You may be directed by Support to clear Client cache and/or Java cache as part of troubleshooting Client or Designer related issues.
This article explains how to do so.

Contents:

1. Clearing Client Cache
2. Clearing Java Cache
   • Clear Java cache using the graphical user interface (GUI)
   • Clear Java Cache from the command line
   • Clear Java Cache for selected applications only

1. Clearing Client Cache

When you launch an Ignition Client or Designer, a folder named .ignition is created in your user directory.

Note: on Linux-based operating systems (e.g. Ubuntu), and on Mac OS X systems, file and folder names starting with a . are hidden by default, which means that initially you may not see .ignition folder under in the user directory.

To show the hidden files and folders, including .ignition, you can:

• Use a keyboard shortcut or an appropriate menu item to make hidden files and folders visible.
  For example, on recent version of Ubuntu press Ctrl - H, or use the "Show Hidden Files" option under the View menu. The shortcuts and menu options may differ depending on the operating system / distribution / desktop environment; check your operating system documentation for correct options.
  
  
  
  On a Mac OS X, the shortcut to show hidden files is ⌘ - Shift - .
  
  
  
  
• Open the terminal, and run ls -a the following from the user's home directory.
  The -a option makes ls command show hidden items.
  
  

The .ignition folder contains cached Client resources, so that they can be reused on subsequent Client launches, helping to minimize download times. However, there may be times when this Client cache needs to be cleared so the next time the Client is launched, a fresh copy of all resources is downloaded.

To clear Client cache:

1. Close any Clients and Designers running on the computer you are clearing .ignition cache on
2. Delete the whole .ignition folder.

Next time you launch a Client or the Designer, a new copy of .ignition folder will be created in your user directory.

Note: if multiple users on a particular computer use Ignition Clients/ Designers, each of those users will have a separate .ignition folder in their respective user directory. When directed to clear .ignition cache, you may need to do so for all users accounts, or, if doing so for a specific user, verify the user folder for which you are deleting the .ignition folder.

2. Clearing Java Cache

You may also be directed to clear Java cache on the computer where the Client / Designer is launched.

Note: clearing Java cache will remove the desktop shortcuts used to launch the applications.
To get your Designer and project shortcuts back, just launch the Designer or the project from the Gateway Web page.

Clear Java cache using the graphical user interface (GUI)

Use the Java Control Panel to clear Java cache from a graphical user interface environment:

1. Open the Java Control Panel
   • On Windows

     For specific instructions on how to open the Java Control Panel and clear Java cache on a Windows operating system, please see this article form Oracle.

   • On Mac OS X

     For specific instructions on how to open the Java Control Panel and clear Java cache on a Mac OS X operating system, please see this article form Oracle.

   • On a Linux distribution

     To open Java Control panel on a Linux distribution (e.g. Ubuntu), open the terminal and type javaws -jcontrol

2. Click "Settings" on the Temporary Internet Files section on the General tab
3. Click "Delete Files" button on the "Temporary Files Settings" window that will open.
4. Click "OK" on the "Delete Files and Applications" popup.
5. You are done. Click "OK" to close the "Temporary Files Settings" window; click "OK" to close the Java Control Panel window
   
   

Clear Java cache from the command line

You can also use the command line or terminal to clear Java WebStart cache using the javaws -uninstall command:

Clear Java cache for selected applications only

Using Java Control Panel also allows you to select which applications to clear Java cache for. This option can be especially useful if, for example, you are having issues with just one specific project, or if you have other, non-Ignition, Java applications which you do not want to affect.

To select which application to clear the cache for, use the "View" button on the Java Control Pane's "General" tab to open Java Cache Viewer. Select the applications you want to clear Java cache for and click the red X button to delete them.