How Long Before Temp Files Are Deleted?

[AlKoch]

Hello,

I changed the location where the video clips are stored (that may not be relevant for this question) and understand that I should think of the the files here as being in a "black box" and not manually access or delete them. However, I've been "monitoring" the contents of the various "camera" folders here to ensure that files are getting deleted. I'm concerned about this because I have been doing a lot of experimentation and trial & error to either get things working or to better understand how the system works. As a result I have renamed cameras and I've even had Sighthound hang/crash a couple of times. I have noticed that some "test" files have not been deleted and I think they should. I was originally running with the default "Keep Temp files" for 48 hours but then changed that to 240 hours (10 days!) before I realized I misunderstood this setting, and so I recently changed that to 1 hour. I thought that doing so would cause many of the files to be deleted within an hour but that hasn't happened. Does Sighthound "remember" the time setting that was in place for each file when it was created and delete that file after that amount of time or does the new setting get applied to all files? If it's the former then that probably explains why I still have some "old" files but if it's the latter then I have a problem. For example, I have a file that is almost 48 hours old but it is still here (with a "Keep for 1 hours" setting).

Please clarify how this works and let me know if I have a problem. If I have a problem, how can I get rid of these "old" files (I have done a "Quick Delete" on All the clips in the search list).

Thank you.

[ryan]

Hi Al,

As you note the contents of Sighthound Video's data directory are not intended to be interacted with by anything or anyone other than the application itself, and doing so may result in a variety of problems such as crashes or data loss.

I'm not sure what you're trying to learn or accomplish but I again must advise not attempting to manually edit or move these files. I'm afraid we're unable to go in depth about the details on the internal behavior of the application and its data files, and are unable to support problems that may arise from doing so other than providing instruction on how to return to a clean install state.

Best,
- ryan

[AlKoch]

Hi Ryan,

I understand that I should not touch these files (and that you don't want to give away too much info). The only reason I am looking at them is that I had made a lot of changes such as changing the name of cameras when I was 1st learning how to use the system and I don't want to leave a bunch of junk video consuming disk space sitting on the drive. So all I am trying to do is ensure that Sighthound is cleaning everything up. As I described, I noticed some files that, if I understand the Use of the "Keep temp files for ... hours" setting, should no longer be there. I now have that set to 1 hour but some of these files are from three days ago. So all I'm asking is when Sighthound is going to clean them up or is there a problem (resulting in wasted disk space). Can you help me with this?

If something has gone wrong and I need to reset to the "clean install state" you mentioned, please tell me how to do that.

Thank you.

[ryan]

Hi Al,

If you have "unknown" files due to renaming directories and the like they should be cleaned up automatically, though this will take some time. The application does not expect "unknown" files to crop up in its data directory often, so does not waste CPU cycles checking for them frequently.

Resetting to a "fresh install" state is as simple as removing the app's data directory, though this will of course remove all data.

Best,
- ryan

[AlKoch]

Thanks Ryan - I appreciate the clarification.

To be clear, I didn't rename any directories or files. I used the Tools | Edit Camera Location to (it appears) create a new directory which looked like it "orphaned" the original directory for the original camera location. I have a couple of such directories with many clips that are much "older" than the "keep for 1 hour" setting I have. I now understand that they will eventually be cleaned up - it sounds like that doesn't happen on the "1 hour" schedule I was expecting.

For a complete "reset", by "the app's data directory" I assume you mean C:\Users\<user ID>\AppData\Local\Sighthound Video - is that correct?

[ryan]

Hi Al,

All video is stored within the same directory structure, so it is highly likely 'older' files are persisted clips?

Yes, removing that folder would be as if you had never run the app before, though of course all configurations and settings would be removed as well.

Best,
- ryan

[AlKoch]

Your last comment makes me wonder if here's what happened: I had an initial location for a camera and a bunch of clips were recorded from a Rule which makes them permanent. Then, I renamed the camera. I thought that the clips would "come along" to the new location but maybe they don't. If this is what happened that means I have permanent clips in a "non-existent" location. As a result I can't "select" that camera in Search and permanently delete them. Is what I just described possible? If so I have that situation I am trying to avoid - a bunch of (inaccessible) clips consuming a bunch of disk space.

[ryan]

There are two options for renaming cameras, rename all legacy video as well, or consider this a "new location" and leave old video under the previous name.

No matter what happened I will stress that you do not need to worry about disk space. Video will be managed according to the space quota you have set, things will not persist outside of that allotment.

[AlKoch]

OK - thanks for all of your help Ryan!