/t5/bridge-discussions/bridge-creating-large-number-of-dat-files-on-external-drive/td-p/14778125Aug 03, 2024
Aug 03, 2024
Copy link to clipboard
Copied
I recently switched from an M1 iMac to a 2019 Intel based Macbook Pro (Running Sonoma 14.5). Ever since the switch, when I open Bridge it creates a large number of cache_.dat files on the external drive where my photos are located. In the Settings there is a cache location instruction which is set to HD / My username / Libraries / Caches / Adobe Bridge / Cache / v36, but there is no Adobe Bridge folder there (even when viewing hidden files). Instead it seems to be just putting the files on the external drive. There were several thousand files that I had to remove.
These files don't gp away when I close the app and don't go away when I tell it to purge cache files.
i have uninstalled and reinstalled Bridge and it made no difference.
p.s. i don't think the adobe website, and forums in particular, are easy to navigate, so don't spend a lot of time searching that forum list. do your best and we'll move the post (like this one has already been moved) if it helps you get responses.
/t5/bridge-discussions/bridge-creating-large-number-of-dat-files-on-external-drive/m-p/14778409#M50602Aug 04, 2024
Aug 04, 2024
Copy link to clipboard
Copied
"Automatically Export Cache to Folders When Possible" was an option in Bridge Preferences but on my Windows system, this has long since gone. This used to override your chosen cache location if this option was selected. Are you using an old version of Bridge? You didn't say what your version and release is.
You said that you removed a large number of the problem files - are they then recreated?
Since there is no cache folder in the default location, you might try setting a different cache location in Bridge Preferences to see if becomes populated when you select images, but you will have to restart Bridge for this change to be implemented.
Hi Erik, Thanks again for trying to help me out. Yes, I put them in the trash and can watch as they are recreated when I open files in Bridge. It’s so bizarre. Will try using a diffuser folder. Best, Phil
HI Erik, I made a mistake in saying that the folder didn't exist, because it does. I was looking in the wrong place. However, I changed the settings to use a different folder and it made no difference. Best, Phil
Suggest you try placing some images on an internal drive to see what happens. I would disconnect your external drive while investigating so no files can possibly be written there.
I am not a Bridge (or Photoshop or ACR) expert by any means. At first I thought it was Photoshop. However, when I open Bridge these files appear. When I open the program they appear. More appear if I click on a RAW file thumbnail (it is not necessary to open the file). This happens even if Photoshop is closed. Clicking on a .psd or .jpeg file does not seem to trigger it. If I work on a .psd or .jpeg file This is a typical file name - Cache_00_0000000001.dat It also sets up Index files with names like - Index_01.dat I'd be happy to have a Zoom call with someone knowledgeable to illustrate in real time how this happens. Thanks again for all the efforts to help me sort this out.
Thanks - I did contact Adobe and they worked on it for a while (reinstalling Bridge, etc.) but the problem persisted. After about an hour I had to leave and thought I would reconnect to work on it further. Apple had told me that they thought it might be some kind of malware on the external disk so I backed it up and reformatted it, but that didnt help. Then I decided to try renaimgn the disk, and that solved the problem. Go figure.
I wouldn't go that far. i had it attached to an M1 imac for months with no issues. When I switched to a 2019 Macbook Pro this started. I couldn't begin to explain it. But it seemed to be connected to that particular disk name because if I disconnected it and used a differnt disk with photo on it the .dat files did not appear. What's in a name?
17
Replies
AdChoices