Finding purchased items

DV-FiSTer

Can someone explain the best way to find an item you've purchased, either within Smart Content or Content Library? I just purchased, downloaded and installed the Ultimate dForce Bed (SKU:50263), as the beds I already had are pretty crappy and the scene I'm working involves a somewhat well-to-do family, so I found something a bit nicer. I've searched through smart content. I've searched through lost and found. I've searched through the content library. All to no avail. 

This isn't the first time I've struggled to find a new item purchase, so I'm hoping someone can come up with a relatively simple way to figure out where Daz Installer has placed the item within the content hierarchy.

Richard Haseltine

How did you install? Have you checked the readme (click the i icon next to the product name in DIM)?

DV-FiSTer

Richard Haseltine said:

How did you install? Have you checked the readme (click the i icon next to the product name in DIM)?
 

Yes, I used the auto-installation. I was actually considering manually downloading and then placing the file where I know how to find it via content library, but I figure there has to be a better way.

Richard Haseltine

If you mean Install Manager right-click on an item in the Installed tab of DIM and select Show Installed Files - it will open a list with clickable links to the folders. If you mean Daz Connect (through Daz Studio itself) then just open the product (in the products tab of Smart Content or the Products container in the Content Library) - u need to see the folder structure (e.g. to follow step-by-step application for shader products) then right-click on one of the product files and seelct the Show Asset in>Content Library Mapped foilder (for DIM) or Virtual Folder (for Connect).

DV-FiSTer

I did download it now, and now I do see the readme; alas, all it does is gives instructions on how to do the dforce simulation for the duvet, and seems to assume you only got the duvet as it remarks that you have to load a bed frame, mattress, pillows, etc. and then add the purchased duvet.

What I bought should have it all included.  

That said, I then look at what is included in the download, and none of those files are within my content library (yes, I did refresh, and I navigated to the folder using windows explorer and nothing there)... so the issue, at least in this case, seems to be something with DIM.

It was showing as installed in DIM, actually wasn't - I uninstalled it via DIM then re-installed and now it shows up. So this specific issue is resolved...

... but my initial question still stands. Is there any convenient way to determine where something you've just installed will be hiding within the hierarchy as they don't always make much sense as far as I can tell. Even if there was a way you could sort by date of install that would be very helpful.

 

Richard Haseltine

Have you check the list of Installed files I mentioned above, and use the link to go to the folder to check theya re there? Have you looked in the Content Library under Daz Studio Formats, rather than using Smart Content or Categories/Products?

jhogenboom_da69c035a9

I've always found it easiest to find that info on DIM (once it finally loads). Highlight the one you want, make sure show details is checked down at the bottom, and click show file list.

barbult

Here is a direct link to the readme file for the Ultimate dForce Bed product.  You can find the readme for any Daz product (that has a readme; sometimes Daz doesn't create one) with the URL http://docs.daz3d.com/doku.php/public/read_me/index/xxxxx/start by replacing the xxxxx with your product SKU (50263 in your example). The readme file is not the same thing as any user guide that the PA may have created for his product.

The readme file will tell you where to find the icons for loading the product assets from inside Daz Studio. There are two sections there to help you find the product files in your Daz Studio Content Library folders and in your Daz Studio Content Library categories. (The readme file also contains a link to Files List that shows where the product files were installed on your computer's hard drive. Not all of those files in that list are "user facing" files accessible from inside Daz Studio. That files list is there so you can see where the files are stored on your computer, but is not intended to help you find the product inside Daz Studio.

There are three main ways to install Daz Store products. Pick one method and stick with it. Don't ever install the same product with both DIM and from inside Daz Studio.

1. Daz Install Manager (DIM), which is a separate application from Daz Studio. DIM can install all types of Daz Store products successfully, including Daz Studio itself and its updates, plugins, and scripts. DIM is by far my preferred installation method.
2. Daz Connect (installing from from inside Daz Studio). This method installs files in a different folder structure than DIM does. It cannot install all types of products. Some scripts will install, but not run successfully.
3. Manual installation by unzipping download packages and copying files around. This can work but can be prone to human error and not all products have a manual download available.

If you install your products with DIM, you can also access the product readme from inside DIM by clicking the little  i with a circle around it. 

barbult

In Daz Studio Smart Content, you can conveniently sort products my install date.