Loading...
> >

The benefit of DIM

Peter_DAPeter_DA Posts: 47
in Daz Studio Discussion

Hi to all, I'm working with DAZ Studio for a long time now. Everytime I purchase new content, I download the files (years ago the installer-files, later the zip-files) and install the content to the folders at my HD. Is there a benefit doing it by the DIM?

Comments

  • barbultbarbult Posts: 24,737

    Yes, I think so. Before you use DIM to install any products, it is important to set up the application and content paths for where you want things installed. Most people don't have infinitely large system drives and like to install content on a second hard drive. There is a gear icon in the upper right corner of the DIM window to access those settings.

    • DIM has been reliable for me. I had numerous problems with Daz Connect (installing from within Daz Studio). I have not tried Daz Central, but reports in the forum are not good.
    • DIM can install the main Daz program (including Beta versions) and plugins. Sometimes these are not available as manual downloads.
    • Once a product is installed with DIM, if there is a product update in the future, DIM will show you that the update is available and make it easy to install that update.
    • DIM will automatically install the metadata for the product. You don't have to manually update metadata.
    • If a product is installed with DIM, you can right click on the product in DIM and have it show you a complete list of files included in that product and give you a link to each one of those files, so you can find it on your computer, if you need to.
    • DIM has lots of search filters to find just what products you want to see in the interface.
    • DIM makes it very easy to uninstall a product that you installed with DIM. You don't have to hunt around and manually remove any files.
  • punkypunky Posts: 25

    Less clicks, less thinking :)

    So you purchase new content and anytime later when you run DIM, it will download and install it for you. Multiple items at the same time.

    DIM also handles updates for you, which is really helpful, since one barely checks manually for all products if an update is available. And you can easily uninstall content with it, too.

    Only downside might be for you that since you’ve been installing manually for a long time: it won’t let you customize your folder structure.

     

  • fixmypcmikefixmypcmike Posts: 19,598

    Even if you do move around files and folders for products, there are still many uses for DIM:

    1) You can queue up multiple products to download

    2) Create a dummy content folder and let DIM install products there.  You have to unzip to a dummy location anyway before you can rearrange folders and files.  If you let DIM do it, it will be able to tell you about product updates.  DIM doesn't care if you move the files after you install the product as far as reporting product updates goes.

    3) DIM can show you the purchase date and order info, install date, etc., and you can sort or filter on any of that info.

    4) DIM can launch the readme page for a product.

    5) DIM can show you the names of all the files in a product.

  • jestmartjestmart Posts: 4,449

    When using DIM for the first time check the Work Offline box so you can set up your preferences.

  • KeryaKerya Posts: 10,943

    You get information about updates, which you wouldn't get otherwise ... which is the reason why I am using DIM to download the zips.

  • nicsttnicstt Posts: 11,715
    punky said:

    Less clicks, less thinking :)

    So you purchase new content and anytime later when you run DIM, it will download and install it for you. Multiple items at the same time.

    DIM also handles updates for you, which is really helpful, since one barely checks manually for all products if an update is available. And you can easily uninstall content with it, too.

    Only downside might be for you that since you’ve been installing manually for a long time: it won’t let you customize your folder structure.

     

    What do you mean it won't let you customise your folder structure?

    I use DIM, and have customised it, and a lot.

  • KeryaKerya Posts: 10,943
    nicstt said:
    punky said:

    Less clicks, less thinking :)

    So you purchase new content and anytime later when you run DIM, it will download and install it for you. Multiple items at the same time.

    DIM also handles updates for you, which is really helpful, since one barely checks manually for all products if an update is available. And you can easily uninstall content with it, too.

    Only downside might be for you that since you’ve been installing manually for a long time: it won’t let you customize your folder structure.

     

    What do you mean it won't let you customise your folder structure?

    I use DIM, and have customised it, and a lot.

     

    I think "customising" in this case means renaming folders and moving subfolders from Vanity folders - like Genesis 8 Female/Poses/VENDORNAME/xyzposes ...

    Installing with DIM wouldn't work llike that.

  • Peter_DAPeter_DA Posts: 47

    Thank you all for your suggestions. There are some aspects I didn't consider before like the handling of updates or using of a dummy. I think, I will give it a try.

  • nicsttnicstt Posts: 11,715
    edited July 2020
    Kerya said:
    nicstt said:
    punky said:

    Less clicks, less thinking :)

    So you purchase new content and anytime later when you run DIM, it will download and install it for you. Multiple items at the same time.

    DIM also handles updates for you, which is really helpful, since one barely checks manually for all products if an update is available. And you can easily uninstall content with it, too.

    Only downside might be for you that since you’ve been installing manually for a long time: it won’t let you customize your folder structure.

     

    What do you mean it won't let you customise your folder structure?

    I use DIM, and have customised it, and a lot.

     

    I think "customising" in this case means renaming folders and moving subfolders from Vanity folders - like Genesis 8 Female/Poses/VENDORNAME/xyzposes ...

    Installing with DIM wouldn't work llike that.

    I regularly copy the user facing files to custom folders; I may group disparate items together for one reason or another, and this does not cause issues.

    Files in the data folder and anywhere else that I don't need to know about do on occasions get moved to other ( data for example) places. I have one library with two data folders in. It works fine I was surprised to discover when I noticed; one is in a different path higher in the hierarchy.

    DIM certainly won't remove or alter anything I've changed, but that isn't a problem as far as I'm concerned; indeed, it's a benefit to me.

    Post edited by nicstt on
  • fixmypcmikefixmypcmike Posts: 19,598
    nicstt said:
    Files in the data folder and anywhere else that I don't need to know about do on occasions get moved to other ( data for example) places. I have one library with two data folders in. It works fine I was surprised to discover when I noticed; one is in a different path higher in the hierarchy.

    Nested Data folders?  Really bad idea.  Whether you have both listed as DS-format content folders or only one you'll have issues.

  • nicsttnicstt Posts: 11,715
    edited July 2020
    Fixmypcmike said:
    nicstt said:
    Files in the data folder and anywhere else that I don't need to know about do on occasions get moved to other ( data for example) places. I have one library with two data folders in. It works fine I was surprised to discover when I noticed; one is in a different path higher in the hierarchy.

    Nested Data folders?  Really bad idea.  Whether you have both listed as DS-format content folders or only one you'll have issues.

    I never said nested, I said a library with two in it. Nested would indicate there is a data folder inside the data folder.

    One product I have uses one in the same library but a different place to the standard data folder; it's working and I don't fancy fixing it.

    Post edited by nicstt on
  • jestmartjestmart Posts: 4,449

    The "data" folder needs to be a top level folder so it shouldn't be working.

  • almahiedraalmahiedra Posts: 1,353
    Fixmypcmike said:

    Even if you do move around files and folders for products, there are still many uses for DIM:

    1) You can queue up multiple products to download

    2) Create a dummy content folder and let DIM install products there.  You have to unzip to a dummy location anyway before you can rearrange folders and files.  If you let DIM do it, it will be able to tell you about product updates.  DIM doesn't care if you move the files after you install the product as far as reporting product updates goes.

    3) DIM can show you the purchase date and order info, install date, etc., and you can sort or filter on any of that info.

    4) DIM can launch the readme page for a product.

    5) DIM can show you the names of all the files in a product.

    6) DIM can show you per product where your files are installed and open the folder that contains them

Sign In or Register to comment.