Batch Tools for DAZ Studio
==========================

A collection of small tool scripts that help you with repeated actions. Included
in this set are (as of now):

a) Batch Renderer
b) Batch Merge

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a) Batch Render
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Do you have a scene split up into multiple parts, because your computer can't
handle the full scene, and now you need to render all parts? Or do you have
multiple scenes you need to render in production size now? This little tool
can help you with this. It will load each scene file from a directory you
specify, render it to a file (with all other render settings left untouched),
clear the scene and continue with the next one.

There's a few caveats though. For one, this tool of course does not support
changing the render settings (except for the target filename) when loading a new
scene, so all scenes you want to batch-render have to use the same resolution.
And secondly, you have to make sure that you had the correct camera 'active' at
the time of last saving, for there will be no change of camera once the script
has loaded the scene. Other than that, there's not much to watch out for. Of
course, the currently loaded scene will be cleared when the script starts, so
make sure there's no unsaved changes.

The tool, once started, will show 2 (read-only) text fields that hold the
current directories, 2 adjacent buttons to change them, and a radio button box
where one can decide which file format to render into. All those information are
saved and will be restored the next time the tool is run. The resulting images
will be named after the scene they are rendered from, just with the apropriate
suffix. Should that name be used already, the script appends a number to the new
filename. No existing render-results will be overwritten.

Note: Due to a shortcoming of the DAZ Studio API, currently the script is unable
to restore your previous Render settings completely. Thus, after running the
script, your next render will end up in 'new window', no matter what you have
had set before.

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a) Batch Merge
--------------

Again, there is a scene split up into multiple parts, but this time you want
them merged into one big file? Here's the tool for it. It will load each scene
file from a directory you specify into the same scene, but NOT save the
resulting scene. Note further that - due to the nature of 'split scenes' you
might have repeated objects (floor, walls, lights, cameras). The script will NOT
try to delete those - that's up to you.

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These scripts are offered free of charge, and without warranty. I will not be
held responsible if a script deletes your scene, formats your harddrive or
drives you mad. The only thing I can honestly say is that they works properly
and as described above on my own system.

Installation is actually very easy - just drop the scripts (and the icons coming
with them) in any subdirectory within a DAZ Studio - content-folder (NOT a
Poser-content-folder mapped within D|S, but a Studio-folder). No additional
steps need to be taken.

The Batch tool scripts are (c) 2006-2007 by Guandalug la'Fay