DAZ Studios Outdated file hierarchy
meduana.solstayce
Posts: 8
Anyone that knows when(or if the have plans for) DAZ Studio will have a user friendly setup for their file hierarchy?
...atm I can't install it to my D: and run it without more issues than we had with Covid in the 2020.
It's simply not usable at all ...I would love to return to DAZ, but I can't for my life get myself to do it as it is in it's current state,
where if it's possible to install it to another drive than C, it requires several technical master deegrees.
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I could be misinterpreting, so ignore if I am off base. I install Daz studio itself to my C drive and then all the content to the D drive. At that point I have to add the new location to the content directory manage
How is it possible for a file hierarchy to be outdated, and how would it be made up-to-date?
It sounds as if you just have a pathing issue, which should be eminently fixable if you give concrete details.
Installed it to D: without a problem, keeping my libraries there without a problem either and it's completely usable..
I am scratching my head over the Covid connection
staying at home and using DAZ studio is safe distancing at it's best
I don't have a clue on central but with Dim you can go in and set up what drive you want to use.
this is basically a three drive setup.
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picture one ... you tell DIM where the downloads go ( I use a different drive than the C drive or the Data drive (a usb exteral is cheap and a good back up so you never have to download them again)
where the programs are installed, etc. There is a line that says "Content Base Path" which in this picture says G/15 Bard ... this is okay because this field always shows the current install path.
---M
picture 2... basic DIM interface note in the lower corner the tick box for Show Details (one in the other corner says Delete Package after Install --- only use that if you have llmited space like only one drive)
picture 3 shows interface with the details showing
where it currently says Recommended DAZ stutio folder .. that puts everything on the C drive
But its a drop down menu and once you open it you can add your own folder on another drive
Like the one in the first picture G/15 Bard which installs any content checked for installation on the G drive in a folder named 15 Bard.
You can create a folder on your D drive .. My daz or whatever.
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I install core items like genesis starter stuff and scripts and collections of just morphs to the recommended folder which is now about 20g
The rest I install to other folders. the other folders or your single one are added to the content library using the drop down menu up in the corner of the content window to add them as base directorys
the first level of your content library would then have two folders. my daz library and meduannas folder similiar to the last image. although I have always sorted my stuff into folders to use as directories
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C drive program and important files, D drive your installed/data drive, E another drive you download your installer files on, and another drive letter doesn't matter at this point but you copy/clone your D drive all your installed files on to it. If your D drive ever dies you pull it out of the system and use the computer management tools to reset the drive letter on your backup drive to D and you're ready to go in about 5 minutes even if you lost your original data drive.
I used DIM to install DazStudio on my D: drive with no problems at all ...
I did install the exe files since version 1.something to my d: drive ...
Thank you for your more elaborate answer to my issue. (to all others with similar less elaborate answers, thanks to you too for answering)
I have tried these things, but it just doesn't work! All... this fiddling with paths just doesn't go over well with my PC, the software or a combination.
I had these issues (with installing to different drives) from when the new update/version released (which I am not sure when happened. Some time since last I used it and now)
that heavily changed the UI/UIX, ...and it seems until another overhaul comes ...I just can't use DAZ Studio.
Here is to hoping development of the software goes faster, to make it usable for me again.
I've never used it on the C drive.
I hate to say this but 3D is a mishmash of everyone doing their own thing. Everyone want to be exclusive and own everything and it makes for compatibilty problems. Daz Studio works but it has its roots in Poser content so If you learn how that file structure works you should be able to figure out what is going wrong. Wait till you get a freebie and try to install on your own and find the author did not install something correctly and you have the fix the files so Daz can see it without errors popping up. Be patient and do some digging it will work out. 3D is not easy it is complicated until you learn how it works. ~ just my 2 cents
I've never fiddled with changing paths. I just tell DIM whete to install the stuff, then I tell DAZ Studio to find it. Just a few easy clicks. I've even been able to copy stuff from PC to PC, and PC to Mac and back again. (I only needed to pay attention to disc file formats then).
I'm not sure why you're having troubles.
I'd recommend checking if the drive is mapped in Content Directory Manager(CDM).
Select the Content Library tab, right click, select Content Directory Manager, then expand the Daz Studio Formats and if applicable Daz Connect Data.
If the drive isn't showing there, or the specific paths aren't there, then you'll need to manually add it by clicking the ADD button on the left, and finding the directory in the Explorer window popout. Make sure the format section is selected, otherwise the options will be greyed out.
Be sure to map one folder above.
That is, if the data, runtime, or asset library folders are on the D(or L in my case) drive, then you'll want to map the drive itself and not the sub directories.
If they're in sub directories, such as My Daz3d library(or L:\default resources), you'll want to map that directory and not the sub directories.
Couple notes here.
The ContentDirectoryManager.dsx([user name]\appdata\roaming\daz 3d\studio4) file DOES NOT contain the 'Current Directories' section, that is cached elsewhere.
Because of this i recommned using the Copy button in CDM to copy the Current directories to a second set that will be in the CDX file and allow making a backup, just in case DS does something weird and resets the directories.
I also recommned not making additions or subtractions to the Current directories section, but to the copied version(s), then click the radio button and click accept to change the current directories to the updated ones.
In my case i have multiple directory sets for different purposes, such as development, asset testing, or general work.
It only takes a few seconds for the change to take effect, but well worth it to eliminate the multitude of problems that can occur.
@DrunkMonkeyProductions
Your ---demarc---- directories!
I wish I had your brilliance! I've been suffering without dividers for years for absolutely no reason!
I will not admit to how many years i was working with DS before i figured that one out.
Let alone that you can change the directory order in DS by changing it in CDM.
I have a 'bang head here' sign for a reason.