Easy way to clear the picture Cache.

[Promidi]

Currently, to clear the picture Cache, one has to open Preferences - File - Audio Data, copy the path displayed in “Picture Folder”,  Open up a Windows Explorer Window (Winkey + E) , Paste the copied path, then delete the files therein. 

That's quite a few steps.

In Preferences - File - Audio Data,c an we please have an “Empty Picture Cache” button to the right of the browse button that does all of the above in one step. (Yeah, I know. What can I say, I'm lazy).
 

[Chaps]

I use a trick modified from something I learned from Scott Garrigus' website, DigiFreq. I created a .TXT file that contains the text 

DEL /Q "C:\CAKEWALK PROJECTS\PICTURE CACHE\*  

I saved the file with the name DELETEPICS and changed the file name extension from .TXT to BAT . When I double click the file it deletes everything in that folder.

[Promidi]

2 minutes ago, Chaps said:

I use a trick modified from something I learned from Scott Garrigus' website, DigiFreq. I created a .TXT file that contains the text 

DEL /Q "C:\CAKEWALK PROJECTS\PICTURE CACHE\*  

That's not a bad idea.

Though I would need to extract the actual location from the registry.  An Autohotkey script could do this.

One could create the EXE file (using Autohotkey) , then add the entry to the Sonar Tools menu to delete picture cache.

[aleo]

Quote

One could create the EXE file (using Autohotkey) , then add the entry to the Sonar Tools menu to delete picture cache.

Promidi, that's an even better idea.  I encourage the Bakers to add Delete Picture Cache to the Sonar Tools menu in the next version on Sonar.  It would be a great time saver!

[Xoo]

Or just a .cmd file so no need for AHK even.

[Promidi]

33 minutes ago, Xoo said:

Or just a .cmd file so no need for AHK even.

As long as the CMD file uses the location of the picture cache that is stored in the %AppData%\Cakewalk\sonar\aud.INI file, rather than an absolute path. 

Not everyone has their picture cache in "C:\CAKEWALK PROJECTS\PICTURE CACHE"

Edited 9 hours ago by Promidi

[sjoens]

On 9/30/2025 at 5:43 PM, Chaps said:

DEL /Q "C:\CAKEWALK PROJECTS\PICTURE CACHE\*  

Curious if there should be an end quote somewhere?

Edited 8 hours ago by sjoens

[Chaps]

2 hours ago, sjoens said:

Curious if there should be an end quote somewhere?

 

That's a very good question so I checked it out. If the text in the .BAT file has NO quotation marks no files are deleted when I double click the .BAT file

If the text has ONE quotation mark all files are deleted.

If the text has TWO quotation marks (Quote-End Quote) all files are deleted.

Why this is so I am not qualified to answer. All I did was make the file according to instructions I found online years ago. Because it worked as desired I never gave it another thought.

None of those deletes folders, only files.

Edited 6 hours ago by Chaps

[Promidi]

I would be using the following:

DEL /Q "C:\CAKEWALK PROJECTS\PICTURE CACHE\*.*"

This is assuming that’s where my Picture Cache actually resides (which, on My PC, it doesn’t)

[sjoens]

Seems to work either way.

I made a shortcut for the BAT file and then included a KB shortcut for it, but it only worked once for some reason.

BTW, I know where my folder is so to empty it I just open it, ctrl+A and hit delete.

Edited 6 hours ago by sjoens

[Chaps]

10 minutes ago, sjoens said:

Seems to work either way.

I made a shortcut for the BAT file and then included a KB shortcut for it, but it only worked once for some reason.

You made a keyboard shortcut in Sonar to execute the .BAT file? I didn't think you could do that.

[sjoens]

If it were that easy.  You can assign a KB shortcut within a shortcut and assign admin privys to it.  I may have goofed it up tho.

[Promidi]

4 minutes ago, Chaps said:

You made a keyboard shortcut in Sonar to execute the .BAT file? I didn't think you could do that.

I am curious about this as well.   

I am pretty sure you cannot create a keyboard shortcut in Sonar to execute the .BAT file.

It is likely that the keyboard shortcut is a Windows global keyboard shortcut.  You can assign keyboard shortcut to shortcuts.

Personally, I still prefer the Autohotkey and Sonar tools menu method.

[sjoens]

You'd know this if you just wait till I'm done typing on this tiny mobile device keypad. 😁

[Chaps]

15 minutes ago, sjoens said:

If it were that easy.  You can assign a KB shortcut within a shortcut and assign admin privys to it.  I may have goofed it up tho.

Sounds complicated. I have my DELETEPICS.BAT file in several Cakewalk locations as well as the desktop.  That seems simpler and more my speed. Two mouse-clicks and the picture cache is emptied. That, and I used the Windows Task Scheduler to have it run as a weekly task. All bases covered.

[sjoens]

Pretty easy really.  The KD shortcut is just another option good for when things are covering the screen. . . when it works.

[Chaps]

4 minutes ago, sjoens said:

Pretty easy really.  The KD shortcut is just another option good for when things are covering the screen. . . when it works.

There's a thingy in my taskbar (far right edge) that shows the desktop when I click it. Very handy. I added it so long ago (it's part of Windows) that I forget what it's called. 

[sjoens]

"That thingy that let's you see the screeny"?  Since Windows 7 I think.

[Chaps]

13 minutes ago, sjoens said:

"That thingy that let's you see the screeny"?  Since Windows 7 I think.

I recall I stumbled upon it while looking for something else regarding the taskbar. I checked my settings and it's at Settings>Personalization>Taskbar>Taskbar Behaviors>Select the far corner of the taskbar to show the desktop.

I guess I could just press Windows Key+D but I can move my mouse cursor anywhere on my three monitors without moving my (left) hand so it's easier than using a Windows shortcut. I'm all about whatever is easiest.

[Amberwolf]

If I could just tell the computer what I want and have it do that....