installing 3rd party programs
gcwolfpost
Posts: 43
I used a similar program to daz a few years ago so I am not entirly unfamailar with how things work as long as you keep the explanations simple. LOL. Ok, this has been driving me crazy for the last few days. I purchased not a few 3rd party programs on other sites. Basically because I found those sites before I found this one. I am struggling to properly install them in the correct directories. After following the directions I have had a few work perfectly. I have had more than a few not show up in daz at all. I have had one or two show up in daz but clicking on it does absolutly nothing. One, the directory showed up in daz but nothing was in it. Is it possible for some one to as simply as possible step by step decribe the process of where to put what files? Part of the confusion I am having is when I google it, many of the posts are old ones and the file names they mention are no longer the same or where they should be.
Also, is it possible to just install the files into the install manager download folder as I have read somewhere you can. I tried it once but of course it didn't work. Please, someone have pity on me and take me out of my peronal hell of wrestling with this trying to get it to work instead of creating.
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Comments
Install Manager requires zips to be set up in a particular way - some content from elsewhere will be DIM-ready but most won't.
Actually giving you step-by-step instructions is complicated by the fact that content is not always packaged in the same way, and is not all in the same format. Assuming you are using the default content directories in DS then a starting point would be to open the zip and look for the Data and/or Runtime folders - once you have them, those (and any other folders in the same location in the zip) should be taken over to your My Library folder and merged with the existing Data, Runtime, and so on folders there.
While Daz Studio, iClone, and Poser (the only other programs I'm aware of that are similar to Daz Studio) are similar in purpose, some of their functions are slightly different. When loading content into a scene, or adjusting parameters and other numbers directly, either program will require a double-click or a single-click - it depends on the function in question, and the program.
Installing content for use in DS requires first that they be in a compatible format. As of now, DS can only read native Daz file formatting and Poser file formats, such as PZ3, CR2, etc. The OBZ format is, I think, alien to DS.
These content package files usually have the correct Daz installation instructions, so go back and make sure you didn't miss a step.
Also, check the file description to be sure it's been tested with Daz Studio. Not all have been, and not all will work.
The program I was talking about that was similar was called sexvilla3d. Same idea. You bought programs and installed them in the viewer. Made models and poses and eventually full blown scenes. It was a bit more user friendly than this one and you could make a some good things but not nearly the quality of Daz. Also, they stopped supporting it much after a time. No new content and it really needed an update. But for awhile it was a lot of fun.
The movies was a pc game that you could make real animated movied. It was fun and had a lot of on line support but eventually died out after a few years.
I assume they all work with Daz because people reviewed them but then again who knows if the reviews were real. I think the problem I am having is in the terminology. I install it where I "think" they are saying to install it but I might actually be installing it one layer before or after where it needs to be on the tree.
Here is an example of what I mean. This one program says this. "
Are they saying to Open the library file then zip it in or are they saying "dont" open the library file first? I have two Daz folders. I assume they mean the one in documents? But this one dosen't have a "Studio" directory in it but it does have a Library directory. The other Daz has a Studio directory but no Library one. Is that a problem?
Also, though it is not a problem to rezip it from the site all the programs are now unzipped in a folder. If i were to copy and paste the files from the folder on my desk top where exactly would I paste them in this example? In my Library or do they need to go in files "underneath" my library in the tree? I am trying to understand the logic of the order of how Daz is seeing the files. I am asking because I am so new to all this I bet some of the programs are actually in Daz and I am just not seeing them because I am looking for them in the wrong place. What I mean is I am not entirly sure they are not extracted right and I am just not understanding how daz displays them.
Also, another thing that complicated matters is I bought a lot of programs at once and unzipped them in one folder on my desk top. It didn't occur to me to make a separate file for each program so they were all jumbled togther all over the place. This morning, I took the time to reunzip them into seperate folders so now at least I know what belongs to what.
I know I am agonizingly close to solving this with your help. I am sure I am just doing one little thing wrong.
The easiest way to have 3rd party content installed (I think) is by using the package manager helper here in the Daz store.
You add your zips to it, arange the contents how needed (you'll pick this up after some time of messing with content, it's already set up to start from the folder where data, runtime, textures and such are at) then click to create dim file.
You can then load up the daz install manager, click on the ready to install tab and presto! there's your 3rd party content ready to be installed to the proper locations, as well as now being listed in your content library-products tab for easy finding.
Save your created dim zip and any time you need to reinstall, just drop that zip into your dim folder.
Wow, there is such a program? I am going to check it out right now. Thanks a lot.!
No, DS can handle compressed OBJ files - OBZ. What you may be recalling, I think, is that there were problems with soem Poser files that called for an OBJ but actually included an OBZ, although they also tended to have the files in the library folder rather than the Geometries folder and the path was often wrong from the outset or became wrong if people moved the library folder around.
I have to share this with you guys. @kaotbliss. The program you suggested might be good but didn't work for me because of the problem I was having. I will retry using it once I settle down from the elation of getting it to finally work after a week long frustrating battle that consumed most of my free time and frustrated the hell out of me until about 15 minutes ago.
Long story short, When I origianally installed daz the installer asked me what directory and I changed it from the c drive to the h drive. Not realizing that was just changing where the installer was installed and NOT where it was installing the daz files. So daz installed on c. I did not catch this for a few days. The first couple of programs installed on c and worked fine but then the golden palace one just would not install and my problems began. About now I realized that the programs were installing on the 99.6% full c drive so I unistalled daz from the c and reinstalled it on h. For some reason I could not uninstall all of the daz files. it said they were open and being used. Ok. Whatever.LOL. So I left them. Thank God I did.
But now a new problem. The installer must be seeing the old files on c and though it installs things to h, every time I open the installer it wants to reinstall EVERY program all over again. Reinstalling the installer does not fix this. the heck with it. One problem at a time. Flash forward a few days. I have posted here and several other places asking for help. though people try the answers are making no sense to me and I am starting to think I am going senile. This is just not that compilcated which only frustratess me more.Yiu guys telling me where to put the files but it dosn't make any sense to me because the directory trees you guys and others are telling me are just not the trees I am seeing. So I am getting super confused.
After reading a post on rendererotica about a guy who was having nearly the exact same problem I noticed from how they described what needed to be done that my H drive was totally missing the User directory. All the other files were there. Just not where they should be or labeled slightly different. But when I opend the user directory on the c drive there they all where and exactly how everyone said they should be. So I copied the user directory over to the h drive. It took well over 2 hours to do so and I had to go to work just as it was done copying. This morning after trying to unzip the files directly and having it not work, again, i manually copied the files directly into the proper folder. and bam, just like that it worked! :) happy dance. Somehow the unzipping missed the data file and maually doing it worked.
Thanks to you and all the hlp and support everyone gave me. i know it's not a big deal to you or anything but I am just so brimming with excitment and a sense of accomplishment I just ahd to share. LOL.
As I said in response to your previous thread, you need to give a clearer description of what is happening - "Daz files" is not specific enough. https://www.daz3d.com/forums/discussion/comment/4088586/#Comment_4088586
I thought the issue was unzipping products from other sites into the proper directories in Daz so they could be used. What it sounds like now is that you do not have your new directory set in Daz Studio options so that Daz Studio can see your installed products.
@Richard Haseltine. My deepest apologies. I posted so many threads asking what to do over the past week I never saw your response on the other thread until now.
"I'm sorry, but that is a very confusing post. Trying to work out what you mean:
Did you move or delete the Manifests folder from the Daz Install manager folder in Public Documents? That is what tells DIM what it has installed - if you have moved it the current version of DIM allows you to set the location (and if you have set the location you need to move the files to the selected folder). Similarly, if you move the Downloads folder you need to tell DIM where it is now. These locations are set in preferences, the gear icon at top left, in the Downloads tab (Downloads folder, for zips) and Installation (Mainfests folder).
Which folder, precisely, is being a problem?
I assume the start-up message is the oen about A Valid PostgreSQL connection - did you move the Content Cluster folder? Once you have the DIM paths sorted out, is PostgreSQL installed? If it is, is the process running when DS and/or DIM are open (check Task Manager, with More Details enabled)?"
Ok bare with me as I am not 100% on the terminology. When I unistalled Daz from the c drive I deleted EVERYTHING that was daz related except some of the files that was in the USER folder on the C drive. I didn't delete those files because they said they were open or in use and it wouldn't allow me to. So yes, I deleted all daz installer programs that the computer didn't say were open and being used.
When I reinstalled daz on the h drive I noticed for the first time I didn't have some of the folders on the h drive that I had on the c drive. The User folder being one of them. Since I didn't have the user folder I was not entirly sure what the correct path was to put into the installer so I just put H in the box. That never was a problem before with other programs in the past. I just "ASS"umed the installer would use the folders there or install new ones as needed. A simple case of me knowing just enough how to do something and make it worse. LOL.
If at all possible could you give me the proper path to put in the installer that is now in the H drive? I got the other program working but now the next one is giving me problems as well. This is the tree for my h drive now.
users\glenn\documents\daz 3d in this folder is where data,people, runtime and studio folders are.
But if I go users\public\public documents\daz 3d I have install manager, my library, runtime and studio folders Not 100% sure which branch of the tree to use as there are similar files in both. Just checked and the manifest files are in the install manager folder in the h drive.
"I assume the start-up message is the oen about A Valid PostgreSQL connection - did you move the Content Cluster folder? Once you have the DIM paths sorted out, is PostgreSQL installed?"
I got this message at first but uninstalling then reinstalling dim fixed this issue for me.
@kaotkbliss. I never even knew I needed to do that. Ignorance is truly NOT bliss in this case. :( I will try that next when done answering here. The only thing is that when I download files from here with dim they install in daz with no problem. It's only the 3rd party programs that are giving me issues.
Well, this is promising. In the content directory manager everything was set to the c drive and the files were a little different. I changed everything to match the example but with the h drive. Also I had no z setting at all in the daz studio format tab. Is that needed?
Crossing my fingers.
It worked! Everything I installed so far is working and I am amazed it sort of was just such a simple fix. Thanks so much you guys. it's amazing that almost all of my troubles stem from accidently installing the installer destination files to the c drive and uninstalling it. Then reinstalling them to the H. One simple mistake caused all these problems Thank you both so much. Hoepfully now I am free and clear. :)
I think Daz hates me. Ok, as I mentioned everything was working. But silly me. I closed the daz program and when I reopened it everything 3rd party thing I installed is gone from the daz content library. Other things seem to be missing as well. The people installed only the ones I got from here are showing up and they only show up in the smart content. If I load a saved scene they show up with the missing content installed on the characters. Just noticed that 1 of the 3 golden palace programs is showing up in the products section. The section with the letters a-z. But the other two golden palace programs are not showing up even there and the one that showed up there isn't showing up where it use to. WTF!
Golden Palace programmes?