Loading...
> >

Content Gatherer help {RESOLVED}

WillowRavenWillowRaven Posts: 3,787
edited January 2015 in The Commons

I've read and reread the PDF, but don't understand it. Any one able to help me figure it out?

Post edited by WillowRaven on

Comments

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

    I'm not sure where your problem is, so I will tell you the workflow I use.

    Open Content Gatherer.

    Open the directory where your DS scene file is.

    Drag and drop the DS file right onto the top window in CG. The file (or files) should appear in the top window.

    If the bottom window didn't auto populate with asset files, hit the analyze button. That will populate the window. (What it is doing is looking at your scene file and making a list of all of the used assets.)

    Click the validate button. That will add more information to the bottom window. (What it is doing is checking the list of assets and cataloging the file locations.)

    Click the File List button. That will bring up a new window.

    Click the Zip button. That will create a Zip file containing all of the referenced files as well as the DS scene file.

  • WillowRavenWillowRaven Posts: 3,787
    edited December 1969

    Now see ... This is why I come to the Daz forums for help. You explained in 7 steps what the associated PDF could not make clear.

    Thank you so much :D

    Now to move the zip to my external so I can then open it on the new computer. :D

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

    You're welcome. Glad that I could help.

    I am sure that all the other buttons have important uses, but I've never had to use them.

  • WillowRavenWillowRaven Posts: 3,787
    edited December 1969

    I'm not sure what I did wrong, but so far, one of these files, when loading on the new computer, showed an error message, that certain files couldn't be found. When I did the 'validate' step, I didn't see anything new load from the 'analyze' step. Would that be the problem?

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

    Possibly. Can you tell me which files were missing?

  • WillowRavenWillowRaven Posts: 3,787
    edited December 1969

    Some tree planes.

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

    Okay, let's step through the process....

    You open Content Gatherer. Drag and drop the scene file. The top window populates. You hit analyze, the bottom window populates.

    Now hit Validate and add more information to the bottom window.

    Scroll through the bottom window, is anything there highlighted or missing information?

  • WillowRavenWillowRaven Posts: 3,787
    edited December 1969

    Nothing different happens, meaning, after I analyzed, I scrolled to the bottom of the lower window to see if anything would be added when I validated, and nothing was added or changed upon validation, so I just went to the next step.

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

    That is very odd. I've never had any problems like that.

    I have seen it drop files like ground planes, but usually those geometries are not issues when opening the files after transport.

  • WillowRavenWillowRaven Posts: 3,787
    edited December 1969

    Maybe it doesn't like planes? They were tree planes.

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

    That is the common string. It might have something to do with them being common planes or something.

    You should be able to add the file manually. Then once it is over on your other computer, you don't have to worry about it.

    Another trick I use, when you unzip the transport file, unzip it to its own directory. Then add that directory to your DS Content Library.

    This way, when you want to discard the extra files, you just have to delete that one directory.

    Oh, and run Content Gatherer again on the other machine to archive the final version of your project. That way you can open it again in a month or a year from now.

  • CybersoxCybersox Posts: 9,085
    edited December 1969

    This may be an obvious question, but has one of the items in the scene been updated recently? The number one cause of errors I get in scenes these days is the result of a saved version referring to an older DAZ format while the reinstalled version of the item has been updated.

  • WillowRavenWillowRaven Posts: 3,787
    edited December 1969

    Legionair said:
    That is the common string. It might have something to do with them being common planes or something.

    You should be able to add the file manually. Then once it is over on your other computer, you don't have to worry about it.

    Another trick I use, when you unzip the transport file, unzip it to its own directory. Then add that directory to your DS Content Library.

    This way, when you want to discard the extra files, you just have to delete that one directory.

    Oh, and run Content Gatherer again on the other machine to archive the final version of your project. That way you can open it again in a month or a year from now.

    lol ...

    Repeat that, for this dummy.

    Just tell me how to do it, not what to do. Make sense?

  • WillowRavenWillowRaven Posts: 3,787
    edited December 1969

    Cybersox13 said:
    This may be an obvious question, but has one of the items in the scene been updated recently? The number one cause of errors I get in scenes these days is the result of a saved version referring to an older DAZ format while the reinstalled version of the item has been updated.

    The tree plane was a freebie, so any update would not have been installed without my awareness. Good point for future reference, though.

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

    AidanaWillowRaven said:
    Legionair said:
    That is the common string. It might have something to do with them being common planes or something.

    You should be able to add the file manually. Then once it is over on your other computer, you don't have to worry about it.

    Another trick I use, when you unzip the transport file, unzip it to its own directory. Then add that directory to your DS Content Library.

    This way, when you want to discard the extra files, you just have to delete that one directory.

    Oh, and run Content Gatherer again on the other machine to archive the final version of your project. That way you can open it again in a month or a year from now.

    lol ...

    Repeat that, for this dummy.

    Just tell me how to do it, not what to do. Make sense?

    Okay, first things first. To fix the error.

    After you have moved the files, open the scene in DS on the other machine. Not the file name that is missing and its location. Write that down.

    Go back to the first machine, find that file (it should be where it is being looked for on the other machine). Copy it over to the second machine, putting it where DS is looking for it.

    Second things, second. Where to put the ZIP file.

    Unzip this file to a new directory. In DS, right click in your Content Library. Add new runtime / content directory. Navigate to the unzipped directory.

    This way all your zipped content files are isolated. When you are done with the project you can safely delete the entire directory. But only after...

    Third things third. Archiving the project.

    When you are done at the second machine. Make sure you have Content Gatherer installed there. Use the same CG process from when you moved the project. Make a zip. This is your final archive of the project. That way you can put it away and reopen it in a month or a year if needed.

  • WillowRavenWillowRaven Posts: 3,787
    edited December 1969

    It appears the gatherer doesn't like frozen daz dynamic clothing, either. Looks like my character is wearing two white blocks, lol.

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

    I apologize, I feel bad now. When I suggested this, I had no idea it would cause so much of a headache.

    I can't help with the dynamic clothing. I haven't had that problem, but I think in most cases I lock my cloth once I have it posed. I don't do much animation.

    It sounds like it lost the custom geometry for the posed cloth. The author might be able to help on this one, since I can't think of away around it.

  • WillowRavenWillowRaven Posts: 3,787
    edited December 1969

    So basically, all the gatherer really helps with is a scene with no frozen dynamics (not sure about still-active dynamics), and textured planes. Since I use dynamics in 95% of my scenes, I need to come up with a plan :(

  • WillowRavenWillowRaven Posts: 3,787
    edited December 1969

    OK ... let's approach this backwards, what is supposed to be in the zipped file?

  • WillowRavenWillowRaven Posts: 3,787
    edited December 1969

    I re-looked at the PDF, and it lists step 3 as 'resolve', rather than validate. Doing that created a very different looking upper window. Also, the zip now includes a runtime and such (all I had before was a copy of my user file.

    Off to test it, now.

  • WillowRavenWillowRaven Posts: 3,787
    edited December 1969

    Yeah!

    This time, it worked!

    I probably took steps I didn't need to take, but too much info is better than not enough info.

    Now for the real test ...

    I re-save the scene on the new system in the client's folder, then do what? Merge the back-up content folder with the regular content folder?

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

    Yikes, that's odd. And not at all what I described. I am going to have to go back and look at the software again. I don't think I've ever used that resolve button.

    I would re-use Content Gatherer on the other machine when you are finished rendering. Just in the case that you make any changes to the project file while at the secondary machine.

  • WillowRavenWillowRaven Posts: 3,787
    edited December 1969

    now what about the secondary content directory I am directing Daz to? Do I merge it with my normal content directory?

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

    Sorry I didn't see this question in your other post...

    I would unzip to a new directory, don't merge it with an existing directory. Then temporarily add this directory to DS. That way when you are done with the project, you can delete out the extra content. Otherwise your secondary machine will start to teem with project files you don't need.

  • WillowRavenWillowRaven Posts: 3,787
    edited December 1969

    So once the scene is opened and re-saved, while the back-up directory, I no longer need the secondary directory? Or do I not empty the second directory until the project is finished then re-gatherered?

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

    AidanaWillowRaven said:
    So once the scene is opened and re-saved, while the back-up directory, I no longer need the secondary directory? Or do I not empty the second directory until the project is finished then re-gatherered?

    Yes, wait until the project is done, rendered, then re-gathered. Then you can always unzip again, modify or re-render as needed.

  • WillowRavenWillowRaven Posts: 3,787
    edited December 1969

    Thanks :D

    Even though it took a while, I think we have success :D

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

    Great! That's what I wanted to hear. I am glad that you didn't get discouraged and give up.

    It is a learning process and once you get into the rhythm of it, I think the results will be a significant increase in your workflow time.

    I know personally being able to design on one computer while the other renders makes a big difference.

  • WillowRavenWillowRaven Posts: 3,787
    edited December 1969

    right now I'll just be content to be able to safely back-up & transfer files, lol

Sign In or Register to comment.