CGTalk - Browser = Migrane

Newstream

04-30-2006, 02:28 AM

Hi,

Ok, just when I got the Browser all figured out and all files nicely organized for quick workflow access, the damn thing suddenly decides to go completely buggy!

I noticed that some preset libraries listed on the left pane of the browser no longer display their contents when clicked upon even though they were visible just a session earlier! For example my whole sky preset library just vanished between sessions; An entire library of organized Thinking Particle presets...... * POOF * gone.
When navigating to Programs > Maxon > Library > Browser, to see if the files really have vanished, one can still see all the various preset and catalogue files in place but they simply refuse to show up properly in the browser.

Question: Is there a way to restore a corrupted browser using the .bak files found in the same folder? or is there some overlooked reason as why the browser insists on hiding presets?

Any input appreciated..
Cheers / Alex

tcastudios

04-30-2006, 07:16 AM

I'm still uncertain about the browser. The other day I had -two- copys of everything in it. For a while. Maybe it was your stuff that visited for a day?

The only thing I use it for is to get previews when I look for something. I don't make any cataloges.

Cheers
Lennart

Newstream

04-30-2006, 01:40 PM

Hey, Thanks for the input Lennart,

As a concept the Browser is a great workflow addition (that's if it worked in a predictable way..) It's a shame that the C4D browser isn't as reliable as for example Adobe's Bridge. As a proffesional tool, that thing has (so far) never failed me during projects and tough deadlines, knock on wood...

Anyhow, I give up on the browser for now. I hope to return to it some day when it's "collection" of quirks (http://forums.cgsociety.org/showthread.php?t=310112) are all ironed out to a level where it finally becomes the useful and reliable tool it surely was intended to be from the beginning.

Cheers / Alex

EDIT:
Tried just about everything to get the Browser to reveal the contents my preset files but failed. Enter Norton Ghost. Ghosting back the entire system to a state from 2 days earlier was the only way to get everything back. Crazy.

wbj

04-30-2006, 02:40 PM

Question: Is there a way to restore a corrupted browser using the .bak files found in the same folder? or is there some overlooked reason as why the browser insists on hiding presets?

Any input appreciated..
Cheers / Alex

You can simply delete the xyz.lib4d and remove the ".bak" extension on the xyz.lib4d.bak file.

BUT before you do that, you should make a copy of the ".lib4d" file you have trouble with and send it (together with the ".bak" file and a description of your system configuration PC/Mac) to Maxon's support. They can't fix bugs they can't reproduce...

To your initial question: The handling of the presets could be done by the browser or (optional) by one of the plugins (e.g. Sky did that in 9.5). Without the files it will be hard to make a guess (even for Maxon).

If the browser detects a damaged lib4d (e.g. due to a program or OS crash), you'll get a warning box when starting Cinema and then the browser creates a backup file and a new lib4d file with all items he could recover from the damaged file.

Best regards,

wbj

ye.zero

05-04-2006, 12:07 AM

the current browser plugin for C4D is still very unstable, some bug fixes will be released with the free C4D9.6 update

CGTalk Moderation

05-04-2006, 12:07 AM

This thread has been automatically closed as it remained inactive for 12 months. If you wish to continue the discussion, please create a new thread in the appropriate forum.