Changing the Temporary File Location for ICS for PDF

Question

Hi All, 
 We have noticed that ICS is utilising the the OS temporary file location (c:\windows	emp) for the location of the temporary iplot IPARAM (*.i), METADATA (*.m) and DPR (*.tmp) files. 
 The rendition server ran out of space on the OS partition as there were a large number of these files being left behind (+3000), some large (>1GB) and a few massive (>7GB!). Our infrastructure team is not too happy and we need to come up with a solution. 
 Firstly we need to try and get these temporary files created elsewhere so that we can set up a process to handle their deletion as ICS is not doing this well (we are pushing it with 10k drawings being printed daily). 
 We have modifed the D:\Program Files (x86)\Common Files\InterPlot\IPLOT\config\iplot.cfg file so that: 
 IPLOT_WORK_DIR = E:\PWIplotTemp IPLOT_OUTPUT_DIR = E:\PWIplotTemp IPLOT_DLOG_OUTPUT_DIR = E:\PWIplotTemp IPLOT_DLOG_SAVE_DIR = E:\PWIplotTemp 
 and for good measure ..\ProjectWise InterPlot Organizer\config\ip.cfg so that IPLOT_WORK_DIR = E:\PWIplotTemp 
 modifing these two files has had no effect. 
 So a few of questions: Does ICS for PDF use a different configutaion file than the typical IPLOT.CFG file? What is the correct file to be modifing? Which variable stipulates the location for the Temporary DPR (*.tmp) files? How can I degug the IPLOT configuration to be sure that the changes in the files are being read? 
 Kind Regards, James

Dawn Clark Gentry · Answer

James, 
 
This is an issue we see with iCS for PDF but unfortunately iCS for PDF cannot control this entirely. The files building up in c:\windows	emp are getting left behind from the various applications running during the rendition process: InterPlot Organizer, MicroStation or application used as the print engine, ProjectWise, Real DWG (in the case of renditions from DWG), etc. I usually suggest to my iCS users to create a task to clean out this folder on a regular basis, the frequency varies depending on the load of the iCS server. 
 
There are two SYSTEM variables and two USER variables that determine this location, TEMP and TMP. Keep in mind that most Windows programs use these variables so changing these variables will affect more than just iCS for PDF. Some programs use the SYSTEM variable, some use the USER variable. It varies depending on the context of how the program is ran. I would suggest changing them all in unison. 
 
iCS for PDF cannot randomly delete the files in this folder because we cannot reliably determine who needs them and who does not. Some temp files will not delete because the will be locked or in use. This is ok. The files get left behind when plots fail, application crashes occur in the background, etc. Some programs are not good at cleaning up their temp files. iCS and InterPlot Organizer does a fairly good job of cleaning up the temp files they create. 
 
I hope this helps answer your questions. 
 
Dawn