Move Content Library to a different drive

IsaacNewton

I think I read something about this but the Forum Search Engine has not produced anything useful.

Essentially, I want to move "My DAZ 3D Library" from my C: drive to another larger drive. Preferably I would like to do that without corrupting the links that DS11 uses to find things.

If anyone knows of a tutorial or guide for this process, I'd be happy to know.

Thanks.

Richard Haseltine

Since you haev a My Daz 3D Library I assume you are installing via Install Manager. In DIM, click the gear icon at top-right to open Preferences, then in the Installation tab click the + button to add a new location, name it, and click the ... to select the folder, then Accept out of that and in the Installation tab select the enw folder in the Current drop-down. Now optionally move your existing content to that nwe content directory. Start DS, download http://docs.daz3d.com/doku.php/public/software/dazstudio/4/referenceguide/scripting/api_reference/samples/file_io/install_manager_config_import/start using the link at the top of the script, and drag the file into DS to tell it where DIM is now placing content.

IainW

Richard is a lot more experienced in Daz than me - so if you don't mind using a script, I'd recommend that you follow his advice.  Alternatively, if you'd rather not use a script, this is what worked for me:

1. Duplicate your content library on your new drive (don't delete the original yet!)
2. In Daz, right click on the 'Content Library' tab and click 'Content Directory Manager...'
3. Select 'Daz Studio Formats' from the Content Sets and, on the Directory menu on the left, press the 'Add...' button
4. Select your new drive and press the 'select folder' button (it should now appear in the Content Sets pane).
5. Select your C: drive listing on the Content Sets pane and, on the Directory menu on the left, press the 'Remove' button.
6. Repeat steps 3 - 5 for the 'Poser' and 'Other Import' formats too, then click 'accept'.
7. Check that everything works okay (rename your Daz folder on your C: drive to something like 'OLD' to double check).
8. If everything works okay, you can delete your old C: drive Daz library folder (else you can re-add it following steps 3 and 4 above).

You'll also have to register your new arrangement in the Daz Install Manager, aka DIM (as per Richard's advice above):

• open the DIM (click 'start'), click the cog at the top right, select the installation tab
• make sure the 'content updates' radio button is on the 'Install to Selected Path' option
• add a shortcut to your new drive by pressing the + on the bottom left
• select your new drive from the 'Current:' drop down menu at the foot of the dialogue box and click 'accept'

Good luck!

IsaacNewton

Thanks for the helpful advice. Richard, you are right, I am using DIM. IainW, I'll try Richards approach first.

One other question; I already have a Content folder on the other drive for stuff from Rosity, so is it possible/advisable to combine the content into a single Content folder? This might have the advantage that it is easier/quicker to search for specific items/characters. I assume that even if I do combine the content into one folder structure, only the content originating from the DAZ shop will appear in my Smart Content panel inside DS. Or is there a way to make everything visible in Smart Content?

FYI I do not use the Cloud for storing content, I prefer to have it loaded on to my hard drive; that way I am not dependant on my internet service provider quite so much.

 

Richard Haseltine

It is not, I think, recommended - though with soem things (e.g. ExP morph sets for the fourth geenation Daz figures) you don't have any choice but to mix the DIM and manual installs.

Connect (the "cloud" install) does still place the files on your drive - in \Data\cloud in the Connect diectory - rather than fetching them remotely on each use and it doesn't depend on a live connection.

IsaacNewton

Thanks Richard, I'll keep them separate then.

Why is it referred to as a Cloud type directory if it is actually all on the hard drive? What is the "cloud" component?

Richard Haseltine

It gets its files from a CDN (Content Delivery network) rather than diect from the Daz servers, they come in encrypted form and are decrypted (at download) using a key that does come from Daz, so it's cloud in that sense - though sicne the folder is not user-facing it probably wasn't seen as important what it was called.

peter_quinton

Confirming that Iain W's process worked for me with DazStudio 4.22