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I spent the weekend going through my GOG library, Clicking on each executable download to get the number sequence in the file name, and comparing that to the files I have stored. Just to then cancel the download. If there was a newer version I went to the GOG Downloader Links page and acquired the files that way. I wound up downloading around 30 games out of a library of 318. There are several annoying aspects about how the site displays this information.

1) There is no chronological list of updates for owned games. There is a notification when updates occur but if you don't act on it right away it apparently expires and the Updated display in Library resets to 0.

2) Filenames are not readily displayed. Sometimes clicking on the shelf item of a game provides useless information such as (GOG-6). Other times nothing at all. I have to start downloading the file to see the name in the save as dialog box.

3) GOG Downloader Links opens in a new page. When done with the page clicking the back button resets the display of the library, sending you back to the top of page 1 instead of where you left off.

3b) The GOG Downloader Links page is poorly sorted.
https://www.gog.com/forum/general/why_are_downloader_links_always_under_the_wrong_header

4) GOG Galaxy is in some ways worse.
- It slightly improves on 3) in that using the back button will at least take you the last page number. Though still at the top of the page instead of scrolling to the game where you left off.
- Patches and DLC are not scattered all over the page. However Galaxy lacks the "download all goodies" in one convenient link.
- In regard to 2) the same useless or absent information persists and is exacerbated in that clicking the links in Backups & Goodies immediately starts the download without displaying the file name.
Post edited November 21, 2016 by SKARDAVNELNATE
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SKARDAVNELNATE: I spent the weekend going through my GOG library, Clicking on each executable download to get the number sequence in the file name, and comparing that to the files I have stored. Just to then cancel the download. If there was a newer version I went to the GOG Downloader Links page and acquired the files that way. I wound up downloading around 30 games out of a library of 318. There are several annoying aspects about how the site displays this information.

1) There is no chronological list of updates for owned games. There is a notification when updates occur but if you don't act on it right away it apparently expires and the Updated display in Library resets to 0.

2) Filenames are not readily displayed. Sometimes clicking on the shelf item of a game provides useless information such as (GOG-6). Other times nothing at all. I have to start downloading the file to see the name in the save as dialog box.

3) GOG Downloader Links opens in a new page. When done with the page clicking the back button resets the display of the library, sending you back to the top of page 1 instead of where you left off.

3b) The GOG Downloader Links page is poorly sorted.
https://www.gog.com/forum/general/why_are_downloader_links_always_under_the_wrong_header

4) GOG Galaxy is in some ways worse.
- It slightly improves on 3) in that using the back button will at least take you the last page number. Though still at the top of the page instead of scrolling to the game where you left off.
- Patches and DLC are not scattered all over the page. However Galaxy lacks the "download all goodies" in one convenient link.
- In regard to 2) the same useless or absent information persists and is exacerbated in that clicking the links in Backups & Goodies immediately starts the download without displaying the file name.
The note dissapears the moment (or at refresh after the moment) you click on the game card. As long as you do not click the card itself it stays in the notifications. I usually "collect" update notifications and then take about half an hour or so at some weekend to sort new stuff out.

Overall yeah, agree. Information flow with updates is very bad. Game gets a new forum avatar to choose from *bäm* update notification for the whole thing; not even whats new compared to the last time.
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anothername: The note dissapears the moment (or at refresh after the moment) you click on the game card. As long as you do not click the card itself it stays in the notifications.
Hah, I wish. They tend to linger for a while, though granted I do think it's gotten better in recent months. Damn things used to sit there for half a day after clicking the relevant game already, so annoying.
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anothername: The note dissapears the moment (or at refresh after the moment) you click on the game card. As long as you do not click the card itself it stays in the notifications.
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Pheace: Hah, I wish. They tend to linger for a while, though granted I do think it's gotten better in recent months. Damn things used to sit there for half a day after clicking the relevant game already, so annoying.
I remeber from some time back experiencing the same. THAT was annoying indeed. Almost forgot till you said. :)
All of the above and not all games actually get notifications for updates. You'll be surprised how many games have different versions in your (downloaded) library and you never got a notification for that. It's super frustrating, that.
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liquidBass: All of the above and not all games actually get notifications for updates. You'll be surprised how many games have different versions in your (downloaded) library and you never got a notification for that. It's super frustrating, that.
That's true, but it doesn't really mean the game itself has been updated.

When GOG changes the compression or the games which will be advertised during the installation, the installer's version increases, but the game's version stays the same. In such cases the lack of an update notification is intended.

I suggest to check <span class="bold">The what did just update thread</span> for updates.
Well,

My userscript solves number 3 (by letting you switch between normal and downloader links on the card itself).

Unfortunately I haven't found an easy way to do 1 yet, but 2 may be possible... I'll have to look into it.
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adaliabooks:
By the way, your user script solves many problems! :-)
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liquidBass: All of the above and not all games actually get notifications for updates. You'll be surprised how many games have different versions in your (downloaded) library and you never got a notification for that. It's super frustrating, that.
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vanchann: That's true, but it doesn't really mean the game itself has been updated.
When GOG changes the compression or the games which will be advertised during the installation, the installer's version increases, but the game's version stays the same. In such cases the lack of an update notification is intended.[]
You'll be surprised in how many cases the game's version has been updated. It has the changelog and everything, just no update notification. But I don't want to. I don't want to check that thread every single day, or scroll through countless pages to find out what's updated or might have been updated :( That's the whole point, we shouldn't have to do that.
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adaliabooks:
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vanchann: By the way, your user script solves many problems! :-)
Thanks, I try :)
Here's a list of suggested improvements sorted from least to most significant.
- Properly sort the GOG Downloader Links.
- Make gamecards tabbed to facilitate switching between Game Downloads and GOG Downloader Links in the same page.
- Use the Game Downloads space where the game version is shown (or not shown in many cases) to display the filename number sequence.
- Provide us with a consolidated list of owned games with their filename displayed and the date that filename was added, allow this list to be sorted by Game or by Date.
Post edited November 22, 2016 by SKARDAVNELNATE
We already complained a lot about these issues, but years passed.. :\
Even IF the new Community Manager approved such ideas, it would still take many months before any change.
So.. who knows..
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SKARDAVNELNATE: ...
In case you have enough space to store all your GOG game installers, the best solution at the moment is to use the gogrepo.py tool to download all your GOG games.

https://www.gog.com/forum/general/gogrepopy_python_script_for_regularly_backing_up_your_purchased_gog_collection_for_full_offline_e/page1

It is also quite easy to keep your local collection up to date with it, gogrepo will catch any changes, even silent changes where you didn't get an update notification. And while it is doing it, it will remove all those update notifications from your GOG account as well (when you run the "gogrepo.py update" command). No more need to try to track which games have changed etc., just run gogrepo and it will automatically download anything that has changed.
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anothername: The note dissapears the moment (or at refresh after the moment) you click on the game card.
I don't think that is enough. I've noticed that the update notification will disappear (at least after awhile) if I either start the download, or merely e.g. check the changelog for the game (under "More" => "Changelog"). Not all games have a changelog, though.
Post edited November 23, 2016 by timppu
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SKARDAVNELNATE: ...
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timppu: In case you have enough space to store all your GOG game installers, the best solution at the moment is to use the gogrepo.py tool to download all your GOG games.

https://www.gog.com/forum/general/gogrepopy_python_script_for_regularly_backing_up_your_purchased_gog_collection_for_full_offline_e/page1

It is also quite easy to keep your local collection up to date with it, gogrepo will catch any changes, even silent changes where you didn't get an update notification. And while it is doing it, it will remove all those update notifications from your GOG account as well (when you run the "gogrepo.py update" command). No more need to try to track which games have changed etc., just run gogrepo and it will automatically download anything that has changed.
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anothername: The note dissapears the moment (or at refresh after the moment) you click on the game card.
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timppu: I don't think that is enough. I've noticed that the update notification will disappear (at least after awhile) if I either start the download, or merely e.g. check the changelog for the game (under "More" => "Changelog"). Not all games have a changelog, though.
Should have clarified. I meant in the browser. Not sure about the finer details in Galaxy :)
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anothername: Should have clarified. I meant in the browser. Not sure about the finer details in Galaxy :)
Me too. I don't currently use Galaxy.