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Which Files to Install?

Jason GalterioJason Galterio Posts: 2,562
edited December 1969 in The Commons

Good morning (and, if not appropriate where you are, good afternoon or evening),

I find myself having to reinstall all my content again. And, as with the last reinstall, I am intent on trying to make this iteration last for as long as I can.

For my laptop I have determined that the easiest way to do this is to set up four content directories....
DATA -> where I put all my custom settings and auto generated data
DEFAULT -> DS compatible items
POSER -> legacy items using the old Runtime>Libraries scheme
OTHER -> non-DAZ purchased items

Now, since I do not run Poser on my laptop, I thought I might conserve some space and not install the Poser only files. However I am having a hard time determining which files those are based on the various naming conventions that have been used.

I am assuming that these file names are required for a DS only installation...
StudioCF
DS
CF
Legacy

But are these?
PoserCF
Ps

I know in the past that I have had issues with missing geometry or texture files in DS if I don't install one or the other of these. I'm just not sure which is which. I'm also not sure if what I want to do is even easily possible.

I'm also not beyond having a "dummy" POSER content directory for just those reference files that might be needed, but keeps me from having to dig down thru a duplicate library runtime.

Thanks in advance. Any input would be appreciated.

Comments

  • Jason GalterioJason Galterio Posts: 2,562
    edited December 1969

    Update:

    I found this posting by Jaderail from a couple of months ago...

    So if I am understanding the thread correctly, PoserCF files are not required for a DS only installation. But PS files may be required (i.e. the missing reference errors I mentioned earlier)?

  • jestmartjestmart Posts: 4,449
    edited December 1969

    Because Studio already uses a "data" (note small 'd') folder for critical files I would not name a library folder "DATA", it breaks my "Computers are stupid, don't do anything to confuse them." rule.

  • Jason GalterioJason Galterio Posts: 2,562
    edited December 2013

    jestmart said:
    Because Studio already uses a "data" (note small 'd') folder for critical files I would not name a library folder "DATA", it breaks my "Computers are stupid, don't do anything to confuse them." rule.

    Understandable. The actual name I use is DS_Data. I list it as the first directory in my content manager so that all of the auto-generated geometry files go to one location. Makes it easier to recover files if / when I have to reinstall.

    I did complete the re-installation and left out all of the LEGACY and POSERCF and PS packages. And everything seems to be fine.

    I have started to use the Categories tab to sort my files out, but ran into a few problems and more questions.

    The first problem I had was that CMS refused to operate while DS 4.6 was on. Luckily I found another poster in the forum had the same issue. So uninstalling CMS and manually reinstalling it resolved that.

    I also found the point where I can export my user data, so that these categories aren't lost. But I can't for the life of me figure out where they are getting exported to. Or what the file name is.

    Secondarily, I am trying to figure out if it is possible to migrate this Custom User Data from one computer to another, so that I don't have to reinvent the wheel three times.

    EDITTED: Because I'm an idiot who doesn't know how to type or proofread.

    Post edited by Jason Galterio on
  • fixmypcmikefixmypcmike Posts: 19,601
    edited December 1969

    Export User Data creates one or more files in Runtime:Support named UserData_1.dsx, etc. They are plain text XML files like the metadata files that come with products.

    If a package is labeled "DS" it should be stand-alone and not require the "PS" version; if it is "StudioCF" then it is a companion file and requires the "PS" version.

    If there are both "DS" and "Legacy" versions then use "DS" for DS4.5+, "Legacy" for older versions of DS.

  • Jason GalterioJason Galterio Posts: 2,562
    edited December 1969

    Thanks for the info.

    I found the UserData file right where you mentioned it. Opened it with Notepad++ and saw that it doesn't use absolute file names, so importing the Categories into another computer should be no issue. As long as all the same items are installed.

    Also thank you for confirming the nature of the LEGACY files. I had a feeling that was the case based on inferences from other posts on the forum. It is good to have a distinct word on it.

    I guess it is safe to assume that there won't be a LEGACY file if there isn't also a DS file? That way I don't need to go digging thru for missing content...

    But now I do need to go thru and look for the STUDIOCF files and find their corresponding PS files.

    Man what a headache.

  • fixmypcmikefixmypcmike Posts: 19,601
    edited December 1969

    Yes, UserData files only have relative paths, so you can reimport them on a computer with a different content location and they'll work.

    It's all a lot easier if you use DIM, even if you use it just to download -- set your download filters to the software you use and it will filter out the stuff you don't need.

  • Jason GalterioJason Galterio Posts: 2,562
    edited December 1969

    I actually do use DIM, but I have so many files going back so many years that it gets confusing quick. Plus I have three different computers that I use and not all of them need all of the files. (I.e. I have Poser on one of my Desktops, but I don't on my Laptop.)

    I also try to only download with DIM at one of the machines, the Desktop, so that I am not downloading 100+ gigs of files x3. So that means transporting all the files from one machine to another to do the installs.

    The further wrinkle is the inconsistency in the file naming conventions. It's hard to figure out which are "Common" resource files and which are application specific.

    For example, if I download only the DS 4.5+ content, does that mean that I am going to be missing a bunch of my old content? And if I do download the older content, am I now straddle with packages that I don't need? It all gets insanely confusing very quickly.

    Right now I think I am going to uninstall, again (ugh), and install in batches to temporary separate directories. That will let me quickly sort thru the files and set up user friendly categories by taking each separate content install directory into the categories area.

    Then I can export the UserData for back up. Uninstall everything. Then reinstall one more time into just a couple of directories.

    Then going forward I can great a new content directory for specific spans of time. I.e. new purchases, 1st quarter, and migrate them into the categories as I get a chance. Then uninstalling those and reinstalling them to the main content directory.

  • frank0314frank0314 Posts: 14,263
    edited December 1969

    You need to apply the search filters if you want stuff separated. That's the only way I can tell cause it doesn't always say DS, Poser, Carrara, Bryce

  • Jason GalterioJason Galterio Posts: 2,562
    edited December 1969

    That makes sense and is close to what I was planning to do.

    I'm going to bit the bullet and re-download, this time turning the software filters on in succession. First start with DS4.5+ and download all of those items. Then do a text filter to install them into separate directories.

    Then repeat, turning the DS4.0 (I believe) filter on and download. Etc. etc.

    That might make it easy to categorize everything without have to resort to a 3rd party XML editor to make changes.

  • fixmypcmikefixmypcmike Posts: 19,601
    edited December 1969

    If you filter on just DS4.5, for example, DIM will give you whatever version is best for DS4.5. If it's an old product that only has a Poser version, then you will get that.

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