Folder frenzy - an appeal from a frustrated daz user

Marketplace Discussions DAZ3D
1

I’m one of those who’s installing my content manually. Don’t think that Smart Content is as “smart” as it claims to be. Have had some peculiar incidents also with Install Manager so I’m also quite careful there. When installing manually though, I have a pretty good idea where everything winds up.

From time to time, I’m having computer problems and thus forced to reinstall Windows and the whole shebang, DAZ Studio included. It’s a painstaking process. Over the years I’ve gathered lots of stuff from both Renderosity and DAZ3D. Installing all the stuff back can, in fact, take more than a week. When saying this I mean install from the early morning to the evening with only a few breaks.

One thing in particular I’ve noted, is the PA’s love for making folders . As if it was a divine commandment ”thou shalt make folders”. This even if it has no seemingly function to me as a manual install guy. Perhaps apart from making my life harder. As a user, I like to find the stuff I purchased right away. Not having to search for stuff, often spread around the different folder categories. Often the item I’m looking for has the PA’s name. Not the name of the stuff I purchased. Open the folder and finally… there’s the item I purchased.

Guess they might have done so as a precaution. Perhaps in case I’ve suffered from a concussion with resulting amnesia, they’ve provided me with a scripted link to their shop. The chances might be that I might have forgotten from whom I’ve bought the stuff.

Other PA’s like to be as exclusive as they create a folder of their own. Not people, props or lights et cetera. But their own brand in the middle of all the other folders. I guess their aim is to stand out among the others. The thing with me is, if I like what a certain PA is creating, I will return for more. As simple as that. Most of the PA’s are satisfied with their initials on the product followed by the name of the models itself. That way I do not have to sit and sort out the folders with PA’s name and delete them to be able to find better and beyond all - faster.

This causes (of course) problems in DAZ Studio’s search engine. Items are left blank with no connection or link to the item in question within Daz Studio. I do wish there were alternatives for those of us who are installing manually.

3Delight more and more is being phased out in favor of iRay. Therefore I find it remarkable that some PA’s have to state the obvious and put a folder marked ”iRay” within the materials folder. Why not put the materials there straight away? Without the need for an ”iRay” folder?!? I can see the functionality if there would’ve been a choice between iRay and 3Delight. Now it’s only annoying.

2

Everyone agrees this is frustrating. PA’s using their name is an issue that apparently has supporters and detractors so Daz isn’t intervening with standards. Just move things to where you’d want them. You can move/copy/paste almost anything in the Daz folder except in the data and runtime folders.

3

Also, backup your daz folder regularly.

4

Was about to move exactly those folders (Data and Runtime) to another hard drive. So you’re saying that this isn’t possible?

5

/Data contains all the geometry and morphs for your figures. That can’t be touched.

/Runtime contains any legacy Poser related geometry as well as textures and morphs. It’s mainly used now for textures (not shaders or materials). Textures in this instance being defined as “it’s from a UV”.

Everything else can be pretty much customized as you see fit.

Unlike you I do like Install Manager. It just makes uninstalling and reinstalling content that much easier. And I would be lost without the search features built-in.

So I have two Content Libraries. One for DAZ3D content, and one for everything else.

You know which one is the most obscene? The DAZ3D content. Content from Renderosity I can 99.9% guarantee is standardized. No misspellings for folder names. It is such a joy and pleasure to install content from Renderosity.

Content from Renderotica on the other hand… Jesus H. Fucking Christ. It all depends on the PA. There is simply no rhyme or reason to anything from there.

And you know what else has no rhyme or reason? Content from DAZ3D!

This is the top-level folder hierarchy for my DAZ3D Content Library. All of this crap was installed by DAZ3D PAs. I refuse to mess with anything here because I find myself more and more uninstalling stuff I don’t use but then having to reinstall it back a few months later:


F:\My DAZ 3D Library>dir
 Volume in drive F is DRIVE_F
 Volume Serial Number is 68FB-E615

 Directory of F:\My DAZ 3D Library

2022-03-14  17:21    <DIR>          .
2021-01-26  19:05         2,381,921 48877_IrayLightProbeKit.pdf
2021-01-26  16:34           427,153 56555_OsoBlendyTwoLayerShaderforIray.pdf
2021-01-27  08:46        13,213,895 62975_Ron's Acrylic Painting.pdf
2021-05-12  18:45           998,134 64247_MDCHdForceClimbHighAccessoriesforGenesis3and8.pdf
2021-01-28  16:12            33,437 64923_Rainbows.pdf
2021-01-26  18:06    <DIR>          Aiko 3
2022-01-20  16:48    <DIR>          aniBlocks
2021-01-29  16:20    <DIR>          Animal
2021-12-13  18:54    <DIR>          Animals
2021-10-12  17:34    <DIR>          Animations
2021-10-12  17:34    <DIR>          Architecture
2021-10-12  17:34    <DIR>          assets
2021-10-12  17:34    <DIR>          AuraBianca
2021-05-12  19:04         1,103,202 Bench and Poses Genesis 8.pdf
2021-03-05  02:05    <DIR>          Bonus
2021-03-05  01:13               754 bridge.gif
2022-01-22  13:35    <DIR>          Camera Presets
2022-03-14  19:05    <DIR>          Cameras
2021-07-26  09:17    <DIR>          Character
2021-12-23  15:41    <DIR>          Clothing
2021-08-14  19:44    <DIR>          content
2021-03-05  01:13               855 corner_logo_bl.gif
2021-03-05  01:13               710 corner_logo_br.gif
2021-03-05  01:32    <DIR>          Cyn_Templates
2021-02-05  20:18    <DIR>          D2C
2021-03-05  01:13    <DIR>          DaemonessaSSSUpdate
2022-03-12  12:28    <DIR>          data
2021-05-12  15:53    <DIR>          DAZ Studio Tutorials
2021-03-05  01:45    <DIR>          DAZStudio4.5+ SDK
2021-03-05  01:31    <DIR>          Developer Trade Secrets
2021-10-12  17:34    <DIR>          deviney
2021-10-12  17:34    <DIR>          dForce Presets
2021-10-12  17:34    <DIR>          Digital Art Live
2021-10-12  17:34    <DIR>          Documentation
2021-10-12  17:34    <DIR>          Dreamlight
2021-10-12  17:35    <DIR>          Dynamic Clothing Props
2021-10-12  17:35    <DIR>          Dystopia
2021-10-12  17:35    <DIR>          Enviornment
2021-11-13  17:26    <DIR>          Enviroments
2021-10-22  07:17    <DIR>          Environment
2022-02-26  14:03    <DIR>          Environments
2021-03-05  01:13               955 esha Free Dyn Cloth Tut.txt
2021-05-12  21:02    <DIR>          Expressions
2021-05-12  18:20        25,341,627 FaceScars_Pck2_Documentation.pdf
2021-01-29  15:40           242,615 Fashion Studio Help.pdf
2021-03-05  01:32    <DIR>          Figure Creation 2
2022-01-04  23:04    <DIR>          Figures
2021-03-05  01:13            61,863 FlowerlingTemplates.zip
2021-12-02  22:26    <DIR>          FM_Planetarium
2021-01-26  19:43            36,008 Forests Trees & Grass-Read Me.pdf
2022-03-10  15:58    <DIR>          General
2021-05-12  17:12        12,011,194 Genesis 3 Wet Body Iray Manual.pdf
2022-02-15  17:04    <DIR>          Geometries
2021-03-04  15:56    <DIR>          GKDantas
2021-01-26  19:12    <DIR>          GoBos
2021-01-31  19:51    <DIR>          Gonfalons
2021-03-05  01:13           399,819 GreylingTemplates.zip
2021-02-15  17:05         2,857,948 GynoidsTemplates.zip
2021-01-26  18:53    <DIR>          Hair
2021-09-03  21:21    <DIR>          Hands
2021-03-05  01:13               846 header_l.gif
2021-03-05  01:13               773 header_r.gif
2021-03-05  01:13    <DIR>          html
2021-01-29  11:58             1,710 HW_MonoChrome.atn
2021-01-29  14:34    <DIR>          IES
2021-02-06  23:36        16,587,218 Infogal CrossDresser License Installer.exe
2022-03-16  07:42        96,302,686 InstallManagerFileRegister.json
2021-12-18  01:18    <DIR>          JER03
2021-12-18  01:18    <DIR>          JER04
2021-05-05  14:48    <DIR>          JER05
2022-02-15  17:04    <DIR>          Libraries
2021-01-26  19:18    <DIR>          Light  Presets
2021-01-26  19:17    <DIR>          Light Dome PRO
2022-01-03  10:56    <DIR>          Light Presets
2022-02-18  21:40    <DIR>          Lighting Presets
2022-03-11  12:09    <DIR>          Lights
2021-01-31  19:55    <DIR>          Maclean
2021-01-29  15:09    <DIR>          Magix-101
2021-10-24  15:19    <DIR>          Materials
2021-05-12  18:24           610,475 MDSDR_RhodesSet_ReadMe.pdf
2021-05-12  17:56         8,400,515 MERCHANT INFORMATION.pdf
2021-01-31  19:51    <DIR>          Mestophales
2021-03-05  01:57    <DIR>          Mixamo BVH
2021-03-05  01:29               239 ModelingTheBeastReadMe.txt
2021-01-31  20:32    <DIR>          Notilize
2021-05-12  19:22            97,252 OsoTexturedHair.pdf
2021-12-18  01:06    <DIR>          Oxygen Infused 2D to 3D
2021-01-31  19:53    <DIR>          P3DA
2022-02-12  21:41    <DIR>          People
2021-05-12  15:53        16,880,849 PerfectlyImperfect2_Eyes_Options.psd
2021-05-12  15:53        73,245,473 PerfectlyImperfect2_Face_Options.psd
2021-05-12  17:01        50,365,784 PerfectlyImperfect_Arms.tif
2021-05-12  17:01        12,620,572 PerfectlyImperfect_Eyes.tif
2021-05-12  17:01        16,105,220 PerfectlyImperfect_Eyes_Options.psd
2021-05-12  17:01        50,378,176 PerfectlyImperfect_Face.tif
2021-05-12  17:01        73,196,678 PerfectlyImperfect_Face_Options.psd
2021-05-12  17:01        12,607,148 PerfectlyImperfect_Genitals.tif
2021-05-12  17:01        12,628,272 PerfectlyImperfect_Lashes.tif
2021-05-12  17:01        67,136,744 PerfectlyImperfect_Legs.tif
2021-05-12  17:01        12,617,188 PerfectlyImperfect_Mouth.tif
2021-05-12  17:01        67,141,632 PerfectlyImperfect_Torso.tif
2021-09-04  18:15    <DIR>          Physics
2021-01-29  15:34    <DIR>          Pose
2021-03-05  01:13            44,779 Pose5 MAT Files.zip
2021-03-05  01:33    <DIR>          Posermocap
2021-05-12  21:02    <DIR>          Poses
2021-01-26  19:17    <DIR>          Predatron
2022-02-21  11:09    <DIR>          Presets
2021-12-27  15:32    <DIR>          Prop
2021-01-26  20:08           495,447 Prop Move Map.png
2022-03-12  12:29    <DIR>          Props
2021-05-12  20:13            13,536 Props.png
2021-02-20  15:55    <DIR>          PSD Background
2021-02-05  20:08    <DIR>          PX3_ForOtherApps_INC8
2021-03-05  01:32            39,936 RDNA EULA.doc
2021-02-15  18:01    <DIR>          RDNA Pro Readmes
2021-04-27  14:24    <DIR>          Read Me's
2021-04-27  14:24    <DIR>          Readme
2022-03-08  20:27    <DIR>          ReadMe's
2021-04-27  14:24    <DIR>          ReaMe's
2022-01-20  16:48    <DIR>          Reisormocap
2021-11-21  14:19    <DIR>          Render Presets
2021-09-18  11:58    <DIR>          Render Setting
2021-09-08  08:27    <DIR>          Render Settings
2021-01-31  19:46    <DIR>          RenderPresets
2022-03-15  09:32    <DIR>          resources
2021-09-14  15:04    <DIR>          Runtime
2021-03-04  19:57    <DIR>          Ruven-Uvs
2021-05-12  15:53        50,405,112 RYPerfectlyImperfect2_Arms.tif
2021-05-12  15:53        12,609,292 RYPerfectlyImperfect2_Genitals.tif
2021-05-12  15:53        12,627,636 RYPerfectlyImperfect2_Lashes.tif
2021-05-12  15:53        50,408,352 RYPerfectlyImperfect2_Legs.tif
2021-05-12  15:53        12,619,996 RYPerfectlyImperfect2_Mouth.tif
2021-05-12  15:53        50,434,324 RYPerfectlyImperfect2_Torso.tif
2021-03-05  01:39    <DIR>          Scene
2021-03-27  19:28    <DIR>          Scene Builder
2021-02-06  23:21    <DIR>          Scene Subsets
2021-05-12  19:37    <DIR>          Scenes
2022-03-09  17:55    <DIR>          Scripts
2021-03-05  02:11    <DIR>          Secret Prize
2021-01-26  17:09    <DIR>          Shader Mixer Tutorial
2021-04-01  09:26    <DIR>          Shader Preset
2022-03-09  17:55    <DIR>          Shader Presets
2022-02-14  19:21    <DIR>          Shaders
2021-04-27  14:25    <DIR>          Sickleyield
2021-01-26  19:17    <DIR>          SOA ReadMe
2021-03-05  01:13                43 spacer.gif
2021-03-05  01:13            14,619 start.html
2021-08-06  14:17    <DIR>          Templates
2022-02-15  17:04    <DIR>          Textures
2021-03-05  01:29       223,328,579 The Beast 1.wmv
2021-03-05  01:30       394,098,769 The Beast 10.wmv
2021-03-05  01:29       343,032,667 The Beast 2.wmv
2021-03-05  01:29       387,791,907 The Beast 3.wmv
2021-03-05  01:29       436,066,595 The Beast 4.wmv
2021-03-05  01:29       213,622,451 The Beast 5.wmv
2021-03-05  01:29       285,173,859 The Beast 6.wmv
2021-03-05  01:30       309,952,689 The Beast 7.wmv
2021-03-05  01:30       203,264,165 The Beast 8.wmv
2021-03-05  01:30       399,229,839 The Beast 9.wmv
2021-01-28  16:13    <DIR>          Transport
2021-06-08  09:06    <DIR>          Transportation
2021-01-29  15:35    <DIR>          Tutorial
2021-02-05  19:08    <DIR>          Tutorials
2021-01-27  08:45        10,464,751 Ultimate Pose Master User Guide.pdf
2021-03-05  00:41    <DIR>          Uninstallers
2021-02-15  16:48    <DIR>          Vehicels
2021-03-30  09:31    <DIR>          Vehicle
2021-03-05  01:31    <DIR>          Vehicle Rigging
2022-02-25  14:41    <DIR>          Vehicles
2021-03-05  02:11    <DIR>          VInnCircus Decoder Images
2021-05-12  17:22         4,595,253 VYK Banshee Tutorial.pdf
2021-05-12  17:15    <DIR>          Wearables
2021-01-26  20:21    <DIR>          WHWitney
              62 File(s)  4,046,372,136 bytes
             113 Dir(s)  4,589,614,022,656 bytes free

F:\My DAZ 3D Library>

And I haven’t touched any of that. That all came by way of Install Manager.

Now, compare with my third-party content library:


F:\Third-Party Content>dir
 Volume in drive F is DRIVE_F
 Volume Serial Number is 68FB-E615

 Directory of F:\Third-Party Content

2022-03-15  13:52    <DIR>          .
2021-10-20  12:42    <DIR>          !!HellFishStudios
2010-12-19  16:02             1,913 !!HellFishStudios.png
2021-10-20  12:42    <DIR>          Add these rotators to all your existing Inspiration folders!
2021-10-20  12:42    <DIR>          aniBlocks
2021-10-20  12:42    <DIR>          Animals
2022-03-15  17:37    <DIR>          Data
2022-03-16  17:07    <DIR>          Documentation
2012-10-29  10:08             3,276 EndUserLicense.txt
2022-03-15  09:49    <DIR>          Environments
2022-01-14  23:44    <DIR>          Figures
2022-03-15  17:38    <DIR>          General
2021-10-20  12:42    <DIR>          Lights
2021-10-07  12:42            60,871 Manifest.dsx
2021-10-20  12:42    <DIR>          Materials
2021-10-20  12:42    <DIR>          New Expression Zero Options
2022-02-26  23:51    <DIR>          People
2021-11-25  11:35    <DIR>          Poses
2021-11-25  14:03    <DIR>          Presets
2022-03-15  17:37    <DIR>          Props
2022-01-14  23:44    <DIR>          Render Presets
2021-11-28  22:50    <DIR>          Runtime
2021-12-12  23:07    <DIR>          Scene Subsets
2022-02-23  16:18    <DIR>          Scenes
2019-04-28  10:44    <DIR>          Scenes Done
2021-11-25  11:33    <DIR>          scripts
2022-02-11  19:56    <DIR>          Shader Presets
2021-11-25  11:33    <DIR>          Shaders
2022-01-14  23:44    <DIR>          Shaders Presets
2021-10-07  12:18               190 Supplement.dsx
2021-11-25  11:33    <DIR>          textures
2021-03-20  20:14    <DIR>          Vehicles
               4 File(s)         66,250 bytes
              28 Dir(s)  4,589,614,022,656 bytes free

F:\Third-Party Content>

Much much cleaner. :slight_smile:

6

I’ll look into that. Thanks for this tip.