Question Regarding SonicStage's "Packages" Folder

[Deckard]

I was checking my harddrive with Folder Sizes to see if there was any useless stuff and delete in case.

I just noticed that under C:/Documents and Settings/All Users/Application Data/Sony Corporation/Sonic Stage/Packages there are a bunch of files with .mdb extension (in my case 8 files and 1 .bak file) They are taking a total of almost 2.0GB.

My question is, what are they? Can I get rid of them without any side effects?

Thanks.

[kerfuffle]

I don't think you can . . . they look like database files or something.

[JustAnUnCoolCat]

Yep, those are indeed DB files, exactly whether they are redundant or not (aka they may not be the current copies the app is using when in use) i guess you could tell by their Date Modified info associated with the file.

If the Date Modified, or even Date Created, after you close down an SS session shows the day's date and time within mins or about half-an-hour (depending on what was going in re library etc in SS), then do indeed err on the side of caution and DO NOT DELETE unless you know different that they are redundant.

Now the fact they are in the Gb size region could be reflective of a lot of redundant data within, and also combining with the fact you have a massive crap load of entries that are current - this would explain the sizes somewhat.

Inside SS, you can tell it (under options i think it was) to go optimise the library, which should then remove most redundant entries (associated with content no longer in place in the library). If the sheer size represents a lot of redundant data, that'll take it down a bit in size.

Alternatively, you could simply try deleting (from library only) all your current library stored content, aka not physically delete the audio file content itself, optmise the library, then reimport the library content back into SS.

Alternatively, you could mess with the registry and associated data files that SS references to tell it where to find the library files etc, and store all data and content on a separate drive entirely and tweak the reference data files/registry to point to the corrected alternative paths.

I'll leave you to figure out how-to and how that works, the techy bit, as i did it myself when i dumped all source and ATRAC content i use onto a NAS drive on the network and also relocated the SS install so it totally coexisted on the NAS.

Unfortunately, if i had to repeat it.. or even try to describe how i did it, i'd be one sorry virtual cat spirit.. as i plain forget what i tweaked, and as such can't guide you in that direction.

Was a good idea at the time (apart from the fact that access via the NAS drive is notably slow vs a local drive) - must make a memo to self to re-employ old principles and document such changes and methods

Yep, getting older... greyer, and less reliable about documenting stuff...

Good luck

'Tom Kat'

[Deckard]

Thanks a lot for the comprehensive reply. I have checked those files, of those only one of them have the recent day as 'modified', all others have earlier dates. I'll try to move them to another folder to see if it works.

Cheers