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Anonymous
December 23, 2008
Question

Windchill Cache Recovery Tool

  • December 23, 2008
  • 28 replies
  • 21037 views

Many Windchill users out there are painfully aware of local workspace cache corruptions. Those who have experienced this problem know that you can contact PTC and they will provide a list containing the names of the local cache files and their equivalent Pro/E file names. You then have to manually rename all of the files using the provided list. Having dealt with this in the past and based on information obtained from logged calls to PTC (and as others have mentioned here) I learned that the Pro/E file name can be found in the cache file, usually (but not always) in the file header. After dealing with workspace cache corruptions many times I decided to see if I could automate this process.

Earlier this year, while between jobs, I began to develop what I am calling WC_FileRecovery. It is a Windows application that will open cache files, attempt to determine the original Pro/ENGINEER file name and, if found, rename the cache file to that name. This effort has been done completely on my own time and is not associated with either my previous or my current employer. At this point in time I feel it is working quite well and would like to make it available to others.

In the Public Files area you will find two zipped files, one for 32 bit and one for 64 bit installations. Each zipped file contains three files: a setup.exe and related .msi file as well as a PDF user guide. Please read the user guide carefully to understand three very important things:

1. Use this program at your own risk! If you aren't willing to take that risk, do not use the program. See the user guide for more information.

2. Do not try to recover files in the original cache. Copy the cache contents to another folder and recover the files in that folder. This will leave your original cache intact if problems should arise.

3. The development of this program is being done on my own time. I am not in the business of developing applications and my current employer expects me to do the work they are paying me to do. As such, I welcome discussion of the program on the exploder. However, I make no promise of correcting any issues that may surface as others begin to use the program. This program comes with no warranty, expressed or implied (see item 1, above).

The installation of this program requires Microsoft .NET 2.0 Framework and the installer will query your system to determine if it is already installed. If not, you will be given an option to download and install the required version of .NET from Microsoft.

Finally, this program was developed using a Windchill 8.0 cache with Wildfire 3 and has not been tested with any other versions. Using this program with other versions of Windchill or Pro/ENGINEER is not supported and results are unknown at this time.

I hope this program is useful to others.

Ron Thellen

    28 replies

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    M
    M_Haßlöcher10-Marble
    10-Marble
    October 7, 2014

    Sure that coud help to decide which exact version i want. Perhaps related to another workspace,


    but other reason could be to use it as "restoring previous Version" Tool.


    So, my standpoint, yes but only as an possible option in the Recovery tool. Eventually a switch in "View" ?

    R
    RonThellen1-Visitor
    1-Visitor
    May 13, 2015

    Windchill Cache Recovery Tool - Version 2.05

    The latest version of the application with the recently requested feature (include each file's version information) has been uploaded into the PTC Windchill Documents page (Windchill Cache Recovery Tool - Version 2.05 (WC_FileRecovery) - 64 bit version). If the 32 bit version is still needed, I can upload that as well.

    Unzip the download, run the setup and complete the installation. See the User Guide (included in the installation) as well as this thread for details on using the application.

    Ron

      R
      RonThellen1-Visitor
      1-Visitor
      May 18, 2015

      I have uploaded the 32 bit version to the PTC Windchill Documents page (Windchill Cache Recovery Tool - Version 2.05 (WC_FileRecovery) - 32 bit version) as requested by a member.

      Ron

      D
      dkopecky11-Garnet
      11-Garnet
      May 27, 2015

      Hi Ron,

      thank you for this fantastic tool. It helped us many times.

      I noticed one think when i used it last time, there is not possibility to recover dxf files from cache, would it be possible to implement it in new version.

      Thank you

      David

      R
      RonThellen1-Visitor
      1-Visitor
      June 15, 2015

      David,

      Currently the tool only recovers PTC Pro/E and Creo files.  I only have access to a Pro/INTRALINK system (Wintralink, as it has been called by others), so no other files types are available to me.  Sorry.

      Ron

      V
      vincecatlin12-Amethyst
      12-Amethyst
      February 4, 2016

      I did not get the guide with the cache recovery tool. This would be a handy reference.

      R
      RonThellen1-Visitor
      1-Visitor
      February 4, 2016

      Here you are.

      A
      amar_karthi13-Aquamarine
      13-Aquamarine
      September 4, 2018

      Hi Ron,

       

      Can you please share the user guide as the downloaded folder just contains the installer now.

       

      Thanks in advance!

      Amarkarthi.

      MarcoTosin
      21-Topaz I
      MarcoTosin21-Topaz I
      21-Topaz I
      September 4, 2018

      If you had tried searching the community website, you would have found the guide.

       

      Same thing googling

       

      https://community.ptc.com/sejnu66972/attachments/sejnu66972/Windchill/21639/1/WC_FileRecovery%202%20User%20Guide.pdf

       

       

      Marco
      R
      Ron_Thellen7-Bedrock
      7-Bedrock
      July 25, 2021

      Windchill Cache Recovery Tool - Version 2.08

       

      Version 2.08 includes the following new features:

          - New right-click Context Menu added to the results list for:
                  o Recovering Selected Files
                  o Recovering All Files
                  o Exporting the Results Table
          - Timers that report:
                  o Elapsed time during the file “examination” process, i.e., File > Open,
                     and total elapsed time at the completion of the file examination process
                  o Elapsed time for file recovery, i.e., Recover Selected Files or Recover ALL Files.
          - Minor clarification changes to the text of some dialog boxes.
          - Minor bug fixes.
          - Help option on the menu bar with options that will:
                  o Open the PDF User Guide
                  o Display an About dialog

      Special thanks to those that assisted with testing.

       

      I am attaching the 64 bit version of the installer.  If the 32 bit version is still required, I will add it.

       

      NOTE: This will be my final version of the tool.

       

      I have retired and after a 50-year career that I have enjoyed thoroughly, it is time for me to bid you adieu!
      I wish you great success in your endeavors.

       

      Now to the question many of you are likely asking. What will happen to the tool?
      At this point I haven't decided.

      Windchill Cache Recovery Tool version 1.0 development began in 2008 when I was between jobs and it was released
      at the end of that year. Version 2.0 was a rewrite of the UI and features were added with each release to where
      we are today - version 2.08.

       

      I have years of effort developing this tool and to be honest, I don't want to give it up.
      But without access to the PTC tools and files needed, it will become impossible to continue its development.
      And with the amount of time I have invested in it, I don't feel I can just give it away.
      So, for now the source code remains in my possession.

       

      Ron Thellen

        S
        21-Topaz I
        STEVEG21-Topaz I
        21-Topaz I
        July 26, 2021

        @unknown 

        Thank you so much for your contributions over the years.  I am sure there are many people indebted to you for helping them.

         

        Good luck and I hope you enjoy your retirement.

          O
          osenbore10-Marble
          10-Marble
          February 20, 2026

          Just helped a customer recover files on their Windchill Cache. 

          Five years post retirement, Ron, your solution is still providing value!

          Thank you very much and all the best!

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