Adding outside content.

jukingeo

Hello All,

I have been trying to load in some freebie packages that I have picked up on DeviantART.   The instructions for the packages explain how to unzip the files and then place them in the My Daz 3D Library folder, which I have done.  However, when I open up Daz Studio, the content is nowhere to be found.  I have looked under Smart Content and also the Content Library and it isn't there.  However, if I select "Open File" and navigate to the Props directory directly, I can find AND open the item that way.  However, I want the items to show up in Smart Content and the Content Library.  So what do I have to do to fix that?

Thanks,

Geo

PerttiA

In Content Library, did you go to "DAZ Studio Formats" and navigate from there, or did you look at the database driven lists, which are essentially the same as you see in "Smart" Content?

Under "DAZ Studio Formats" you see the products as they are installed into real folders on your computer.

fred9803

If you had DS open when you installed the content you may have to right-click the folder and choose "refresh" for it to be visible.

jukingeo

PerttiA said:

In Content Library, did you go to "DAZ Studio Formats" and navigate from there, or did you look at the database driven lists, which are essentially the same as you see in "Smart" Content?

Under "DAZ Studio Formats" you see the products as they are installed into real folders on your computer.

Yes, I looked there, as well as under "Products"...it doesn't show up.  I can only get to it by using the file menu and manually navigating to where the item is.  By right, this is not the way it supposed to work as the items have poses too and I cannot access those either.

FSMCDesigns

can't help wioth smart content since I never use it, but you should be able to open the zip and see what folders the files are in and just place them in the same folders insie your Dax3D library. Usually there is a data folder for the actual 3D file, a people folder if it's a character, props folder if it's a prop, runtime for textures, etc. If you can, open the zip or rar file and post an image of what the file structure is.

Doc Acme

Have you tried looking under the Poser Format Tab in Content Library? 

jukingeo

FSMCDesigns said:

can't help wioth smart content since I never use it, but you should be able to open the zip and see what folders the files are in and just place them in the same folders insie your Dax3D library. Usually there is a data folder for the actual 3D file, a people folder if it's a character, props folder if it's a prop, runtime for textures, etc. If you can, open the zip or rar file and post an image of what the file structure is.

Correct, and that were the instructions I followed.   Could it be because the items are not bought from the Daz Store?  I am not near my machine right now to do the latter.

DollyGirl

jukingeo, there are three ways to see your content through the Content Library. They are:

1. Through identified directories that you have told DAZ about. These three access ports are built by using the actual file structure that exsits on your drive(s). The types being:

DAZ Studio Formats - Can only see the directories that contain .duf, and .dsa files that are directly under your " My Daz 3D Library" directories .

Poser Formats - This accesses only the folders under the Runtime folders of each of your identified "My DAZ 3D Library" where it sees file extensions of .cr2, .pz2, .hr2, .pp2 , .mc6 and .pz3

Other Import Formats - This accesses any identified directory that contains file extensions .obj or .fbx

2. Through "Categories"

Theoretically this tree structure contains all files that you have under the identified directories. DAZ provides you with a tree structure called "Default" and under that is your smart content. This structure is driven by the support files provided to you when you buy a product here at DAZ. In almost all cases of freebie products there are no such support files, so DAZ can only see these files through the first way as long as you have identified the directory through the "Content Directory Manager".  You can create your own tree structure of categories or add to exsiting categories. This is the original way that DAZ, (pre DAZ Studio 4.0) used to help the artist find content. That is why FSMCDegsigns can say they do not use smart content.

3. Through "Products"

DAZ creates or adds to the Product list through the support files. When you install your content from DAZ, DIM does a couple of things. It copies the content files into your My Library and it uploads the information into the CMS database that is contained within the support files into Products and Categories. This allows you to start to use Smart Content. I believe you can use DIM to install your new content but if the content does not contain the support files then it can not initiate the Smart Content feature of DAZ Studio.

How to successfully install and gain access to new content if not using DIM

After copying content into the directory you have identified as where you want the information to exist. Do the following steps:

1. In DAZ Studio, confirm that the directory you installed the content has been identified by Studio. Do this by selecting the Content Library, go to the upper right corner and click on the fly-away button and select Content Directory Manager. If the directory where the new content resides is listed then you are done. If not add the directory. In your case I believe you have placed your freebie in a directory that is on your list.

2. In the Content Library select either DAZ Studio Formats, Poser Formats or Other Import Formats based upon the type of content you installed  Look at the list above to see what file formats will be seen in each list. From you question I am going to assume that you have installed .duf files. So click on the DAZ Studio Formats. If you have added a new directory then you will need to do a refresh if Studio was open when you installed the content. Right click and look for Refresh. From the list of directories select the directory your content is located in.

3. After locating the directory, highlight the product files and click right. You will see Categorize.... Click that option and a window will open containing all of you Category trees. Follow the appropriate tree until you find what category you want for this content. Say is it a short hair then under Default->Hair->Short is where you would put it. Do this for "all" of the items in the content. If you don't you will never see it in the Smart Content tab. Unless you learn a few more tricks about managing content.

4. Once you have everything identified with a category then select all of the items and click right and select Create a Product from... Type in the name of the freebie and click on "ok". If your content is spread around several different directories then select all the items in a directory and create the product. You can do this as many times as you need just remember to type the product name the same way each time or you will end up with multiple products for one freebie.

Congratulation you have gotten your freebie information into a virtual support file. That means that you have information in your CMS database but there is no hard copy of it yet. With these few steps you can at least see your freebie content in smart content but it will not work like the DAZ content does i.e. show up in the smart content tab when you have "Filter by context checked" or see a pretty picture in the box of the content. But is will be listed in the "Products" option and be seen in your Categories. Getting the additional options to work requires some more information that you will need to create to make the freebie move into the realm of smart content.

The most important take away is that you must categorize all of the product's items to begin to see all of them in Studio through the Smart Content features. You don't categorize, Studio is blind to it.

Hope this helps you.