DC++ Guide Part 3: Advanced Features

Here I will go through the advanced features of DC++.

Rollback in DC++ is a feature I think everyone should use by default. In most cases, it avoids downloads becoming corrupt or un-usable by taking away a specified amount of data every time you resume a download.

The 'Write Size Buffer' is an anti-fragmentation feature, DC++ saves the specified number of bytes to keep fragmentation low.

Since some hubs specify a minimum client version that is much higher than DC++'s real version number you can set something here, I suggest adding 1 to version number e.g. 0.301.

• Automatically follow redirects: When enabled, it follows a redirection command given by a hub. I leave this disabled because if a hub is full, I just keep refreshing until there is a space.
  
• Automatically search for alternative download locations: When enabled, if the user you are getting files off goes offline, it searches other users within the hubs you are in for the same file and automatically starts downloading depending if they have slots free or not.
  
• Use small send buffer: Many people complain about their download speeds dropping dramatically when you start uploading files to other users. If this is the case, enable this option.
  
• Enable SFV checking: Many downloads on DC contain an sfv file to check the integrity of a download. DC++ can on-the-fly calculate CRC-32 values for a file and compare it against the sfv file. If the check fails, the file is automatically downloaded once more from the same user and if that fails, the user is removed as a source. For this to work, the .sfv file must be in the same target directory as the download goes.
  
• Don't send away messages to bots: You should have this feature enabled. Sometimes bots send you a private message when entering a hub and if your away, a message gets sent back to them but no-one will get to read it since that username is actually representing an automated computer.
  
• Skip zero-byte files: Zero-byte files are normally either fake files, or just obsolete files that are useless to users.

That's just about it for the guide. If you are still having difficulties with a certain feature or have any questions regarding DC++ then I recommend you visit the official DC++ forums which have a very large community with very knowledgeable people who most likely will be able to answer your query.