Custom Thumbnails

I know many of you know I use that Content Package Assist to install 3rd party stuff and many times the thumbnails do not show up in Smrat Content.  Can someone list me a step 1 - X guide on how one tells a piece of Smart Content what its thumbnail is please?

Comments

  • crosswindcrosswind Posts: 6,937

    Well, if you mean the thumbnail of a product in Smart Content. Here's a guideline for trouble-shooting:

    - Open File Browser, go to runtime\support folder in your Daz Library root directory. Search by the product's Token, for instance, like the example in ss1, "163392".
    - You should find 3 files : a dsa, a dsx and a jpg or png image file. If you see no image file, just take an image from the product promos with a proper size (suggest 268 x 348), name it with the same description as the dsx file (the file name before the dot...). (ss2)
    - Refresh Smart Content. You'll see the product's thumbnail.

     

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  • anaximanes_2000anaximanes_2000 Posts: 343
    edited May 24

    crosswind said:

    Well, if you mean the thumbnail of a product in Smart Content. Here's a guideline for trouble-shooting:

    - Open File Browser, go to runtime\support folder in your Daz Library root directory. Search by the product's Token, for instance, like the example in ss1, "163392".
    - You should find 3 files : a dsa, a dsx and a jpg or png image file. If you see no image file, just take an image from the product promos with a proper size (suggest 268 x 348), name it with the same description as the dsx file (the file name before the dot...). (ss2)
    - Refresh Smart Content. You'll see the product's thumbnail.

     

    Thanks!  But, in my case, the JPG file is there.  So, I assume that Content Package Assist messes up one of those files.  In fact looks like all my missing thumbnails are in this folder.  But they all show as missing in Smart Content.  There is a JPG and a XML file, nothing that says dsx.

    Post edited by anaximanes_2000 on
  • crosswindcrosswind Posts: 6,937

    I only use Content Wizard which never fails me. Not 100% sure of Content Package Assistant, but I think it should use the same mechanics of writing metadata.

    The XML file you mentioned should be just the DSX file, pls check the file extention... (in Properties of the file or tick show extentions in settings if you use Windows File Browser).

    And try opening the DSX file with Notepad++, scroll down to check if there's a section of Support Assets...(like the one in the attached screenshot).  If there is, try using the below script to re-import that DSX file.

    https://www.daz3d.com/forums/discussion/618456/add-to-smart-content

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  • anaximanes_2000anaximanes_2000 Posts: 343

    crosswind said:

    I only use Content Wizard which never fails me. Not 100% sure of Content Package Assistant, but I think it should use the same mechanics of writing metadata.

    The XML file you mentioned should be just the DSX file, pls check the file extention... (in Properties of the file or tick show extentions in settings if you use Windows File Browser).

    And try opening the DSX file with Notepad++, scroll down to check if there's a section of Support Assets...(like the one in the attached screenshot).  If there is, try using the below script to re-import that DSX file.

    https://www.daz3d.com/forums/discussion/618456/add-to-smart-content

    Yeah, as I mentioned in that other thread to you a made about a month ago, I need to reinstall about 400 3rd party assets into Smart Content and the Content Wizard is very slow and awkward to use to do that whereas Content Package Assist I can install one of these every 30 secs or so.  But, the problem with Content Package Assist is the thumbnails are about a 80% chance not to show up.  I wish Daz had a native support option for installing 3rd party content (hopefully AI will make this way better in the future).  At any rate, I'll try this and let you know!

  • anaximanes_2000anaximanes_2000 Posts: 343
    edited May 28

    Is this the right spot?

    C:\Users\Public\Documents\My DAZ 3D Library\Content\Runtime\Support

    Oh wait I found the ones here:

    C:\Users\Public\Documents\My DAZ 3D Library\Runtime\Support

     

    Going to try this now.

    Post edited by anaximanes_2000 on
  • anaximanes_2000anaximanes_2000 Posts: 343
    edited May 28

    @crosswind - I did try it, I used version one and after I clicked it it said it was added to smart content.  However, the darn thumbnail is still missing.  Is there a line in that XML file or something that should point to it?  Ok so my test one I opened the XML and there is a line near that bottom that says:

    <SupportAsset VALUE="/Runtime/Support/DAZ_3D_67006194861-1_1Erotic_Sexy_Showcase_Dream_Girls_G8.jpg"/>

    And right next to the XML file in the same folder is the jpeg named:

    DAZ_3D_67006194861-1_1Erotic_Sexy_Showcase_Dream_Girls_G8.jpg

    So why is it not seeing it?  Is the "/Runtime/Support/DAZ_3D_67006194861-1_1Erotic_Sexy_Showcase_Dream_Girls_G8.jpg" supposed to actually be "C:\Users\Public\Documents\My DAZ 3D Library\Runtime\Support/DAZ_3D_67006194861-1_1Erotic_Sexy_Showcase_Dream_Girls_G8.jpg" ?

    Wait, also weird, why are the slashes in the XML file the opposite of the slashes from my Windows Explorer?

    Post edited by anaximanes_2000 on
  • crosswindcrosswind Posts: 6,937

    In XML, it uses slash not backslash ~~ No worry.

    And you better attach the dsx file in here that I can check. At the same time, I give you the metadata files of the same product of mine. You extract 3 files in the zip to your rumtime\support folder, and re-import DSX file with that Script.

    There maybe no RE store in you database, but it should work to put into LOCAL USER ...

    zip
    zip
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  • anaximanes_2000anaximanes_2000 Posts: 343

    This is what I have:

    zip
    zip
    DAZ_3D_6194861_1Erotic_Sexy_Showcase_Dream_Girls_G8.zip
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  • anaximanes_2000anaximanes_2000 Posts: 343

    Yout thing did work.  I wonder why mine doesn't?

  • crosswindcrosswind Posts: 6,937
    edited May 28

    In your DSX file, line 103 and line 200, the names of DSX file and JPG file are different. I'm confused... which one is the correct file ?

    Anyway, I really doubt if they have the same file names in your Runtime\support folder. Double check that firstly.

    Make 100% sure that DSX file and JPG file have the very same file name, before the file extensions ! Like the screenshot 2.

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    Post edited by crosswind on
  • anaximanes_2000anaximanes_2000 Posts: 343

    I am confused.  Sorry not good with all this computer stuff, but in the Notepad++ the name for the jpg on mine does match the .jpg in the folder, see?

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  • anaximanes_2000anaximanes_2000 Posts: 343

    Wait a minute, no I think I see what you mean.  On every thumbnail it adds a 6700 to the name for some reason!

  • crosswindcrosswind Posts: 6,937
    edited May 28

    Exactly ~~ Again, the file names of DSX file and JPG file must be 100% same in the folder of RUNTIME\SUPPORT. Then you should see the thumbnails in Smart Content.

    Post edited by crosswind on
  • anaximanes_2000anaximanes_2000 Posts: 343

    Darn, I changed a couple to try that, but the thumbnails still do not show up.  I am missing something else.  Question, everything else in these XLM things have this path:

        <SupportAsset VALUE="/My Library/People/Genesis 9/Poses/Thunder-3D.png"/>

     

    So My Library appears, but then the thumbnails just say:
        <SupportAsset VALUE="/Runtime/Support/DAZ_3D_1184752-1_1Erotic_Sex_Groping_Spicy_Romance_1_for_G8_and_9.jpg"/>

     

    So just starts with Runtime, is it supposed to be My Library?  Because like I said before my actual path is:

    C:\Users\Public\Documents\My DAZ 3D Library\Runtime\Support

  • crosswindcrosswind Posts: 6,937

    That's not an issue as metadata do not rely on absolute path other than relative path. As long as you correctly configure all your Daz Library paths in: F2 - Content - Content Directory Manager, there should be no problem...

    But I'm lost ~~ I don't know if there're any other issues on your side, so :
    - firstly, post a screenshot of your Content Directory Manager, let's confirm if there're correct settings.
    - secondly, right click on a product with no thumbnail in Smart Content - Edit Metadata, follow the steps in the attached screenshots ~~

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  • anaximanes_2000anaximanes_2000 Posts: 343
    edited May 28

    Ok here is the Content Directory Manager thing.

    EDIT: And yes, when I did what you pics show, it opened the correct folder where the DSX file is.

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    Post edited by anaximanes_2000 on
  • crosswindcrosswind Posts: 6,937

    Well, the setting seems correct ~~

    So, I had to try importing the DSX file you sent to me. Now I have to confirm with you 'cause I'm still confused:  Which one is the issue that you have, screenshot 1 or screenshot 2 ?

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  • crosswindcrosswind Posts: 6,937

    And I fixed a version base on your DSX file. You extract 3 files to your runtime\support folder, then re-import. See what happened ~

    zip
    zip
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  • anaximanes_2000anaximanes_2000 Posts: 343
    edited May 28

    SCreenshot one is my issue.  The screenshot two thing is the problem I had when I reinstalled windows last month and lost all 3rd party stuff I had accumulated over years and now have to reinstall them all.  But I want thumbnails.

    Also your files worked, but you have 3 files and Content Package Assist only makes 2 files.  It does not make the Daz Script 2 thing

    Post edited by anaximanes_2000 on
  • crosswindcrosswind Posts: 6,937

    However, when I re-import your DSX file plus the JPG file with the same name, I got the result in the above screenshot 2... In your DSX file, there's no category definition, so you if you correct the JPG file name, you should've got the same result in screenshot 2...

    And that DSA file is useless for re-importing metadata, so it doesn't matter. 

  • Richard HaseltineRichard Haseltine Posts: 100,804

    crosswind said:

    Well, the setting seems correct ~~

    So, I had to try importing the DSX file you sent to me. Now I have to confirm with you 'cause I'm still confused:  Which one is the issue that you have, screenshot 1 or screenshot 2 ?

    Please do bear in mind that the Daz metadata is protected by the same license terms as the rest of the product.

  • crosswindcrosswind Posts: 6,937
    edited May 30

    Richard Haseltine said:

    crosswind said:

    Well, the setting seems correct ~~

    So, I had to try importing the DSX file you sent to me. Now I have to confirm with you 'cause I'm still confused:  Which one is the issue that you have, screenshot 1 or screenshot 2 ?

    Please do bear in mind that the Daz metadata is protected by the same license terms as the rest of the product.

    .... but these metadata files of this 3rd-party product were generated by CW and/or CPA tools rather then provided by DAZ via IM package or sth... Then users modified the metadata files... We could not exchange them either ?

    I saw no such a related terms before in License Agreements for such a case... maybe I had a bad memory...

    Post edited by crosswind on
  • Richard HaseltineRichard Haseltine Posts: 100,804

    crosswind said:

    Richard Haseltine said:

    crosswind said:

    Well, the setting seems correct ~~

    So, I had to try importing the DSX file you sent to me. Now I have to confirm with you 'cause I'm still confused:  Which one is the issue that you have, screenshot 1 or screenshot 2 ?

    Please do bear in mind that the Daz metadata is protected by the same license terms as the rest of the product.

    .... but these metadata files of this 3rd-party product were generated by CW and/or CPA tools rather then provided by DAZ via IM package or sth... Then users modified the metadata files... We could not exchange them either ?

    I saw no such a related terms before in License Agreements for such a case... maybe I had a bad memory...

    If they were provided by Daz then they are governed by the Daz EULA. Likewise for content from other vendors. Metadata produced from scratch, manually or using the tools, would be distributable.

  • crosswindcrosswind Posts: 6,937

    Richard Haseltine said:

    crosswind said:

    Richard Haseltine said:

    crosswind said:

    Well, the setting seems correct ~~

    So, I had to try importing the DSX file you sent to me. Now I have to confirm with you 'cause I'm still confused:  Which one is the issue that you have, screenshot 1 or screenshot 2 ?

    Please do bear in mind that the Daz metadata is protected by the same license terms as the rest of the product.

    .... but these metadata files of this 3rd-party product were generated by CW and/or CPA tools rather then provided by DAZ via IM package or sth... Then users modified the metadata files... We could not exchange them either ?

    I saw no such a related terms before in License Agreements for such a case... maybe I had a bad memory...

    If they were provided by Daz then they are governed by the Daz EULA. Likewise for content from other vendors. Metadata produced from scratch, manually or using the tools, would be distributable.

    Okay, that sounds good. Thanks !

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