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Bridge CC 2017/2018 - copying cache to multiple computers

Forum|Forum|7 years ago
March 19, 2018
6 replies
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Hi there,

There has been a few discussions on this but still not sure if it is possible to copy the Bridge cache from one computer to another and have it work automatically on that second computer?

Some background on the problem:

We have a central image library on our file server on a network. We have several users that access this image library using Adobe Bridge from their local machines (Server is Windows, local computers are MacOS 10.12).

Each user has a local Bridge Cache on their computer which is updated as they visit folders in the central Image Library. Searching and filtering the Image Library is very important so its critical that each users cache is up-to-date (new images are constantly being added) but this is where we hit a problem.

When the user visits the top level 'Image Library' folder the cache gets updated with new items in that top level folder - this is good as this is our main collection. However the cache only gets updated with the items in this top level folder not items in subfolders. Users can visit individual sub folders to get them cached or we can get users to go to View > Show Items from Subfolders, and then items in sub folders are indexed/cached as well. However, the main problem with this is we have lots of sub folders and images - there is over 31000 items in total (the sub folders are required to manage originals, masters, renditions and other unsorted collections). This means that its a big load on each computer and the network to be constantly working thru indexing the full Image Library and all the sub folders.

Proposed solution:

(1) The main images that need to be searched/filtered are at the top level 'Image Library' folder so as soon as the user visits this folder their cache is updated for that folder - so that is covered.

(2) To update the cache for sub folders I'd like to setup a dedicated computer that runs a full Bridge reindex of the whole Image Library once a week (ie. creates a new cache). This new cache is then automatically copied to each users cache (overwriting the Bridge cache on their local computers). This way the cache on each users computer is fully updated once a week. Obviously the key to this working is whether it is possible to copy the cache from one computer to another and have it still work? Or are there settings in the cache file that are specific to an individual computer and so cause the cache files not to work correctly on another computer??

Any help would be much appreciated.

Many thanks.

This topic has been closed for replies.

Correct answer leej55723941

Thanks Cari for the feedback.

Yes, I've played around with using 'Automatically Export Cache To Folders When Possible' but it has some limits - in particular I think each users local Bridge/cache only looks at that exported cached file the first time it creates a local cache for that folder. After that it ignores it so its no help when content is regularly updated within a folder.

I've done some initial testing and think my original idea is going to work. So this is what I'm going to try :

1. On all computers that use Adobe Bridge I'll change the cache location (under Preferences > Cache) to a location that has the same generic pathway on every computer eg. /Library/Application Support/Bridge-Cache. I think it is important to change the location from the user directory so that when I copy the cache folders to other machines they don't have 'user specific pathways' in any of the cache values which will cause the search to break.

2. Once a week, on a local dedicated computer, I'll open Adobe Bridge and go the the top level 'IMAGE_LIBRARY' folder (this is a folder accessed over the network - it exists on the central file server) and do the following:

3. Go to Tools > Cache > Build Cache For Folder "IMAGE_LIBRARY" and all Enclosed Folders. This step will run overnight and recreate the Bridge cache on that local computer (at the generic location of /Library/Application Support/Bridge-Cache). This will mean the search index and thumbnails are completely up-to-date for the IMAGE_LIBRARY folder and its sub folders (but only on this local computer at this stage).

4. I'll then copy/sync the above updated cache folders (about 5GB) to each of the local computers running Adobe Bridge. This means all computers will now have an up-to-date cache ie. search index and thumbnails will be the latest.

I'll automate steps 2 to 4 (the weekly cache update) so that it happens automatically.

I'll let you know if I hit any issues but at this stage its looking promising : )

H

HFL-JerRob

Participant

Hi, newbie here. We're just trying to setup a workflow to share and tag assets (mainly photos and video footage) among our small in-office team. I see Bridge just received an update last month to share and centrally manage the cache. I've read the support article, but I'm still a little confused as to how to set it up properly or exactly what features this update offers. I'll be storing the footage on a NAS, with multiple users accessing it and pulling the footage off to their local machines. Each user has Bridge installed, and ideally, we'd each be able to tag/keyword the assets so we can sort through them easily. With this new update, I'm able to add keywords and have a colleague see them, but it's not working for him to add keywords back and for me to see them. Can anyone walk me through the proper setup process for sharing the cache? Also, should the cache in my preferences be set to my local machine or our NAS or ??

TIA

L

Lumigraphics

Legend

This may not work as there is no version control and no multiuser features. You would need to copy the files back to the server after each change and replace what is there.

If you are going to make changes, make them on the server BEFORE anyone takes any files off it.

As for the shared cache, in my testing it doesn't help much. But you just export cache and anyone else who opens that folder will see it be imported. However, cache will be outdated everytime you make changes, add files, etc.

margaretb42167537

Participating Frequently

This thread has been SO SO helpful to my work flow problems, thank you all for sharing your knowledge!

Did anyone find an answer to asking the cache to automatically update? I'd like Bridge to weekly automatically scan new data and integrate it into the cache and find data that has moved or added new metadata. That can then be shared among users. I'm testing out the new central cache system as we speak, so I'll provide updates on that as I have them!

Thanks again!

A

Abhishek.Seth

Adobe Employee

Dear Users,

Please share all feature requests and bugs with Bridge on Adobe Bridge Feedback

Regards,

Abhishek Seth

Varun Varshney

Adobe Employee

Hi All,

We have released a new version of Adobe Bridge (CC 2019) on 15th October 2018. The new version build number is 9.0.0.204. This version is available to install via Adobe Creative Cloud application.

This Bridge update contains support for centrally managing the Adobe Bridge cache (https://helpx.adobe.com/bridge/using/centrally-manage-bridge-cache.html).

Please check following link to know about all new features in Adobe Bridge CC 2019 - https://helpx.adobe.com/bridge/using/whats-new.html

You may need to update the Creative Cloud application and restart your computer to see the updated installer.

Thanks,

Varun Varshney

L

leej55723941Author

Inspiring

Hi Varun,

Thanks for the update. I will definitely test the new multi user/cache features in coming weeks and post back on this thread how we go building them into our workflow, and if/where it improves things - good to know Adobe are listening to our needs : )

All the best, Lee

L

Lumigraphics

Legend

At some point you need a better solution than Bridge and a file server. There are purpose-built DAMs for large media collections.

L

Lumigraphics

Legend

I wouldn't expect any of this to be reliable. Cache is meant to be auto-generated and updated, and is temporary. Metadata is updated in files (either internally or sidecars) and the cache simply speeds up display. It is NOT meant to be canonical (if the file differs from the cache, the cache will be updated.)

My advice would be forget about copying cache files. Just make your changes and let each copy of Bridge read from the files.

L

leej55723941Author

Inspiring

Hi Lumigraphics,

You might be right re this process not being reliable but in all our testing so far we have had very few problems.

Occasionally I open Bridge on a computer and it starts recreating thumbnails and I haven't investigated fully why this happens.

It DOES happen if the computer uses a network path to access the IMAGE_LIBRARY on the server that is different to the path used by the original standalone computer - so its critical all computers use the same path. But there may be another scenario when this issue happens that I haven't discovered yet.

L

Lumigraphics

Legend

It starts creating thumbnails because that's how it is supposed to work. Cache management is internal to the program. What I\m telling you is, you are wasting your time. Its not designed to work like you think it does.

Just let each computer manage its own cache files.

C

Cari Jansen

Legend

Are you currently only caching to local folders on the system you are using Bridge at?

Have you tried enabling the 'Automatically Export Cache To Folders When Possible' option (this assumes you have read/write access for the Image Library server)?

Preferences > Cache > Select Automatically Export Cache To Folders When Possible option.

I've always assumed this is platform independent, but must admit I'm not 100% sure.

If the content in the Image Library changes, e.g. file are moved around, deleted, added, you'd need to purge the cache once in a while as well to keep it up to date.

L

leej55723941AuthorCorrect answer