When you retrieve a file from
the vault, a copy is placed in a working folder on your local hard
drive. This folder serves as a cache area.
The system copies files to the local cache when you:
- Select a file and open the Preview tab.
- Request the file by selecting Check
out, Get Versions, or
Get Latest Version.
- Drag a SOLIDWORKS Toolbox part into an assembly (when SOLIDWORKS PDM is managing the Toolbox
library).
Your system administrator can also specify folders where the software
automatically refreshes the local cache when you log in to SOLIDWORKS PDM .
How Cached Files Are Handled
The next time you access the file, SOLIDWORKS PDM looks for it in the working folder. If it is there and
has the correct version, SOLIDWORKS PDM does not
retrieve it from the file vault again. When you save a modified file into the vault,
you can keep a read-only copy in the working folder or remove the local copy.
The Version tab displays the
file version in your local cache folder. It also displays a warning when you do not
have the latest version of the file locally.
When you add a file to the local vault view by creating or copying a
file, it is only present in your local cache. Although information about the file is
entered into the vault database, it is not available to other users until you check
the file into the vault.
Removing Cached Files
You can remove files from the local cache when you no longer need them:
- You can remove files individually when you check them into
the vault.
- You can remove files from an entire folder or vault by
clearing the local cache.
Checked in files that are
referenced by a checked out file are not removed.
Removing a file from the local cache does not affect the file in the
vault.
Your system administrator can also specify folders where the software
automatically clears the local cache when you log out of
SOLIDWORKS PDM.
An automated clear removes all
files that are not checked out and does not retain files that are referenced by
checked out files as manually clearing the cache does.