How to unzip files Packed for Poser Runtimes

[sidherose]

Different vendors pack their files in different ways, not all of them conducive to just unzipping the file into your runtime. Consequently, some simply extract everything onto their desktops or elsewhere and move the files manually into their chosen runtime. Ergo, I thought I would write this to help you with how to tell if you need to just unzip it to your Poser runtime, or if you need to do it manually. Some clues:
 

Files that are properly packed for Poser runtimes will contain a folder that is called 'runtime'. There may also be a folder called 'Documentation' or 'ReadMe' but it must have a folder called  'runtime' in the root of the zip file. If it has a 'runtime' folder as the name of the folder in the Preview Window then you can directly extract it to your Poser runtime. See below if you don't know how to turn on the Preview Window in your browser.

If the root folder in the zip is called 'Content' (that is DAZ packing or packed for DAZ), or it is called anything else like the product name, then you must extract it to a separate folder you create, and then drag and drop the folders that have unpacked into your created folder into the proper directories in your Poser runtime.

This is how Poser users can tell if they can directly extract a zip or if you must do it manually.


If you don't know how to turn on your Preview Window, it is the white browser icon on the right side of your browser window upper tool-bar with the blue side panel. It sits beside the (?) icon on the end. Just click on that and it will open the Preview window.


To extract


It doesn't matter which unzip/zip utility you are using, whether it is Windows Explorer, WinZip or WinRar, this is what you do:


Put your cursor on the zip file and right-click on it. You will get a pop-up that will say things like "Extract to here..." or Extract to....". You want to select the "Extract to..." option.


A new Explorer window will then come up and allow you to navigate to the place where your ROOT Poser files runtime is - the one that says i.e.: "Poser 10 Runtime", or "Poser Pro 2012 Runtime". (see *NOTE below for multiple 'runtimes')


Find that folder in the new window and highlight the ROOT folder as said above, then left click the EXTRACT button to extract.


That is all there is to it. Files that are properly packed for Poser WILL go where they are supposed to.


*NOTE: If you have multiple 'runtimes' like for Vendors or Figures, then you will need to navigate to whichever one you are keeping those particular sorts of files in to extract the zip file.

[thelufias]

Thanks for this Ray.....Someday I might have time to continue on this quest LOLOL