I'm re-organizing my DAZ installs, again
Ron Knights
Posts: 1,870
I can't continue to ignore the immense weight of the older, unused content. It just makes things harder to work on.
I am starting totally from scratch, using DIM to install everything.
My current idea is as follows:
1.) GenOld (everyone before Genesis)
2.) Genesis (!)
3.) Scenes Fav
4.) Scenes (other)
5.) "Stuff"
Post edited by Ron Knights on
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
© 2025 Daz Productions Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Comments
I think you should make one category/folder and put everything in it. Then you don't have to figure out what folder anything is in.
Descriptions of my multiplicity of content libraries are in recent forum strata. I keep a lot of them so I can find the stuff, and use the old Content Library instead of Smart Content. It has its disadvantages, but more advantages.
I wanted to separate the stuff I use the most from stuff I rarely use.
That's why all characters before Genesis are in their own install location.
The same goes for animals, scenes etc.
If i can make a suggestion, I would suggest a different approach. The problem isn't that the products are in the wrong place; the problem is that you don't know what is there and how to find it i.e. an inventory problem rather than a storage problem. If it is an inventory problem, then the solution is to create an inventory. You have either a Mac and Pc and every product whether Poser or Daz Studio has a thumbnail so you can create a spreadsheet in Microsoft Exel or Apple Numbers, a massive multipage catalog in Microsoft Word or Apple Pages that contain the product's true name, a thumbnail which you can copy from the product, when you bought it, what figure it is for, color, historical period, any unusual attributes you care about, folder location, etc. Then you can use the computer to search for them. The process of goin through each product will reacquaint you with the products, allow you figure out which ones are out of date or worth refurbishing, you can use the info to update smart content (I can poin you to tutorials on how to edit smart content, you still get updates and smart content will bring up things like textures when you select the product.
Here is a primitive example of an entry for a product I bought recently to give you ideas:
Nemesis10, thanks for your input.
Actually I know where much of my content can be found. Sometimes. Maybe. It's complicated.
Part of my reason for this project was to move old stuff out of the way. I want to concentrate on the newer stuff like Genesis characters.
Smart Content really isn't all that smart. And it invites us to spend far too much time organizing content. I ignore Smart Content, the database stuff, etc.
I appreciate that you appear to have a system that works for you.
But I'd rather use the DAZ content and my time and energy to Make Art.
Part of my old job was inventories (inventories of hazardous chemicals, biohazards, controlled substances etc...) When you move stuff away, it is important to know where it is and what it is. True, Smart Content isn't that smart if you want to apply content for other figures to a different generation but most of it works well for what it is intended. It is possible that you are using it in ways that it was never designed for such as wanting to apply a V4 hair to a Genesis 3 female but don't have the time or inclination to tell the database that V4 hair is supposed to fit to Genesis 3 females. However, this is a big however, Smart Content is an editable database. I don't know if you are ever around children or animals, but they are pretty helpless out of the box but with proper training, they can be useful. My own opinion is that the biggest advantage of computers is that they are good at handling details that humans can't handle like databases. I have been around long enough to see that you have reorganized your content multiple times; why do you think this time will be different than any other time you reorganized?
nemesis10, I've been a DAZ customer for 25 years. Believe me I know which characters get which resources.
I noticed some really bad file organizing in the early years, especially. That's why I wanted the older characters off in their own little "Runtime." (ex: Michael 1, Michael 2, Victoria 1, 2, 3, etc.)
DAZ files still get some weird, and incosistent file placement. Many items are filed under "vanity" folders (Stonemason, etc.) I never remember who created the stuff, I just want to use it.I've pretty much learned to "make do."
Unfortunately, now it appears an external 3TB hard drive has died. That drive stored most of my work for the past 25 years. I'm still trying to figure out my next step.
For what it's worth, my advice is not to waste a lot of time organizing all of your stuff right now, nor even installing it all. If you're looking to get back into just having fun, doing the comics you used to do, I'd pick a generation you want to work with to start (e.g. Genesis 1, or 2, etc.) and install a batch of stuff you *know* you'll want to use right out of the gate and use it, adding in more stuff later as you want to do more. When you're bored and trying to come up with your next comic idea, install a bit more stuff, a little at a time. You'll probably trip across stuff you've forgotten and *that* might trigger another idea.
Nobody gets a medal for installing 5,000 assets they've never used nor never will. If they did, I'd have a dozen medals by now.
Sure, you won't have all of your stuff organized and in place right away, but you'll have a lot more fun sooner than later. Never put off having fun if you can help it.
There is a lot of truth in this. The system and storage you have, combined with your purpose, matters. Each user differs in needs and habits and my thinking is differ from the norm and may or may not work for the OP or others, but it sure works for me. It all depends on one's goal.
Ron, one can get lost in organization and change their minds tons of times if one has no specific goal. Just rendering new stuff, or fun stuff, or old stuff once a month can be a goal. Prior to a project, I do go on a hunt for assets I own and make sur everything need is installed prior to compiling the first scene. Organization can be seen as a time waster reflecting procrastination . . . or a time saver that enhances production depending on where, how and why you organize. As of today, I own $442,237.00 worth of DAZ assets ( didn't pay that amount) and I am rather protective of such assets. Sure I use DIM to download and have 8TB SSD external master hard-drives with everything on it. One for DIM Downloads, one for Installs and another for Manual Downloads. Yes I have spent eons organizing my stuff but not in Studio . . . manually in folders, outside of the 'library', in a way that make sense to me. I have a fail-safe system where I can find any item, any genre, any generation, any wearable or anything I need for a project or whim, within 30 seconds or less. I do use custom categories and favs within DAZ Studio, but IMO DAZ Studio content categories are a fruitless timewaster unless created for a specific project. Organizing categories to be organized is well . . . whatever. I do install everything on one external 8TB SSD drive, but I always have other 8 TB SSD drives dedicated to work such as testing, projects etc. My library assets are immense. To keep my sanity I do have a few golden rules. I never install after download, never delete after install, and never update without renaming the original downloads. I never, ever, overwrite product. I value my DAZ Versions and the plugins that work with each. And I religiously download all assets manually to a 8TB external hard-drive and backup that hard-drive . . . just in case. Sometimes I need a plugin that the current version does not support. That's why I bought it . . . to use it. Hence keeping multiple version backups. So, think twice before making a clean sweep.
Edit: As you know DIM does not install every asset purchased.
Also: The thing with external drives is manually controlling the drive letter of the external hard-drive in windows or your operating system, as such can change and mess up the DIM Manifest.
I use Zentimo to manage external devices, it can lock a drive letter to a device so it never changes.
https://zentimo.com/features.htm
My organizing project ended a few days ago. I've actually done something similar years ago.
To tell you the truth, I've let the "idea" of DIM intimidate me. The "DIM Voice" in my head tells me how easy everything is if I just surrender.
But then we get to Smart Content, and how that's supposed to be helpful. Oh, but wait, the database might need some work.
The organizing work is done. I've actually made a backup copy of the reorganized DAZ Studio disc. However, I may have lost the larger hard drive that had much more stuff stored.
Hey, everyone, I very much appreciate your support and input. Honestly, even after 25 years I still see myself as a Bumbling Amateur!
I recently joined DAZ Premier, and bought a few Genesis 9 items. I'm compelled to use DAZ Studio to express my distaste concerning a certain "political personality."
I'm not sure where I'd share those images. But it will help me vent some emotions!
ArtAngel, I am extremely impressed with the description of your DAZ assets.
Something to consider when you download, DS6 or 2025 will not work with the Poser files or 3DL mats. They will need to be converted to .duf or Iray/Filatoon to work. Of course DS4 will continue. When I installed my products into my Win 11 and MacMini Pro M4 I didn't know this, but I was very selective on what I installed based on what I actually used or appreciated. I avoided bundle stuffers and really inexperienced buys. But I still have a number of early products I do use that I need to convert to continue using. Just as I thought I was done with administrative chores for Daz Studio. At least I know now.