PoseWriter Panel

(c) 2011 Netherworks Studios

Thank you for purchasing PoseWriter Panel! I hope you have as much fun working with it as I had designing
it.

Installation
This product must be installed to your main Poser directory and should be unzipped to where the Poser or
PoserPro executable resides.

An entry, +PoseWriter Panel will appear on your Poser Scripts Menu under Netherworks then
PoseWriter Panel.

To immediately run it from the Scripts Menu, Poser needs to be closed before installation.

Requirements
PoseWriter Panel requires Poser 8 or higher. It can be used on the PC (Windows XP or higher) and on the
Mac (OSX 10.4 or higher).

It is not suitable for use with DAZ Studio, earlier versions of Poser or Poser Debut.

Mac-Specific Notes
This guide references Windows keyboard controls. On the Mac, you want to use the Option key when the
guide mentions Alt and the Command key when the guide mentions Control.

Due to differences on how controls and are objects are displayed cross-platform in wxPython, Mac users will
not see PoseWriter Panel exactly as it is shown in the product renders or in this guide. Furthermore, some
Colours options in the script may behave somewhat differently. However, it is fully functional as a pose creation
and adjustment utility.

Inverse Kinematics
PoseWriter Panel does not support saving Poses or performing copy-paste, symmetry and other scripted
functions if IK was used when designing the Pose. This limitation is Poser Python based at this time.

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Guide
PoseWriter Panel was designed as a flexible pose-writing tool but also has the ability to be a posing assistant,
with features such as copying poses from one figure to another, resetting rotation dials and symmetry and mirror
pose functions.

PoseWriter Panel can write Pose Files for figures, hair or props in your scene, parented or not. Do keep in
mind that in the case of poses for standalone props, a figure (any figure) must be in the scene to successfully
apply them.

PoseWriter Panel updates in real time. The available body parts than can be selected and saved into poses
(or otherwise manipulated) change as you select figures or objects in the scene.

PoseWriter is also smart. It knows the difference if you have selected hair attached to the figure or some
other kind of smart prop and is able to write a pose for only that singular object, if you prefer.

Layout and Colour settings for PoseWriter Panel are saved on a per-room basis. You can have separate
settings in the Pose, Material, Hair, Cloth and Setup Rooms.

PoseWriter Panel can be found and loaded from your Poser Scripts menu under Netherworks then
PoseWriter Panel, using +PoseWriter Panel. This also acts as a toggle. If PoseWriter Panel is already loaded and
you select this entry again, it will be closed.

Anatomy
From the top-down, here are the main areas of the script.

Target Figure or Prop (Title)

This is simply the name of the currently selected figure or prop.

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 Control-clicking the Title will quickly change the state of PoseWriter Panel from docked to floating.

Pose File Name

This is an editable text box that has "POSE" as the default name. This should be changed to the name that
you'd like to use when creating your pose file. PoseWriter Panel will remember the last name that you used
whenever a pose file is created. You don't need to add an extension here, simple the name will do.

The name can be reset to "POSE" at any time by double-clicking the Target Figure or Prop name.

Parts List
The body parts of the currently selected figure or prop are listed here. Props will only show one part. By
default, you can see approximately 12 parts at once (this can be changed under the Features Menu and requires
a restart of the script).

The list updates in real time as you select objects or figures in the Poser scene. You can quickly click and
drag to select multiple parts. Control-clicking will add or remove a part selection. Double-clicking in this area
will select all parts.

You can also quickly remove all selections by double-clicking outside of the Parts List, in a blank area of the
script.

The Parts Ignore List

PoseWriter Panel also offers an Ignore List that you can manually edit to add or remove body parts that you
want the script to ignore. This is useful for working with figures with tricky design or feature parts that always
skip when creating a pose.

The Ignore List is present as PartsIgnoreList.txt and can be found in

Runtime:Python:poserScripts:Netherworks:PoseWriter Panel.

Each entry should start on it's own line and be equal and case-sensitive to the external body part name that
you wish to ignore.

Any line starting with a pound sign (#) is a commented line and will be skipped. This way you can comment
out entries instead of removing them.

The entry BodyMorphs is present in the basic version of this file as a body part that is normally ignored with
the Generation 4 line of DAZ Figures.

Writing Options
After the Parts List are four checkboxes that give you control on the kind of information that is written to a
pose file.

Trans writes translation information (x, y and z location) into the pose file. By default the script writes this
information for props and only the Hip and Body of figures. Under the Features Menu of the script you can
change this behavior for figures if you want to write trans information for all body parts.

Rotations writes standard rotation information for a pose file. This covers things like Bend, Twist, Side-Side
and so on.

Scales writes scaling information for a pose file. It only makes the distinction between regular and
propagating scales in the Body of a figure.

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 Morphs is an attempt to write Morph and Master Dial information for a figure or prop. If you are working
with a figure, it is advisable to only select the parts that have the master dials. Usually this is the Head or Body of
the figure but can often be found in chest, hip, eyes, hands and feet.

The Morphs writing ignores hidden dials, dials that start with the word EMPTY, and dials that start with
dashes.

Morph poses can act strangely for a lot of reasons. If you attempt to save some kind of all-in-one pose
(Morphs along with Rotations and other dials) you can get a doubling effect from morphs and other dials acting
against one another. This happens with motion dials present in some figures that are in fact rotating limbs. You
can utilize motion dials but the best way is to save them out as Rotation poses instead of checking Morphs.
Once your figure is back at a zero state, the pose should apply normally, with motion dial adjustments as true
rotation dial influences.

Some odd things can happen due to figure design. It's best to have JCM dials and other auxiliary dials
hidden from view, in which case the script will ignore them. A figure with exposed dials like that is often going to
show a doubling effect as a bad joint is compensated for twice as a pose file.

However, I have included a Dials Ignore List that is much like the Parts Ignore List, under Parts List, above. It
is sectioned off by figure name, with lines starting with # as comments. Each ignored dial is listed by its
external name. The Ignore List is present as DialsIgnoreList.txt and can be found in
Runtime:Python:poserScripts:Netherworks:PoseWriter Panel. In this list I have placed most of the motion or
movement dials for some figures (also known as morphforms).

Write Pose
There is a Write Pose button following the checkboxes. Any parts selected from the Parts List will be written
as a Pose file using the name entered in Pose File Name. The default save location is Runtime/Libraries/Pose
under your default Poser installation folder.
Shift-Clicking the Write Pose button allows you to select a new folder to save your pose files in. Selecting a
new folder automatically saves it as the new default so that you can create a series of files in the same folder.
You should notice that on mouse-over that the tool-tip reveals the current folder where the pose file will be
saved so you never have to guess or remember where you saved things last.
Right-Clicking the Write Pose buttons will show you a list of the last 10 folders that you have selected. In
other words it is a folder history. Clicking on any entry will set that to the current save folder. You can clear this
list at any time or Browse to the current folder (Windows Explorer or Mac Finder). Under the Features, Folders
main menu of the script, you can sort the Recent Folders alphabetically (it defaults to the order in which you
chose them) or clear the list.
Control-Clicking will write a pose file as per a normal button click and also render a 91x91 thumbnail
immediately afterward. It uses the current render settings and restores your preferred render size after it is
complete.

Status Line
The status line notifies you of recent actions taken by the script and simply serves as a reminder line.

Bells and Whistles

PoseWriter Panel also comes with several additional features and abilities that are accessed via a right-click

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menu.

Copy and Paste

If you have one or more parts selected in the Parts List, you can copy those parts and paste them to another
figure or prop in the scene. Rotation and Trans information is copied and pasted. Only matched parts will
receive information from a paste.

Create Thumbnails
This feature, initially selected, allows you to toggle the writing of thumbnails on and off. The script is
designed to create thumbnails whenever a pose is saved, even if that overwrites a pose that is already there. You
can uncheck this to prevent the script from doing this, for example, and re-check it when you feel like having that
feature.

Templates
This is a feature that allows you to save any currently selected parts in the Parts List to a selection "file" that
can be quickly loaded at any time, pre-selecting those parts. You are able to name saved Templates and
PoseWriter Panel "keys" them to a specific figure or prop, based on its geometry file. This means that you can
save a "Face" template for Victoria 4 and another "Face" template for Miki 2 and they are both stored separately.
Furthermore, since they are keyed by geometry, Templates will work across "characters" allowing you to use V4
Templates on A4 or G4 (all based on the same mesh).

Once you create Templates, they appear at the top of the Templates menu and will automatically load when
selected. Only the Templates saved for a specific figure or prop (and its geometry) will show up in the menu.

There are two ways to remove Templates. If you are familiar with the geometry of your figure or prop, you
can use "Browse Template Folder" and delete them via Windows Explorer or Finder. Alternately, you can switch
the Templates menu to a Delete Mode. In this mode, selecting a Template will delete it, instead of load it. If you
are in Delete Mode, there is an option to return to Load Mode.

Preselect
More useful for figures, this menu provides ways for you to use the script to intelligently select certain parts.
Select Right Side will select the right side of the body, Select Left Side will select the left side and so forth.

Using Preselect adds to the current select unless you use Select None. So if you have Body already selected
and then Select Right, you will get Body and the right side as your selections.

Selections
This is sort of a "fun" utility menu that allows you to alter one or more selected parts in the parts List.

Zero All

This option zeroes the Rotation and Translate of the selected parts, along with setting its scale to 100%.

Zero Rotation

This option zeroes the Bend, Side-Side, Twist and similar values of selected parts.

Zero Translate

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 This option zeroes the location (x, y and z position) of selected parts.

Zero Scale

This option sets the scale (overall, x, y and z scale) of selected parts to 100%.

Zero X-Rotation

This option gives you finer control on the figure's rotation, allowing you to only zero selected parts along the
X-Axis. X-Axis is usually moving a limb towards or away from the facing camera. If you use Poser's Direct
Manipulation tool, it's often the red circle.

Zero Y-Rotation

This option gives you finer control on the figure's rotation, allowing you to only zero selected parts along the
Y-Axis. Y-Axis is usually turning (or twirling) a limb clockwise or counter-clockwise to the facing camera. If you
use Poser's Direct Manipulation tool, it's often the green circle.

Zero Z-Rotation

This option gives you finer control on the figure's rotation, allowing you to only zero selected parts along the
Z-Axis. X-Axis is usually swinging a limb to one side or the other. If you use Poser's Direct Manipulation tool,
it's often the blue circle.

Mirror/Symmetry

This is a very flexible feature that can apply either a mirror or symmetry function to one or more parts. It
uses a kind of smart detection logic that changes things based on which parts you have selected. If you select
one or more parts that exist on one side of a figure (Right or Left), it will mirror those to the other side. If you
select one or more parts and they happen to be both sides of the figure (Right and Left) it will flip those. It you
select central parts, such as the head or chest, it will reverse that along the Y-Axis.

This function will also work on props mirroring them from one side to the other. This will only work if a prop
loads centrally (xTranslate at 0.000 puts it in the very center of the Poser scene). If you load a right-handed
sword, for example, and x, y and z-Trans show 0.000, the prop will not mirror.

This addresses several limitations in the standard Poser Symmetry menu. It can be used with figures that
have additional arms, wings, tails and unconventional body parts. It can affect only the parts you select so you
can partially flip or mirror whatever you want. It also works with props, saving you from having to manually
change values.

Examples of use:

You have a pose where a figure has a single fist forward and the other arm is hanging to the side. You can
select the parts of the fisted arm and use Mirror/Symmetry to copy that to the hanging arm double fisted pose.

In the pose above, you'd like to swap the right and left arm so the figure is swinging the other fist. You can
select the parts of both arms and use Mirror/Symmetry to swap them.

You have a figure with a knife in the right hand and you want it in the left. You can swap or mirror the pose
from one of the examples above then select the knife and use Mirror/Symmetry to put it in the other hand. Keep
in mind that the script does not re-parent items so you would have to change the parent to the other hand
yourself.

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Turn Off IK
This entry allows you to turn off Inverse Kinematics for the currently selected figure. The entry is visible only
if a figure is selected. There is no function to turn IK back on.

Features
This menu allows you to alter how pose files are made or how PoseWriter Panel functions.

Set Version Number

This option, under General, allows you to enter a different version number than the default of "6" when
writing Pose files.

Trans Check-box..

This option you to control how writing trans dials works for figures if you have the Trans checkbox selected.

Always Render Thumbnails

This option makes it unnecessary to Control-Click when using the Write Pose Button. However, it will
generally be slower as it creates a Rendered Thumbnail whenever you create a file.

File Overwrite Confirmation

Normally when you use the Write Pose Button, pose files are written without warning, overwriting any
existing names. Toggling this option will provide a warning dialog whenever PoseWriter Panel is about to
overwrite an identical file.

Reset Folders

This option resets the Write Pose Button to it's default folder.

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Settings
This menu allows you to make PoseWriter Panel Drag-Dock Enabled or to Float or Dock it to the Poser UI.
There is also a Colours sub-menu here that allows you to recolor various parts of the panel to make it more
distinct or to suit your own visual creativity.

Furthermore, there is a option to change the approximate number of entries that appears in the Parts List,
from 4-24. Changing this requires you to close and restart the script.

Quick Float

PoseWriter Panel has a hidden quick floating ability. In order to make it feel integrated into the Poser UI, the
title-bar is hidden when it is docked. You can quickly return it to a floating state by Control-Clicking the Title at
the top.

Save Layout

This selection saves the current state (floating or docked) and the size of the panel. Other features and
settings are instantly saved as you use or select them.

Close

This selection closes PoseWriter Panel.

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Loading PoseWriter Panel with Poser

On the Palette
You can easily put PoseWriter Panel on your Python Scripts Palette found under Window then Python
Palette. This can be done on the fly by clicking on an empty button (or clearing one) and browsing to
Runtime/Python/poserScripts/Netherworks/PoseWriter Panel and selecting PoseWriter Panel.py.

You can also give it a permanent spot on the Python Scripts Palette by opening mainButtons.py found at
Runtime/Python/poserScripts in a text editor (I recommend something other than notepad, such as NotePad++
or Notetab).

Find an empty line such as:

poser.DefineScriptButton(8, "", "...")

and insert :Runtime:Python:poserscripts:Netherworks:PoseWriter Panel:PoseWriter Panel.py between

the first set of quotes. Change the ... at the second set of quotes to read PoseWriter Panel.

It would look something like this:

poser.DefineScriptButton(8, ":Runtime:Python:poserscripts:Netherworks:PoseWriter Panel:PoseWriter

Panel.py", "PoseWriter Panel")

And save the mainButtons.py file. On Poser's next run, PoseWriter Panel will appear on the Python Palette.

Netherworks Studios also offers a free application, Scripts Auto Launch, that allows scripts to be
automatically launched with Poser 8 and Poser Pro 2010. It is available at Runtime DNA as a Zero-Priced Item.

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