Option to clean up Vortex mod staging folder by removing files that is not used after conflict solving

[KeXe5]

Dear Vortex developers!

I would suggest / request a feature for Vortex Mod Manager that Mod Organizer 2 have since long time, specifically to be able to rename and/or remove files from mod staging folder that are overwritten by other mods. With this, big mod list users can spare space on thier hard drives / SSD by deleting mod files that are not used anyway, because for example .nif and .dds files can eat up tons of space fast. Cleaned mods by this method would be flagged, so the users will know which particular mods need to be re-installed if a previously conflict winner mod gets deleted.

Vortex already have conflict resolver function, we need only the ability to rename / remove the files which get overwritten.

Can you please implement this function?

Edited December 3, 2023 by KeXe5

[Zanderat]

Good idea.  But how would you handle easily changing the overwrites?  A loads after B.  B gets deleted.  Oops.  I meant B loads after A.

[showler]

You could do it so that once you have a stable working game and no longer want to mess with it (bless the people with this much self-control) you could run a function to remove the "unneeded" files and save some space.

[Zanderat]

I suppose.  That's not me, that's for sure!

[Guest deleted34304850]

what do you gain from this feature?

i can see a lot of downsides that can happen if its used, but what are the advantages?

[KeXe5]

6 hours ago, Zanderat said:

Good idea.  But how would you handle easily changing the overwrites?  A loads after B.  B gets deleted.  Oops.  I meant B loads after A.

Thats why you need to test your mod build out good before doing such things. Deleting of the files should happen only if you trigger it manually. But thats why the deleted or partly deleted mods should be flagged that means you need to re-install it in case when you want to roll back your decisions after file cleanup.

 

6 hours ago, showler said:

You could do it so that once you have a stable working game and no longer want to mess with it (bless the people with this much self-control) you could run a function to remove the "unneeded" files and save some space.

As far as i know Vortex dont have any functions like this by default. I know there is a Vortex addon called "Broom - The Loose File Sweeper" but its just a simple file delete script which will not do anything without making a proper configuration file for it, which is a multiple ten hours of work until you figure out manually which files can be deleted in a longer mod list.

But anyway if you know a proper and simple method to do this, i definitely want to hear it.

[KeXe5]

7 minutes ago, 1ae0bfb8 said:

what do you gain from this feature?

i can see a lot of downsides that can happen if its used, but what are the advantages?

Gaining back a lot of space on smaller SSD for example, because mods often have tons of textures and meshes that get overwritten by multiple mods.

Downsides can happen only if you not use the feature properly. And it would be optional anyway...

Edited December 4, 2023 by KeXe5

[Guest deleted34304850]

ok but why, in 2023 is a small ssd a problem?

downsides - have you read the vortex support forum? 90% of users can barely turn on their PC. Give them a feature like this would be fun and entertaining, but for all the wrong reasons.

[KeXe5]

2 minutes ago, 1ae0bfb8 said:

ok but why, in 2023 is a small ssd a problem?

downsides - have you read the vortex support forum? 90% of users can barely turn on their PC. Give them a feature like this would be fun and entertaining, but for all the wrong reasons.

I dont know in which country are you living, but in my country the computer parts are not that cheap in comparison with the salaries... Personally im using a 250GB SSD which have only Skyrim and its mods installed on it and more than half of its available space already occupied by the mods. And im using only like 800 mods... Each person is responsible for their own decisions. It is possible to hide the deleting funcion by default anyway,  so the noobs won't be able to use it irresponsibly.

[showler]

I do think it would be a useful idea.  And that Vortex might need a "power user" mode for experienced users.

The main issue is that I'm pretty sure that Black Tree has stopped adding new features to Vortex and any new feature requests would be directed to the upcoming Nexus Mods App instead.

Your best bet would be to write it up on the http://feedback.nexusmods.com Feedback Portal site and allow people to upvote it.  Highly voted suggestions will be given priority consideration when they start adding extra features to the Nexus Mods App.