New Install....Default Directories or Custom Location....which is Best??
GeneralDee
Posts: 132
Last week I moved my content folder which caused me some problems. Since then I had to buy a new power supply. I got a bad one that fried all 3 of my internal hard drives so I had to start over. So now I'm taking this as an opportunity to do a fresh install but I would like to keep my content folder away from my SSD drive which is only 250Gbs (I have 149Gbs left as of this post). If it's better to keep the directory at the default locations, I will just install on the ssd and be very picky about what I put in my runtime. If it's not painful, I want to put it on my slave drive which is 1T WD. Another question I have is, will the performance be better if all content is on the C drive? Just looking for advice on this before I install. I already have everything downloaded in the Download Manager and ready to install. Thanks in advance.
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As long as you are careful to set the same folders in the Install Manager and in DS using non-default directories is fine. Rob does have sample scripts which can be used, inside DS, to sync from DS to DIM or from DIM to DS:
http://docs.daz3d.com/doku.php/public/software/dazstudio/4/referenceguide/scripting/api_reference/samples/file_io/install_manager_config/start
http://docs.daz3d.com/doku.php/public/software/dazstudio/4/referenceguide/scripting/api_reference/samples/file_io/install_manager_config_import/start
It's really easy and convenient to use DIM to organize content.
In this image, I'm showing you where to go in DIM to add the locations where you'd like you content to go, which will create selections when you download/install your content.
DIM Settings (Gear icon upper right) > Installation Tab > "+" button to add a new path. In the next image we'll look at installing.
This Image is showing the bottom of the main page in DIM.
In your Downloads and Install tabs keep "Show Details" checked, which will reveal a drop-down list of your stored locations.
Then you simply select a specific location, check items you wish installed there and start the queue... simple!
NOTE:
For all of my DAZ Studio content, like Genesis 1, 2, 3, DAZ Animals, like Dragon 3, Horse 2, and any other DAZ Studio-only content, I always use the same location since it all then goes into DAZ Studio in a nice, easy to manage format.
The other locations I've added are for non-DAZ Studio purposes, like Poser files - using the old Runtime Structure method. Genesis doesn't need that and works best in a single, solid working environment.
But that main DAZ Studio installation location can be on ANY drive you wish! Just go into DIM and make it so! ;)
Thanks for the tips! Just set DIM to point to a folder on WD drive. What's the difference between install to respective or selected paths?
And what about performance? Any difference from ssd or the WD drive? Will the content be loaded on the c drive when loaded into the scene...or does it really make a difference?
Ok, so I installed all the content to my WD drive. Micheal 4 is the only figure that shows up in the smart content tab. No female characters show at all. What am I missing. I confirmed all the essential files are in the content directory.
Any one?? I'm stuck with only Micheal 4 showing and connot figure out how to get the rest of the characters to show (Genesis 3 essentials etc.). Any help is appreciated.
Do they show in the Content Library pane, DAZ Studio Formats>folder you isntalled to>People>Figure Name?
Yes, they are seen in the Content Library Pane and I can load from there but not in Smart Content.
Have you installed the Postgre thing?
The difference is that 'respective paths' will automatically install upgrades to the same place you've installed the original. This way, 'selected' option will allow you to install an update to a path you select from the drop-down instead. Not sure why... but there you have it ;)
I always install using 2 different paths (the install dialog shows these). C drive for all program files and E drive for content. I once tried putting everything on E, but the disadvantage is that your content directory shows all the unwanted folders, bin, temp, etc, along with the content folders. That's why it's better to put all program files on C, even if it's an SSD.
In DIM the program files are pointed to the C drive (64bit Programs) by default I noticed.
Dartanbeck- What's the Postgre thing?
I found the answer in this thread http://www.daz3d.com/forums/discussion/37304/smart-content-missing-genesis-2-file-location
I had to reimport meta data by right-clicking on the content library tab and going into content DB maintanence.
...so you've got everything working okay then?
Yeah, DIM need to have some sort of default to start with and, personally, I like to keep all of my software installed to my main OS drive. I'm not savvy enough to know if this makes a difference, but that's what I do.
The really cool thing is that, no matter how the initial defaults look in the DIM, it allows us to change it to anything we want, which is really cool. I've really grown accustomed to using my old Runtime structure as a content organization system over the years.
As soon as you add a new location on the Installation tab you can delete the default. DIM is very customizable which ia good because this cranky old fart ain't about to let a machine tell me what to do.
My method for doing a clean install to a location different from the default...download and install the DIM (chose it's 'home' during the install). Then run it...don't let it connect or download anything. Just set all the options to where you want them. Then install, from the manual installer the main program...again, where you want it. Before you download any content start it...then in the Content Directory Manager set your new content folder that you decided on for the DIM (you can make two...one for store content and one for everything else or whatever you want). Then change the location, again in Studio's preferences of the temp files. Shut down Studio...then remove the default temp folders. Then fire up the DIM and start installing the content...it should now be going to where you want and when you next start Studio it should all be there .
I usually make 3 folders...Programs, Content and temp. In the Programs folder goes Studio and Postgre. In the Content folder...I make a couple on of them is My Library (just becase there's so much stuff that uses it...you could call it Fred or anything else, just as long as it's mapped). And well, Temp is rather obvious. I've been thinking about making a 4th folder and assigning that to be the DIM download folder....but that would be more for ease of backing things up more than anything else.
Yep!....all is well now. There's so many hidden options in this thing. Thanks everyone for your great tips and help.