Updates For Products- FYI In General For Newbies (And not-so-newbies perhaps.)

Novica

This may help all the new folks. I know I am confused. I read the thread on updates but this escaped me-

First, I dont use DIM, I still use Taozens (and love it.) I have thousands of products and all are installed. Finding a list of updates
(the thread in the Commons) just got me confused. Where is everyone going to find out if it's an update? Looking at the version in the ReadMe? And doing what, comparing with what they have? Sheeesh, I can't possibly check all these that are not currently listed, and re-download all of them that are. Someone in the thread mentioned that the changes were not even identified- how do you know if it's a big deal or not?

So,
1. where do you find the latest version- the ReadMe?

2. where is the list of ReadMes? Can't find the link. There is a product list, very handy.

3. how does the DIM (Daz Install Manager) handle updates? In the thread, someone said it wasn't handling some of the updates as well as individually installing them. It was, I think, just specific products- does the DIM update EVERY TIME you use it, on all products or just the ones you are downloading? (sorry, since I don't use it, I haven't a clue)

4. what is the process for updating products- do the vendors submit a change or something? Or is a bug that DAZ fixes?

5. once a product is updated, is that usually just a one time thing?

Cathie

Jaderail

The DIM keeps a list of all files it has installed. At boot of DIM it checks its list of items against all the items on Daz3Ds list of the same items. IF a newer version is found that will show as a Update in DIM. It (DIM, should) then replace the older file with the Updated file.

BWSman

DIM will only show updated files of products you have downloaded and will download the most up to date version available to it at the time of downloading. Another thing about DIM is that you do not have to let it install anything. If you are like me & don't install to the default directory (or if you have more than one content directory); you can have the DIM just download your products & keep track of updates and manually install them wherever you want to. The last thing to note about the DIM; is that it downloads ZIP files and not installers. No more click; click; click; click to install products; just unzip to your content directory & it's installed.

Products are updated whenever a bug report is filed (eventually); when a vendor sends in an update (either because something was missing or a customer reported to the vendor that something was wrong) are to add metadata (on older products). Products can be updated multiple times until it's either working properly or DAZ3d/vendor doesn't want to spend more time/effort fixing it. For the Gen 4 figures; the Victoria 4 bodysuit was updated each time a new figure (Aiko 4; Stephanie 4; etc) was released.