As a first time use of GOG can you inform this newbie on whether games in general and the Witcher 3 in particular install patches automatically or not?

You decide yourself :)

Obviously you need to install the game via, or add it to GoG Galaxy. That is the "Steam" Client for GoG Games, it is optional, but you get auto updates if you want them.

Just hit the Configure Button once the game is added/installed and choose wether you want auto updates or not.

Personally I Disabled it. I can still see at first glance (Button turns blue) if an update is available, but I decide if and when I install it.

Changed to that after 1.03 tried to install while I was playing. The game obviously crashed since Galaxy tried to change files on a running game xD Dont know if they fixed that.

Thanks for your reply though I am a tad confused as I have discovered that the game did indeed auto update with the latest patch. Yet as the screenshot shows the Game auto-updating is a feature coming soon.

The ability to turn all of that stuff (you also have achievements) off in that menu is upcoming, not the feature itself :)

Hit "more" next to the play button and "configure". There you can switch it on and off :)

Got you thanks.
One other niggle is for some reason when a patch is installed then a new icon is created on my desktop. As I have a game folder then this is both pointless and unwanted and I have no idea why the game feels the need to create a new icon each time

That feature is for the global auto update feature. The individual game auto update has been there a while. You can disable this behavior in the settings menu.

I thought that was for the initial game install not for every patch that is subsequently installed.

PS: How do I include a quote or do I need to do that manually?

Hover over the Post you want to quote and hit "reply" on the top :)

Even if you have a Witcher 3 Desktop Symbol, updating deletes the old one and creates a new one (at a diffrent spot in my case, which is also annoying) ^_^

That works. Great stuff.

As for creating another icon each time,yes it is annoying, I too have my game icons in a folder on the desktop rather than the actual desktop. Totally unnecessary for another icon to be created.