Does Adobe Bridge remove the old BridgeCache when a new cache location is specified in the preferences?

[Flexigav]

Hi, I am using Mac (Mavericks) and Adobe Bridge CC 2015. While setting up a modified files synchronised backup I discovered quite a number of BridgeCache and BridgeCacheT folders, or files, that are normally hidden. They appear in numerous folders that contain images. Some time ago I set my Bridge preferences nominating a specific location for the Bridge Cache.

My question is are all these normally hidden BridgeCache and CacheT folders/files within my image folders, related to the Bridge Cache? If so, could they be old caches from a time prior to setting the cache to the specific location it is now directed to from the preferences?

[Cari Jansen · Accepted solution]

1. Prior Cache location and associated files are not deleted when you adjust the Location in Bridge Preferences.  (I just tested it to verify that this was correct, by creating a new cache folder, quitting out of Bridge, and relaunching, and then also returning to the previous cache folder location... nothing gets deleted if you do that).

2. With Automatically Export Cache to Folders When Possible enabled, it will add additional bridge/cache related files to that folder.  These will be retained as well, which is a good thing.  These files are hidden by default, but can be displayed (View > Show Hidden Files), and will appear as .BridgeCache and .BridgeCacheT files.  Caching into

[Flexigav]

Thanks for that information Cari Jansen. I can see the advantages of saving the Bridge cache as hidden files within the media folders as the main cache is not permanent over time. What we are doing is trading storage space for speed. When storage space becomes tight, we have the option of removing Bridge cache files stored in our media folders. When viewing the media content of these folders, Bridge will start caching them again in the main cache, so we will experience a delay in bringing up all the media thumbnails for that folder.

The "Automatically Export Cache to folders when possible" option in the Preferences—cache, will double up on the caching, however the folder cache is permanent until refreshed or deleted manually, or with the removal of media files from that folder, where as the main cache is forever changing over time.

So when backing up folders the backup application might indicate it is backing up hidden files as well. For media folders these hidden files could include application caches. Some backup utilities reveal all hidden files in folders in the backup logs. That is the first time I saw these BridgeCache and BridgeCacheT files. Now I know their purpose... thanks.