Offline Files: "Delete Files" vs "Re-initalize the chache"

  • Thread starter Thread starter Brendan
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Brendan

The other day i got asked the question as to what the difference in
functionality was there between the following two options

Offline files:
Delete Files
and Ctrl + Shift + Delete Files

I probably should know this, but unfortunatly i cant seem to find any
diffinitive statements. I have found documentation on both options, but they
both seem to do the same thing.

Delete files is very straight forward:
"This method of cleaning up the cache allows you to delete individual files
reguardless of where they are lcoated on the network or the folder in which
they are contained"

Re-initialize of the offline files chache and database:
"The offline files chache and database has a build in capability to restart
if its contents are suspected of being corrupt"

So I would be very grateful if some one could please help me try and
understand the difference between these 2 option.

Thank you

Brendan
 
The date and time was 9/22/2008 9:08 AM, and on a whim, Brendan pounded
out on the keyboard:
The other day i got asked the question as to what the difference in
functionality was there between the following two options

Offline files:
Delete Files
and Ctrl + Shift + Delete Files

I probably should know this, but unfortunatly i cant seem to find any
diffinitive statements. I have found documentation on both options, but they
both seem to do the same thing.

Delete files is very straight forward:
"This method of cleaning up the cache allows you to delete individual files
reguardless of where they are lcoated on the network or the folder in which
they are contained"

Re-initialize of the offline files chache and database:
"The offline files chache and database has a build in capability to restart
if its contents are suspected of being corrupt"

So I would be very grateful if some one could please help me try and
understand the difference between these 2 option.

Thank you

Brendan
Click to expand...

Hi Brendan,

Ctrl-Shift-Delete files button is useful when your target has changed
location. Say user files were on server01 and were moved to server02.
OF will continue trying to sync files on server01 and give error
messages until the cache is re-initialized and the new location is set.

You can't delete files this way as you can when you just click the
Delete files button by itself.

--
Terry R.

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Just giving it a bump to see if i can get more info on this.

Terry,

So your saying with Re-initializing the chache the files will be there (one
copy on the local computer, and a copy no the server), but the sync between
the files on my computer, and files on the server will be broken?

Thanks,

Brendan
 
The date and time was 9/23/2008 10:36 AM, and on a whim, Brendan pounded
out on the keyboard:
Just giving it a bump to see if i can get more info on this.

Terry,

So your saying with Re-initializing the chache the files will be there (one
copy on the local computer, and a copy no the server), but the sync between
the files on my computer, and files on the server will be broken?

Thanks,

Brendan
Click to expand...

Brendan,

Changes that haven't been synchronized will be lost. Any files or
folders made available offline will no longer be available offline. The
original files remain in place although the OF do not, until you re-sync
(see below).

Be warned; I recently replaced a hard drive on a workstation in a
network I admin. I copied bookmarks, cookies, etc. to the network drive
to restore after Windows was reinstalled (data was already on the
network drive). On shutdown, OF started to run and I canceled it, since
I knew everything was already on the network and there was no reason to
"sync". When I went back to the network drive after reinstalling
Windows, the files I had copied were no longer there! Somehow, OF on
canceling, saw the files I copied were not in the cache and deleted them
from the network drive. IMO, this is a major flaw in its design. There
shouldn't have been any files deleted from the target drive when the
sync was canceled.

Usually there isn't any reason to re-initialize the cache unless you
have file/folder corruption or your target location has changed and it
needs to be updated.

--
Terry R.

***Reply Note***
Anti-spam measures are included in my email address.
Delete NOSPAM from the email address after clicking Reply.
 
Terry,

Thank you for taking the time in trying to explain this to me.

I think i am finally starting to understand the differences. But another
question pops to mind. So if re-initializing the cache looses any changes
that where not syncronized and stops the file from syncing on its own in the
future (or untill setup again). Does that mean that Deleting Files (deleting
offline files button) will also loose the changes that i have made to my copy
and not sunk, but will still try and re-sync the file(s) when my computer is
connected to the servers again?

I can see re-initilizing the cache to be like a hammer, as it will kill
every offline file i got, while Delete files is more of a scaple where it
will only kill the files i delete. Is that a better train of thought to take
or is that still wrong?

Thanks,

Brendan
 
The date and time was 9/23/2008 11:53 AM, and on a whim, Brendan pounded
out on the keyboard:
Terry,

Thank you for taking the time in trying to explain this to me.

I think i am finally starting to understand the differences. But another
question pops to mind. So if re-initializing the cache looses any changes
that where not syncronized and stops the file from syncing on its own in the
future (or untill setup again). Does that mean that Deleting Files (deleting
offline files button) will also loose the changes that i have made to my copy
and not sunk, but will still try and re-sync the file(s) when my computer is
connected to the servers again?

I can see re-initilizing the cache to be like a hammer, as it will kill
every offline file i got, while Delete files is more of a scaple where it
will only kill the files i delete. Is that a better train of thought to take
or is that still wrong?

Thanks,

Brendan
Click to expand...

Brendan,

I guess at this point my question is; Exactly what are you trying to
accomplish? I can't describe it any better.

Deleting files individually will remove them so they will not be
available "offline", UNTIL you sync next. The "copy" as you put it is
gone and only the original remains.

There isn't any reason for you to reinitialize unless as I stated
before, you are experiencing file/folder corruption or your target has
changed location and OF needs to be updated of the new location.

--
Terry R.

***Reply Note***
Anti-spam measures are included in my email address.
Delete NOSPAM from the email address after clicking Reply.
 
Terry,

I guess on a whole i dont have a question to ask. I am on a fact finding
mission.

I was asked by the rest of my IT team to find out what exactly the
difference is between the 2 features. To be truthful i did not even know the
"ctrl + shift + delete file" option as even an option untill yesterday.

I can see why i would use "ctrl shift delete files" now, you described its
function rather well the first time and i thank you for that. I think i can
go to my team and explain what you have told me, and they will probably
understand it even before i finish reporting my findings.

I think your last post really has hit the nail right on the head for me.
Its sad that sometimes i cant see things as plainly as others can sometimes,
but this is as difinitive as it can get.

Don't use "Ctr; + shift + delete files" unless you have curruption. If no
files are currupt and as long as the folder structure has not changed, i will
continue to use "Delete files"

Thank you very much for taking the time to reply to me as many times as you
did. I can be a very trying person at times, cause things just wont sink in.

Thank you again,

Brendan
 
The date and time was 9/23/2008 12:57 PM, and on a whim, Brendan pounded
out on the keyboard:
Terry,

I guess on a whole i dont have a question to ask. I am on a fact finding
mission.

I was asked by the rest of my IT team to find out what exactly the
difference is between the 2 features. To be truthful i did not even know the
"ctrl + shift + delete file" option as even an option untill yesterday.

I can see why i would use "ctrl shift delete files" now, you described its
function rather well the first time and i thank you for that. I think i can
go to my team and explain what you have told me, and they will probably
understand it even before i finish reporting my findings.

I think your last post really has hit the nail right on the head for me.
Its sad that sometimes i cant see things as plainly as others can sometimes,
but this is as difinitive as it can get.

Don't use "Ctr; + shift + delete files" unless you have curruption. If no
files are currupt and as long as the folder structure has not changed, i will
continue to use "Delete files"
Click to expand...

OR if your target location changes. Otherwise files will not sync and
the error; Cannot find server... (something similar) will keep appearing
on the dialog after failure. Re-initializing removes any target
locations that no longer exist.
Thank you very much for taking the time to reply to me as many times as you
did. I can be a very trying person at times, cause things just wont sink in.

Thank you again,

Brendan
Click to expand...

--
Terry R.

***Reply Note***
Anti-spam measures are included in my email address.
Delete NOSPAM from the email address after clicking Reply.
 
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