Thanks again everybody. I have two PZ3s now, Maypole02.pz3 (with the pole converted to a figure) and Maypole02asProp.pz3. I've deleted all the dynamics files (.abc and .tmp)

I open Maypole02asProp.pz3 and a new Maypole02asProp_Sim_1_Maypole02-Streamerscache.tmp file is created. I slide the slider along the timeline and nothing happens (no surprise). I go to the cloth room and hit 'Calculate simulation' - Maypole02asProp_Sim_1_Maypole02-Streamers.abc is created and gets bigger as the calculation progresses. Now if I slide the slider along the timeline in the prop room the animation runs correctly. But if I simply close Poser now both the .TMP and .ABC file are deleted and I have to go through the same rigmarole again.

But this time after running the simulation I save the file again, but as Maypole02asProp-Done.pz3. Poser creates a Maypole02asProp-Done_Sim_1_Maypole02-Streamers.abc file (or perhaps renames the Maypole02asProp_Sim_1_Maypole02-Streamerscache.abc file, because that vanishes. The Maypole02asProp_Sim_1_Maypole02-Streamerscache.tmp file is still there). I close Poser and Maypole02asProp_Sim_1_Maypole02-Streamerscache.tmp disappears, but the Maypole02asProp_Sim_1_Maypole02-Streamerscache.abc remains. I restart Poser, load Maypole02asProp-Done.pz3. Now the animation runs correctly straight away.

Just to be sure I repeat the process with the other PZ3, Maypole02.pz3. That confirms the sequence above.

So it would appear that you have to save the PZ3 twice:

• save the PZ3 once before running the simulation to tell Poser what to call the ABC and TMP files
• save the PZ3 again after running the simulation to tell Poser not to delete the ABC file when you close Poser

I didn't investigate the cloth_simulation section in the PZ3, but I'm guessing that saving the PZ3 after running the sim something important gets added there.

N.B. Calculating the simulation for the maypole-as-figure version seems to be far quicker...

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The 3Dcheapskate* occasionally posts sensible stuff. Usually by accident. And it usually uses Poser 11, with units set to inches. Except when it's using Poser 6 or PP2014, or when its units are set to PNU or something else.
*soon only to be available in two flavours -  DAZ and Renderosity