How to upload complex printing projects?
Hi there everybody,
apologies if I'm in the wrong subforum - just couldn't find one for community-related issues/requests (Yep, this may well be understood as a suggestion 😉 ).
I have a problem uploading complex (=multi-part) printing projects that may affect many users like me, just having decided to not use Thingiverse anymore and upload to Prusaprinters instead:
Most of my designs are quite complex "construction kits" having many individual (typically 20 - 90) STLs/3MFs. On top of that, many of these parts are alternatives to one another, or optional parts that may, but don't have to, be used for the project. I'm used to arranging these files in groups which I put into directories. Then I zip the whole set of directories plus the project's manual (without which the file collection would be useless) and upload the ZIP file so that users can download the ZIP and have that very same directory structure on their HDs after unzipping. Well, at least that's how I uploaded to Thingiverse.
See an example upload of mine here that illustrates the problem: https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:3656392
On Prusaprinters, however, things can't be done this way. If I upload a ZIP file, the file is unpacked on the server and all subdirectories are deleted so that all STL or 3MF files are shown in a single linsting. The PDF manual (which is utterly important for the project) is shown separately at the bottom of this list.
Well, you will agree that a project as complex as the above example just cannot be uploaded without a proper file/folder structure. But how can I achieve such on Prusaprinters? The only ideas that come to my mind:
- using RAR instead of ZIP format, but that would mean that users would have to have an unRAR application or otherwise be unable to unpack the file (not even sure if RAR is approved as an upload file format).
- even more unelegant: swapping the .zip suffix for .txt and tell the users to manually swap back...
- somewhat more practical: Upload only the manual and a dummy STL while hosting the original ZIP pack on my own webspace, giving the link in the description text.
Any better idea anybody? Is there any way to avoid the automatic ZIP unpacking? Anyway, I think that this function is totally useless - on one hand it's never a problem to grab as many files as you ever want to upload them simultaneously, on the other hand there's no use in compulsorily generating 3D previews of 50+ single parts of an object.
Best
Stephan
RE: How to upload complex printing projects?
A bit more work for you but you could upload all files, then create folders and manually drag the files into the appropriate folders.
I agree that having zip unpack honor any directory structure in the zip file would be useful.
RE: How to upload complex printing projects?
That would be the solution - but unfortunately there seems to be no way to download folders. Even the "Download all model files" disappears when folders are created, meaning you have to download every single file manually (into your download folder, of course); so it's even worse than without folders...
Can't say that this makes any sense to me. Seems like hosting the zipped folder structures myself is the only pragmatic option left although, strictly speaking, this contradicts the idea of a "download platform".
Best
Stephan
RE: How to upload complex printing projects?
Even the "Download all model files" disappears when folders are created,
I don't think that's quite correct. I just checked one of my uploads https://www.prusaprinters.org/prints/39810-improved-all-in-one-temperature-and-bridging-tower/files in which I created folders to organize the models, and it still shows a All Model Files download button.
Having said that, it still does not recreate the folder structure in the downloaded zip file, but at least for me it still beats self-hosting. I don't have time or desire to do so.
The whole folder structure thing on prusaprinters is relatively new, and there's clearly opportunity to adjust the zip up- and download processes.
RE: How to upload complex printing projects?
A bit more work for you but you could upload all files, then create folders and manually drag the files into the appropriate folders.
I agree that having zip unpack honor any directory structure in the zip file would be useful.
Splitting a part can also be the best way to get a high-quality result, even if the whole part could fit into a single build. This is the case when multiple or opposing surfaces need to be free of support marks, a design has complex overhangs, or a model contains cavities that would trap the liquid resin inside.
RE: How to upload complex printing projects?
I don't think that's quite correct. I just checked one of my uploads https://www.prusaprinters.org/prints/39810-improved-all-in-one-temperature-and-bridging-tower/files in which I created folders to organize the models, and it still shows a All Model Files download button.
You are right. Just learned that the "Download all model files" button is created after the print is published. As long as you're in draft mode, it doesn't exist, but this is the case as well if you do not use folders.
Having said that, it still does not recreate the folder structure in the downloaded zip file, but at least for me it still beats self-hosting.
Not in my case - of course, it's not the effort that keeps me from self-hosting. But, as a conclusion of the current state, I can only repeat my above statement:
Anyway, I think that this function is totally useless - on one hand it's never a problem to grab as many files as you ever want to upload them simultaneously, on the other hand there's no use in compulsorily generating 3D previews of 50+ single parts of an object.
Let's hope the best for future development...
Best
Stephan