I’m running Unity 2019.1.112. I need to understand how Unity deals with downloaded packages. I have downloaded and IMPORTED several FREE packages such as characters, standard stuff, etc. When I want to use those packages later in a new project I can’t find any of them in the Assets/Import Package area. Where did these huge packages disappear to? I can’t seem to find them anywhere. Please help me figure this out since I don’t think I should have to re-download each package every time I need to use it.
If you’re talking about the Asset Store packages, just open up the Asset Store tab again and you can import them from there. They won’t be downloaded again unless you update them (and they have updates).
You do. You can handle this manually by copying the packages out to some backup folder you keep, but Unity doesn’t keep a packages backup on your drive.
This makes some sense, as putting more files in your project - especially code files - slows things like compilation and version control down. You’re also free to (and meant to) change the files to fit your project better.
This will probably change as the asset store transitions from being based on just copying files into your project to being handled through the package manager. That’s on the roadmap, but there’s no clear dates set.
OK, I did see that if I click on the Asset Store tab I can find my previously downloaded Assets and just click on IMPORT. However, if I’m offline (like working in my RV at a campground with WiFi, I assume that I can’t do that. In that case I believe that I would have to prepare for that scenario and do what Baste says which is to “Export” that package from Unity to a folder on my computer. I haven’t tried that but I guess that would be the procedure.
I have watched several tutorials where the instructions say that to use previously downloaded Assets one has to click on the Assets tab in Unity and then click on Import New Asset or Import Package. When I do that I don’t see anything that I can import. My assumption is that this has changed from previous versions, so that procedure doesn’t work any more in the Unity version I’m using.
Lastly, being a dumb newbie, I just realized that I posted this to a group where it appears my question doesn’t belong. This is a “HUB” group. Is it possible for me to switch this thread to a place where it belongs and if so, which place would that be?
Probably in Editor & General Support. There’s an “asset store” subforum, but that’s meant for promotion of assets, not feedback on using the asset store.