Background

When a path to a catalog on a different computer such as a network server exists in Catalog Paths, the catalog index (catalog.mdb) is cached locally for improved performance. The Device.mdb database links to tables in local catalogs and in the cached catalog.mdb files of network catalogs.

When the software connects to a network catalog, lock files (.LDB) are typically automatically created for the catalog in both the folder on the network and the catalog cache folder.

When more than one catalog is cached, a numeric value is appended to the file name of each catalog.mdb file in the cache folder.  For example: catalog.mdb, catalog1.mdb, catalog2.mdb, etc. The software resolves these files to the appropriate catalog according to the mdbcache.xml file.

This article does not imply compatibility with listed operating systems. Consult the Compatibility Chart for that information.

Paths

CONNECT Edition and SELECTseries 8 Refresh (08.11.13.73) and higher

Starting with the SS8 Refresh release, the catalog cache files are stored in per-user paths to improve Citrix implementation.

Windows 10, Windows 8.1, Windows 7:

The catalog cache files will be in a subfolder of:

%userprofile%\appdata\local\Bentley\Substation\

for example:

C:\Users\<user name>\AppData\Local\Bentley\Substation\8.11\LJROZnv1H_lir6ZBNMVf-Q\Cache\MDBCache\

or

C:\Users\<user name>\AppData\Local\Bentley\Substation\10.0.0_1\Cache\MDBCache

Previous versions

Windows 8.1, Windows 7, and Windows Vista:

C:\ProgramData\Bentley\Substation V8i\Cache\MDBCache

In Windows 7 there is a symbolic link from C:\ProgramData to C:\Users\All Users, so the catalog cache folder path is also:
C:\Users\All Users\Bentley\Substation V8i\Cache\MDBCache

If cached catalog data is not found, try:
C:\Users\(current login)\AppData\Local\Bentley\Substation V8i\Cache\MDBCache\

Windows XP:

C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Bentley\Substation V8i\Cache\MDBCache\

If cached catalog data is not found, try:
C:\Documents and Settings\(current login)\Local Settings\Application Data\Bentley\Substation V8i\Cache\MDBCache\

mdbcache.xml

The mdbcache.xml file is found in the same folder as the cached catalog.mdb files.  It tells the software which catalog.mdb file belongs to which network catalog. Contents of the file follow the format below, which shows two network catalogs.

<MDBCache>
  <MDB path="z:\substation data\catalogs\jic-3\catalog.mdb" cachepath="C:\ProgramData\Bentley\Substation V8i\Cache\MDBCache\catalog.mdb" />
  <MDB path="z:\substation data\catalogs\my_catalog\catalog.mdb" cachepath="C:\Users\Matt_P\AppData\Local\Bentley\Substation\8.11\LJROZnv1H_lir6ZBNMVf-Q\Cache\MDBCache\catalog1.mdb" />
</MDBCache>