♥ PosetteForever ♥

I still haven't assembled the new CAD PC, but I'm slowly getting clear of the ghastly post-'Flu blues. My attention span has *begun* to recover, if only for several hours a day... <br /> <br /> To be honest, after using P4 a decade ago, the complexity of P11Pro terrifies me. <br /> <br /> ( Never mind my new 'TurboCAD Pro' or the budget 'Bryce'... <img src="https://www.posetteforever.com/images/smiles/eusa_whistle.gif" alt="" /> ) <br /> <br /> Upside, I should be able to work with much larger, much more detailed scenes. <br /> <br /> And dress Posette & Co in style. <br /> <br /> And perhaps 'grow hair' on stuff ?? <br /> <br /> The facility for 'external' runtimes *should* mean I can organise content in a context-sensitive manner, rather than the oft-hapless rummage I remember from my old P4's organic sprawl... <br /> <br /> So, WIPs (1~~n), Posette, Aiko3, H3, V3, much V4 & Genesis stuff to adapt, 'free' aliens & monsters, 'budget' aliens & monsters, 'home/office' buildings & contents, 'workshop' buildings & contents, 'spooky' buildings & contents, 'scary' buildings & contents, 'alien' facilities & contents, 'primitive' objects, vehicles, armoury, terrain etc etc etc... <br /> == <br /> <br /> My collection of .zip freebies salvaged from that forgotten slide-mount archive drive and trawled from those few 3DWorld 'cover' CDs has now been supplemented by a lot of downloads. I've left compliments all over SCG & R**y. Having Bryce available means I've also grabbed some lovely, lovely .OBPs etc which previously left me shaking my head. The old but still free 'RSR to PNG' utility means I can identify and evaluate many oft-classic Poser models with, um, obscure names. <br /> <br /> One thing that already bugs me is self-installing stuff. I can explore .zip & .rar archives, even the 'nested' variety, but .exe models are a *pain*. <br /> <br /> How do you know *exactly* what's in them or where they'll go prior to installation ?? <br /> How can you tell if they'll try to climb into your basic Runtime, or may be sent to an external directory ? <br /> <br /> Worse, many will NOT install without a valid Poser program resident. And, of course, the CAD PC is still a pile of boxes... <br /> <br /> D'uh...

For those installers you just create a dummy runtime extract, and then zip the runtime, rinse and repeat. You can pose the item, and save an image into the generated Readme location for future ref. <br /> <br /> When it wants to install into the Poser legit Runtime, you can just copy, or create a "Poser.exe", and place it in the Runtime you want to extract into. <br /> <br /> My niece prefers installers, I don't care either way. <br /> <br /> I can't remember if there was a utility to view the installer as an archive or was it an archiver like WinRar etc, that can explore the contents... I'm getting old.

Had a hunt around with Google... <br /> <br /> Seems there are two types of self-installing exe files. <br /> <br /> Some have a 'bundled' front end you may by-pass with an un-zip program, either as-is or by first renaming the .exe to .zip. These are now rare due to this ease of by-pass. <br /> <br /> Those with a 'binary' front-end are much more secure. They cannot be by-passed without decompilation, which is not only non-trivial, but breaches the 'terms & conditions'. Worse, some will *insist* on being installed in Poser's own runtime, typically on C: drive. However, IIRC, they may then be copy/pasted --NOT 'drag/drop' moved !!-- to an external runtime... <br /> <br /> Uh, Poser's preference for having 'premium' stuff on C: drive was one reason I went back to a C: HDD instead of my planned SSD. My external runtimes will still be on RAID D:. I'm fitting a 'hot swap' SATA slide-mount to allow CAD back-ups independent of our Synology NAS box. Be a few months before I can afford a big enough WD 'black' drive...

Mobo pack includes a palm-sized booklet with installation & configuration instructions. This SLI board is sufficiently different to standard '990' that their standard board info does not suffice. <br /> <br /> Sadly, it has tiny, fuzzy-grey print on grey paper, so very difficult to read, and the screen-dumps / menus are nigh illegible. <br /> <br /> So, I hunted the PDF off Gigabyte's site. <br /> <br /> New snag, crop-marks which make it impossible to print *significantly* larger from 'Reader'. <br /> <br /> Okay, I sent 30-some pages to my laser printer, doubling the effective size of the pages, and now with clear black text on white paper, but half of each page is still wasted by huge margins enforced by nested crop-marks... <br /> <br /> Not funny.

After weeks of misery checking connections, removing / re-inserting graphics cards etc etc and getting NO SIGNAL, it is sorted. <br /> <br /> The mobo just needed its BIOS resetting. After that, the $30 mini graphics card I'd bought for trouble-shooting worked perfectly as-is, driving a $5 pre-owned 15" display via a spare VGA cable. <br /> <br /> So did the DVI cable I'd first tried on the big cards. No, I hadn't mashed the pins. <br /> <br /> So did my spare 19" screen hung off this desk. No, it wasn't wrecked. <br /> <br /> So did the first of my two mega-cards, driving that screen. And so did the second, when fitted alongside. I'd not wrecked them either, and the PSU really was feeding them their essential auxiliary power via that six-pin port apiece.... <br /> <br /> Okay, I can now get to the BIOS menus. Unfortunately, I wasted so much time muckin' about with the 'no signal' thing, my domestic 'To Do' list has reached 'scary'. <br /> <br /> Also, I reckon I've just room on the *right* of this desk to hang that 15" display from another hinged bracket. Means I can attach this now-elderly PC to do basic browsing, label printing etc etc etc while the CAD Tower is busy. But, that means setting up the pillar-drill and jig again. I really, really should have drilled the spare bracket when I did the other screens' three... <br /> === <br /> Interesting *free* finds while browsing... <br /> I wanted some nice train models as static Poser props. There are some models on SCG & R**y, but none I felt would be right. Had a cheap, 'me too' 'Model Rail Simulator' from waaay back, did some exploration. No, the models used a proprietary format... <br /> <br /> Investigated Microsoft's 'Train Simulator', more proprietary formats. Trainz ditto. <br /> <br /> Seems you cannot go *back* from any 'packed' train / vehicle / scene object to its basic mesh. <br /> <br /> After much too much Googling and link-following, I stumbled upon a site with a bunch of free GMAX precursor models. GMAX, of course, is free, albeit 'hobbled'. Idea is you play 'Chinese Menu' with components, hand-rails, bogies etc, then export via your chosen simulator's proprietary 'package' plug-in... <br /> <br /> Seems there's a free 3rd-party plug-in to display mesh as .obj data list, which you then copy/paste to a text editor, then save as an .obj file... <br /> <br /> Not sure exactly what's available --No thumbnails-- but added to my 'investigate' list...

There's an interesting tool for model conversion I stumbled over as I'm flight simming. It works for the MSFS .mdl format. might work for the trains, too. <br /> <a class="post-url" href="http://www.scenerydesign.org/modelconverterx/" target="_blank">http://www.scenerydesign.org/modelconverterx/</a>

Sadly, none of those gamer 'flight' formats match those I've met looking at railway sims, but I've downloaded the tool. <br /> <br /> There are many models on eg CGTrader which are free as posted in a non-portable / non-convertible format. <br /> <br /> IMHO, their artists are being naughty because they're getting kudos and 'download points' for modest models which you need *their* $1k~~2k /seat software to access. And, yes, their software can *easily* export in open formats... <br /> <br /> Sometimes, though, they slip up and forget formats may be 'obscure' rather than 'untouchable'...

Finally, finally found time to re-assemble the pillar drill, jig and bore those two extra 6mm holes through fourth VESA bracket, open to 7mm, de-burr and mount to RHS of desk. <br /> <br /> Phew. <br /> <br /> Of course, the 'pre-owned' 16" display's VESA holes are placed several inches higher than my 19" wides', so that screen doesn't clear the top of my Synology NAS box. I'll have to move the NAS again. I think I can tuck it behind the RHS 19". <br /> <br /> Oh, and re-position bungee cord to prevent cats knocking it off the back of the desk..... <br /> <br /> Of course, the NAS is now doing its 'blinky light' thing, aka 'I'm doing house-keeping; come back later.' <br /> <br /> And, yes, not only is the 'standard' 16" display three (3) whole inches narrower than my 19" wides, but lower resolution. I'll have to re-organise this PC's screen icons before transferring business to the 'small screen'... <br /> <br /> Got to go. Set out family member's many evening tablets, then watch 'Gravity & Me', a worthy Science Documentary...

About six months ago, I sent a neat answer to a head-scratching question posted on the New Scientist magazine's 'Last Word' page. I'd almost forgotten about it, but they've now published it and sent me a cheque... <br /> <br /> So, I went hunting on DAZ for 'final reductions' in their March sale... <br /> <br /> 'Secret Underground Base Bundle' <br /> 'Big Bug Bundle' <br /> 'Stephanie RR', who can trade outfits with Posette and be a 'face in crowd'... <br /> 'SP3' as a face in crowd... <br /> <br /> I also got 'Boots' for V3/A3/S3, so they can *try* to upstage Posette... <br /> <img src="https://www.posetteforever.com/images/smiles/wink.gif" alt="" />

Still haven't configured BIOS and installed Windows etc on new CAD PC. Currently trying to recover from mess left by this PC's Windows not recognising primary password. <br /> <br /> I've a reserve admin account, but it cannot access a lot of stuff, or fix the broken account... <br /> <br /> Infuriating part is I've a CSV back-up of my t-bird address book which t-bird flatly refuses to read. Worst case, I'll have to dump it into a spreadsheet, pick out the 'regulars' and hand-enter them. <br /> <br /> And my e-mail archive is potentially toast... <br /> D'uh... <br /> <br /> A trustworthy PC guru is sourcing a 'safe' breaker kit for me... <br /> == <br /> <br /> Thinking ahead, I've hit Amazon for the classic 'Secrets of figure creation with Poser 5' by 'BL Render', and the slightly later 'How'd you do that ?' aka 'Poser character creation for beginners Vol #1' by 'DAD'. Books cost less than postage. <br /> <br /> As 'Secrets' had a bundled CD-ROM, I ordered the same title from two different sources. My caution paid off. One came with a disk, the other without. <br /> <br /> Does mean I can have one book open at 'work in progress', the other at the 'fault finding' section... <br /> <br /> Down-side, when I glanced through the books, I thought my brain would explode. I *used* to know my way around *some* parts of a CR2, at least enough to find and fix bad OBJ references. <br /> <br /> The whole's complexity is terrifying...

Used Synology console to map NAS to emergency account. Ran a Nik_Files back-up overnight. ~470k individual files in ~ 10 hours. Snag is 'directory overheads' mean that Poser model mega-zips shift at ~ 9.x MB/s, smaller files go 2~~3 MB/s and umpteen tiny files stagger along even slower... <br /> <br /> Clearing decks to run Source Forge's *free* OPHCRACK in hope that can get into the f***ked account. Currently down-loading the ISO to a thumb drive... <br /> <br /> {{ Nik-Note: Sadly, there is a time and place for epithets, and too many Windows' issues seem to tick ALL those boxes... }} <br /> <br /> I'm not really interested in creating 'humanoid' figures beyond clunky robots, I'm hoping to craft some un-earthly Big Bad Bugs. So, all being well, I'll be studying some of the 'alien' zoo I've down-loaded. There's enough free, multi-segmented monsters that I should be able to learn how they're made. Yes, I know there were ways to 'mung' Poser-4 CR2 files, but I'm hoping some will be 'open' to view and study... <br /> <br /> Hmm. Looks like our IP's having a bad day. Yells from media room that streaming's stalled. {Sigh} Time to load our dinner into oven while my last 50 MB downloads...

Adding insult to injury, the utility that creates an ISO image on a USB memory stick will NOT run on this PC without that same trashed password. <br /> <br /> I put utility & ISO on the stick, loaded it up on the old XP system where the utility ran without complaint. <br /> <br /> Sadly, even with this PC's boot sequence re-jigged via F10 menu, the 'breaker' just will not boot from that USB memory stick. <br /> <br /> Nor will this PC boot from it in 'refresh' mode. <br /> { Sigh...} <br /> <br /> So, I'm going to press on and complete the CAD Tower, then rip the C: drive out of this PC, put it in the Tower's slide-mount and go dumpster diving... <br /> <br /> { Bigger sigh...} <br /> <br /> FWIW, one of our missy cats has just bounced up onto this desk. <br /> Hello, Kitty !! <br /> 'Robbie', aka '005½' is famous for killing five and a half rats in two weeks when we had a 'binny' --Trash hauler-- dispute a couple of years ago. She lay in wait, 'hull down', on our patio steps, pounced as the rats trotted across our small lawn. <br /> <br /> Nape-bite, shake, job done. <br /> <br /> 'Bertie', her gracile sister, shared the honours on the sixth...

Having ghastly problems installing Win10 (Home) on CAD Tower. <br /> <br /> Installs just fine, but will not come back after any restart, just spins its spots ad-infinitum, 'To Infinity & Beyond !!'. <br /> <br /> Installed a second time, same problem. <br /> <br /> I *think* I've messed up the complex BIOS boot menus, but must admit ignorance of my ignorance... <br /> <br /> So, I'll isolate PC, reset BIOS via little switch I left connected against such contingency. Then I'll disconnect SATA#0 C: HDD, link it via USB adaptor to *this* PC, reformat the sh**t out of it and start again... <br /> <br /> But maybe later, as my thumpin' headache may be start of a migraine. If so, must grab a nap to 'chill'. Spouse going to Chris deBurgh concert this evening, I must organise the logistics...

Have fun at the concert, Chris is a real artist for sure

As I'm partly tone-deaf, I generally sit in the bar, sip lemonade and read, or type-up part of a story on my 10" Win10 tablet. It has the classic NOTEPAD, you see !! <br /> <br /> There are very, very few concerts that I can tolerate. IIRC, last one was former Seekers' Judith Durham's haunting farewell tour... <br /> <br /> Tonight, I snuck into Spouse's box at very end. CdB was doing 'Don't Pay The Ferryman' in style. Did a couple of songs I didn't recognise the lyrics but sent crowd wilder. Much dancing in aisles... <br /> <br /> Then, CdB mentioned Hillsborough & justice, sang 'You'll Never Walk Alone' and almost brought the house down with delight. <br /> <br /> Finally, he sang an old-music-hall-ish song, something about a 1924 stripper named Felicia or Delicia or such... <br /> <br /> I'd bought a CD and a live-concert DVD at half time, so they'll probably be played until they glow...

I reckon my blundering around the BIOS on CAD Tower has left the UEFI options 'conflicted'. <br /> <br /> Must google for UEFI option tutorials, pull drive, re-format and try again...

Yes, I had stepped on the UEFI options. Resetting the BIOS' CMOS, wiping the C: Drive and starting over solved all that. <br /> <br /> To be sure, to be sure, I re-booted windows 10 as soon as it settled, to get a clean boot record. THEN I began loading essentials such as Chrome, T-bird, IrfanView etc. <br /> <br /> Happily, I didn't have to drill out the old PC's case's side-panel rivets. On very close inspection, they were 'anti-tamper' screws, and I had a matching bit. <br /> <br /> So, today, I powered it down, connected my USB-IDE/SATA adaptor to the C: drive, linked it to the CAD Tower and set to work. Of course, Windows complained I'd no authority to access the user files. Difference was I could use the CAD Tower's admin account to over-ride the veto. <br /> <img src="https://www.posetteforever.com/images/smiles/eusa_pray.gif" alt="" /> <br /> <br /> Took several minutes to process the files' attributes, but now I could get at those files. <br /> <br /> I copied the entire t-bird profile across to E: on tower, then Chrome's bookmarks. <br /> <br /> T-bird site's FAQ etc recommended getting a free I/O plug-in to ease imports etc. With that, I was able to selectively retrieve some essential e-mails. I just copied the address-books over the new-start's empties. <br /> <img src="https://www.posetteforever.com/images/smiles/ayeah.gif" alt="" /> <img src="https://www.posetteforever.com/images/smiles/ayeah.gif" alt="" /> <img src="https://www.posetteforever.com/images/smiles/ayeah.gif" alt="" /> <br /> I did much the same for Chrome. <br /> <img src="https://www.posetteforever.com/images/smiles/ayeah.gif" alt="" /> <img src="https://www.posetteforever.com/images/smiles/ayeah.gif" alt="" /> <img src="https://www.posetteforever.com/images/smiles/ayeah.gif" alt="" /> <br /> Job done ?? Well, almost... <br /> <br /> I'll have to shuffle DVI cables about, copy a lot of files across to E: before starting to install the CAD suite six months later than planned... <br /> <br /> There will now be a short interlude while I load and register a bunch of stuff..

<img src="https://www.posetteforever.com/images/smiles/thumb.gif" alt="" /> That's good news <img src="https://www.posetteforever.com/images/smiles/biggrin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="https://www.posetteforever.com/images/smiles/TFR708.gif" alt="" />

I couldn't do a full 'system refresh' on old PC; it kept asking for the ruddy password of that corrupted profile. At least the broken [+] right-click menu works again... <br /> <br /> I switched the USB label and laser printers to the CAD Tower's ports, and they're happy. <br /> <br /> Rather than do a 'factory' wipe, I've deferred that option and hooked the PC to the fourth, smaller display instead of its previous two wide-screens. As you see, that pre-loved screen, $5 from charity shop, works just fine... <br /> <br /> FWIW, without the overheads of the Display Link external graphics module's USB driver, this PC now runs a lot faster... <br /> <br /> I transferred the DVI cables from those wide-screens to the CAD Tower, making three up. Two on one card, one on the other. At which point, the serial angst resumed. <br /> <br /> NVIDIA utilities found all three screens, but did not 'engage' with third. Windows' display menu found all three, extended display across all of them, then promptly forgot about the third and reverted to two. Rinse and repeat. <br /> <br /> After much trying of obscure options and swapping of cables, I'd exhausted all practicable possibilities save one; update driver. The Gigabyte site was reluctant to admit this card type existed, then offered an earlier version than installed. A tiny, tiny footnote linked to NVIDIA's own site. There, I needed five minutes to identify the card family, five to down-load latest stable driver version, five to install it. <br /> <br /> Ping ! This time, the NVIDIA utility engaged with all three screens, and everything works as it should. <br /> <img src="https://www.posetteforever.com/images/smiles/new_shocked.gif" alt="" /> <img src="https://www.posetteforever.com/images/smiles/new_shocked.gif" alt="" /> <img src="https://www.posetteforever.com/images/smiles/new_shocked.gif" alt="" /> <img src="https://www.posetteforever.com/images/smiles/new_shocked.gif" alt="" /> <img src="https://www.posetteforever.com/images/smiles/new_shocked.gif" alt="" /> <img src="https://www.posetteforever.com/images/smiles/new_shocked.gif" alt="" /> <br /> Phew. <br /> <br /> Rather than just load up my CAD suite, I'm going to have a quiet think about how best to organise 'external run-times' and such. Splitting my sprawling 'Nik Files' directory tree into 'Science', 'Fiction', 'CAD' and 'OtherStuff' appeals. With not RAIDing the 2nd & 3rd WD Blacks, I've an extra drive to use, one I can set to spin-down promptly... <br /> <br /> I've still got to decide what to do with this old PC's assortment of programs, but most of them are free, and could do with being up-dated. I'm considering making a list of fun stuff, doing a 'factory restore' then starting clean... <br /> <br /> But NOT tonight !!! <br /> === <br /> <br /> ps: Spouse's beloved LFC beat Watford FC 0:1 'away' tonight, earning three 'League' points and keeping them in the race for a 'European' place next season...

I've begun sorting through the sprawling directory tree of Poser stuff I've 'ported' from this old 'desktop' PC. <br /> <br /> There's a heap of 3DS & OBJ mesh freebies from my TurboCAD & FloorPlan days, most being 'Medieval-ish' and really lo-rez. There's 'Classic' freebies I used in Poser 3. Lots of freebies I collected while using Poser 4. More freebies collected ahead of upgrade to Poser 7, but that CAD PC died horribly between my buying P7 and installing it. Many zips survived, my Runtime & back-up didn't... <br /> <br /> I collected a lot of freebies last year, many 'duplicating' old files, but now bug-free, with thumb-nail piccies. <br /> <br /> And, yes, my PayPal account means I dared *buy* some sets, props etc that are far, far beyond my rusty CAD skills, never mind my utter lack of 'artistry'.... <br /> <br /> Spent much of last night trying to survey the many, many 'sets' I've acquired. Too soon to begin 'organising' them... <br /> <br /> There's ancient, old, modern, future/sci-fi and 'fantasy' buildings, variously externals and/or internals, intact, abandoned, wrecked or ruined. <br /> <br /> There's an unhealthy bunch of dungeons, caves, sewers and half-flooded fortifications. Don't forget your HAZMAT suit, gas-mask and Geiger counter. <br /> <br /> There's a LOT of 'set dressing' props, some of them seriously scary... <br /> <br /> { Hey, what better use for a so-smug Vicky4 than to tie her up for Posette, Aiko3 & AiBot to rescue ?? <img src="https://www.posetteforever.com/images/smiles/wink.gif" alt="" /> <img src="https://www.posetteforever.com/images/smiles/wink.gif" alt="" /> } <br /> <br /> My 'Alien Zoo' will need a lot more space than expected, and xenocidal Daleks need more than a moat to contain them... <br /> <br /> I seem to be short of 'Human Villains'; they'll need a fresh trawl of the usual freebie sites, their uniform /logo templates tweaking plus 'facial morphs'. <br /> <br /> I'm still on the Win'10 learning curve, of course, of course. Somewhere, surely, there MUST be an option to send serial downloads somewhere useful, instead of defaulting to the 'downloads' directory... <br /> <br /> D'uh... <br /> <br /> Upside, the CAD Tower 'feels' much, much faster than this old 'desktop' system. In fact, it is faster than the worn-out trackball I've connected. A new one, wired for minimal latency, is coming from Amazon... <br /> <br /> And, while shifting stuff around in 'box room', I've found my '3D Connexion' 'Space Navigator' that wouldn't work with the old CAD Tower's version of TurboCAD...

Six months late, I'm finally, finally installing Poser 11 Pro. (X64) <br /> <br /> ( Not a 'friendly' installer, hard to start, not enough progress info etc etc...) <br /> <br /> Now printing the extensive 'ReadMe' on desk's Samsung B&W laser printer, and the 'Reference Card' set on the desk's HP all-in-one. Aha, latter is *legible*. If wasn't, 'Plan_B' was sending that set to the networked 'A3' printer, where it would, as ever, tile the floor then be slept on by a quorum of cats... <br /> <br /> Default P11Pro set-up is weird. The 'RunTime' seems to be in the wrong place, stuffed with system-ish files I don't recognise, minus the familiar sub-directories I'd expected. <br /> <br /> Perhaps there's another, some-where ?? <br /> Hmm... <br /> <br /> And what does a 'Queue Manager' do with Poser ? Or vice-versa ?? <br /> Hmm... <br /> <br /> Ooh, there's a 'QuickStart' guide, too !! And I'll have to copy these guides plus the mountainous PDF 'Reference Manual' to some-where accessible. I may copy them across to this 'Browser PC' so I can get a fourth screen of info... <br /> <br /> Still have not tried to decide how to organise or locate the multiple, multiple directories I'll need in 'External RunTime'. Cannot make sense of the arcane 'DO NOT' info in the 'ReadMe'. But, if you don't do such bad placements, is everything else okay ?? <br /> D'uh... <br /> <br /> Okay, I've set my first piton in the learning curve's near-vertical rock-face, will attach safety lines, explore the 'foot-hills' and report back...

Download Manager said I had a bunch of resources available for down-load, plus a Poser update. <br /> <br /> Then it said I had to un-install Poser before I could load the update... <br /> <br /> Not sure what's going on... <br /> <br /> Oh ? The updated Poser wants me to re-register ?? And enter the 'from P10' serial, too ?? After I gave it when I bought the upgrade ?? <br /> That's a bit annoying...

Okay, the huge content pack is now down-loaded. I managed to put a semi-skeletal robot --The default Default figure-- in the middle of an office. <br /> <br /> Then I tried to change the view using my un-used, decade-old 'Space Navigator' I thought I'd lost but found during our house-move... <br /> SWOOSH !!! <br /> <br /> Uh, what's *beyond* 'hyper-sensitive' ?? <br /> <br /> If Posy just ducked a low-flying office with a robot clinging to its door-frame, you know whose it was... <br /> <img src="https://www.posetteforever.com/images/smiles/redembarrassed.gif" alt="" /> <img src="https://www.posetteforever.com/images/smiles/redembarrassed.gif" alt="" /> <img src="https://www.posetteforever.com/images/smiles/redembarrassed.gif" alt="" />

Okay, 'External Runtimes' have been available since P5-ish, but I've jumped from a half-forgotten P4 environment to P11Pro, which I'm finding a bit overwhelming... <br /> <br /> Been tied down recently by family health problems and near-exhaustion --Without enough REM sleep, I become an ANGRY Zombie-- but things have settled a bit... <br /> <br /> As I understand it, external runtimes must be arranged as... <br /> <br /> [External content folder] eg NOT on C: where Poser prefers to live... <br /> | <br /> |__[Category #001 folder] named for what's in the tin... <br /> | |__[Runtime folder] with Poser's usual sub-folders... <br /> | <br /> |__[Category #002 folder] <br /> | |__[Runtime folder] <br /> | <br /> |__[Category #003 folder] <br /> | |__[Runtime folder] <br /> | <br /> |__[Category #004 folder] <br /> | |__[Runtime folder] <br /> | etc etc <br /> <br /> Then, it seems, you must point Poser's library system at these folders... <br /> <br /> Never mind category names as I'm still trying to balance 'concise' against 'meaningful'-- Is this structure mostly correct ??

As long as you point it to the external folder that each external "Runtime" is in you're good. <br /> <br /> You can call each external folder whatever you like.

I'm old-fashioned. I like to tweak a pic, label it folder.jpg. <br /> <br /> But, for some reason, this rebuilt Win 8 does not always bother displaying it on the folder icon... <br /> <br /> Sometimes, I can 'refresh' the file browser, some-times switching views then back will do the trick. Sometimes, despite going into properties and specifically setting folder.jpg to show on the icon, IT WILL *NOT* SHOW. <br /> <br /> D'uh... <br /> <br /> Found a work-around of sorts. <br /> <br /> I renamed a folder to give it a more meaningful name, the lurking folder.jpg popped up !! <br /> Stranger, renaming it back hid that jpg again. <br /> <br /> So very, very weird...

I've been scratching my head over the biology of those 'Big Bad Bugs'... <br /> <br /> Biggest problem after limb articulation is how they can grow. Terran bugs moult. None, even during the oxygen-rich Carboniferous etc, got big enough ON LAND to be really, really scary. Biggest now are tree-climbing 'Robber Crabs'. Though they've evolved 'book lungs', they must go back to the sea to spawn... <br /> <br /> Then I remembered the humble tortoise. Arguably, it has an exoskeleton of sorts. But, it grows without moulting... <br /> <br /> Some digging through my half-forgotten 'Recreational Maths' brought me to 'Reuleaux' figures. A pentagonal version would provide an anatomical shape, growth planes etc etc. And, if limbs are shaped thus in cross-section, they would allow joints at various combinations of 72º. <br /> <br /> Now, how to articulate limbs so BBBs can groom themselves or scrape off hitch-hikers ??

I've been sorting the many, many zips I'd salvaged from old CAD Tower, discovered many were 'broken'. <br /> <br /> Of course, most of these are no longer available on rDNA, SCG or R**y. Or, worse, on 'WayBack Machine', since they began honouring 'No Re-Distribute' flags... <br /> <br /> I was searching my archive for a spare zip of PhilC's classic 'Genie' outfiit --Now retired, he's closed his Freebie area-- when I had a stroke of luck. Windows' search threw up a bunch of his stuff installed in a *secondary* back-up copy of my old P3's busy runtime. <br /> <br /> Poser 3 ? Oh, yeah, the freebie off a cover-disk that got me started with Poser... <br /> <br /> There wasn't just PhilC's 'Dynamic Genie'. That P3 Runtime held a fun zoo, including Teppan's *entire* 'Race Queen' set from before the lawyers culled it, Poism's superb Medusa, a small mountain of props etc etc etc... <br /> <br /> I'm sat there thinking, "How on earth do I extract these dozens and dozens of sub-sub directories, match up their geometries, textures, props, characters etc etc etc...." <br /> <br /> Okay, I've not been sleeping well due family illness, so the solution took much, much too long to dawn... <br /> <br /> I DO NOT need to untangle them. <br /> I just have to copy that Runtime to some-where handy, delete P3's bundled files, point Poser 11 at their top directory as an external RunTime... <br /> <br /> D'uh... <br /> <br /> FWIW, I've found a neat Freebie on SCG called 'Prop Viewer #3'. This can *usually* read and display OBJ, 3DS, HR2 and any CR2 with internal geometry. It can twirl meshes, show wire-frame or skinned, back-culled or not, with/out simple textures etc. Its other neat trick is to export the view as a BMP. No faffin' about with {Shift}PrtSc. I've been using this option plus {free} IrfanView to create folder.jpg files for zips. <br /> <br /> 'Prop Viewer' is NOT clever enough to auto-find a CR2's 'external geometry', but that's no big deal. One oddity is some really old CR2 files show with all the groups lumped into one central mess. When I've the energy, I might try a third-party OBJ stripper on those...

Remember CCD's HYDRA, that needed the P4 Rattlesnake ?? Which latter seems to have vanished ?? <br /> <br /> I've found a copy of blRSnake.obj in my archives, misfiled with Teppan & Co's Race Queens etc for V1/2, MD & Posette. <br /> <br /> I'll need to untangle the mix... <br /> <br /> FWIW, I've picked up a {FREE} XD4 licence for P4F from EE, so Posette should be able to play 'Dress Up'...

Those old, but still wondrous Japanese freebies really are an unmitigated mess. <br /> <br /> To save on dial-up time --We're talking 2002~2004-- there's often NO folder tree. You must pick through each 'ReadMe', set up and populate sundry weird folders where-ever. Worse, the CR2/PP2 internals are often hard-coded for MetaCreations' Japanese versions of Poser which were organised just differently enough to be VERY exasperating... <br /> <br /> No way !! <br /> <br /> When I've gathered each set to its own folder, I'll go skinny-dipping with a CR2 / PP2 editor, set their internal references to rights. <br /> <br /> Also, it should ease use of the XD4 utility to extend Posette's wardrobe...

If you're wondering why one post says "Hey, I'll just copy the culled P3 run-time to an 'external' folder !!", and the next mutters, "Must untangle the zips"... <br /> <br /> Less than half of that P3 Runtime's classic freebies were actually *functional*, and many didn't link to their textures etc. Just don't ask where their accessories and *their* textures got to... <br /> <br /> Alas, too many didn't fit well as AD/MD, V 1/2/3, P3F and Posette (P4F) outfits were all mixed up. Not helping that many early artists didn't even mention which figure was their base. Hey, if a freebie had poke-through, you just dialled it a bit... <br /> <br /> { Let's not discuss fun sets needing PCF vs P3F beyond saying I'm so glad I've kept a P3 run-time with Metacreations' original, lo-res figures... } <br /> <br /> I reckon I'm going to be *very familiar* with CR2 internals by the time this is done !! <br /> <br /> And, then, of course, I'll be able to fire up XD4 to craft a really fun retro-wardrobe for Posette & Co...

So if we all sneak our messed up content into Nik's, he can figure them all out.

Thanks for all the information Nik. Even if I don't comment on every post, I read them all and find them very interesting. <br /> My serious start with Poser was a Cover P3, too. I played a bit with P2 before, but that doesn't count. <br /> There are some of that area backup CDs in my drawer as well. I didn't check them since years. <img src="https://www.posetteforever.com/images/smiles/eusa_think.gif" alt="" /> <br /> Maybe I'll have a look at them (if they read still) as it doesn't stop raining <img src="https://www.posetteforever.com/images/smiles/rolleyes.gif" alt="" /> <br /> <br /> P.S.: I remember a script around, for "translating" Japanese files, but I don't quite remember where to get it and if it would work in P11P, if it worked at all. <br /> About old .rsr files. The ones that contain thumbnail data you can keep or delete after first load. png thumbnail should be crated by P11. My P7 does it like this. You might check this. <br /> The geometry .rsr (much bigger, containing binary geometry for faster loading on the weak systems way back, created from the obj on first load) you can dump at once, if you don't need it to restore a missing obj. In that case I remember a tool by Antony Appleyard . RSRtoOBJ or something...

Yes, John Hoagland's 'Geometry Stripper' will pull geometry from a PP2 file, save the OBJ and update the PP2. It will save each of multiple found objects separately. <br /> <br /> And, yes, Anthony Appleyard's rsr2obj will translate a geometry RSR to OBJ... <br /> <br /> One advantage of having three (3) screens is I can have a serious bunch of folders open at the same time. By sheer persistence, I've managed to collate a lot of clothing with PNG & RSR but missing OBJ to the *same* clothing with thumbnail and OBJ but no RSR / PP2 etc...

Seeing one on offer in local 'Maplin Electronics', I bought a neat Intuos Draw pen-tablet. It's a nice piece of work, will fit on this desk where my old 'Trust' A4+ mega-tablet won't. <br /> <br /> Plug and played with Win'10 as a pointing device, but there the fun ended. <br /> <br /> Intuos do not fully support spreading desktop across multiple screens. <br /> <br /> First, the driver & utility software default cheerfully mapped my three screens to a letterbox across the tablet. <br /> <br /> Yes, you can set [X1Y1, X2Y2] parameters to map tablet to a program's window, but they're NOT dynamic. If you re-size or move your window, or if a pop-up menu spreads to the side, you've lost the mapping. Surely such software can be set to track a specified program's position ?? Seems not... <br /> <br /> This is especially annoying when working with something like IrfanView which may re-size when you edit, may have multiple windows open... <br /> <br /> Nearest thing to a fix would be maximising eg Poser on the central display, but what if I want to work on a panoramic set ? Or overlapping the side-bars onto adjacent screens ? And HOW ON EARTH would it cope with eg TurboCAD and my preferred mix of orthogonal, perspective and info views ?? <br /> <br /> When I've had enough sleep to be sure I've not missed some essential appendix or foot-note, I'll raise another 'issue' report. First was about how difficult their site made registration... <br /> And they don't seem to have a forum... <br /> <img src="https://www.posetteforever.com/images/smiles/new_cussing.gif" alt="" /> <img src="https://www.posetteforever.com/images/smiles/new_cussing.gif" alt="" /> <img src="https://www.posetteforever.com/images/smiles/new_cussing.gif" alt="" /> <br /> <br /> Anyhow, the Intuos is basically a nice piece of kit but, like my twin graphics cards, whose default gamer-optimised Gigabyte driver simply couldn't handle both, just needed chip-maker Nvidia's definitive down-load... <br /> == <br /> Other fun toy that arrived was a USB triple foot-pedal which could be mapped to eg left/centre/right mouse-clicks to save changing grip on graphic tablet's pen's silly 'rocker' switch...

Between dealing with family health problems --My dear wife is in hospital *again*-- I've been investigating zips... <br /> <br /> Gathering an artist's stuff together, related by style and/or date, I've usually been able to spot *one* essential reference among their ReadMe files. Sometimes Posette, sometimes V2, a few early up-takers with V3... <br /> <br /> And, yes, there were a few P3 / V1 whatsits in the mix... <br /> <img src="https://www.posetteforever.com/images/smiles/biggrin.gif" alt="" /> <br /> === <br /> <br /> You can tell Poser 11 hails from US; the manual has a characteristic, exasperating style I remember from wrangling Agilent lab equipment. Typically, a new HPLC system's module stack was a similar size and weight to its many manuals and validation data binders... <br /> <br /> I'd set to work with a set of manuals, a fresh pad of post-its and my office door signed 'Do NOT Disturb'. Being a reasonable guy, that had 'Unless REALLY urgent' in small print beneath... <br /> <br /> To put it politely, Poser's 'index' is little more than a collection of chapter and topic headings. If you're looking for something that didn't merit such, you gotta take pot-luck with the search engine... <br /> <br /> So, via a grim mix of bloody-minded perseverance plus a pinch of serendipity, I found the innocently mis-titled section that explains, in passing, how to set up external run-times. One un-indexed paragraph solved it. <br /> <br /> NOW, at last, all those arcane tutorials, threads etc on subject make sense. I need to create eg... <br /> <br /> E:\ First_ERT \ First_topic \ Runtime <br /> <br /> Browse Poser's library system to that Runtime, select 'add' and the 'First-topic' folder is duly connected. <br /> <br /> Rinse and repeat... <br /> <br /> I may have multiple, meaningfully named top-folders, each holding multiple, meaningfully named topics. I'll need them. I've decided to segregate the non-specific props, sets, set-kits etc from the crew and the zoo... <br /> <br /> My first take would split Poser characters such as dear Posette from the DAZ team. A third group gets the 'Independents'-- AD/MD, Staci etc. Fourth group is the zoo. <br /> <br /> With drive space to spare, I've decided clothing sets etc that fit multiple characters, eg A3/V3, A3/V3/V4 or V3/V4 should be copied to each 'fork'. <br /> <br /> I'm still trying to figure how to best organise the zillion props, sets etc... <br /> <br /> Okay, hospital visiting time approaches, and I've a list of stuff to take...

My wife is still in hospital, is making slow progress following a bad fall on ward which broke her leg. She's struggling with a non-'Flu respiratory virus. I've got it, too, but I can help myself to non-prescription meds for the coughing and wheezing. <br /> <br /> I've not done much with P11. Finally connected that P3 Runtime, did a trial render. Solara lives !! Upside, this CAD Tower is very, very fast. I vaguely remember the same scene taking five minutes or so to process. This time around, about one minute. Solara was one figure. Another scene, 'Getting the Point', with five P3 figures plus some detailed scenery, totally maxed out the old Tower. This time, Swoosh !! <br /> <br /> Scene just calls for terrain, architecture, archers and a swam of hostile wingy-thingies... <br /> == <br /> <br /> Now, some serendipity. <br /> <br /> " Though I lost my Poser 4 Runtime to multiple drive failures," <br /> <br /> While loading an old WIP PZ3 scene, the texture search threw up a hit from a P4 Runtime I didn't know I had. Buried deep, deep down an obscure folder tree salvaged from the old CAD Tower's failing drives, it looks like a 'mirror' back-up from several weeks before the mega-crash. I'm not sure what it holds, but there's 3+ GB to explore. <br /> <br /> I'm currently struggling with that non-'Flu virus but, soon as the symptoms ease, I'll point P11 library at that sprawling 'External Runtime', see what I've got...

P11's external runtime system can be a bit fussy. I've now realised I must unpack 'sets' into a common runtime, as the library will NOT look below the top folder... <br /> <br /> Example: SCG has 15 *free* SciFi corridor modules by 3dc. I collected them in a folder named 6_3dc SciFi. <br /> <br /> So, that held 3dc-freecorr_p01, 3dc-freecorr_p02 .... 3dc-freecor_p15 etc <br /> <br /> Within those were eg 3dc-freecorr_p01.zip which unpacked to 3dc-freebie_corr.txt and a runtime folder, also 53322.jpg the SCG thumbnail and my folder.jpg. <br /> <br /> Of course, when I pointed P11 at 6_3dc SciFi, it saw no models there-in. <br /> { Exasperating, but logical...} <br /> <br /> So, one by one, I copy/pasted the individual modules' runtimes into 6_3dc SciFi, ignoring all duplicates with the same size/date. <br /> <br /> Upside, P11 is happy. Downside, 3dc used different file-sizes of image for the 'same' texture in different modules... <br /> <br /> I've got one 641 kb and fourteen 703 kb but otherwise apparently identical w_1_tex.jpg (2500x2319x24) <br /> Likewise, one 541 kb and twelve 615 kb w_1x_tex.jpg (1180x2100x24)... <br /> <br /> I've now culled the clones, but it is a tad tedious...

FWIW, here's my 'PoSorted' as it stands. The old P4 runtime is elsewhere until I gather my wits... <br /> <br /> The numbered folders hold props arranged by size then category, ranging from 1_small to 6_terrain. Characters and their clothing are generally alphabetical, with bots/borgs, flora and the Zoo thrown in. <br /> <br /> I still haven't decided the best way to organise clothing for each figure. Much of their hair has made its way to a central location, ditto head and neck wear. Footwear may follow... <br /> <br /> Attached:

I do not envy anyone that is organising their Runtimes, as if one is not bad enough.

They will NOT be 'live' at the same time. <br /> <br /> I made that mistake with P3 and then P4... <br /> <br /> Beyond core installs, such as main characters, their 'bundles' and essential morphs, I'll be connecting and disconnecting their external runtimes as required. <br /> <br /> In fact, I may leave P11's runtime 'sparse', leave almost everything external. <br /> <br /> Still the stuff of nightmare... <br /> == <br /> FWIW, my wife's now been told part of her broken leg has still not 'knitted', and she faces yet more bed-rest. I googled around, found an NHS/NICE report from ~2010 *okaying* the use of pulsed ultrasound therapy to stimulate fracture healing. Printed it off, took it in, left it where my wife's orthopaedic consultant and the physiotherapists should notice...

For the Poser 9 install, I left the default Runtime pretty much empty (for WM characters only), and used my Poser 6 runtime as an external, it made sense, and saved a lot of time.

Sounds like a plan... <br /> <img src="https://www.posetteforever.com/images/smiles/TFR708.gif" alt="" /> <br /> <br /> I'm also scratching my head over some of the D*Z figures. As you can see from the piccy, I've legacy V1~2~3. I added the inexpensive V4 & M4, discovered V5 & M5 were bundled with my Carrara 8.5 that was on sale 'really cheap'. There are some remarkable 'terrain' and 'prop' freebies in .CAR format, which only Carrara can read. I hope to export those in a portable format such as OBJ... <br /> <br /> Snag is many of D*Z' recent figures & costumes are primarily meant for DS. Yes, a lot do come with a DSON importer script for Poser, but I've yet to figure how that works... <br /> <br /> I'm also trying to make sense of the many, many 3DS files I'd salvaged from their dying drives. Even my own architectural models are a tangled mess-- Ten years is a long time to remember those modules' arcane but *logical* naming system, and I've a growing suspicion I'm dealing with several archive versions, of which only one was 'tidied'...

You'll read this when you're good and ready, as you've lost your love and nothing will have much relevance right now. <br /> <br /> Much like you I went and got the free G2 figures bundled with that app. <br /> <br /> The DS figures beyond V4, work best in DS, so I guess they belong there, but you acquired a work around in Carrara. <br /> <br /> DSON, is nothing more than a python script, that translates code, you can import with DSON, and save out a cr2, but it will not have the features that are in the native app (DS), so save the DSON work around for when you want a challenge. But you have Carrara, so use your new DS figures in there for now.

I'm using Poser sessions to chill as I can only do so much admin etc before my wits begin to spin... <br /> <br /> Still feeling my way towards a workable 'External Runtime' set-up. Have just added a new category, '2_Office', with stuff like staplers & white-boards. <br /> <br /> I've M3 from years back, with not a lot of 'stuff', so that figure seemed a good way to explore how to get legacy D*Z figures into P11Pro. <br /> <br /> After much Googlin', grimly cross-referencing reams of contradictory advice, plus much, much muttering, I finally stumbled upon something that makes sense. The problem with such legacy figures and their self-installers is that Poser's ownership has changed several times. Left to itself, the installer will hunt out an old P4 or P5 run-time, go there, NOT to P11. <br /> <br /> So, the *official* fix is to tick the installer option for D*Z Studio, but browse to eg the M3 folder with its empty 'External Runtime'. With that populated, add the M3 folder to library, hit 'refresh' a few times and sigh with relief... <br /> <br /> I'm still fumbling my way around the complex Poser interface; tools I half-remember as being on one menu seems to have spawned multiple tabs, out-placed themselves...

The fix is to save a notepad file called "poser.txt", in your designated runtime folder, then rename that said same "poser.txt", to "poser.exe". You can then point your DS installers to that runtime folder. You can do that to each of your runtime folders that will have DS installers which call for a designated "poser.exe" to be present.

I've got the hang of dual-mode self-installers; those dating from Poser versions WITH External Runtime support just need to be told that is DS and where to go. <br /> <br /> Then I go through and strip out the DS stuff... <br /> <br /> Those aimed at DS with a nod to Poser are a little trickier. I've a collection that must be converted with DSON etc, but haven't yet mustered the attention span... <br /> <br /> For 'occupational therapy', I've been tidying files, transferring more 'finds' and 'funs' to master folder. Rather than clog the Poser Runtime, I'm keeping everything I can 'external', will pull in what I need as required. <br /> <br /> Here's my current set-up...

<a href="http://www.posetteforever.com/files/posted_images/680/sorted_2017_12_03.jpg" target="_blank" title="Click to open image in new window"><img src="http://www.posetteforever.com/files/posted_images/680/sorted_2017_12_03.jpg" alt="Image" width="400" title="Image" /></a> <br /> <br /> <a href="http://www.posetteforever.com/files/posted_images/680/p4f.jpg" target="_blank" title="Click to open image in new window"><img src="http://www.posetteforever.com/files/posted_images/680/p4f.jpg" alt="Image" width="400" title="Image" /></a>

That's interesting... <br /> <br /> post only displays left half of first piccy, no side-scroll bar, but a click pops it to full size. <br /> <br /> second piccy has a scroll-bar !! <br /> <br /> Hmm.

<img src="https://www.posetteforever.com/images/smiles/wink.gif" alt="" /> The scoll-bar works for both pics at once...