I distrust the Install Manager - don't let the old installers fade out
RCTSpanky
Posts: 850
If the installers fading out on may 15th, does that mean, that I can download then only DIM files from the product libary?
I'm not happy with the install-manager. I'm sure, this program will collect datas from our harddiscs. I want that DAZ should be stay on the old exe-format for PC users. I pay a lot of money each month to DAZ for content, but it could happened, that you lost me as a customer, when I can only download my content via the install manager in future.
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FROM what I understand, individual downloads of purchased product will always be maintained. Its just that executable installers (set up program) that packages the content products will be wrapped in a zip file instead of .exe This simplifies installation for most because you have more flexibility where and how to deploy the content on your system. Also I think the switch over in packaging format is because the download manager handles the zips in its auto install process.
Yes, so I understand it too. You can download your files in MyAccount - Product library. No problem. Only they will be ZIP files, which I personally prefer. ZIP files can be just unpacked, even multiple ZIPs at once, while EXE files must be installed, and always only one at a time.
Agreed. Daz 3D has said from the word go that the DIM was not going to be mandatory. It is alwasy possible to download the products manually, and in fact I have been downloading the Dim zip files manually since they first appeared, unzipping to a temp folder, as I do with all content and then moving the runtime where I want it to go, no problems whatsoever.
As a matter of fact, there is also content in the store that is not for Studio use. This content cannot always be automatically installed. The DIM files are zips that can be unpacked and the content copied where it belongs manually. Just download from the product library without using DIM.
The only data DIM collects from your hard drive is looking at dzinstall.ini to get the path to any DAZ 3D software you have installed, so that when DIM is updated to be able to install plugins it can do so.
But as has been said, you can still download manually if you prefer, but it will eventually only be zips, not installers. And after all, if you're afraid DIM will spy on you, why aren't you afraid the stand-alone installers will, too?
is DAZ going to finish converting the rest of the products to Install Manager? I still have over 200 products that don't seem to be converted yet.
Yes they are, I've got about 200 as well (not counting plugins and non-DS/Poser content).
The only reason I haven't yet jumped on the DIM bandwagon is because I'm so used to the installers. I also have a habit of retaining the EXE files to save me having to download them again should the need arise since storage isn't exactly a concern on my behemoth of a hard drive. That said, when everything moves to ZIP files I'll probably be switching to the install manager at that point.
I'd be too concerned about metadata not installing if I used zip files only.
Funny thing, until DAZ decided to go to all zips, I didn't realize how much I prefer the exes to the zips ... even with all the extra clicking and how long it takes for the executable to actually come up.
Of course, some of that may be the stupid naming convention of the zips, which is far worse than any of the naming conventions used with the exes. Just what does the IM stand for anyway? Is it a subliminal message to brainwash us all into using D3DIM?
Or it may be the silly little extra files that are in the zips (the manifest and support .dsa/.dsx files) and the insistence that the zips have to be in a Content folder.
Whatever it is, DAZ zips are an annoyance compared to the zips I get from every other store.
Not quite, the executable installer is the .exe file. For Windows, anyway — the .zips that have always been supplied for Mac contain three different installers (for different MacOS systems) plus the content. The DIM-compatible .zip has only the content, no executable anything. (This is why recent installers containing only a few D|S materials have been over 5MB for Windows and nearly 15MB for Mac, while the new DIM .zip is a few hundred kB at most.)
I like the Installation Manager, but I've had 2 problems with it - both related. First, it doesn't seem to work for installing the updated version of DS itself, and second, the help files & tutorials all refer to an update function that doesn't seem to exist on my version, or maybe it's hidden.
Any suggestions on the update function?
DIM, IMO, is a huge time saver, especially for my larger orders. I don't have to pick through which files I need to download & install (my eyes aren't so good anymore), and I don't have to wait (and wait) for each uninstaller. I like it.
Installing software, plugins, and non-DS/Poser content is currently being worked on, according to the ChangeLog.
There haven't been any updates yet since the general release.
I, too, don't like the Install Manager, but I'm confused which version to download. For example, which of these do I need for the Mac version of the latest version of DAZ Studio 4.5.x.x? I gather it's not the "exe" version, but as among "Technopolis DS", "TechnopolisDS_v1.0_trx.zip" and "TechnopolisPS_v1.0dpc.zip", which should I use?
Downloads
Technopolis DS DM Download 93.29 MB
Technopolis Ps DM Download 87.22 MB
15984_TechnopolisDS_v1.0_trx.exe Download 90.42 MB
15984_TechnopolisPs_v1.0_dpc.exe Download 84.86 MB
15984_TechnopolisDS_v1.0_trx.zip Download 88.69 MB
15984_TechnopolisPs_v1.0_dpc.zip Download 85.65 MB
Thanks,
MrWizard1024
If you want an installer, 15984_TechnopolisDS_v1.0_trx.zip
If you want a zip of the content files to install manually, Technopolis DS