How do you update mods in vortex?

[GOLAT]

When I click on the update button it just brings me to the mod homepage, I don't want to redownload a entire mod so how do I just update the mod?

[rmm200]

The definition of an update is a new copy of the mod.

No mod supports the concept of update in place. You have to download the new version if you want it.

[Guest deleted34304850]

are you expecting to bring in just bits of a mod that constitute an update? for example, an update to a script may have lines added, deleted and changed, you just want them bits? or a mod that updates a skin, or adds some objects, you just want the updates whether they are added/changed/removed?

 

that's fraught with so much danger.

 

when you download updates for your computer, for any program that runs on it - you are aware you download entire directories of data that replaces what you have already, right?

 

it's the same with mods.

 

the update will replace what you have already - hence update. that act of updating what you have in place already will add/update/delete data as necessary. this is the safest way to update anything really, unless you want to go ultra-granular and manually update/change/delete lines of code or files yourself, which would be time consuming and error prone.

[BigBizkit]

When I click on the update button it just brings me to the mod homepage, I don't want to redownload a entire mod so how do I just update the mod?

 

When you click the "Check for Mod Updates" Vortex will do just that - run a check for updates.

 

If an update is found, one of two things will happen: either a) a little cloud icon with the tooltip reading "Mod can be updated" will appear next to the mod, or b) a different icon with the tooltip reading "Mod can be updated (but you will have to pick the file yourself").

 

For a) all you need to do is click the icon and the new version of the mod will be downloaded in Vortex and you will then be prompted to install that update.

 

For b) you will be directed to the mod page where you will have to download the new version of the main file you want.

 

Which of the two things happens depends on the mod author/mod page. If the update the mod author has made is replacing the existing main file, then Vortex will be able to detect a new version of the main file and let you download just that. If, however, the mod author adds more than one main file to their mod page, then Vortex does not know which of these files the "actual" main file is.

 

Sometimes, there isn't an "actual" main file either, for instance when mod authors provide several main file versions of an armour - e.g. a blue, red, and green version of it.

 

Ideally, we want mod authors to provide one main file (so the case outlined in "a)" would happen, which is more convenient for the end user), and cater for options with e.g. mod installers (rather than having several main files): https://wiki.nexusmods.com/index.php/How_to_create_mod_installers

 

However, there are many mods around with more than one main file and you will have to pick the main file you want to update yourself.

 

I hope that clears things up for you.