If you are installing content within Daz Studio (ie. using DAZ Connect), the content will be installed to a completely different folder structure than what is used by the other installation methods, which means that if you install both inside Daz Studio and DIM/Daz Central/Manually, you are using twice the storage space and still Daz Connect installed (often corrupted) content gets priority over (working) content that's installed by any other means.

felixmustdie said:

Thank you for this topic. I had trouble getting it to work. I had the "cloud" issue, so I thought I'd spell it out here in a lil more detail for anyone else struggling.

 

I have the DAZ 3D program installed on my C:Drive

C:\Daz 3D\Applications\Data\DAZ 3D\My DAZ 3D Library\data\DAZ 3D\Genesis 8\Female 8_1\Morphs\Daz 3D

I did the steps in OP, and it had no effect.

However, I have a custom library where I install all the free stuff I find, and that's in a separate location. For me it's my primary library.

Say If I download a file, and it has 'data' / 'people' / 'runtime' folders, the place where  I put/unzip these files to is the location

[LOCATION] \data\cloud\1_42071\data\daz 3d\genesis 8\female 8_1\morphs\daz 3d

This is where I found secondary/duplicate versions of the folders mentioned in OP. Quickly followed OP's steps, and it worked like a charm. THANKS @certaintree38 !

I'm not sure what '1_42071' is referring to? Maybe a unique Daz ID for use with the store? But anyway be aware u might have to navigate manually rather than cut n paste the above.

Yeah, so I am a little late to the party I guess, but I struggled with what the OP posted too, did the same thing that felixmusdie said, and hid the files in the same location as he said in the "My Daz Connect Library" folder and it worked perfectly, so I can confirm that some users will have to do this. I have been installing nearly everything through DIM or Daz Central too, except for a few items here or there that I installed through connect. For some reason the 8.1 files and folders that the OP said to hide are in my "My Daz 3D Library" as well, I really don't know how they got both places unless Daz does it automatically because I am pretty sure I didn't install them there unless it was accidental. Evidently whatever is in the Daz Connect Library is indeed accessed first and whatever is there overrides whatever is anywhere else. The location in "My Daz Connect Library" was exactly the same as felixmustdie's [LOCATION] \data\cloud\1_42071\data\daz 3d\genesis 8\female 8_1\morphs\daz 3d, and then mail 8_1 for the male of course, so you might want to check for the folders here first because if you have them here then you will have to hide them here or they won't work no matter where else you hide them. If this was clarified in another thread already I'm sorry, but sometimes it's a little difficult to find everything written on a certain subject on these forums.

I uninstalled it and reinstalled it using Daz Central and now it loads OK. The problem seems to be only when installing from Daz Studio.

I uninstalled it and reinstalled it using Daz Central and now is working OK. As you said, it seems to happen only when installed from Daz Studio.

• C:/Users/Public/Documents/My DAZ 3D Library/Shader Presets/DS Defaults/dzToonGlossyMetal.duf

preset_shader

C:/Users/Public/Documents/My DAZ 3D Library/ is the default location for Daz Install manager to place files. The reset is a location within that content directory.

• C:/ProgramData/DAZ 3D/cms/Applications/Data/DAZ 3D/My DAZ 3D Library/Shader Presets/DS Defaults/dzToonMetal.duf

C:/ProgramData/DAZ 3D/cms/Applications/Data/DAZ 3D/My DAZ 3D Library/ looks to be the folder Central is using - so you set C:/ProgramData/DAZ 3D/cms/Applications/Data/DAZ 3D/ as its root folder and it is placing thimgs within that.

• C:/ProgramData/DAZ 3D/cms/Applications/Data/DAZ 3D/InstallManager/ManifestFiles/Applications/Data/DAZ 3D/My DAZ 3D Library/Shader Presets/Iray/Daz PBRSkin/Daz Iray PBRSkin.duf

The manifest file is what tells Install manager/Daz Central what it has installed and where; again, this is using the base Daz Central path you set and then a set subfolder within that for a sepecific kind of data

• F:/!D DRIVE/DS4_5/My DAZ 3D Library/Shader Presets/DS Defaults/dzToonGlossyMetal.duf

F:/!D DRIVE/DS4_5/My DAZ 3D Library/ is the folder you set as a content directory.

There is nothing special about having a folder called My Daz 3d Library, and it would be less confusing if you didn't use the same name for each content directory.

I wouldn't use the program data folder, but there's nothing wrong as such with using that location. However, if your C: drive is an SSD you might prefer to use a mechanical drive for content, and if you install to C: you may have to do some restoration work should you reinstall Windows (and would want to avoid reformatting the C: drive when doing so).

Don't like either Connect or Central - and don't get me started on not-so-Smart content.

DIM does what it says on the tin, and is easy to use and kept seperate from Studio.

I'm looking forward to DIM getting killed off as then I wont be buying any more items; presuming it does get killed off of course.

Hello! I'm new to DAZ Studio (moving over from Poser). Not understanding the different Paths/Directories my content is being loaded down to. Thanks for any help!!

1. I have 5 Directories under the Content Library Tab

2. I seem to have 4 Directory Paths that my stuff is installed to (could be my fault thru DIM adjustments)

Sample Directory Paths:

C:/Users/Public/Documents/My DAZ 3D Library/Shader Presets/DS Defaults/dzToonGlossyMetal.duf
preset_shader

C:/ProgramData/DAZ 3D/cms/Applications/Data/DAZ 3D/My DAZ 3D Library/Shader Presets/DS Defaults/dzToonMetal.duf

C:/ProgramData/DAZ 3D/cms/Applications/Data/DAZ 3D/InstallManager/ManifestFiles/Applications/Data/DAZ 3D/My DAZ 3D Library/Shader Presets/Iray/Daz PBRSkin/Daz Iray PBRSkin.duf

F:/!D DRIVE/DS4_5/My DAZ 3D Library/Shader Presets/DS Defaults/dzToonGlossyMetal.duf --->> this one I setup myself

3.  Which one should be the default for DAZ Central ???

4. I have also attached screenshot of DAZ Central Settings. Are these correct too please?

sandmanmax said:

richardandtracy said:

That looks really magnificent. I do have a problem though - it involves the word 'Plug-in'. I have discovered that manual downloads are impossible on plug-ins, and with an Android tablet as my internet connection, that's all I can do. DAZ's policy of making DIM/DAZ Central the only download method puts plug-ins out of reach for me. It's a shame, as the backgrounds look as fantastic as every other US component.

Is getting a used laptop in the realm of possibility for you?  That's what I did and it's my dedicated DIM device. DIM downloads a zip file and then I can copy it on to a flash drive to transfer it to my desktop.  And the manual install process isn't complicated.

Ideally yes. In practice...I really don't need or want another computer at home. A low spec laptop would drive me up the wall. It would only be used to download plugins. A tablet, in contrast to a low spec laptop, is fast to turn on, doesn't have MS Teams (or MS anything) to foul it up, doesn't have manufacturers bloatware introducing security holes, or anything like that. Then, the Laptop being used so rarely would spend a majority of its time downloading updates, and being a low spec thing would be virtually unable to respond to a cursor move until the updates were done - and experience suggests that would be hours after starting. My kids have had updates kill the battery management on their laptops (making them only work when plugged in) and every removed update gets reinstated next time -it makes you at the mercy of poor quality MS updates. It's needless agro I don't want. All in all, a desperately unattractive alternative, or maybe an alternative of desperation. Just not for me.

richardandtracy said:

That looks really magnificent. I do have a problem though - it involves the word 'Plug-in'. I have discovered that manual downloads are impossible on plug-ins, and with an Android tablet as my internet connection, that's all I can do. DAZ's policy of making DIM/DAZ Central the only download method puts plug-ins out of reach for me. It's a shame, as the backgrounds look as fantastic as every other US component.

Is getting a used laptop in the realm of possibility for you?  That's what I did and it's my dedicated DIM device. DIM downloads a zip file and then I can copy it on to a flash drive to transfer it to my desktop.  And the manual install process isn't complicated.

thenoobducky said:

charles said:

thenoobducky said:

charles said:

Those are cool! The second being a very clever speed option. I really just want to cull back my library of stuff I have never used and probably never will. I will probably do it in c# as I can't see it being very complicated. Just a dictionary bucket sort with simple class objects with a counter and cross matching. Parsing is my specialty from my NLP databasing days in PHP. xml and Json I don't even bother to handle in traditional ways. I use regex to locate markers and strip and grab around them. In the end it should just produce a list of every morph folder never used In anything I have in my scene files. I can then pick and choose what to unistall accordingly. That's the plan anyway!

Coincidentally, I have enough features in my program in a law few days that it almost does what you want. It can analyse files in a single folder and spit out the required Daz product and other files. The only things missing are recursively processed a folder and find transitive dependencies (like if product A requires product B).

 

C# definitely make implementing the program easy. Just have to poke at DIM install manifest folder and Daz metadata.

If I can use it to make a negative list that would be cool. I could just copy all scene files across my work drive and dump then into a single folder on scratch drive. The other thing is though my daz content library is split into 2 locations. One for daz content on work drive and thousands of 3rd party add-ons on a dropbox dedicated drive.

If you have files installed via DIM/Central, just point my program to the install manifest folder and get it to load all the products you have installed. Alternatively, you can add any folder as 3rd party folder. Then just get it to scan files and it will autoselect all products referenced in the scene and any 3rd party files it matches. You can then save it as a selection and it is just a JSON file with product names and file locations. You can edit the result into a format that DIM accepts and that should let you select all products used. Run this process on as many folders as you want before saving the list.

Edit: It appears DIM need "Product Name", "Product ID", and "Package ID" to make selection work. I can probably make it work for stuff sold through Daz store.

V 1.9 should work, but I have implemented a few more error handling and recursively scan a scene folder in V1.10 that is currently in the dev branch. 

The program works for me, but it might still have many corner cases it is not handling. No one has told me if the current version works or not for them.

charles said:

thenoobducky said:

charles said:

Those are cool! The second being a very clever speed option. I really just want to cull back my library of stuff I have never used and probably never will. I will probably do it in c# as I can't see it being very complicated. Just a dictionary bucket sort with simple class objects with a counter and cross matching. Parsing is my specialty from my NLP databasing days in PHP. xml and Json I don't even bother to handle in traditional ways. I use regex to locate markers and strip and grab around them. In the end it should just produce a list of every morph folder never used In anything I have in my scene files. I can then pick and choose what to unistall accordingly. That's the plan anyway!

Coincidentally, I have enough features in my program in a law few days that it almost does what you want. It can analyse files in a single folder and spit out the required Daz product and other files. The only things missing are recursively processed a folder and find transitive dependencies (like if product A requires product B).

 

C# definitely make implementing the program easy. Just have to poke at DIM install manifest folder and Daz metadata.

If I can use it to make a negative list that would be cool. I could just copy all scene files across my work drive and dump then into a single folder on scratch drive. The other thing is though my daz content library is split into 2 locations. One for daz content on work drive and thousands of 3rd party add-ons on a dropbox dedicated drive.

If you have files installed via DIM/Central, just point my program to the install manifest folder and get it to load all the products you have installed. Alternatively, you can add any folder as 3rd party folder. Then just get it to scan files and it will autoselect all products referenced in the scene and any 3rd party files it matches. You can then save it as a selection and it is just a JSON file with product names and file locations. You can edit the result into a format that DIM accepts and that should let you select all products used. Run this process on as many folders as you want before saving the list.

Edit: It appears DIM need "Product Name", "Product ID", and "Package ID" to make selection work. I can probably make it work for stuff sold through Daz store.

V 1.9 should work, but I have implemented a few more error handling and recursively scan a scene folder in V1.10 that is currently in the dev branch. 

The program works for me, but it might still have many corner cases it is not handling. No one has told me if the current version works or not for them.

I can't get Daz to open up either.  I can log onto DIM,or Daz Central, but get a fatal error access violation when I try to open Daz Studio.  I have an AMD graphics card as well as Intel CPU (I don't care which it uses... so long as it works), and I've checked and rechecked the drivers seem to be okay.  I even tried an old verison of Daz I had on disk, but it has the same issue.  I recently had my Windows 7 computer die and got a refurbished Windows 10 Dell, It seems a lot of people are having trouble using Daz on Windows 10,  The few that aren't having any trouble are likely more computer savvy than you or I and can root around, deleting things and changing things with confidence... or luck.

When did you file your ticket?  I did around July 2nd and no word back yet... 

Hello. I've searched but not finding anything. I just loaded product from DAZ Central to Studio. in the SMART Content Tab the product picture is missing. If I wanted to create one my self, what is the full path I would place the PNG file in please? Same for M4 product that I had previously loaded. Thanks!!

I am trying to install the latest version of Daz Studio but the Daz Central gets about 62% through then puts up this image.  What does "after previous installations" mean? 

Hello I have been trying to get Daz 3D to work now and I could really use the help. Ive installed it via Daz Central and DIM and everytime I start it up it crashes. I attempted a work around using this article below 
https://helpdaz.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/articles/4405408749325-Daz-Studio-Crash-on-Login-Windows-10-

Still however no matter how many times I do this it is still not working. I have uninstalled it and Re installed it. I have made several tickets in for help in the help centre with no reply. I am at my wits end. Please please please could I have some assistance. I am not a very computer savy person so I dont know what is the cause of the problem.

Here is some system info about my pc if it helps. Please someone help.
System Information
------------------
      Time of this report: 7/30/2021, 12:00:21
            
         Operating System: Windows 10 Home 64-bit (10.0, Build 19043) (19041.vb_release.191206-1406)
                 Language: English (Regional Setting: English)
      System Manufacturer: Micro-Star International Co., Ltd.
             System Model: GE62 6QD
                     BIOS: E16J5IMS.10F (type: UEFI)
                Processor: Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-6700HQ CPU @ 2.60GHz (8 CPUs), ~2.6GHz
                   Memory: 16384MB RAM
      Available OS Memory: 16292MB RAM
                Page File: 11665MB used, 20498MB available
              Windows Dir: C:\WINDOWS
          DirectX Version: DirectX 12
      DX Setup Parameters: Not found
         User DPI Setting: 120 DPI (125 percent)
       System DPI Setting: 144 DPI (150 percent)
          DWM DPI Scaling: UnKnown
                 Miracast: Available, with HDCP
Microsoft Graphics Hybrid: Supported
 DirectX Database Version: 1.2.4
           DxDiag Version: 10.00.19041.0928 64bit Unicode

richardandtracy said:

nonesuch00 said:

...

What I didn't realize is the Renderosity has so many more views than shareCG. I ought to upload those freebies there just to observe the difference of the math distributions (I kind of like math to, having got a degree in it after realizing I had only take an extra semester of classes to get the degree)  

The download numbers from Rendo are amazing. I only put them up there because I have been a member for twenty one years now having seen a Poser 3 image advertising Renderosity in the UK's 'PCPlus' computer magazine. That was mind blowing. Many years ago (2004), I put up a texture for the Poser 4 Cat, to make it look a little more like my Avatar Cat Albert, but that disappeared a decade after dear old Albert died. I didn't have a DA or ShareCG account until last year. Must be a bit slow...

Just have to jump in here, that is EXACTLY how I got started on 3d - with the free Poser 3 on the PCPlus magazine CD! I wonder how many others got hooked right there? It was sooooo hard to get that magazine in Berlin / Germany where I was living at the time as there was just that one store carrying it, at the central train station. I'd read about the free Poser version someplace else and then moved heaven and earth to get my copy. And it really was mindblowing, even with no 3d knowledge to start with. Still is, come to think of it. Thanks for sharing that little story!

As for freebies, I used to be a (very humble) PA at Rendo and here for a while many years ago, and before and alongside that, I also made some freebies. I think I started with textures not poses as I already had some Photoshop skills, also seamless patterns and such things. Then came poses if I remember correctly, and from a set of proper ballet poses for V3 (well, as proper as it was possible to do back then), my first Rendo product developed, a ballet set with poses and realistic (kind of ...) pointe shoes. I always kept up making freebies though, and also liked to include little extra somethings in the paid products. Really enjoyed that, seeing people actually wanting the stuff I made. I don't use freebies myself as much anymore these days, but I relied on them heavily back then, not having much money. They can be a real god's end, so thanks to everyone who keeps that up!

I have been working on this program to make it easier to select which files to add to Daz to make the character loading process quicker. It also doubles as an installed product viewed that lets you scale the thumbnails so it is easier to see. 

Previously, it only works with content installed via DIM/Central. Now I have got the selective load file part working with manually installed contents, with inspiration from here. Product gallery still relies on Daz metadata so only works with products installed via DIM/Central.

The program download link and the source code and guide.

The only limitations are it only works on Windows and you need to turn developer mode on or run it as admin.

Tip: I would still recommend separating out the stuff you commonly used into a separate folder and keep that permanently added as a base directory and then add any other directory as you need them.

Edit: Latest Version is V1.10.0, This should be feature complete.

For a beginner it is probably best to use one of the installers - Daz Central, which puts everything in a  single master folder, or Daz Install manager, which allows more customisation of what goes where. Given your uncertainty I would suggest using Daz Central, just point it to the drive you want to use (assuming you have a small, SSD boot drive and a larger, mechanical hard drive for D: I would thing set its location to D:/Daz Stuff/ or the like).

I avoid DAZ Connect at all costs with the few exceptions of content that DAZ Studio only sees on my system if it is installed via Connect; I've had about two dozen out of more than 2,000 items go this way.  DIM would install those few items, but they still appeared in DAZ Studio as uninstalled.  I've seen DAZ Central but don't like it much; that plus the fact that it will not install on my older laptop because of hardware issues.  I much prefer DIM because of its flexibility.

Mark_e593e0a5 said:

DAZ Central is not the best choice to install products. Especially the products containing scripts tend to fail miserably when installed with DAZ Central. After it has been messing up my machine quite often, I now wouldn't touch it with a very long pole.

I think you mean Connect (installing through Daz Studio).