Preface: We are running a PDMWorks Vault on a local machine
(C: drive).
Our company has had a PDMWorks Vault running for a couple of years now; and we find that it is getting rather large with regard to the file size on the disk.
I have noticed, by manually clicking through the Vault Data, that there are a number of folders which contain the word "obsolete." Based on my investigation, I see that each of the folders for any particular PART, ASSEMBLY, or DRAWING contain a folder for each Secondary and Released revision. In addition, some PARTS, ASSEMBLIES, and DRAWING have "obsolete" folders with a date and time stamp incorporated into the folder name.
Is it acceptable to delete these "obsolete" folders, since they are no longer needed, in order to save space on the disk? Also, is there a non-manual way to delete these "obsolete" folders? Perhaps a SW automated tool?
Ultimately, based on our internal procedures, we are required to create a daily backup copy of this data. Because we are a small company with limited resources; we must do this chore manually by selecting the "VaultData" folder and copying it over to a network drive. The volume of data is such that it takes a considerable amount of time to complete this task. I was hoping to eliminate some of the chaff from the vault by removing some of the "obsolete" folders and thus scaling back the time required to make a backup copy of the data.
I understand that it would much simpler to host the Vault on the network, where we have an abundant amount of disk space; but I do not posses the skill set to make that a reality. (I set up this vault only after having limited exposure to the workings of a Vault at a rather large corporation.)
I do not believe that we have Windows Server available at our facility. My understanding is that this a requirement for running the PDMWorks Vault over a network.
Once again, is it acceptable to delete these "obsolete" folders, since they are no longer needed, in order to save space on the disk? Also, is there a non-manual way to delete these "obsolete" folders? Perhaps a SW automated tool?
Any and all insight would be greatly appreciated.
Our company has had a PDMWorks Vault running for a couple of years now; and we find that it is getting rather large with regard to the file size on the disk.
I have noticed, by manually clicking through the Vault Data, that there are a number of folders which contain the word "obsolete." Based on my investigation, I see that each of the folders for any particular PART, ASSEMBLY, or DRAWING contain a folder for each Secondary and Released revision. In addition, some PARTS, ASSEMBLIES, and DRAWING have "obsolete" folders with a date and time stamp incorporated into the folder name.
Is it acceptable to delete these "obsolete" folders, since they are no longer needed, in order to save space on the disk? Also, is there a non-manual way to delete these "obsolete" folders? Perhaps a SW automated tool?
Ultimately, based on our internal procedures, we are required to create a daily backup copy of this data. Because we are a small company with limited resources; we must do this chore manually by selecting the "VaultData" folder and copying it over to a network drive. The volume of data is such that it takes a considerable amount of time to complete this task. I was hoping to eliminate some of the chaff from the vault by removing some of the "obsolete" folders and thus scaling back the time required to make a backup copy of the data.
I understand that it would much simpler to host the Vault on the network, where we have an abundant amount of disk space; but I do not posses the skill set to make that a reality. (I set up this vault only after having limited exposure to the workings of a Vault at a rather large corporation.)
I do not believe that we have Windows Server available at our facility. My understanding is that this a requirement for running the PDMWorks Vault over a network.
Once again, is it acceptable to delete these "obsolete" folders, since they are no longer needed, in order to save space on the disk? Also, is there a non-manual way to delete these "obsolete" folders? Perhaps a SW automated tool?
Any and all insight would be greatly appreciated.
I use the Windows Backup Utility provided free and set it up for a nightly, weekly and monthly scheduled task. This backup is made utilizing a 750gb external USB/Firewire drive attached to the Vault XP-Pro Workstation that serves as our vault machine. All you need to do is stop the vault service using a scheduled task to run a simple batch file schedule the backup, then schedule the vault service to re-start before users return to need the Vault running.
I have attempted to use the Windows Backup Utility in the manner that you mentioned; but I have been met with little success. I have to copy the data to a network drive; and that has been giving me problems. I have made some tweaks to the backup program and will attempt it again to determine if it is still feasible.
Regards,
Brian
Thank you for your insight. I have been able to remove about 4GB of worthless data from the vault. This has helped to minimize the time required to copy the data.
Regards,
Brian
Troy is right about this. And yes, you can delete all the search entries found for "obsolete" directories. This method makes it much quicker than expanding the vault folders and deleting them one at a time from the projects. PDMW will recreate empty "obsolete" folders as necessary when additional files are deleted; therefore you do not have to painstakingly delete the "CONTENTS" from each folder as David suggested.
I find this method to be the best, as there is no automated alternative.
As effortless as this is, I wish there was a way to automate this from a simple batch file. We know that each project has an obsolete folder. If you do Start>Run>CMD, You can verify how many obsolete folders you have by doing a "dir obsolete /s" from the "projects" directory at the DOS prompt. See attachment.
Unfortunately, RD or RMDIR (remove directory) will not operate in the same fashion as "dir obsolete /s". In order to remove a directory from the DOS prompt, you have to be in the parent directory for each obsolete folder.
I've tried many ways to merge the "dir /b" (from "projects" prompt) output to a text file and append certain characters that would display the full directory path for each one and then save it. Then somehow have this new file be called by the batch process to be read and perform a RMDIR for each line.
Does any programmer know if this is possible with DOS?
Attachments
You do not want to delete the "obsolete" folders. You delete the CONTENTS of the "obsolete" folders. What I do is select the "VaultData" folder as my starting point (in the Windows File Explorer); and then do a search on all files and folders that have the word "time" in them. This is because of how SolidWorks handles files that have been deleted and rolled back in the Vault. SolidWorks creates a folder with this nomenclature: "partname_sldprt_Date_061509_Time_084727" for each part, assembly, drawing, PDF file, etc. that has been rolled back or deleted from the vault. If you do a search for the word "time"; it will provide you with all of the data that can be removed from the Vault.
Everything that is returned in the search results can be deleted; and you are left with a "clean" and clutter free vault.
the vault can be moved very easy, Windows Server is not required.
think about it, what are you using now.
or, you can leave the pdmw server service where it is and just move the vault (folders) to a network share.
XP has a limit of 10 concurrent connections (users logged in).