Cache Options
Click on the Cache tab to show the cache options:
Enquiry Agent uses a 'cache' to store information it has been using. For example, when browsing a folder Enquiry Agent will store the results in a cache file. The next time this folder is browsed the information will be read from the cache file rather than the directory.
The advantage of using a cache is speed. Reading from a cache file is far quicker than accessing a directory. Whenever a folder is browsed, the data will be read from the file.
The cache is also used to store other information. The cache stores:
- Browsed folders
- the History
- successful searches
- Enquiry Agent distribution lists
The cache items are unique to each user of Enquiry Agent. Several people using one install of Enquiry Agent will have their own cache (assuming they log on with different accounts). The location of the cache can be specified in the software and can 'travel' with the user.
The downside of using cache is that information may be updated on a directory but the user will not see this as they are reading from a cache file. Enquiry Agent overcomes this through prompting and through cache 'ages' (see below).
Cache Options
Cache Usage
The way folder and search caching is used can be altered. The options are:
- Always use cached items - folder browsing and searches are always saved to the cache
- Prompt to use cached items - whenever a folder is clicked on, if there is a cache file a message is displayed prompting whether to use the cache file or to read the information from the directory.
- Never use cached items - the cache is not used, information is always read from the directory.
Cache Location
The cache files can be stored in several locations:
- the user's home network folder
- the user's My Documents folder
- the Enquiry Agent installation folder
- a specified local or network folder
The Enquiry Agent default is to use the user's home network folder. If this cannot be accessed when Enquiry Agent first runs, then it will use the My Documents folder instead.
The cache can be moved from one location to another. See Moving Cache Location for more information.
Cache Aging
Enquiry Agent can manage the cache by removing cache files over a certain age and by limiting the number of cache files it creates. These can be set for both folder and search cache files.
- Retain cache for x days – This sets how many days Enquiry Agent will store a cache entry. After this time the information will be read from the server.
- Create a maximum of x caches - This sets a limit for how many individual cache items to store.
- Store a maximum of x megabytes - This sets a limit to how much hard disk space to use when storing cache items.