I was told those funny looking files at the top of the image are important for location of things already downloaded.  but what about the one inside the poser stuff folder ie next to the content folder.

I want to install the content as an external runtime ie relabel it as something else and drop it into my folder where I keep all my external runtimes.  But then there will be a leftover file?  what should I do with it?

Keep the zips with the .dsx files so that DIM knows  which files you downloaded so it can check for updates. Then you can unzip the files themselves anywhere and rename to your hearts content :)

The manifest file I usually delete. If you're only using DIM as a download/update program, the manifest files don't really matter. The important part is keeping the .dsx files with the zips.

Hope that helps.

Okay, so delete the manifest files?  too easy.  what is their purpose by the way?

Honestly, I  can't recall. LOL If  I remember right  you only need the .dsx or the manifest.. not both.

I download the zips with DIM to a folder on my external and just leave them there with the .dsx files. I let DIM install to a dummy folder on my desktop and rename them and then merge into My Library and it works out perfectly. :) I get my updates when there are any and never ran into a problem without the manifest.

When the forums come back you can ask the specific purpose of the manifest ones but DIM hasn't missed them. LOL

Yes, as long as you have the dsx file with the zip or the dsx file in manifests the Install manager will see updates.

I'm not sure what you mean by the dsx file in manifests. I presume you mean the dsx file called manifest, but anyway I think I get it now.  thanks for your hellp everyone.  

There's a Manifests folder created that holds the .dsx files for installed content (and that file is all you need - you can move or remove the content, manually rather than with the Install Manager, and still get update notifications through DIM.

there isn't a special folder with manifests in it.  The dsx files come into which ever folder I ahve selected for download.  then in each subfolder when I unzip a zip is a file called manifest too which is also a .dsx.

Yes, there's a .dsx file that sites beside the zip (and if both of those are rpeset updates will be seen as updates. But if you install there's a .dsx file in DAZ 3DInstallManagerManifestFiles in the Public Documents folder, and that on its own is also enough to get you update notifications for the product even without the zip and its dsx file.

aha, sounds like things I should keep then maybe.

Just got back from Down Under, so commetning a bit late on this topic.

The DIM messed up my Hiro 5 installation.  I had already been in communication with DAZ Tech Support.  My problem was solved by uninstalling DIM and manually installing the Hiro 5 content.  Just providing information for folks who are considering manual installation instead of automatic.