IceDragonArt said:

PerttiA said:

IceDragonArt said:

I install my content with DIM to a separate drive.  I do log in, I never work offline.

 You do know that logging in to DS is only necessary when one has made the informed decision to use DAZ Connect inside DS as their primary installation method for the content?

I did not know that.  Thank you!  I cant use DAZ Connect ( and have zero desire to do so) due to postgre issues in any version above 4.11.  Well thats great infromation!

Daz Studio uses PostgreSQL in several contexts, and both DIM and Daz central write to the database.

From your product library in your account from the store. https://www.daz3d.com/downloader/customer/files. There are 3 ways to download products. DIM (Daz Install Manager), Daz Central, and manually. The most effective, robust, and usually lacking issues is DIM

frank0314 said:

Have you tried downloading it manually

How do I do that, sorry never tried anything but doing it with daz Central :) 

To get rid of DAZ Connect installed versions of content, one needs to uninstall them within DS (in 'smart' content)

DAZ Connect inside DAZ Studio was created at a time DAZ experimented with encrypted content, which did require logging in to DS/DAZ servers to verify the users licence for that content. The experimentation with encrypted content was ended some 5-6 years ago, but the user is still asked to log in without being told why or being warned about the possible consequences and side effects - Sometimes decryption errors occur due to the content still being encrypted at DAZ servers that are used by DAZ connect to download them.

The installation location DAZ Connect uses is non-traditional, which does not work with scripts and older content, and whatever gets installed by DAZ Connect, overrides the installations made by the other installation methods (DIM/DAZ Central/Manual installation), even when the DAZ Connect installations fail to work due to for example decryption failures. If content is installed by either DIM or DAZ Central and again with DAZ Connect inside DAZ Studio, the content is installed twice, taking twice the space on ones drive.

Logging in to DS is only needed if one chooses to use DAZ Connect as ones primary method of installing content, otherwise it is only making a mess out of the content installations.

Yes, the central keeps hanging and the manager seems to get stuck as well. Did manage to get the software to work for a while somehow, but after a restart it was gone again and wanted to be reinstalled. The same hanging on the central etc. started all over again. The software seems to get worse and worse with every update. It would need a complete do-over, but I guess it's too complex already for that. A dinosaur in it's dying pains.

I only ask this because you mention installing via DAZ Central and DM. If the Mac version of the plugin is similar to the PC version, it should have it's own installer or installation process that doesn't use DM or Central. It sounds as if you installed the stand alone version of Octane, that version will not work as the plugin for DS. You will need to download and install the plugin for DS from Otoy, it's a different product than the stand alone renderer. Octane Render Kit only provides some shaders and lights to use with the plugin, not the plugin.

Sorry if you already knew all of this, I'm just trying to cover all the possibilities, and your description of the install process is much different than what I've experience on a PC. The Mac process could be different, so I thought I'd just check to make sure you installed the DS plugin from Otoy, and not just the stand alone version of Octane (yes, it's a bit confusing for new users).

My thanks Elliandra and I have watched the first of these videos as you suggets I should. The problem is as I actually mentioned that I knew about going into hel and finding the installed plug ins and then activating Octane. However I cannot find Octane by that method. I attach screen shots to show what I mean. As shown the SS from the video clealry shows Octane, the SS from my version of studio 4.21.0.5 does not show Octane. From this I asume that despite manually adding every file included with the download in the correct locations, somehow it has failed to install. I tried to install using Central, a process I find tedious and so slow I lose the will to live while waiting. And I dont use install manager ever, so what could I be doing that is wrong...

I am not arrogant enough to think that this is anything other than my fault, but I install everything I have in my own custom content library with no problems...

The install Manager is flakey and Studio is slow Have installed the Daz Central App, looks good but goes into (not responding mode), as soon as you try to install any assets, it could be because I'm in hospital at the moment on a free wifi, which slowat the best of times.

The Smart Content gets its info from the metadata in the Runtime/Support folder, which should be intact with your content. You can Re-Import the metadata from the Content DB Maintenance panel to re-create your database, which was also most likely on your C: drive.

How do you install? If with DIM/Daz Central, and if you still have the original zips, you can re-install to re-build the Manifest Archive. DIM uses that to determine what has been installed, and usefull info like Show Installed files.

The greyed-out icons in Smart Content are from Connect, which cannot find any metadata (or is it the manifests?), but DO NOT try to download through Connect if you install with DIM. Crossing the beams, and all that. In fact, there is no reason to log in from Studio if you do not use Connect, so disable that in Preferences.

I've tried everything to try both programs and I can't. I've already changed my password, I've already reinstalled the programs, I've created a new account but I can't log in either.

I need to update my DAZ Studio urgently and I can't, does anyone know what I have to do?

I really need help!

What's wrong with this program? I decided to update Daz3D a year after I installed it. It was a bad idea. I can login on the website but not in any program (couldn't login into Daz for a while too, worked offline) so I can't install it that way. It says my login info is wrong. I know it isn't because it works on the website but if I try to change password it doesn't send anything to my main.

I tried to install it manually but it froze at the end 

I noticed online a day or so back that Octane render had released a stand alone version for silicone based Macs. So in my ignorance I thought i would give it a go, and now have it sitting on my drive. Cant use it becasue I am too stupid to figure out how. Then I noticed a free version of Octane render for DS, so having the latest version of studio, and the Octane kit being free I decided to give that a try, and guess what, I cant get it to work at all. I manually install all my content and am certain that every element in the download package is correctly installed but when I try to render with it it doesnt appear.

I know about going to help and checking installed plug ins and so on, but Octane does not appear in the list. So what am I doing wrong or better still, what do I have to do to get Octane on my machine. I have also tried to use Daz central to load the thing, and have even set up Daz connect which I never ever use simply in an attempt to get hold of Octane. Thing is I have no idea how good the results might be with Octane, but I would like to find out. 

Any help or advice would be great, thanks....

After repeatedly encountering the very problems you describe, I have given up on expecting Daz Central to update DAZ Studio. Now I use the Daz Install Manager, which works without problem. Uninstall the older version first.

windli3356 said:

I just bought your product,,,, come on, please package your product correctly before selling it, I haven't tested it yet because the way you packaged it made installation impossible, 

1. Since the product never made it clear if it can be found in unity? script? plugin? or something else, why don't post the installation guide on your product page?

2. It's offered to install with Daz central as smart content, but obviously it doesn't install correctly, so I figured ok I will just go mannually install it.

3. then the manual downloaded file is a mere install manager...worse yet, it give users 0 option to select folder location/path, or Daz version, it assumed all users content libraryis in the default path(wrong path)...and it assumed all users have daz 4.5(my version is 4.21) 

4 By watching your video, I noticed this product is a script and launched in a panel, so I mannually copied and pasted the file to the right path on my PC, found the script in Daz... just to find out you never offered a serial code when I need to actviate it.   

I've attached a screenshot of your install manager so you see what I'm talking about.  

I've used installed some unconventional werid plugin/script before like animate2 & mesh grabbers, Your product is probably as useful as these, but they both offered clear installion guide and a serial number.  

edit: I found a PDF file in unpacked folder, it didn't offer any installion guide, only how to use it.  

Installers are built by DAZ, the PA has no control over installation. Basic rule when installing is never to use DAZConnect for scripts or plugins. Always install using DIM. DIM will install into all installed DAZ releases, Relase and public beta.
Manuals for plugins are found under the help tab.

All the problems you mention happen on Daz's side of things. For some reason, they've plagued Alberto with missing serial numbers right from the start (it usually takes a couple of days for them to solve it), and they keep offering installers for scripts and plugins in both Daz Central and Connect when it's known that those methods of installation more often than not break the scripts. Honestly, sometimes it looks like sabotage.

Regarding the "wrong" version of Daz, 4.21 is, from a scripting perspective, 4.5, and that's where the scripts and plugins will install when using DIM. You shouldn't have any problems with it. If you're using custom installation paths, that's certainly your prerogative, but you'll have to act accordingly, and any script you buy from the store will need to be installed in pretty much the same way. Basically, you're asking for a guide for something that is usually straightforward enough: use DIM and activate the serial number--not to say it couldn't be of use, but I won't count it as a mark against the product.

I just bought your product,,,, come on, please package your product correctly before selling it, I haven't tested it yet because the way you packaged it made installation impossible, 

1. Since the product never made it clear if it can be found in unity? script? plugin? or something else, why don't post the installation guide on your product page?

2. It's offered to install with Daz central as smart content, but obviously it doesn't install correctly, so I figured ok I will just go mannually install it.

3. then the manual downloaded file is a mere install manager...worse yet, it give users 0 option to select folder location/path, or Daz version, it assumed all users content libraryis in the default path(wrong path)...and it assumed all users have daz 4.5(my version is 4.21) 

4 By watching your video, I noticed this product is a script and launched in a panel, so I mannually copied and pasted the file to the right path on my PC, found the script in Daz... just to find out you never offered a serial code when I need to actviate it.   

I've attached a screenshot of your install manager so you see what I'm talking about.  

I've used installed some unconventional werid plugin/script before like animate2 & mesh grabbers, Your product is probably as useful as these, but they both offered clear installion guide and a serial number.  

edit: I found a PDF file in unpacked folder, it didn't offer any installion guide, only how to use it.  

murgatroyd314 said:

Installed with DIM. I've never used Connect or Central.

Good. I think that is the best policy. That eliminates Connect as the source of the problem. It may be a Mac thing, but it would be good for another Mac user to chime in and verify whether it works for them.

Installed with DIM. I've never used Connect or Central.

I submitted a ticket for something similar for Red Crow Inn a few weeks ago. I ended up installing manually.  This is what DAZ said...

"Thank you for reaching out to us. I have tested this on my end and was able to reproduce the issue. However, this was an issue we were unable to fix for this product specifically due to the long file name. 
 
This file name's length causes it to update infinitely which leads to the issue you are experiencing. Please also note that according to the product page, this product is not guaranteed to be compatible with Daz Connect. 
 
Unfortunately, the only way to get rid of this is to install the product via DIM, Daz Central, or manually. "

I'm experiencing frequent inconsistencies in my Daz Central >> My Library >> Daz Studio Assets view, namely the Order Date seems to arbitrarly change almost ever other time I load Daz Central.  What's worse is that the order date rarely seems to follow any logical, consistent pattern; sometimes items I ordered months ago will show up at the very top of the Order Date listing, and most of the time the order is wildly out-of-sync (and unordered) with regards to the *actual* purchase date of my items.  Nothing seems to have precipitated these sudden alterations (no new downloads of the software program, etc.) so I'm at a loss at understanding what exactly is happening behind-the-scenes.  It's frustrating because my catalog is massive and I'd appreciate some stability from the app.