 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
|
 |
 |
|
 |
| Step 4: Installing Content |
|
|
|
|
|
| Return to the !PzDzDownloads folder where you put the files from the 3d Bridge Starter Pack. Start with the Aiko3 Base. Like the others, it is an .exe file, which means it has a self-installer. Follow the install instructions below, as we will not be installing to the default path.
Click on the Aiko3 Base exe file. It will ask if you want to include an uninstaller – choose yes or no as you wish, then continue past the license agreement. When it asks for a Target Application, choose Daz Studio or Poser, whichever you use most – it really does not matter. What is most important in the installation is the final file path. |
| As you install these various files, note that different installers follow different sequences, If you are asked to search, say no; or if it starts searching, stop it. There is no need for this when you know your destination folder, and it just takes up unnecessary time. During installation you will reach a page similar to this one, though again, it may vary between installers.: |
 |
| Choose “Specified Directory” (1) then Browse (2) for your chosen runtime directory, in this case, C://ALLRUNS/Aiko3. Once you have selected and okayed it, be sure that the correct path is showing (4), then continue with the installation. Your Aiko3 Base files will now be installed in the Aiko3 Runtime Directory.
Do the same with the other files, remembering each time to choose the file path that corresponds to the folders you set up in ALLRUNS. The only exception is the MechGirlA3DS file. This file is for Daz Studio only so we will not install it at this time. |
| Another kind of installation that you will be running into often, especially if you download freebies, is the Zip file. Most freebies, and purchases made in stores other than DAZ will have their content packaged as Zip files that must be extracted into your runtimes. This is a fairly simple process, but there are a few things to consider before extracting the files, one of which is whether the zip file has been set up correctly.
To show some examples, I have prepared two downloads for you. They are texture sets for a free dress created by Lulu, available at Deviant Arts. (The link to the free dress is in the readme if you wish to have it). For now, download these two files on the left of the page. Even though this is essentially one texture set, I have set them up as two files for illustration purposes. |
|
|
|
|
| Download these into your !PzDz_Downloads folder, in the Aiko3 Category’s sub-folder Clothes. I created these two files as examples of what you might find in zip files. The first one is correctly formatted; the second one is not, but is easily fixable.
Before anything else, be sure you have a zip extracting program. Win Zip has a free demo, and there are many other free extractor programs available, so if you have not yet found one, do so now. When you are ready, click on the “Right” zip file for the BabydollTx. Don't extract it yet - look at it. This will show you what a zip file should look like when correctly formatted. |
 |
| The first thing to do before extracting your files, is to check and be sure the file path is correct. Remember the sample runtime you created in XtraRun? Correctly zipped content should always begin with Runtime as the first folder. Occasionally there will also be a readme folder or file at this placement, but the majority of your file paths should begin with Runtime. The same sequences as the Runtime sub-folders must also be respected. Notice in the example, after Runtime, there is a folder called Libraries. You might also see Geometries or Textures folders at this level. Next, as should be expected, after libraries, come library categories, such as Pose in this example. These could be any of the library categories, Cameras, Lights, Props, etc.
You don’t have to check every little thing, but pay attention. You may have to think about what you are seeing in the beginning, but soon enough you will know at a glance if the files are correctly bundled. Since this file is okay, go ahead and unzip it into the ALLRUNS/Aiko3 folder. |
 |
| Be sure that All files/folders is checked (1). This may also be called something like “maintain file paths” or “keep file paths intact”. Also, (2) check use folder names. You may or may not have the option to Overwrite existing files (3) – this is optional. If you do not check it, or if your Extractor Program doesn’t have this option, then when you click on Extract, you should have a pop-up that warns you about overwriting files. Continue anyway, say yes to overwrite because nothing will be lost, it will only overwrite the folder names. This is only on Windows PC. If you are using a Mac, do NOT allow overwrite! Unzip to a separate folder and move the files by hand.
IMPORTANT: Though I am not familiar with the Macintosh system, I have been told that if you are using a Mac, you must NOT allow overwriting as it will replace everything in the folders with the new folders. I can only suggest that Mac users install into a temporary folder and then move the files by hand or by whatever other method they may have learned for handling zip files. |
| The next file, A3_BabydollTx_Wrong_j3d, is an example of what is probably the most commonly made mistake in packaging Poser files. So here is how to spot this kind of zipped content, and what to do about it. Open it now and take a look. |
 |
 |
| As you can see, the file path begins with a folder called BabydollTextures. If you extract this into your runtime, it will extract a folder of that name with its own runtime rather than incorporating the runtime into the one you wish. What can be done? Go ahead and extract it into your Aiko3 runtime, as it will be easy enough to fix. |
| Notice that you now have the BabydollTextures folder at the same level as the Runtime. (Green circle) If you click on it, you will see its Runtime as a sub folder, either directly below it or in the view pane to the right. (Blue circles) |
| Remember how you pulled your XtraRun Runtime folder up onto the main categories? Well this time instead of right click, you will left click and hold on the Runtime within the Babydoll folder, either under it or in the viewpane at the right. Drag it, and drop it onto the Aiko3 folder. Not onto Aiko3/Runtime, but onto Aiko3, the folder that contains the runtime. You will be warned again about overwriting files. Again, if you are on a Windows PC, say yes. The files will then find their place in your Aiko3 runtime.
Don’t forget the readme. Though it doesn’t show under the BabydollTextures folder, it does show in the viewpane to the right. (Always check the viewpane!) As you can see, the readme file is named simply readme.txt, with no other distinction. Rename it A3_BabydollTx_Readme.txt. Notice that there is a ReadMe’s folder already in the Aiko3 Folder, so just pull this renamed readme into that folder. Everything should now be installed into the correct Runtimes. However, you may notice already, and certainly will notice once you add more content, that there is still some disorganization in the files. Certainly you have made them easier to find by putting similar categories of files together. But there is more to do. |