What Is the Purpose of the Notes CACHE.DSK File? - DanNotes

What Is the Purpose of the Notes CACHE.DSK File?
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Material may not be reproduced or distributed in any form without permission.
Product: Lotus Notes > Lotus Notes > Version 6.0, 5.0, 4.6, 4.5, 6.5
Platform(s): Mac OS, Windows
Doc Number: 1155947
Date:
Problem
09/13/2004
What is the Notes CACHE.DSK file and what does it do?
Content
Published
This special file contains design elements (forms, subforms, and LotusScript libraries) of databases
located on a Notes server, in addition to cross-replica journaling information. Storing these items in this
file helps improve client performance when accessing databases located on a Notes server and
automates the process of read-mark synchronization.
Important points about the CACHE.DSK file include the following:
1. The CACHE.DSK is created automatically whenever Notes starts, if the file does not already exist.
Therefore, if this file is deleted, it will be recreated the next time the Notes Client is started.
2. The CACHE.DSK is actually a Notes database with no built-in forms or views. Therefore, this file
can be compacted to recover unused space. The Compact option for the CACHE.DSK is found on the
Information tab of the Workspace Properties dialog box (right-click any part of the Notes Workspace and
select Workspace Properties from the pop-up menu). Note that compacting the CACHE.DSK in this
manner also compacts the DESKTOP.DSK. Also, the value in the Size field that appears on the
Information tab reflects the combined size of the CACHE.DSK and the DESKTOP.DSK.
3. The CACHE.DSK, by default, is located in the Notes data directory. There are, however, two
methods for relocating the file: (1) the database redirection file and (2) a NOTES.INI redirection
parameter.
4. To achieve reasonable balance between cache performance and disk-space consumption, the
default maximum size of the CACHE.DSK is set at 5MB. For additional information on setting the
CACHE.DSK size limit, refer to the document titled "Is it Possible to Limit the Size of CACHE.DSK in
Notes? (#1091866)".
5. Design elements (forms, subforms, navigators, scripts, etc.) for a database are cached locally in the
CACHE.DSK. This speeds up access to commonly used design elements. When a database is

opened, it is determined whether the design elements need to be re-cached from the database, based
on an internal time stamp.
Notes Notes 6.x x Client :
In the Notes 6.x Client, the Cache file has been renamed to CACHE.NDK.
Even though all information above applies to the Cache.ndk file in Notes 6.x Client, please refer also to
the following document for specific changes regarding the data stored in each of the Cache, Desktop,
Bookmark, etc. files: "Cache.NDK, Desktop6.NDK and Bookmark.nsf in ND 6" (#: 7002715)
How How to to to Specify Specify a a Different Different Location Location for for the the Cache Cache File File :
The CACHE.DSK / CACHE.NDK can be placed in a directory other than the Data directory, if desired.
You can add the following line to the NOTES.INI file:
In Notes 5.x: CACHE=[drive]:\[directory]\CACHE.DSK
In Notes 6.x: CACHE=[drive]:\[directory]\CACHE.NDK
If the file does not already exist in the newly specified directory , the file will be created. If there is an
existing CACHE.DSK / CACHE.NDK in the Data directory, the CACHE.DSK / CACHE.NDK will not be
propagated. Note, however, that when you enable the CACHE= parameter to redirect the Cache file to
a directory other than the Notes Data directory, a "File Does not Exist" error can occur. Refer to the
document titled "File Does not Exist' Error After Using CACHE= to Redirect CACHE.DSK File"
(#1090872) for additional information.
In releases prior to those cited above, the CACHE.DSK file can reside only in the Notes data directory.
The data directory is identified in the NOTES.INI file with the following parameter:
Directory=[drive]:\[directory]
where the path is the DOS path to the data directory.
Related Related Documents Documents :
Cache.NDK, Desktop6.NDK and Bookmark.nsf in ND 6
Document #: 7002715
Is it Possible to Limit the Size of CACHE.DSK in Notes?
Document#: 1091866
NOTES.INI Parameter InitialCacheQuota Does Not Work Properly
Document #: 1099099
"File Does not Exist" Error After Using CACHE= to Redirect CACHE.DSK File"
Document #: 1090872 (166713)
Related Document Links
09-04-2008 Dokument Side 2

Is it Possible to Limit the Size of CACHE.DSK in Notes - Document 1091866
NOTES.INI Parameter InitialCacheQuota Does Not Work Pro - Document 1099099
Cache.NDK Desktop6.NDK and Bookmark.nsf in ND 6 - Document 7002715
"File Does not Exist" Error After Using CACHE= to Redir - Document 1090872
09-04-2008 Dokument Side 3