How to "mark" an asset as being previously used when browsing through assets?

sazzyazzca

I have acquired thousands of items over the years, but most have languished somewhere in my runtimes and content folders. I now have the bright idea that I want to use everything I have purchased at least once in a render. Is there a way to mark a folder or item as having been used so I can see that at a glance when I'm browsing through my content? 

crosswind

If you use Smart Content, there'll be some tricks by using built-in function to realize the above request. If you use Content Library, I'm afraid the answer is no... even if there'll be still some 'tricks' but it will be pretty cumbersome...

Richard Haseltine

You could add a tag (e.g. Rendered) to files as you use them, that is in the (usually collapsed) block of tabs at the bottom of the Smart Content pane. You could also create a new group for the task, which can be applied to files or to products, but by default an update would remove the product and its files from the group and place it in New (which may be what you want).

crosswind

Yea, that is it.. as a Tag is tagged at the 'file level', so one has to click into the folder and check the related file... But if I were the OP, I would like to overview if a 'Product' has been ever used by me or not, so a Tag or an icon shown on the product thumbnail may just satisfy me. 
Anyway, for 80%+ of the time, I use Smart Content...

sazzyazzca

Thanks all for the advice! I have been away from anything to do with 3D for the better part of a decade and everything is new to me again. I've never even used version 4 and in 3 I had my folders set up according to themes. There were lots, but I always knew exactly where to find what I needed. What I used to be able to do was have a thumbnail .png with whatever was applicable on it. I'd name it the same as the folder, and then put that where the folder was, so that folder would show up in the content library with its own custom icon. I was hoping to iron out how I could do something similar before installing on a new computer, or come up with something compatible with my preferred workflow. I'm trying to avoid kicking myself in the butt later lol I do prefer Content Library.

 

crosswind

Oh dear, though I really understand what you used to do, in my humble opinion, that was too time-consuming... With Smart Content, I could get it done in 3 - 5 seconds...

sazzyazzca

Honestly, it didn't take long at all. A couple of copy/pastes and done.

ShelLuser

The problem with the content library though is that if you change some locations just a bit too much you could easily create inconsistencies within the library, in other words: rendering some assets unusable because the paths no longer match. And that could turn into a nasty surprise if you only find out later about all that.

I know how hard it is to change a habbit within the creative field, but still...  I can't help be convinced that once you give smart contents a serious trial run you may never want to go back to solely relying on the content library alone.  Yah, fair warning though: the "SC pane" can never fully replace the content library, no way, but they can provide quite a powerful combination.

crosswind

ShelLuser said:

The problem with the content library though is that if you change some locations just a bit too much you could easily create inconsistencies within the library, in other words: rendering some assets unusable because the paths no longer match. And that could turn into a nasty surprise if you only find out later about all that.

I know how hard it is to change a habbit within the creative field, but still...  I can't help be convinced that once you give smart contents a serious trial run you may never want to go back to solely relying on the content library alone.  Yah, fair warning though: the "SC pane" can never fully replace the content library, no way, but they can provide quite a powerful combination.

Echo the above and can't agree more… 

oddbob

sazzyazzca said:

I had my folders set up according to themes. There were lots, but I always knew exactly where to find what I needed.

Been there 

Started with Poser 4, have every version up to the last one. Started using DS with the beta and flitted between the two until Genesis took over. I had many runtimes all organised using P3DO explorer...

The state of the last release of Poser and the lack of new interesting toys to play with made my get over my strong dislike for DIM and smart content and start using DS exclusively again.

Now that it's clicked for me I wouldn't go back. The smart content pane is my default jump in place and where I spend most of the time when working with newer content.

sazzyazzca

Thank you all for your input and advice. :)

DrunkMonkeyProductions

Link files. The short, short version... 1. create a secondary 'working' directory. 2. put that directory at the top of the CDM(Content directory manager) list. 3. Run script to create link files of your asset library. 4. Shuffle, sort, rename those files and never worry about a database breaking or breaking content paths again. the long version Link files(DJL) are pseudo copies of DS compatible files. Basically, anything that can appear in content library, can have a link file for it. The file doesn't even have to be in a CDM(Content Directory Manger) listed folder, although that requires manual creation. The method i propose is to setup a secondary directory, of nothing but link files, and use that when working in DS as opposed to the default directories. With this, you will be able to rename files/folders, organize them how you want, and not have to worry about breaking paths, or (not so)Smart content database breaking. You would also be able to continue to use your png tag method, if you prefer to, as DJL's don't copy/create a thumbnail. Start by creating a directory in Windows explorer(or how ever macs do it). This can be anywhere you want, as it's placement is irrelevant. I would recommend sticking with putting it in the Default directory location, as that can be easier for many users to manage. Once that's done, open DS and right click on the the Content library tab, or the Active Pane options button(arrow with lines), and select Content Directory Manager. In the popout menu, you'll want to select DAZ Studio Formats(a dashed box appears around it when active), then select Add from the Directory section of buttons on the left of CDM. This will open an Explorer window, and you'll just need to navigate to the directory. Select the directory, and push the Select folder button. This will close the explorer window. If done correctly, the Daz Studio formats section will expand, and the selected directory will be active and at the bottom of the list. Select, To Top, from the Move section of buttons, and the directory will now be at the top of the directory list. Select Accept, and you're ready for the next step. Next you'll need to run this script(http://docs.daz3d.com/doku.php/public/software/dazstudio/4/referenceguide/scripting/api_reference/samples/specific_ui/create_asset_links/start) which will create link files for all the files you have in your asset library. This may take a considerable amount of time, depending on the size of your asset library. Once that's done, you can do anything to those Link files, without worrying about breaking anything. As long as you don't move the original files, or change the path in the DJL. If the original file does get moved, the link file will turn into a warning icon. One warning about using link files, don't move them around in DS, only in explorer. This is because DS will create a 'real' copy of the original file, not a copy of the link file. As a side note. While it's laudable to want to use all your older content, you're going to run into some problems. Due the volumetric amount of changes between DS3 and the current version(4.21), a lot of assets may not work correctly, if at all, and many are going to look like absolute trash when rendered. Especially in iray. I'd suggest getting some of the shader kits, such as human essentials for iray(for character skin), PD Iray shader kit(clothing), and/or OOT's iray pair hair shader(Hair) if you're going to render in iray. Best of luck with getting back into 3d and ds.

sazzyazzca

DrunkMonkeyProductions said:

Link files. The short, short version... 1. create a secondary 'working' directory. 2. put that directory at the top of the CDM(Content directory manager) list. 3. Run script to create link files of your asset library. 4. Shuffle, sort, rename those files and never worry about a database breaking or breaking content paths again. the long version Link files(DJL) are pseudo copies of DS compatible files. Basically, anything that can appear in content library, can have a link file for it. The file doesn't even have to be in a CDM(Content Directory Manger) listed folder, although that requires manual creation. The method i propose is to setup a secondary directory, of nothing but link files, and use that when working in DS as opposed to the default directories. With this, you will be able to rename files/folders, organize them how you want, and not have to worry about breaking paths, or (not so)Smart content database breaking. You would also be able to continue to use your png tag method, if you prefer to, as DJL's don't copy/create a thumbnail. Start by creating a directory in Windows explorer(or how ever macs do it). This can be anywhere you want, as it's placement is irrelevant. I would recommend sticking with putting it in the Default directory location, as that can be easier for many users to manage. Once that's done, open DS and right click on the the Content library tab, or the Active Pane options button(arrow with lines), and select Content Directory Manager. In the popout menu, you'll want to select DAZ Studio Formats(a dashed box appears around it when active), then select Add from the Directory section of buttons on the left of CDM. This will open an Explorer window, and you'll just need to navigate to the directory. Select the directory, and push the Select folder button. This will close the explorer window. If done correctly, the Daz Studio formats section will expand, and the selected directory will be active and at the bottom of the list. Select, To Top, from the Move section of buttons, and the directory will now be at the top of the directory list. Select Accept, and you're ready for the next step. Next you'll need to run this script(http://docs.daz3d.com/doku.php/public/software/dazstudio/4/referenceguide/scripting/api_reference/samples/specific_ui/create_asset_links/start) which will create link files for all the files you have in your asset library. This may take a considerable amount of time, depending on the size of your asset library. Once that's done, you can do anything to those Link files, without worrying about breaking anything. As long as you don't move the original files, or change the path in the DJL. If the original file does get moved, the link file will turn into a warning icon. One warning about using link files, don't move them around in DS, only in explorer. This is because DS will create a 'real' copy of the original file, not a copy of the link file. As a side note. While it's laudable to want to use all your older content, you're going to run into some problems. Due the volumetric amount of changes between DS3 and the current version(4.21), a lot of assets may not work correctly, if at all, and many are going to look like absolute trash when rendered. Especially in iray. I'd suggest getting some of the shader kits, such as human essentials for iray(for character skin), PD Iray shader kit(clothing), and/or OOT's iray pair hair shader(Hair) if you're going to render in iray. Best of luck with getting back into 3d and ds.

Thank you so much for this information. I've always been a "kit-basher", so I'm used to changing materials. I just have to learn surfaces in Iray now. I have already picked up several of the Iray shader sets. :)