Can I move my library to a new drive WITHOUT DIM?

RKane_1

I lost my computer recently and spent days reloadoing my library (4000+ DAZ files). I installed it to the wrong drive in error. Rather than uninstall it all and reinstall it, taking further days, is there a way to move the file and adjust the .JSON file manually to tell it those items are now installed there and can be uninstalled there as well?

fixmypcmike

You need to edit the .dsx files in the ManifestFiles folder (default location is something like C:\Users\Public\Documents\DAZ 3D\DAZDIM\ManifestFiles in Windows) -- there's one for each package installed with DIM.  There will be a line that reads:

<UserInstallPath VALUE="Q:/All Runtimes/My DAZ 3D Library"/>

Edit it with the new path and DIM will see that as the place it was installed.  (Note that is uses forward slash as the separator regardless of OS.)

And, of course, change the paths inside DS Content Directory Manager.

RKane_1

Are you saying EACH item has to be changed or just the manifest file?

RKane_1

And I move the files BEFORE I edit this, correct?

fixmypcmike

There's a .dsx file for each zip, so you'll want to use an editor that can do a global change across multiple files; I use Notepad++.  You can edit them before or after you move the content, they won't be used until you try to update or uninstall something in DIM.

RKane_1

Ack.... almost sounds simpler to uninstall and reinstall everything. :(

fastbike1

I hate to disagree with Mike, but I've moved my content files in the past and all I've done is change the path in DIM and the Content Manager pane.

Richard Haseltine

fastbike1 said:

I hate to disagree with Mike, but I've moved my content files in the past and all I've done is change the path in DIM and the Content Manager pane.

That will give you issues if you try to uninstall, or if there's a product update, unless DIM has been changed to use relative paths (as the CMS does in DS 4.9+). Having the wrong path in the manifests won't affect new installs, nor will it affect using the content in DS.

fastbike1

@Richard Haseltine

Must be using relative paths then. I rarely uninstall, but haven't had problems, no problems w/ updates. FWIW, the drive change came before 4.9

Richard Haseltine

Richard Haseltine said:

fastbike1 said:

I hate to disagree with Mike, but I've moved my content files in the past and all I've done is change the path in DIM and the Content Manager pane.

That will give you issues if you try to uninstall, or if there's a product update, unless DIM has been changed to use relative paths (as the CMS does in DS 4.9+). Having the wrong path in the manifests won't affect new installs, nor will it affect using the content in DS.

DIM is still working as before, the chnages in 4.9 are the result of its automatically converting the old 4.8-format database entries to 4.9-format when new entreies are added. So my "unless" doesn't apply.

SpottedKitty

RKane_1 said:

Ack.... almost sounds simpler to uninstall and reinstall everything. :(

Uninstall/reinstall shouldn't actually take all that long. Are you getting terms mixed up with "download fresh installers from the DAZ servers"? Remember that the downloaded installers will have been saved on your computer, unless you set DIM to "delete after install" — a plain uninstall/reinstall will use these locally saved copies.