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...

---

The 3Dcheapskate (also available in DAZ and HiveWire3D flavours) 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.