Moved My Library and trying to get DIM to realize
dbdigital2
Posts: 270
I have moved from one computer to another before and moved/copied the library from a backup but it had different path location. Before I changed the install path in DIM under the installation tab, then changed all the user install path location in the manifest files to the new one and it worked.
This time however when moving to a external, DIM still wants to download everything. Any idea why? The product will show up as ready to install YET it is also listed as installed. When I check the installed tab, I can bring up the path information in each product and it is correct. This has me baffled as it worked fine before, did DIM change how it handels manifest files/sees what is installed? Or am I missing something? When I added the install path I gave it the label "new path" and deleted the default/original one. Could that be the problem? I can't imagine a different label causing this as I thought it was just for my reference, but maybe not?
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Comments
Did you change/set the Package Archive folder to point to the downloaded archives and their manifests? Not the same manifests as those for installation, these are the ones that DIM checks to see if you have dowloaded it, even if you do not keep them.
Nope I kept them the same. But I didn't edit those manifest files as they didn't have a user path listed in them. And unless something changed since I did this last time, the downloads only had the downloaded and not installed packages/manifests. I don't have any manifists that are in the installed folder in there.
The downloaded files never get moved, and a manifest is created when each file is downloaded showing, among other things, Order Number, Order Date, Product Name, SKU, GUID, etc., but doesn't care if it is installed or not, just that it was downloaded your Package Archive folder. If it doesn't find a product's manifest, DIM will want to download it again.
You say it wants to download everything, but that it shows up as ready to install, even if already installed. A product can't be all three at the same time. If it is showing installed, then that part of the setup is working properly because DIM is finding the installation manifest, as demonstrated by the Show Installed files. That is separate from the downloaded status.
If you have the product archives in your system, DIM should be able to Show Package Files, which actually looks in the zip file. If it cannot find the package, that option will not be available.
And, to be sure, did you restart DIM after changing the paths? Just to ensure that it is using the latest settings and data.
No, the downloaded files/packages don't get moved, however, after install the manifest is copied to the manifest folder (and data added). Or at least used to. I have never "manually" edited or changed the downloads folder. I deleted packages via the option in the installed tab of DIM. That is the only way I deleted something from the Downloads folder, and yet I do not have most of the manifest files for the prodcuts I installed in there.
Therefore something has changed with the way DIM operates since I did this the last time. I haven't used DIM much since then and when I tried to start it of course it demanded to update first. If the manifest files are now kept in both the downloads and manifest folder, perhaps I can copy the missing ones (which most are) from the manifest folder to the downloads folder? If not, well DIM has become one major headache considering it now doesn't know what I installed yet it SHOULD considering I didn't do any manual editing other than updating the path to the manifest files in the manifest folder.
And yes I have restarted DIM, several times in fact.
Do not confuse the manifest in the download folder (Package Archive) with the manifest created during installation (in the Manifest Archive). They are not the same and are not interchangeable (unfortunately, they have the same filename and extension). The one in the Package archive (think of it as a delivery invoice, or receipt) does not move to the manifest folder. Each (receipt) manifest gets refreshed or re-created every time you refresh or restart DIM for every product in your Package Archive (if present, or, if not, if it knows it has been installed). Another, different, one is generated by DIM when you install the product using that receipt and an itemized accounting of each file installed, where, when, and by whom. That is how DIM knows what is installed or not and will set the status of the products accordingly (Ready to Download, Ready to Install, Installed)
The basic DIM process has not changed, there are just a lot more options to play with as to where you want to put your stuff. You do not have to change anything in the downloads folder. Copying the library and modifying the path in the installation manifests is the way to keep track of the installed files (I have encouraged that action myself more than once). That, and changing/updating the paths used by DIM are the only steps required to migrate the entire library, then you must re-import your metadata to get the new database populated (if you did not copy the database itself).
Well like I said, it sounds like DIM has changed something considering last time I used DIM (over year or so ago) it didn't show everything to be downloaded. I am wondering if it didn't used to need the download manifest files? Maybe I am mistaken but seems like I would notice seeing almost 3000 items listed to download. I know they are different but I am wondering if it will be "enough" to copy them from the manifest folder to fix this problem since I do not have the files in the download folder. Like I said, if they are always supposed to be there, no idea how they vanished.
Studio is fine, I have the library restored and working well. Now if I can fix this DIM problem. But it sounds like the only way is to redownload EVERYTHING and reinstall? Kinda crazy to be honest since it does know what I installed. And downloading/reinstalling everything not something I can do at this point and might ditch DIM rather than go through with that headache lol.
Ok, not sure why I didn't think of this last night (too late I guess), but I did a test today. If you download and install a package AND either have checked "delete package after download" or delete it in the installed tab after there is NO manifest file anymore in Download folder. It STILL deletes BOTH the package and manifest file. Therefore I was right and that manifest is only used to tell DIM it is currently downloaded, that is it. If you delete it, it is gone but DIM is supposed to still list it as installed (which it currently does) and not in the "ready to download" tab which it is not for some reason (at least for me for the moment).
Therefore, I am missing something that has changed in DIM. A setting or something. If no one has any idea I will file a ticket. Thought I would post here first since I know a lot of people have done this in the past and might know. :)
I normally keep all the archives, but on occasion I have accidentally deleted one or two after installing. I do know in that case, if installed, with no package archive, it still shows as Installed, but not Ready to Download. I have to uninstall it to get it to show as Ready to Download, because it can't be Ready to Install until it is present locally. A product update can show it both Installed (the old one) and Ready to Download or Ready to Install (the new one), but that's a different situation.
Yes that is the way it used to work for me as well. Not sure why it isn't now. I guess I will file a ticket and see what they say.