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the mod subscribed from steam workshop leaves 2 copies in my drivers, it is waste of my space
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Description

When I subscribe a mod in steamwork shop, it will write three copies in my driver. one is in XX\SteamLibrary\SteamApps\workshop\downloads folder, the second is in XX\SteamLibrary\SteamApps\workshop\content\107410 folder, the third is in XX\SteamLibrary\SteamApps\common\Arma 3 or the location you set by ARMA3 launcer.
it will delet the copy from the downloads folder, but the other two remains.
And if I try to delet the copy in 107410 folder, it will automatically redownload it.
It is waste of driver space. {F27221} {F27222} {F27223}

Details

Legacy ID
2726870594
Severity
None
Resolution
Open
Reproducibility
Always
Category
Steam Workshop
Steps To Reproduce

When I subscribe a mod in steamwork shop, it will

  1. Download the content into XX\SteamLibrary\SteamApps\workshop\downloads folder.
  2. Copy the content into XX\SteamLibrary\SteamApps\workshop\content\107410 folder.
  3. Creat another copy into XX\SteamLibrary\SteamApps\common\Arma 3 or the location you set by ARMA3 launcher.
  4. Delet the content in XX\SteamLibrary\SteamApps\workshop\downloads.

The problem is: there is still one copy remain in XX\SteamLibrary\SteamApps\workshop\content\107410 folder.
And if I try to delet the copy in 107410 folder, it will automatically redownload it.
It is waste of driver space.

Event Timeline

msy edited Steps To Reproduce. (Show Details)Oct 8 2015, 3:32 PM
msy set Category to Steam Workshop.
msy set Reproducibility to Always.
msy set Severity to None.
msy set Resolution to Open.
msy set Legacy ID to 2726870594.May 8 2016, 12:55 PM
R3vo added a subscriber: R3vo.May 8 2016, 12:55 PM
R3vo added a comment.Oct 8 2015, 4:10 PM

Upvoted, having a special modfolder is kinda usless if it creates a folder in the steam directory anyways.

I don't think this is a bug but a consequence of how Steam manages downloading and installing Workshop content as this is also the case with every other game that I have that uses the Steam Workshop. As such, I don't think this behaviour is within the realm that the ArmA devs are able to influence.

Hello,
the '\SteamApps\workshop\...' folder is the Steam cache folder and its content is created and maintained by Steam client itself and we can't manage it or move it. Steam client is rather sensitive about this folder and I advise against any manipulation with that folder as it may result in "Unforeseen Consequences". We're looking for the safe options how to workaround this issue and reduce the amount of data and we'll let you know if we find a reliable solution.

The problem here is the Arma 3 Launcher.
In the launcher settings under 'mod options' is the feature 'mod storage'. The description says it 'will also move all the mods (...) to this folder.' By default its set to the Arma 3 folder and you cant disable it!
BIS has failed to think even the slightest about the consequences of this 'feature'.

The intention for this might have been the unclear names in \SteamApps\workshop\ or to arrange all your mods neatly in the Arma 3 folder.
Steam can fix both of these problems.
BIS cant without creating more severe problems. (double the size, manual deleting + unsubscibe -> no auto updates)

In my opinion both initial problems are solved with the mod overview in the Arma 3 launcher.

So the solution is to delete this 'mod storage'-shit. And if BIS does so, please make a popup on next launcher start, to delete the made copies as a lot of people dont know about this.

hobart added a subscriber: hobart.May 8 2016, 12:55 PM

Yea, now the launcher seems to be even more problematic than before... I just went to clear up some disk space and I see this redundancy of files 14GB worth... bis maybe add a launcher-less feature and a var that says "wow, they don't want our crappy launcher? OK, here we'll go on as we have for years without it, launch game."...

R3vo removed a subscriber: R3vo.Jul 21 2021, 6:06 PM