Converting Hierarchy Files

Selecting File > Convert Hier File opens a standard Open dialog box prompting to you locate and open a Poser 3 Hierarchy file (*.phi). If this file contains no errors, this function creates a Poser Figure (*.CR2) file. Please refer to About Poser Files for more information about Poser files and their functions.

Hierarchy files are used when creating custom figures using the text-based method. Since the introduction of the graphical Setup room, this older method, while still supported, is far longer and more tedious as it forces you to do everything manually while in a text-based environment. Once the Hierarchy file is completed in the text editor, you can import it into Poser by converting it into a geometry resource (called a CR2 file). This geometry resource is then used by Poser, in conjunction with OBJ 3D data to create a new figure file with rotation order, and Inverse Kinematic relationships as defined by the hierarchy text file.

If you make changes to the hierarchy file and then convert it again, the conversion won’t re-create the geometry resource if it already exists in the OBJ file. So, if you are trying to make geometry changes, you need to either delete the resource, or start with a new blank text file that contains only the text portion of the OBJ file.

To convert a Hierarchy file:

1. Choose File menu > Convert Hier File. The Open dialog appears.
2. Locate the Hierarchy file you created in the text editor and click Open.
3. If there are no errors, you will be prompted to save an OBJ file to your desired location.
4. Poser will ask for a name for your new figure. Enter a name and choose OK.
5. The hierarchy conversion may take several minutes if there is a large geometry file.
6. The figure file that gets created references the geometry file whenever used. Its location should be established and not moved later or the figure file cannot find the geometry.
7. If the location is changed you need to edit the figure file with a text editor to designate the new location (specified relative to the Poser application in Mac format).