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Version: 0.4.16

The Cache Folder

Solar Sailer stores thumbnails, waveforms, playback audio, and proxies in its cache. These files make projects faster to open, scrub, and play, but long recordings can leave a sizable cache behind.

Cache belongs to the source media, not the project. Projects that use the same source files and cache folder reuse the same cache files.

Choose a cache folder​

The default location is fine for most projects. Move the cache to another drive when your main drive is short on space or you want to keep large temporary files on a dedicated drive.

Set the default folder under Edit > Preferences... > Cache. To override it for the open project, use Edit > Project Settings... > Media Cache.

Use a dedicated folder on a drive with plenty of free space. Do not choose your Documents folder, a source media folder, a project folder, or any other folder that contains files you care about. Clearing the cache in Solar Sailer does not remove unrelated files, but a dedicated folder is easier to identify and manage safely.

A project can use its own cache folder. That choice overrides the default cache folder for that project. Changing the location does not move files from the old folder. If you are moving it to reclaim space, clear the old cache before changing the setting.

Clear cache files​

Cache files are safe to delete. Clearing them does not delete your projects or source media.

  • Clear Old removes cache files generated more than 90 days ago from the default folder and the current project's folder, if it has its own.
  • Clear All removes every cache file from those folders.
  • Clear Project Cache removes cache for media in the current project.

Clear Old and Clear All are under Preferences > Cache. Clear Project Cache is under Project Settings > Media Cache.

Solar Sailer rebuilds thumbnails, waveforms, and playback audio after they are cleared. The open project starts rebuilding what it needs, and other projects rebuild when you reopen them. Until that work finishes, thumbnails or waveforms may be missing and playback may take longer to get ready. Proxies are also removed, but you must generate them again yourself.

Projects that share source media can also share its cache. Clearing one project's cache may therefore make another project rebuild files for the same media.