I Need an Up-to-Date Primer on the DSON Importer
Nyghtfall3D
Posts: 814
After a disappointingly brief return to DAZ Studio, I've switched back to Poser due to compatibility issues with Poser-exclusive content.
Now, I need help with the DSON Importer.
Following the DSON User Guide, I've figured out how to install the scripts. What I'm having trouble with is Step 3 - What Else Do I Need?.
That section references two files that it claims are included with the DSON Importer, but I've discovered are actually not:
Genesis Starter Essentials
Genesis Starter Essentials for Poser
They are no longer included in the list of files to download with the Importer, and are not part of the Importer's installer, either. They are, however, listed separately in my Product Library. The problem is, none of the files are installers anymore. They're all zips, making Section 3 of the User Guide useless.
As an aside, I also have the Genesis 2 Starter Essentials.
I have four questions:
1) Do I need the Genesis Starter Essentials to use the DSON, or can I discard them and just use Genesis 2?
2) Where is Genesis content supposed to go in order for Poser to see it?
3) How do I identify DSON-compatible content when shopping?
4) How are Poser companion files labeled for compatible products?
Daz 3D is part of 
Connect
DAZ Productions, Inc.
7533 S Center View Ct #4664
West Jordan, UT 84084
Licensing Agreement | Terms of Service | Privacy Policy | EULA
© 2026 Daz Productions Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Comments
"Genesis starter essentials" is needed only if you want to use genesis 1.
If you don't use DAZ install manager, here's how you install DAZ zips manually:
In the zip there should be a top-level folder called "content". Take everything which is inside that folder and put it into your Poser content directory, which is the folder that holds the Runtime.
So the "Runtime" folder in the zip should be merged with your Poser Runtime directory, and the DS specific directories (data, People, ...) should be next to it.
Items compatible "as is" with DSON Importer should have "DSON Importer for Poser" in the "compatible software" section on the product page, and when you look at the product files description they should list a DSON Core and a Poser companion file.
It usually says on the Product Page:
This product includes:
•1 DSON Core Installer
◦1 Poser Companion Files Installer
Some Poser users have found that both the Genseis or Genesis 2 Starter Essentials and their Poser Companion Files work better installed to a single external runtime. Having the DS and Poser Companion Files in one can help some of the Poser library issues that can arise.
What version of Poser are you using? Are your Service Releases up to date? P10/Pro2014 is up to SR5.
Another quirk you may find is where you install the Python scripts. The best place to install Python scripts is still to the Python folder in the main Poser app folder. The less Poser has to spend looking all over your hard drive for something, the better.
Library lock is a pain. Using the external library (Air) as opposed to the internal (Flash) can help. If it doesn't, you might want to consider using an external library manager.
Poser still tends to like having it's various files in the old Runtime set up. Some users experience no library issues and others have many. Only common element I've ever noted is that those who have problems tend to move files around. Yes, Poser is supposed to be able to handle this. But sometimes it doesn't.
Already done.
No worries. I use the external Library.
Thanks to those who replied. Your tips helped, and I've got my G2 library all set up now.
Correction: I've got my G2 base figure library set up. Installing content appears to be another story.
When downloading DSON-compatible content - namely, wearables - do I need the Studio-specific files, or can I just use the Poser CF files?
You need the DSON files which are the Studio-specific files. The geometry UV and morph files are all in the "data" folder that is with the DSON file. Do learn to use DIM as it will make installing easier.
Only if you like your content scattered everywhere. There isn't actually a need to bury items 6 & 7 subfolders down.
Most issues with installing DSON content in poser comes from people unfamiliar with Genesis manually installing products and putting it in the wrong spot. Using DIM makes it much easier, especially if you have multiple items to install. Just install your DSON core files to the place where you installed Genesis in one pass, then change the directory to your poser install in preferences then install the companion files in the second pass.
Only if you like your content scattered everywhere. There isn't actually a need to bury items 6 & 7 subfolders down.
You can certainly do that after you understand where things need to be, but I think it is good advice to get things working first. Once you know that things are working and where the pieces need to be, you can then go about rearranging things. Rearranging things after installing them with DIM isn't any different from rearranging things after unzipping them with any other unzipping program.
Correction: I've got my G2 base figure library set up. Installing content appears to be another story.
When downloading DSON-compatible content - namely, wearables - do I need the Studio-specific files, or can I just use the Poser CF files?
All Genesis and Genesis 2 content you wish to use in Poser will need both the original DSON files and the Poser Companion files. If you have the G2 base figure workin in your library set up, you may find it better for your Poser set up to manually unzip the files to a temp directory and move them into the working Genesis 2 runtime/library you are using.
JoePublic had a thread over at the Rendo Poser forum on how to install Genesis/V5 files to a runtime. It's an older thread and I don't know if you can locate it with the forum changes.
You can certainly do that after you understand where things need to be, but I think it is good advice to get things working first. Once you know that things are working and where the pieces need to be, you can then go about rearranging things. Rearranging things after installing them with DIM isn't any different from rearranging things after unzipping them with any other unzipping program.
We're Poser users - we understand file structure - of course, it would be easier if DAZ actually documented the Daz Studio file structure. But that would be documentation, and we all know how DAZ feels about documentation.
Very simple: There are 3 special folders in DAZ Studio: Data, Runtime, and ReadMe's. They are only special if they are directly underneath the folder designated as a content folder, otherwise they are treated as ordinary folders. For using the DSON Importer for Poser, the Data folder must be in the same folder as the Runtime folder.
Data contains the geometry, morph, and UV data.
Runtime contains the textures and all Poser-format files, using the same file structure as in Poser.
ReadMe's is ignored.
Any other folders can be named and arranged any way you like. For using the DSON Importer for Poser, any other folders are ignored. So the Data folder and the Runtime folder are the only ones you need in Poser.
The rules are much simpler than the Poser file structure, but I don't expect someone to automatically know what they are just because they understand the Poser file structure, any more than I would expect someone from another field to automatically know the Poser file structure. And just as I wouldn't advise someone new to the Poser file structure to start rearranging files until they know how it works, I wouldn't advise someone who isn't sure what files need to be where for the DSON Importer to work to start rearranging things. And while DIM isn't required, I would advise people to use it rather than manually installing files from zips until they know where things need to go.
That's what I needed help with. Thank you for clarifying.
It usually says on the Product Page:
This product includes:
•1 DSON Core Installer
◦1 Poser Companion Files Installer
Unbelievable...
Since returning to DAZ Studio last September, I've bought 27 products for Genesis 2.
Since switching back to Poser a week ago, thanks to the lack of Poser CFs, I can only use 13 of those items now.
:: heavy sigh, facepalm, taps fingers ::
I need a new hobby... the growing divide in 3D art standards between DS and Poser is really irritating, and has suddenly become financially wasteful...
Unbelievable...
Since returning to DAZ Studio last September, I've bought 27 products for Genesis 2.
Since switching back to Poser a week ago, thanks to the lack of Poser CFs, I can only use 13 of those items now.
:: heavy sigh, facepalm, taps fingers ::
I need a new hobby... the growing divide in 3D art standards between DS and Poser is really irritating, and has suddenly become financially wasteful...
Products which are morphs only and don't have library files don't need Poser Companion Files, so some of those may still be usable. It's also possible that a product would work fine in Poser, but the vendor doesn't have Poser or isn't good at making Poser-optimized mats. You can try creating PoserCF's yourself in DS, or Dimension3D has a script that lets you load items without needing PoserCF's.
I'm not a content creator. I did find the D3D DSON Loader you mentioned, but the accompanying text file mentions a few limitations I have no interest in dealing with.
I've come up with a better solution.
Limiting myself to one program because of content compatibility makes no sense. Being flexible provides more options to work with any given project. So, I'm going to use both DS and Poser as the situation warrants.