Answered Where are these mystery files being listed in my Depends file?

[Jocks3D]

I just created some Looks to share here and when I check the Depends.txt file generated by Package Builder the following files are included which I don't think I really need for the look, but I don't see where to locate these files when editing the look so I can remove them:

Blazedust.Script_ParentHoldLink.1 By: Blazedust
Hunting-Succubus.EyeBall_Shadow.latest By: Hunting-Succubus
TKB.Andi-Futa__Secretary_Pinup.latest By: TKB

The looks I'm creating are male if it matters. So are these files that every male Look requires or can I get away with removing them and if so, where do I find them in the Atom/Look editor?

 

[RandomVAMUser]

Dependencies system works in mysterious ways.

It also pulls sub-dependencies (or dependencies of your dependencies).
If you are not using them anywhere inside package, than you can't simply remove them (from look/preset/scene/...or whatever it is inside your package).

If it's really bothering you...
You can manually edit package meta.json and remove those sub-dupendencies (before uploading to hub).

However, I would strongly advice against it... nothing more than a placebo effect.
You gonna manually remove them from your package and than what?
Users still have to download them (for your dependencies still depending on them), or have errors on startup (for missing package).

 

[Jocks3D]

It's not that it bothers me, I just love a mystery and this one stumps me.

 

[RandomVAMUser]

It's not that it bothers me, I just love a mystery and this one stumps me.

You can open your scene.json or preset.vap with text editor and quickly search for them (without .latest/package version):
Blazedust.Script_ParentHoldLink , Hunting-Succubus.EyeBall_Shadow and TKB.Andi-Futa__Secretary_Pinup

If none of them show up than you know (It's sub-dependency).

 

[Jocks3D]

Maybe I should ask this a different way: what is the correct procedure to start building a male look from scratch, with no dependencies or sub-dependencies?

I've been launching the default scene and replacing the female with the base male skin. Other times I opened the default scene, deleted the female and added a person atom, but it's always female again so I changed it to the base male skin. In both cases I seem to be getting the mystery files I listed when building the .var package.

I have the Creator subscriber level if that makes a difference.

 

[RandomVAMUser]

None of those dependencies are part of default scenes (or any scene that comes with VaM).
If you add person atom and change skin to male.You shouldn't have those references.

...unless you decide to investigate it's really hard to tell.

Only thing that comes to mind: It could be a morph issue,
maybe one of those buggy RG or openXXL morphs is auto activated/pulled from some package.

Looking deeper into those 3 dependencies:

Scenes - Andi (Futa) - Secretary Pinup

TKB submitted a new resource: Andi (Futa) - Secretary Pinup - Futa Andi in Secretary Pinup Scene Futa Andi poses as a secretary in this pinup scene. Read more about this resource...

hub.virtamate.com

depends on Blazedust.Script_ParentHoldLink.1 ...so that's 2/3 down.

But something has to reference that TKB.Andi-Futa__Secretary_Pinup. package somewhere.
and there is so many stuff to pull (presets, morphs, textures, assets, clothes, hairstyles...).

Spoiler: content_list (from that package, every single one could be a reference)

      "Saves/scene/The Girlys/Secretary_Andi.jpg",
      "Saves/scene/The Girlys/Secretary_Andi.json",
      "Custom/Atom/Person/General/Preset_Andi_Secretary_5.vap",
      "Custom/Atom/Person/General/Preset_Andi_Secretary_5.jpg",
      "Custom/Atom/Person/General/Preset_Andi_Secretary_4.vap",
      "Custom/Atom/Person/General/Preset_Andi_Secretary_4.jpg",
      "Custom/Atom/Person/General/Preset_Andi_Secretary_2.vap",
      "Custom/Atom/Person/General/Preset_Andi_Secretary_2.jpg",
      "Custom/Atom/Person/General/Preset_Andi_Secretary_1.vap",
      "Custom/Atom/Person/General/Preset_Andi_Secretary_1.jpg",
      "Custom/Atom/Person/General/Preset_Andi_Secretary_3.vap",
      "Custom/Atom/Person/General/Preset_Andi_Secretary_3.jpg",
      "Custom/Clothing/Male/TKB/Corset",
      "Custom/Clothing/Male/TKB/Holdup Stockings",
      "Custom/Clothing/Male/TKB/SatinHeels",
      "Custom/Clothing/Male/TKB/eyes",
      "Custom/Clothing/Male/TKB/HotSkirt",
      "Custom/Clothing/Male/TKB/WhiteShirtTextures",
      "Custom/Clothing/Male/TKB/BellyChain",
      "Custom/Hair/Male/TKB/Pubic Heart",
      "Custom/Hair/Male/TKB/Andi",
      "Custom/Atom/Person/Morphs/male/TKB/Andi/Andi-847520ef.vmi",
      "Custom/Atom/Person/Morphs/male/TKB/Andi/Andi-847520ef.vmb",
      "Custom/Atom/Person/Morphs/male_genitalia/TKB/Andi-847520ef-Genital.vmi",
      "Custom/Atom/Person/Morphs/male_genitalia/TKB/Andi-847520ef-Genital.vmb",
      "Custom/Atom/Person/Morphs/male/AUTO/Glute Angle.vmi",
      "Custom/Atom/Person/Morphs/male/AUTO/Glute Angle.vmb",
      "Custom/Atom/Person/Morphs/male/TKB/ClothingAdjust/CorsetPinch.vmi",
      "Custom/Atom/Person/Morphs/male/TKB/ClothingAdjust/CorsetPinch.vmb",
      "Custom/Atom/Person/Textures/MaleBase/TKB/Base/White.png",
      "Custom/Atom/Person/Textures/MaleBase/TKB/Andi/AndiFaceD.jpg",
      "Custom/Atom/Person/Textures/MaleBase/TKB/Base/TorsoD.png",
      "Custom/Atom/Person/Textures/MaleBase/TKB/Base/LimbsD.png",
      "Custom/Atom/Person/Textures/MaleBase/TKB/Base/GensD.png",
      "Custom/Atom/Person/Textures/MaleBase/TKB/Base/faceG.png",
      "Custom/Atom/Person/Textures/MaleBase/TKB/Base/TorsoG.png",
      "Custom/Atom/Person/Textures/MaleBase/TKB/Base/LimbsG.png",
      "Custom/Atom/Person/Textures/MaleBase/TKB/Base/GensG.png",
      "Custom/Atom/Person/Textures/MaleBase/TKB/Base/faceN.png",
      "Custom/Atom/Person/Textures/MaleBase/TKB/Base/TorsoN.png",
      "Custom/Atom/Person/Textures/MaleBase/TKB/Base/LimbsN.png",
      "Custom/Atom/Person/Textures/MaleBase/TKB/Base/GensN.png",
      "Custom/Atom/Person/Textures/MaleBase/TKB/Andi/SugarSkull_Thigh_Color.png",
      "Custom/Atom/Person/Textures/MaleBase/TKB/Andi/SkullWings_Ankles.png",
      "Custom/Assets/TKB/SecretaryProps.assetbundle",
      "Custom/Assets/TKB/Backdrops.assetbundle",
      "Custom/Atom/Person/Morphs/male_genitalia/Andi Body-1f2ebb35-Genital.vmb",
      "Custom/Atom/Person/Morphs/male/TKB/Andi/Andi Body-0af47252.vmb",
      "Custom/Atom/Person/Morphs/male/TKB/Andi/Andi Head-808b8310.vmb"

Same with this one https://hub.virtamate.com/resources/eyeball-shadow-tear-wetline-reflection.669/,
something is referencing it (if you are not using it, than sub dependency of something).


To answer your question....
Don't get this the wrong way, if your client is all messed up than you gonna pull crap from god knows where (it's inevitable).

-There is no right procedure... ideally you wanna use 2nd clean client for creating/testing (before uploading).
-Don't download every single item from hub, no point hoarding crap.
-If that doesn't work, merge morphs to avoid pulling morphs from bad packages.
-If that doesn't work, manually identify problem/get familiar how/what/from where can pull crap
Good starting point:

Guides - How to package like a pro: a guide on proper VAR building

Intro There is a recurring issue with VAR packaging. No one's to blame, really, as there is no guide on how to make a "good" VAR package. I'll try to remedy to that. In short, this guide is for you: If you’re about to post a resource starting...

hub.virtamate.com

Maybe not the reply you wanted, but I hope it helps? ...once you get the hang of it ...it's like clockwork.

 

[Jocks3D]

Thanks for the help! I have been following some how to make a .var tutorials but didn't know about the one you gave. I particularly like the suggestion of installing a totally clean version of VaM and then using that to make my looks so that's what I'll be doing today!

One last question for making a male look: do you think it matters if I start with the Default scene, which is that blonde girl, then replace her with a male skin, or should I delete her, add a new atom person (which will be a brunette female), then replace her with a male skin?

 

[RandomVAMUser]

do you think it matters if I start with the Default scene, which is that blonde girl, then replace her with a male skin, or should I delete her, add a new atom person (which will be a brunette female), then replace her with a male skin?

It doesn't matter, once you select male skin all female content is deactivated/switched to male (morphs, clothes, hairstyles, textures...).
Only thing remaining are names inside preset text fields: in case you loaded appearance preset, pose preset, or any .vap preset (female content remains cached, but it doesn't have effect on look/scene file).