Any way to view the metadata queue before processing it ?

3dcheapskate

(I'm using DS4.8, but I assume this thing's more or less the same in 4.9, 4.10, 4.11)

Content Library context menu > Content DB Maintenance > Process metadata queue

Q1: Is there any way to view the metadata queue before processing it ?

Answer 1a (thanks cm153325): If the metadata has been added to C:\Users\UserName\AppData\Roaming\DAZ 3D\Studio4\RunOnce then it will be imported the next time DAZ Studio runs. If you have Edit >Preferences > Startup > "show metadata import page" ticked then a popup will appear that allows you view the items and select/deselect as you wish.

 

Related threads: 'Export User Data' from Content DB Maintenance: What is User Data ? Export to where?

3dcheapskate

Q2: How do you add an item (product) to the metadata queue ?

I was under the impression that you did this by opening DAZ Studio, and running the DSA for the product from the <content directory>/Runtime/Support folder.
But in the DAZ Studio Content Library pane I can't see the /Runtime/Support folder.

Answer 2a (thanks cm153325): One way is to simply copy the support file pair (DSA/DSX) from /Runtime/Support to C:\Users\UserName\AppData\Roaming\DAZ 3D\Studio4\RunOnce. Files in this folder will be automatically imported the next time you run DAZ Studio.

 

cm152335

automaticlay metadata.DSX files are input by DIM and they process in a folder called  "RUN ONCE"
- you can found here,,   C:\Users\UserName\AppData\Roaming\DAZ 3D\Studio4\RunOnce

because the folder "RunOnce" created by DIM is deleted after start DAZ and install dsx,
I created manualy (same place) and create a shortcut to my desktop

in this case I can manualy refresh some dsx 
or
I use to manualy install rar files,
i put dsx files found on /runtime/support/ and then execute DAZ

after install all support metadata DSX files are found in any library path > "your library name" /runtime/support/ 


Also on setup preference (F2) "Startup" > "show metadata import page" check'

3dcheapskate

Thank you, that works (and some of it sounds familiar)

The <productName>.dsa scripts all seem to be the same*, simply adding the file to the metadata queue. It's the <productName>.dsx XML file that contains the data (categories, compatibilities, etc). So I assumethat both files need to be copied to C:\Users\UserName\AppData\Roaming\DAZ 3D\Studio4\RunOnce ?

So I just tested it with Hivewire's Dusk, who doesn't appear in my Smart Content.
- I closed DAZ Studio
- I copied  both <productName>.dsa and <productName>.dsx from <oneOfMyManyContentDirectories>/Runtime/Support to C:\Users\UserName\AppData\Roaming\DAZ 3D\Studio4\RunOnce
- I ran DAZ Studio (DS4.8), and the import metadata popup appeared - I clicked OK to import the metadata
- Dusk does indeed now appear in my Smart Content, under both Files and Products.

 

 

*Generic <productName>.dsa file appears to be this:

// DAZ Studio version 4.6.3.52 filetype DAZ Scriptif( App.version >= 67109158 ) //4.0.0.294{	var oFile = new DzFile( getScriptFileName() );	var oAssetMgr = App.getAssetMgr();	if( oAssetMgr )	{		oAssetMgr.queueDBMetaFile( oFile.baseName() );	}}

3dcheapskate

But if you copy the support files to C:\Users\UserName\AppData\Roaming\DAZ 3D\Studio4\RunOnce while DS is running, and then use the "Process Metadata Queue" option from the Content DB Maintenance (as per the OP)...

...that doesn't seem to work.

The support files are still in C:\Users\UserName\AppData\Roaming\DAZ 3D\Studio4\RunOnce, and when you next restart DS the import metadata popup appears (assuming you've set that in your Preferences > Startup as per cm152335's post).

So is it a different metadata queue ?

3dcheapskate

Does anybody know what the equivalent to the...

C:\Users\UserName\AppData\Roaming\DAZ 3D\Studio4\RunOnce

...folder is on a Mac ?

cm152335

- I put all 3 files foud in "support"folder

the right step
first at all you copy all product files in your libray 
in manual procedure metadata import is not automatic

there is the two way:
1 - that procedure read ALL new and previous metadata installed
after manualy copying all product library files
run the DAZ studio and use the"import metadata"

2 - that procedure install ONLY new metadata product
after manualy copying all product library files
copy your 3 support files in "runonce" folder and then run daz studio, you will see the import metadata window

after this, your manualy copy files in runonce folder are deleted like DIM do
 

3dcheapskate

Thanks again cm152335 - I was busy following some other ideas, so my response toyour post is a bit further down, here

 

---

 

As a test I completely reset my Content Database (i.e. deleted everything).

So there was nothing under Content Library > Products, nothing under Smart Content.

Selecting Content Library context menu > Content DB Maintenance > Process Metadata Queue (sometimes!*) opened the 'Import Metadata' dialog with a list of (what appears to be) all the products that have metadata files in the /Runtime/Support folders of any mapped content directories. I was able to select which one(s) I wanted to import (one oddity (DS4.8) - the busy cursor appeared and my disk access light was flashing as soon as the dialogue appeared, with everything ticked. I initially assumed that it was automatically processing everything without letting me deselect the stuff I didn't want. But it was just the wrong cursor) ...

*at other times nothing at all happened. I recommend not using this option (at least not in DS4.8)

...and they correctly appeared under Products and Smart Content...

 

I reset the database once again and tried selecting Content Library context menu > Content DB Maintenance > 'Reimport Metadata'. This did exactly the same as 'Process Metadata Queue' (except the spurious busy cursor didn't appear)

 

3dcheapskate

As I final test I tried this:

1) Open DS (4.8)
2) Copy some metadata files that I know work to C:\Users\UserName\AppData\Roaming\DAZ 3D\Studio4\RunOnce
3) From Content Library context menu > Content DB Maintenance > Process Metadata Queue.

- Nothing happened.
- The metadata files were NOT deleted from C:\Users\UserName\AppData\Roaming\DAZ 3D\Studio4\RunOnce
- The product did NOT appear under Content Library > Products or SmartContent

So it seems to me that 'Content Library context menu > Content DB Maintenance > Process Metadata Queue' doesn't work. At least not in the way I'd expect it to. And not in DS4.8 which is what I'm using.

Or perhaps it's a different metadata queue ?

3dcheapskate

A final final note.

With DS4.8 still open and the test metadata files still in C:\Users\UserName\AppData\Roaming\DAZ 3D\Studio4\RunOnce I did...

4) From Content Library context menu > Content DB Maintenance > Reimport Metadata

That found the metadata files, allowed meto select just that one product, and successfully added it to Smart Content andContent Library > Products

Confusing. It doesn't always work. Sometimes it seems tofind it,sometimes it doesn't.

3dcheapskate

So what was the point of all that ?

Just proving to myself that what cm152335 said here is correct !

If I have an item for DS4 that is simply a zipped set of files,including metadata files, then the easiest way to add the metadata to DS is:

1) Unzip everything to one of your DS content directories.
2) From Content Library context menu > Content DB Maintenance > Reimport Metadata
3) Find your item in the list on the 'Import Metadata' dialogue and make sure it's ticked (you probably want to un-tickeverything else)
4) Accept.

Done !

(so there's no need to find out what the Mac equivalent to the /RunOnce folder is)

cm152335

the "SHOW Metadata import dialogue window" 'tick/check'  is also found in DAZ preferences "F2"

notes:
is good to "RESET database" before  "re import metadata"
that preserve to show some "white" icons "no found"

"user data overide" is also important when user have inserted some "TAG" for specific personnal SEARCH to some icons product
e.g. I use a good specific mirror sharder where the name of this shader is simply "mirror", when "search" the result list show you tons or "mirror" named products

so I added a TAG "mirrorsh" on the icons and when i use the search 'mirrosh' only my mirror shader are show in search result  
for some clothes where they use good specific "morph"  like a coat with "open front" or "undress" morph   i use a TAG 'clothesfx'