Where does RV&S store file attachments — vault vs database, and can deleted attachments be recovered?
Hi Community,
We are running Windchill RV&S with custom Item Types that support file attachments. A question has come up around what happens when a user deletes an attachment from an item — specifically around recoverability.
We have already confirmed with our database team that we are running Oracle DB with point-in-time recovery available and a 14-day backup retention policy with full + incremental + archivelog backups.
What we are still unclear on is the application-level storage design. Specifically:
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Are attachments stored in the Oracle database (as BLOBs), in a filesystem vault, or split across both?
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When an attachment is deleted from an item, is it a soft delete or hard delete at the application level?
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Does RV&S run a vault garbage collection job, and if so, how is it configured and how frequently does it typically run?
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Is there a built-in audit trail in RV&S that logs attachment deletions (user + timestamp)?
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What is the recommended recovery path if a user accidentally deletes an attachment?
Has anyone dealt with this scenario or have insight into how RV&S manages attachment storage internally?
Any guidance from the community or PTC staff would be appreciated. Thanks!