How can I ignore samples - before downloading?

[OneCD]

I'm not sure if this is currently possible. I'd like to NOT download sample files.

I've been manually examining the items in my download queue and deleting the sample files myself from within the queued NZB, but it would be great to have something to do this automatically. So, I'm looking at writing a queue pre-processor to remove these.

Before I started though, I began searching and found an old post from @shypike that has stopped me:

I don't recommend the setting "Do not download samples" because many
posters foolishly include the sample in the same par2 collections as the main files.

Can anyone advise if this is still the case? Probably wouldn't be a big deal - I could just leave all the par files alone.

BTW: why does the GUI sometimes stop me from deleting certain files in the queued NZB? These always seem to be pars - is it because this download may be missing articles and so these par files will be needed?

Thank you.

[safihre]

Indeed it's what shypike says, all too often the samples are included in the main par2 file. Not so much from the experienced posters, but more from the niche posters. Then this would result in possible slow verification and repair, it's nowadays most often faster to to just get the samples and delete afterwards.

Yes, the par2 files are "postponed" so they won't be downloaded anyway unless we detect missing articles or if verification tells us.

[OneCD]

Indeed it's what shypike says, all too often the samples are included in the main par2 file. Not so much from the experienced posters, but more from the niche posters. Then this would result in possible slow verification and repair, it's nowadays most often faster to to just get the samples and delete afterwards.

Ah, with my slow connection speed (8Mb), it's quicker to delete them. If I manually remove samples from the first page of 30 items, I can turn an ETA of 24 hours into 23.

Yes, the par2 files are "postponed" so they won't be downloaded anyway unless we detect missing articles or if verification tells us.

There shouldn't be a problem with deletion though, if the sample file has its own par set? I'd like to delete only these via the GUI, but sometimes, I'm blocked from doing so.

[safihre]

In the end these sample sets will not be downloaded, only the first small par2 file which is later ignored during post processing. So the end result should be the same, isn't it?

[LV-426]

I've just moved to the latest and was sorry to see the option not to download samples has gone, cant say I ever run into the problem where some numpty had included the sample in the main par set.

Nearly as annoying as the secondary web interface disappearing

[safihre]

There's a few threads on here or on Github, forgot which one, where users complain about failing downloads due to removing of samples

[OneCD]

In the end these sample sets will not be downloaded, only the first small par2 file which is later ignored during post processing. So the end result should be the same, isn't it?

Yes, you're right.

Thank you @safihre.