File priority system isn't really a priority system

[Jakobud]

I'm running Transmission on a Linux server and accessing it through the web interface.

When I want to prioritize the files that are downloaded in a torrent, it doesn't seem like I can really prioritize them. I can only hit the up and down arrows to tell it which are kinda the most important. I can't really order them saying "I want this file downloaded first, then this one second, etc".

Here are two scenarios:

1. I have 5 files being downloaded in a torrent. I want the first one downloaded first/priority. I hit the up arrow for it. All 5 files are 'checked'.

2. I have 5 files being downloaded in a torrent. I want the first one downloaded first/priority. I uncheck all files EXCEPT the first one that I want downloaded first. Doesn't matter if the arrow is up or down or whatever for this one since its the only file.

Given these two scenarios, it appears to me that the file is downloaded MUCH faster in scenario #2, than in scenario #1. Why is this? It seems like when file is given the up arrow so it's a priority, none of the other files should be downloaded until this one is. This is not the case though. The only way to force this type of behavior is to uncheck all the others as in scenario 2. Seems strange to have to do this.

The priority system should simply be a reorder-able list of files. The highest files on the list get downloaded first.

So are these limitations I'm describing limitations of transmission or limitations of the web interface?

[lazybones]

part of it is also how bittorent works.. not all of the peers you are connected with will have the parts you want the most so they will give you the parts they have but you don't... since bittorent seeds naturally try and spread out who has what your priority downloads will download a little faster than the rest of the parts of the download, but not first and the rest not at all.. as you stated you basically have to uncheck the other files to tell all the other clients you don't want those parts at all.