Cleaning Up Vaults and Folders

An unreferenced file is a content file that no longer has a valid association to a Windchill object. For example, a file is no longer referenced when all objects to which it was associated have been deleted, or when a user deletes the association to the file when updating the object.

A file may also become unreferenced because of revaulting activities. This can happen when the vaulting rules designate another vault for storing a class of content, or if the class of content has been moved from a vault to a database binary large object (BLOB).

To free up disk space, perform periodic cleanup maintenance on vaults and folders at both master and File Server sites. You can do this manually as described below, automatically on a schedule by setting automated cleanup options, or through a command-line interface by using the RemoveUnreferencedFiles tool. For more information about removing unreferenced files, see the section About Replication in About Replication or Maintain Your Vaults section in Windchill Vault Configuration.

When you remove unreferenced files, those files are permanently deleted from the host system. For that reason, it is recommended that before you remove unreferenced files, you back up your database and then back up all files in the selected vault or folder.

To clean up vaults and folders manually:

1. On the Vault Configuration window, select a vault or folder and then select Object > Remove unreferenced files.

2. On the notice window that appears, select Move files instead of deleting checkbox if you want to move the files instead of deleting them. If you select this checkbox, files are moved to a subfolder named unreferenced in the folder where the content resides. If you do not select this checkbox, the files are permanently deleted.

To view the logs for the most recent cleanup operation:

1. In the Vault Configuration window, select a site in the left pane and then select Object > Define Content Cleanup Rules.

2. In the Automated cleanup of replica vaults window, in the Logs for Latest Run section, click Download and then save the file. The file is saved in ZIP format.

• The Logs for Latest Run section is available after you have clicked Run cleanup now in the Automated cleanup of replica vaults window.

• The count of unreferenced files that are removed from the cache vault is printed in the Logs for Latest Run report.