I think windows abandoned "virtual folder", in favor of networked-folders/drives, as those are designed specific to networks and people were abusing them for, "easy to make", SYM-LINKS.)
Here is a blurb about mklink, and how to use it. (Again, a good way to split the contents in half, is to just move the "DATA" folder in you library.)
Create a "symbolic link" to a directory or a file.
Syntax (Typed in COMMAND PROMPT)
Key:
/DCreate a Directory symbolic link. (default is file)/HCreate a hard link instead of a symbolic link./JCreate a Directory Junction.LinkThe new symbolic link name.TargetThe path (relative or absolute) that the new link refers to.{Image attached below, shows what various ones can and can't do.}
An example would be... (After you MOVE the "data" folder to the new location.")
MKLINK /D "C:\My DAZ Library\data\" "D:\My DAZ Library\data\"
That will create the LINK "C:\My DAZ Library\data\", which now actually goes to "D:\My DAZ Library\data\" to get the items it needs. No need to setup DAZ, or the instaler, or windows, any further. (Which is a nightmare if Daz or the installer is ever upgraded and "forgets all your setup info", which has happened to me a few times.) This also works for drag-and-drop or manual installing of files from zip-files, or just "browsing around" for stuff. You will never know the folder is relocated, unless you actually go to your D:\ drive and see the other location.