I have restarted it and trying to re-import metadata again

If you use DIM, do not use Daz Connect. Don't ever install or update any product from within Daz Studio if you install with DIM. It will only cause you problems. You will end up with duplicated files and total confusion. Some products like some scripts don't even work when installed inside Daz Studio. Uncheck the option to update metadata when you log in. Just keep using DIM.

This is how you can update metadata that DIM installed:

1. First, save any User Data that you have:
   • Open the Content Library pane.
   • Click on the 4 line "hamburger" menu to open the context menu.
   • Select Content DB Maintenance...
   • Put a checkmark on Export User Data and click Accept.
   • Wait for it to finish
2. Then update metadta from the files that DIM stored in /runtime/suppoort
   • Open the Content Library pane.
   • Click on the 4 line "hamburger" menu to open the context menu.
   • Select Content DB Maintenance...
   • Put a checkmark on Re-import Metadata and click Accept.
   • A dialog will open with checkmarks on User Data and all your products. If you want to update all of it, just click Accept.
   • Wait for it to finish.

See if you Smart Content is working yet.

They are both 17237, I have it checked to update metadata when it logs in, is there any other way to update it? I have tried updating it via the connect drop down menu but this does not seem to do anything.

I don't see anything in the Content Directory Manager that would prevent content currently loaded with DIM from working. Maybe your metadata needs to be updated. First lets see if Daz Studio and DIM are using the same port to talk to CMS. Your DIM settings show a CMS Database Port of 17237. Open Daz Studio and hit the F2 key to open Preferences. A Preferences dialog box will open. In that dialog, select the CMS Setting tab. If the Port number is not 17237, change it to 17237 and click Accept. If it is already 17237, good; just click Cancel.

Report back here whether you had to change th port number in Preferences or whether it was already a match for DIM settings.

The weight on G9's Spine 4 is different from G8's Chest Lower, so auto-fit or whatever converter will bring your "distortion" as long as G9's Clone is used. Even if you go for tweaking weight, it won't work. There's no better way other than fixing it with external application...

If you know a sculpting software like Blender / ZB, it'll be pretty easy to fix it.  Export Jacket to OBJ file with Base Resolution and fix the distorted area in Blender with Smooth Brush, then import OBJ back to Jacket as a fix morph...

VolvoB10M said:

This PostgreSQL that is running the CMS

That's a SQL database for the Daz metadata, as far as I know. I don't think it has anything to do with DRM. What error message does it give you?

mrpdean_7efbae9610 said:

milliethegreat said:

If not making my own materials thank you very much mrpdean_7efbae9610! I'm also not making any games in UE. I'm rendering still images in UE.

Saying you want to render in a particular application but refusing to learn even the basics of how it's material system works makes no sense to me.

Is there a pipeline to convert maybe the whole character with the geoshell to a form UE can import? 

Off the top of my head, I can think of one pipeline for getting the complete figure with geoshell into UE but it also won't auto-magically set up the nessecary materials for you so I'll leave it at that.

 As long as it's idiot/noob friendly (please say it is please say it is) I guess I have no choice but to try it as I don't see any other options other than give up. So what is it? How much 3d graphics college classes do I have to take to figure out how to do it?(Please say none please say none)

How about UE 5.3? I usually do my final render in UE 5.3 and use Daz just to fix materials and then import fbx and other formats into UE 5.3 using the dtu bridge 

Another way is to use FaceForm Wrap to wrap CC4 character with Genesis 8 / 9 Base figure, then import OBJ as head / body morphs.

Graygecko_63b06fd4c9 said:

I own severed man for Genesis 9. I follwed the instructions and picked the right hand. Now all I get is a visable hand still attached to a body that is invisible except for eyes and teeth. I could have done that by turning off the display. Is there a way to get REAL severed parts I can move easily on the xyz axis and attached to things or store as a prop??

Well, I recommend a way of manipulation, see if it works for you. Use "Severed Lt_Hand" as an example.
- firstly, you don't need any attachment under G9, eyes, mouth, eyelashes, etc. delete them.
- unparent Severed Lt_Hand node from G9, parent G9 to it. Alt + Shift + J, select Severed Lt_Hand node, move Center and End Points as per ss1, then Memorize Figure Rigging.
- Alt + Shift + U, freely manipulate it or attach it to other objects or export OBJ / import as a Prop ( you may carefully delete unused geometry on G9 before exporting to OBJ... but DO NOT use "Convert Figure to Prop") ...as ss2.

 

Nope, G9 works fine here, blender 4.0.2 mhx 1.7.4.0111, or please describe the exact steps to reproduce the issue as simple as possible.

my steps:

1. import G9, then convert to MHX without poles
2. pose the hand with the IK control and keyframe
3. snap FK to IK then IK to FK multiple times, works fine nothing moves

 

update. It seems it's disabling limits with the MHX panel, while disabling in the global settings works fine. Reported to Thomas.

https://bitbucket.org/Diffeomorphic/import_daz/issues/1927/snapping-issues-with-mhx

Padone said:

Nope, tried without poles and works fine here.

my steps:

1. import G8F and convert to MHX
2. pose the hand with the IK control and keyframe
3. snap FK to IK then IK to FK multiple times, nothing moves

Thanks, that was my key finding as well... but pls try with G9 in Blender 4.0+ if possible.

Here's a quick video - https://mega.nz/file/KaAQFAgA#7f8COWa3s74S2ZlOCTl2qXGoMeY9dZF2KEmfV4mdrWQ

Actually even with G8F/M, there's very subtle change when toggling Snapping or FK/IK, easy to overlook...

I made a headshot of a celebrity on Character-Creator-4 and i'd love to import it's head, and attach it to an existing Genesis 8/9 character. CC4 gives me the option to export as: obj, fbx, bhv, goz, upload to sketchfab. What would be the most effective way of doing so? Currently, I've successfully imported its head incl. textures from an fbx export. Any help? :)

Nope, tried without poles and works fine here.

my steps:

1. import G8F and convert to MHX
2. pose the hand with the IK control and keyframe
3. snap FK to IK then IK to FK multiple times, nothing moves

Does anyone know if it's possible to import an FBX into Blender, and export it to OBJ while preserving the OBJ groups?

Most of Linday's hairs were made with Tubes rather than Hair Cards / Hair Lines. Tubes (esp. low base poly) can easily be intersected with the geometory of other objects.... Like the draping result on a G9, you can see the hair also penetrates into the head and body of the figure... Of course you can tweak the properties on dynamic surfaces, however, as long as it drapes, the penetration can not be 100% prevented, unless you set high stiffness, as well as low dynamic strength, etc...But if go for that way, simulation will be meaningless...

So, my experience is: in your case, after simulation, if really needed, just push the back hair up with Mesh Grabber or in Blender, then import OBJ as a corrective morph.

windli3356 said:

Today is another time of the year I got this "CMS failed to connect error", unlike previous few times, I wasn't able to relink to my main Daz files even after a clean system restart or a manual shut down, now i have to rebuild the whole environment, will take days of my effort, and this cycle will continue whenever Daz postrgreSQL decide to error (very positive it's not a problem on my end) this time i really find myself at the end of my patient.    As a long time blender, UE4/5, CC3/4 user,  never have I encountered this much app generated issue require exceeding trouble shooting effort form its user.  

Why this background hijacking postgreSQl + CMS is garbage beyond repair? 

1. it can't stop messing with users' local environment, doesn't matter if you "work offline", it always find a way to "update the metadata" and screw the users when things go wrong on their end, when users choose "work offline' we really meant it!

If you are not online (or, now, if you leave the log-in options at the default do not update metadata) then the CMS will not get updated except when you edit it or install/uninstall files

2. it makes custom content folder relocation far more complicated than it needs to be

Moving an entire content directory, as long as DS is correctly pointed to the new location, should be frictionless as far as the CMS goes (DIM, if you use that to install, does need updating - via editing the manifests or just reinstalling using the new paths). Of coruse moving files within the content directory in a way that the CMS can't see will break referencs (but will not corrupt the database) - Daz provides multiple ways to avoid this (you can move within the Content Library pan, you can use links leaving the original files in situ, or you can just use categories).

3. it always running in the background while other software treat it like a virus(and your system have to shut down twice for this reason) 

As already covered, it does not run in the background as long as you allow DS to close down properly. There are ample warning of the perils of force-quitting.

4. It's broken ALL THE TIME, and then ask users to relink or lose everything.  

Not true for most users.

Daz still has a lot things going for it, it's fast character and content rendering is still very temping, but if they can't help to screw their users local environment a self generated database running on users background, I don't know if this app still worth it! 

Mod edited title and post:​

windli3356 said:

Fixmypcmike said:

1. It really can't

3. It doesn't run unless DS, DIM, DazCentral or Carrara are running.

1. it really can, thro multply ways...say when DAZ postgreSQL gets shutdowned or restarted, for example, when you have to shutdown your computer, there's a higher chance all your data will be corrupted

3. Do yourself a favor and see how many "why daz doesn't close" threads you can find in tech issue section, or simply open up windows task mannger to see if postgreSQL isn't running in the background, and no, feel free to close all DS related apps, daz postgreSQL will always running in the background 

1. That has nothing to do with going online and/or updating metadata.

3. I always check Task Manager if I intend to back up the database or I need to make sure DS has completely closed.  I have never found PostgreSQL running in the background when DIM and DS have closed.

 

^An error has occured see log file

 

2024-02-06 22:37:38.305 [INFO] :: Prepare asset load (open): /Environments/Architecture/Downtown NY Living Room/Downtown NY Living Room.duf

2024-02-06 22:37:38.305 [INFO] :: Locking viewport redraw...

2024-02-06 22:37:38.305 [INFO] :: Viewport redraw locked.

2024-02-06 22:37:38.345 [VERBOSE] :: Native format content directories: 2

2024-02-06 22:37:38.345 [VERBOSE] :: Poser format content directories: 2

2024-02-06 22:37:38.345 [VERBOSE] :: Other import format content directories: 0

2024-02-06 22:37:38.345 [INFO] :: Begin asset load (open): /Environments/Architecture/Downtown NY Living Room/Downtown NY Living Room.duf

2024-02-06 22:37:38.345 [INFO] :: C:/Users//OneDrive/Documents/DAZ 3D/Studio/My Daz Connect Library/data/cloud/1_67361/environments/architecture/downtown ny living room/downtown ny living room.duf (1,1): Syntax error - expected '{' or '['

2024-02-06 22:37:38.345 [WARNING] :: Error loading asset: C:/Users//Documents/DAZ 3D/Studio/My Daz Connect Library/data/cloud/1_67361/environments/architecture/downtown ny living room/downtown ny living room.duf

Operation failed

2024-02-06 22:37:38.385 [INFO] :: Unlocking viewport redraw...

2024-02-06 22:37:38.385 [INFO] :: Viewport redraw unlocked.
Any ideas on how to resolve?

" // "  my name between so redacted 

Ither products seem to load fine, not sure what gives with this one.....

Today is another time of the year I got this "CMS failed to connect error", unlike previous few times, I wasn't able to relink to my main Daz files even after a clean system restart or a manual shut down, now i have to rebuild the whole environment, will take days of my effort, and this cycle will continue whenever Daz postrgreSQL decide to error (very positive it's not a problem on my end) this time i really find myself at the end of my patient.    As a long time blender, UE4/5, CC3/4 user,  never have I encountered this much app generated issue require exceeding trouble shooting effort form its user.  

Why this background hijacking postgreSQl + CMS is garbage beyond repair? 

1. it can't stop messing with users' local environment, doesn't matter if you "work offline", it always find a way to "update the metadata" and screw the users when things go wrong on their end, when users choose "work offline' we really meant it!

2. it makes custom content folder relocation far more complicated than it needs to be

3. it always running in the background while other software treat it like a virus(and your system have to shut down twice for this reason) 

4. It's broken ALL THE TIME, and then ask users to relink or lose everything.  

Daz still has a lot things going for it, it's fast character and content rendering is still very temping, but if they can't help to screw their users local environment a self generated database running on users background, I don't know if this app still worth it! 

Mod edited title and post:​