Downloading Client Orders Produces Subfolders/zipfiles That Clog Up Storage

Hi Tim,

I know this was a problem a few years ago but then something was fixed/tweaked but I guess the coding fell off in subsequent updates?

Basically, even though i'm on max storage with my host ( Saratoga ), my storage keeps chonking up to overflow with all these folders in the photos folder.

I don't need them so I delete them all when Saratoga alerts me im all full up.
I last cleaned them all out 3mo ago so was surprised to be all filled up again.

Some of the older years have all these old folders - not order numbers, just names 1, 2, 7, 14, 36 etc and when you open them, more folders with similar numbers, and when you finally get to the bottom of a folder, it's simply an index?

But 2024, for every order I download to print, a copy is created of files already in the system.

Is there something I can do to stop this happening?

I download my orders via the "Manage Orders" button if that makes a difference?

It's faster and more reliable than the "Download photos" button where I often get a circle of death ( to be honest, i'm not sure of the proper function of "Manage Photos" but it does get the job done! :) )

many thanks.

You should use the Download Photos tab while viewing the order instead as those zip files are automatically deleted after 24 hours.

thanks - I will try again, it was a couple of upgrades ago I didnt prefer the download button but it seemed to be working well yesterday.

3 questions -

(1)   does the download order button just zip print selections ( and ignore digitals )
(2)  if someone orders multiple copies ( say, 3 ) of the same print, will I just get the one copy, or 3 ?
(2)  what IS the "manage photos" order actually intended for?

Thanks so much.

thanks - I will try again, it was a couple of upgrades ago I didnt prefer the download button but it seemed to be working well yesterday.

3 questions -

(1)   does the download order button just zip print selections ( and ignore digitals )
(2)  if someone orders multiple copies ( say, 3 ) of the same print, will I just get the one copy, or 3 ?
(2)  what IS the "manage photos" order actually intended for?

Thanks so much.

What about the Download Photos option when clicking on a group of orders from a gallery (so multiple orders not just one... this is hit and miss and works sometimes and doesnt it others. I wish it would work all the time.  I know you have said to contact your host etc as it's to do with timeout limits - but I have done that and changed settings as per recommended and it still is not reliable enough to use in my workflow unfortunately. 

IN the last update I added: 

Updated downloading photos in zip files that if the total size of the zip file goes beyond 3GB, it will automatically create multiple zip files. 4GB is the max that can be generate, so this resolves the issue with it being too large. The size it starts to generate multiple zip files can be set in Settings -> Photo Settings. 

You can go to Settings -> Photo Settings and set the size it starts generating multiple zip file to 1GB or 2GB and see if that helps. If not, the server must be timing out due to the time it takes to create those.