Question on Mail cache

Question

Level 6

13,631 points

Question on Mail cache

In ~/Library/Caches/Mail there are scores of folders, sub folders and cache files.
Some are over a year old. I intend deleting them, but why are these cache files being made and to what purpose are they used.
I have a general understanding of caching being used to speed up repetitive tasks but I can't see what benefit is given to Mail to use cached data?
Is this part of 'indexing' which sometimes flashes through when Mail is first opened and what disadvantage would occur if they were deleted?

regards roam

eMac G4 1Ghz ; iBook G4 800Mhz, Mac OS X (10.3.9)

Posted on Sep 26, 2007 7:03 AM

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Answer 1

cornelius

Level 6

17,826 points

Sep 26, 2007 5:50 PM in response to roam

roam:

Good question. I am responding mainly so that I will be subscribed, in case someone has the answer.

I checked a few of mine and they have been there since April or May so if they are being flushed out, they are not being flushed that often.

Cheers.

cornelius

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Answer 2

roam Author

Level 6

13,631 points

Oct 7, 2007 5:56 PM in response to roam

Cornelius:
I read that this cache holds html marked up emails. I cannot verify if that is true. Nevertheless having deleted the cached files there is no loss of performance in Mail.

A week or so has gone by and the cache remains empty, so it is not a very active facility anyway. I suggest this cache can be deleted without penalty.

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Answer 3

Dimaxum

Level 5

5,997 points

Oct 7, 2007 6:38 PM in response to roam

Hi ALL,

I suggest this cache can be deleted without penalty.

I delete the Mail Cache folder once a week. The performance of speeding up Mail to open the Application is by deleting the Cache folder improved. There are NO issues to do so.

A application like OnyX or other maintenances application you can set to do it for you.

I do it manually. Be sure that the application Mail is not running. Quite Mail before you trash the whole folder, not only 1 to 15 sub folder.

Dimaxum

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Answer 4

roam Author

Level 6

13,631 points

Oct 8, 2007 8:03 AM in response to Dimaxum

I delete the Mail Cache folder once a week.

Do you? Since I emptied mine, over a week ago it has been dormant, that is, it has not cached anything. Perhaps this is because I have "Display images and embedded objects in HTML messages." turned off.
As you say an empty cache is no problem.

I was a bit wary of emptying it because of that sub-folder numbering system that is used for dating entries, the same as used in iPhoto. Anyway, all is well.
I have a copy of Onyx. It is a nice app' but I don't use it.
Thanks for your input.

regards roam

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Answer 5

cornelius

Level 6

17,826 points

Oct 8, 2007 10:51 AM in response to Dimaxum

roam and Dimaxum:

I went ahead and deleted mine. If the world comes to an end and I am able to get word to you, I will let you know.

Cheers.

cornelius

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Answer 6

Dimaxum

Level 5

5,997 points

Oct 8, 2007 12:13 PM in response to roam

Hi Roam & Cornelius,

As I said, I used OnyX in the past to clean up the Mail Caches. But to launch a Application to do it for is taking to long.

Sins I do it manually I never hat any issues with mail.

Also you can try to set the Mail Cache folder to read only via the get info window. Try it an find out ...

Also I did in Safari Cache folder read only ... makes a different.

Thanks for responding to my comments an thanks for the star *

Dimaxum

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Answer 7

cornelius

Level 6

17,826 points

Oct 8, 2007 4:34 PM in response to Dimaxum

Dimaxum:

Thanks for the tips.

I cleaned out the Mail cache manually. I have Onyx of my computer, but don't do routine cache cleaning, so I don't launch Onyx hardly ever.

I don't used Safari, either, so there shouldn't be much of a cache there.

Cheers.

cornelius

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Answer 8

Dimaxum

Level 5

5,997 points

Oct 8, 2007 7:20 PM in response to cornelius

Your welcome ...

Dimaxum

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