Downloading individual files from a torrent

[Varjak]

I don't use Deluge (or any torrent client that much), so each time I come back to it, there seems to be a new wrinkle (not a complaint, just an explanation).

So, I'm using 1.3.3 on Windows XP SP3. I've always found it to be a reliable and useful client. I seem to remember that one used to be able to download individual files within a torrent, if it was broken down into files. I'm trying to download one that has lots of files (141 I believe); but I don't need or want all of them. I'm particularly interested in only a few series worth and would like to restrict my download to that. As I recall, when you selected the torrent, there used to be a window where one could see all the files contained within it, and uncheck the ones you didn't want, before you even start downloading. Even after adding the torrent, it didn't show all the individual files as older ones do. Is this still possible? Do the magnet links prevent that, as opposed to the 'old' way of doing it, where you downloaded the torrent file in a slightly different way? Or does it vary from torrent to torrent or the tracker? Sorry for such basic questions. I'm probably missing something obvious. Thanks.

[Cas]

I answered this same question on AskUbuntu:

This is a limitation of magnet uris vs torrent files. Magnet uris only contain the torrent's infohash and optional the tracker and torrent name, whereas a torrent file will also contain the metadata about the torrent's files. The only way to retrieve the torrent's metadata when using magnets is by connecting and downloading from a peer, which takes time.

In future workarounds for this may well be implemented but currently you will have to add the magnet, wait for the metadata from peers, then choose the files you wish to download.

[Varjak]

Thank you. I did see that after the torrent started, the files were listed individually; but there still were no check-boxes or other seemingly obvious way to select individual files, etc. There were little file icons, but clicking on them didn't seem to do anything. I'll take another look though.

[xhtml]

You've probably discovered this by now but for anyone else with the same question, when you add the torrent to Deluge, a list of files is shown with checkboxes to allow you to disable those you are aren't interested in downloading.

Alternatively, once the torrent has started, left click in the main pane to select it , then at the bottom of the screen, select the Files tab, then choose those files you don't want, right click and click "do not download'.