I installed the new version of Daz, then I installed some things using Daz Central.  Not everything showed up there so I installed Daz Install Manager and installed a few more.  I'm pretty sure the Genesis 8 Starter Essentials was installed using Daz Central.  Wouldn't that installed both versions of the figure?  I don't understand how the two are behaving differently.

Pretty much the same questions that I'm asking here https://www.daz3d.com/forums/discussion/528886/could-not-open-file-file-does-not-exist

Logfile, paths to content directories, are you installing with DIM/DAZ Central/DAZ Connect, are you logging/signing in to DS?

Except Connect (installing through DAZ Studio) absolutely relies on the database and Smart Content which a lot of us old timers do not like.  Further how would use content from other sites that cannot be installed with Connect (nor DIM or Central so needs manual install) and most like won't have metadata either so needs to used from the Content Library pane.

The whole point of Daz Central is to provide a simpler experience, since Install Manager was proving to be confusing for many new users. It is plug-and-play, sysem issues aside, that is its reason for being.

Install Manager will stay as it is useful for many people, especially if using other applications alongside or instead of Daz Studio.

Connect is also plug-and-play for content, but it doesn't work for plug-ins and sadly few scripts are written in a way that is comnpatible with it. it's also not from the "old days" - DIM is older, and Daz Central is pretty much just a skin on DIM.

Too many steps that have to be followed in a specific order. The average user will find it to be way too intimidating. I consider myself to be one of those average users. If DAZ wants to sell more products then they should cater to our average users. Make it as close to plug-and-play as they can. The old days of choosing to install through DAZ Studios ONLY should be eliminated. DIM should be given as the only effective install workflow. DAZ Central is too glitchy to use; either eliminate it or make it work just like DIM, only with perks for those who like it. What perks? Incorporate the graphics, news, or whatever-- just keep the installation faculties the same as DIM. That's my 2 cents. Giving users a step-by-step for install has become a frustrating waste of time because DAZ is constantly changing things and their minds. Just keep it simple and straightforward.

hi, i'm having the same problem. Daz is now on the C drive and i'd like to get, at least my content, on my D drive. is this as simple as just moving the Studio folder to the D drive? or do i need to do it thru Daz Central? btw, where is this link: Edit>Preferences>Content>Content Directory Manager. as far as i can tell this new Daz does not have the Install Manager. at least, i can't find it.

Is this linked to the problems we're getting with DIM, getting ssl 11 handshake errors and won't download any content. 
 

Daz central won't even show purchased content. 

It does have a Carrara version, but I don't think Daz Central should be trying to instal it. Please report this to support via a ticket. If you use Install manager it should pick up the Daz Central path settings and allow you to choose which parts to install. https://www.daz3d.com/get_install_manager/

Sorry -- I meant Daz Central in regards to the griping, etc.  My preference would be to manage all installation via DIM, but as described above, that doesn't work 25% of the time. I only install manually when installing through DIM doesn't update the content database. 

Richard Haseltine said:

There is no point in using DIM/Daz Central if you use Connect (install in Daz Studio) or vice versa - indeed, if you use DIM/Daz Central (or install manually) there is no reason to have Daz Studio work online at all.

Your last screen shot shows the package Files - the files in the zip, grouped by the type of destination they isntall to. The Installed Files list shows what was isntalled, and the file name is a link that will open a file browser to that location.

In the last screen shot the database icon, the stacked discs at the top to the right, is dark indicating that the database is not available to DIM (though ti clearly is available to Daz Studio) - this suggests that there is a system issue, with something blocking communication.

Which folder in the Content Library under Daz Studio Formats are you using? If it's Daz Connect then that is the content installed through Daz Studio, not the content installed through DIM.

I have not installed Daz Connect, the amount of griping in the forums led me to wait until more bugs are worked out. Is that perhaps the problem?

There is no point in using DIM/Daz Central if you use Connect (install in Daz Studio) or vice versa - indeed, if you use DIM/Daz Central (or install manually) there is no reason to have Daz Studio work online at all.

Your last screen shot shows the package Files - the files in the zip, grouped by the type of destination they isntall to. The Installed Files list shows what was isntalled, and the file name is a link that will open a file browser to that location.

In the last screen shot the database icon, the stacked discs at the top to the right, is dark indicating that the database is not available to DIM (though ti clearly is available to Daz Studio) - this suggests that there is a system issue, with something blocking communication.

Which folder in the Content Library under Daz Studio Formats are you using? If it's Daz Connect then that is the content installed through Daz Studio, not the content installed through DIM.

The support folder is the metadata from DIM/Daz central installs, and your own exported user metadata, so you don't want to delete that. the /Content/cloud/meta/ folder is the metadata from Daz Connect, that causes the downloadable in Connect icon to appear.

nazmy2_a263cf7a4b said:

I appreciate all your help guys, but I am going to try to use Daz Central instead. Wish me luck.

DAZ Central is going to have yet another idea of where it's going to install content...

You need to find out, where your content is installed and check that DS is looking for content in that location, installing content with different methods over and over again is not going to help.

I appreciate all your help guys, but I am going to try to use Daz Central instead. Wish me luck.

How did you install your content?

Manual, DIM, Connect, Central?

You might just need to reimport the meta data.

Right click on the "Smart content" or "content library tab, or click the menu option button(arrow and lines button at the top of the pane group, make sure smart content or content library are active as the menu options change with the active tab).

The select the "Data base maintenance" option.

In the popout tick the "re-import meta data" option.

As long as the support files are present in mapped directories, then cms should process them and update smart content.

Central is a dumbed down version of DIM and has its own set of default install locations so it would just make things worst.  Use DIM then stop letting DS go online is your best options.

Will an install with DAZ Central actually work without all of these complications? I gave up on it a long time ago.

If I keep DAZ close to work and never connect what are the disadvantages?

Also, since I cannot find the thread where you gave information about how to uninstall items installed by Connect, to be reinstalled only through DIM, can you repeat that here?

"I'm still dumbfounded that the essentials package wasn't flagged for updating for DIM or Central."

There are people who do their best to not move on to new generations.  The addition of new shaders such as "Skin PBR Shader", new figures such as 8.1 etc... are technically additions and not updates since they don't alter the original 8.0 figures at all. 

I'm still dumbfounded that the essentials package wasn't flagged for updating for DIM or Central.

Ascania said:

john_97a982ce said:

Oh my God. What a fiasco. So, the best scenario is to install through DIM with DS open to preserve the Metadata? Or with DS unconnected? Which install scenario makes sure the Data Export works? I guess DIM people just have to ignore the white box?

No. The best practice is to install with DIM only with DS CLOSED for it to install the metadata without interference and completely FORGET about the option to login inside DS. People who don't constantly mess things up by using DAZ Connect don't have any white box to be bothered by or ignore.

Connect is a viable option, though it's true that many script products are not written in a way that works with it (and, to be fair to the authors, they can't test Connect installs during development which is very limiting). Still, for some people it may be the preferred option with DIM or Daz Central a fallback when necessary.