Clear Cache Question

[trillium68]

I know the settings I currently have for Default Locations is wrong in that they are the same location:

Publish At: C\Adobe Projects

Project Cache: C\Adobe Projects

So, now I am getting the error message:

Free Diskspace is getting very low. Recover some hard disk space by clearing the project cache. To do so, click the Clear Cache button in project preferences (Edit>Preferences>Global>General Settings.)

I've read some of the issues (AKA horror stories) with clearing the cache, so I'm very wary.

I store my project files (cptx, image files, doc files, etc.) in a project designated folder on my c:drive (also backed up to a network drive). I've looked randomly at the files in C\Adobe Projects and they seem to contain db folders with thumbnails.cpth files.

How should I proceed to free up diskspace and eliminate the error message without risking my current project ? Do I use the Clear Cache button, or would it be safer to manually delete the db folders and cpth files?

Please help! 

[Lilybiri]

Be very careful: if the path to both 'Publish at...' and 'Project Cache' is the same as you seem to tell, clearing the cache will delete all your projects. You should never indicate the same folder, it is not the case in the default setup. I hope this was a typo.

[trillium68]

I understand that the current set up is wrong. But, please advise what do I do now? Should I change the Publish At folder location, and then use the Clear the Cache button? Or after changing the Publish At folder location, should I delete manually delete the db folders and cpth files? Also will just deleting other files on my hard drive help the situation? I shall rely on your expertise!

[BDuckWorks]

Worst case, you could backup the whole folder to the network!

You didn't mention how long you've been publishing files or how big the folder is.

As long as your cptx source files are on a different path, just change the location of the 'Publish to' path, move any published files to the new location, and (be sure there's nothing else valuable hiding there) then clear the cache.

[trillium68]

Below are some of the folders that are in my C\Adobe Projects. The random folders that I've opened contain another folder named db which holds thumbnails.cpth files. As mentioned previously, I store my cptx files and related project files e.g. image, doc etc. in other specific folders on my C: drive.  Do you see any problems if I Clear the Cache and eliminate these files? Your feedback is most appreciated!

[Lilybiri · Accepted solution]

Those are cached folders of projects, normally they can be deleted safely although I would check the dates and keep those for projects you are still working on. Be careful not to delete cptx, cpvc and published folders, only those folders with cryptic names like you show in this screenshot.

[BDuckWorks]

Those file are cached files, you're ok to delete them using the Clear Cache button.

Moderator: this should NOT be done with the Clear Cache button at all, because the OP did use same folder for projects and cache. Only the folders with the cruptic names can be deleted savely, it has to be done MANUALLY, not with that button.

[BDuckWorks]

You said you are storing the cptx (project files) on the C drive AND the network drive, that is likely a storage hog. (Meaning, a place to find some files that can be removed!)

If you're making daily working copies, and you should; as well as having the backup feature enabled (and you should); you're storing the files twice on your hard drive. If you're that low on space, you should begin by copying the back and working files to the network, then remove any files you don't need for the next day's work.

As an example, if you have something like this at the end of the day:

Project  A.cptx

Project  A.cptx.bak

Project  A v1-01.cptx

Project  A v1-01.cptx.bak

Project  A v1-02.cptx

Project  A v1-02.cptx.bak

Project  A v1-03.cptx

Project  A v1-03.cptx.bak

Project  A v1-04.cptx

Project  A v1-04.cptx.bak

Project  A v1-05.cptx

Project  A v1-05.cptx.bak

I would copy them all to the network drive, then only leave the latest cptx file on C for tomorrows work session.

If you're working on multiple projects in a day, strive to start the day with one working file on local storage.

Also, if your storage is that limited, talk to IT about copying your OS to a new hard drive, as storage isn't as expensive as your time managing files.

Another option, if this is a shared computer, is to have IT remove any login accounts for employees no longer with the company, as there can be GB's hidden files within those accounts, and you (without Admin access) can't see or remove those files yourself.