Friday, December 21, 2007 Tip of the Day: Taking Advantage of the SCRATCH Setting
Section: Environment Settings Supported Versions: . R:BASE 7.6 (Build 7.6.2.31221 or higher) for Windows . R:BASE (C/S:I) 7.6 (Build 7.6.2.31221 or higher) for Windows . R:BASE Turbo (Build 7.6.2.31221 or higher) for Windows The SCRATCH setting allows the current R:BASE session to store all temporary sort files on the drive and directory based on the SCRATCH setting. Syntax: SET SCRATCH <value> Supported values: ON, OFF, TMP, or <fullpath> SET SCRATCH ON will store temporary sort files on the database drive and directory. SET SCRATCH OFF will store temporary files on the current drive and directory. SET SCRATCH TMP will store temporary files in Windows' User Environment TMP folder. SET SCRATCH <fullpath> will provide the path to the location where temporary files could be stored. By default, the R:BASE/OTERRO configuration files, such as RBEngine.CFG, RBEngine75.CFG, RBEngine76.CFG, RBEngine8.CFG, OTERRO.CFG, OTERRO35, OTERRO8.CFG, and RBASE76.CFG) include the keyword TMP for the SCRATCH setting. Using the typical installation option of R:BASE or OTERRO the appropriate configuration file is installed in the "Windows" folder. The default keyword (TMP) allows R:BASE or Oterro sessions to use the Windows' User Environment TMP Variable setting for SCRATCH files on startup. This will also eliminate all issues related to setting the SCRATCH directory and related files. This default setting also enables R:BASE/OTERRO to write scratch files without being concerned about read, write, and delete permissions on the network/local folders. To take advantage of this setting, use the option "SCRATCH TMP" in the appropriate R:BASE and OTERRO configuration files or use the "SET SCRATCH TMP" command in your application startup files. Did you know that you can use "SET SCRATCH TMP" command at the R> prompt or in your application startup file? Using the latest updates of R:BASE 7.6, C/S:I 7.6 and Turbo V-8 for Windows, you can. Previously, "TMP" option could only be used in the configuration (.CFG) files. You can also use the enhanced Settings | Configuration Settings option of the Database Explorer to define SCRATCH settings: R:BASE 7.6, C/S:I 7.6 and Turbo V-8 for Windows: Database Explorer | Settings | Configuration Settings... http://www.rbase.com/rbg76/ScratchSettings.jpg http://www.rbase.com/rbg8/ScratchSettings.jpg Enjoy and make sure to have fun! Very Best R:egards, Razzak.
