Database size v. iCloud storage file size?

[tonyt]

Hi Brendan,

I may have asked this before, but can’t find it….

After running database maintenance tasks and syncing Mac with iPad – my database size as reported by my Mac is 16.5 meg, my iCloud Tapforms storage is 95.7 meg? I assumed that when items are deleted from my database or synced and used the update files created by a sync they would be deleted from my iCloud storage, or have I got it wrong? v. likely!!!
Cheers
tony

[Brendan]

Hi Tony,

The database file size does not include anything like photos or other files that you’ve linked to your records, either via file attachment fields, drawings, export files, or photos.

So that would account for the discrepancy. If you run the Backup command from the File menu, Tap Forms will create a .zip file. Double-click the .zip file to extract the content from the backup. Now you can see exactly what Tap Forms has in it. The database file size you see is the size of the TapForms_db.sqlite file.

Thanks,

Brendan

[tonyt]

Thanks Brendan,

I did that. The problem is mainly photos. I found a whole load of them from previous forms that have now been deleted from my Mac as they were no longer used. I assumed that my iCloud storage would be updated as well. This does not seem to be the case. Is it then true that if photos / documents / etc are added to a form which is then deleted, the iCloud storage will continue to grow for ever?
Also, if I find the photos I no longer use – all with very long number / character string names – in my zip file, can I manually delete them from my iCloud storage?
Cheers
tony
Hope this is as clear as mud!

[Brendan]

Hi Tony,

Yes, you can manually delete the ones you no longer want, except you would have to identify them visually as there’s no filename displayed in Tap Forms for those images, so you could potentially delete one that is still being referenced somewhere.

Thanks,

Brendan

[tonyt]

Hi Brendan
I wrongly assumed that the sync files would not only update changes, but delete items in the cloud that were no longer used by deleted forms. Wont this let the cloud storage simply grow and grow?
Cheers
tony

[Brendan]

Tap Forms is supposed to delete a photo when you delete it in the UI. There are some things that won’t be deleted though and simply unlinked, such as file attachments.

[tonyt]

Hi Brendan

Thanks for that. Unfortunately I have discovered that photos are not deleted from the cloud when a form is deleted, at least – mine aren’t!

I have been through all my forms and in total they contain 14 jpegs and 12 location field maps ( not sure if they are saved or just the location data to recall the map? ) Some of the jpegs are the same one, referenced in several records. My cloud storage shows over 65 jpegs – mostly with long ’string’ names!!!!

So….

Is a separate jpeg saved for each record if its the same jpeg file, or can several records reference the same jpeg? Ditto location references?

How do I get rid of unwanted jpegs and other stuff that should have been deleted as its no longer on my Macs or iPad?

Would it be possible to include the filename I gave the jpegs within the long string name, then I might have a fighting chance of getting rid of the ones I don’t use. In fact, how do I find out what each long string name jpeg in the cloud actually is?

Would it be best to start over from scratch by deleting my cloud storage, etc., etc….

Cheers

tony

[Brendan]

Hi Tony,

The same photo will be copied multiple time if you reference it from different records.

Locations aren’t images. They’re just coordinates. The map is generated on the fly.

Just delete the unwanted ones manually. But it might be difficult to know which image is reference from within the app. In the next Mac version I’ve added a “Show in Finder” button to take you to an image.

I do have code to delete photos when you delete a form, record, or field. But perhaps there’s a case where it’s not working right. I’ll look into that.

Thanks,

Brendan

[Brendan]

Hi Tony,

Do any of the image files have a file extension other than “.jpg” (all in lowercase)?

The code will look for file names with .jpg and delete them. But I do know that can be changed via importing from a CSV or bringing in photos from the Mac. I’m working on code to extend that to custom photo file names too.

Thanks,

Brendan

[tonyt]

Hi Brendan
Most are jpgs, five are image files but have NO extension listed in the cloud ‘manage storage’ window. You are right by the way, deleting some of them is impossible as I can’t work out if they are in use at all!!!!!
Cheers
tony

[tonyt]

COULD I CLEAR EVERYTHING AND START AGAIN?

[Brendan]

You don’t have to look in the “Manage Storage” area. You can see what’s in there using the Finder by looking at the following folder:

~/Library/Mobile Documents/Tap Forms HD/Tap Forms HD/Photos

The Manage Storage list just gives you a list of everything in iCloud and not just photos.

You could always export all your forms including media, then you’ll have folders of the photos that Tap Forms is actually referencing in the database. Then you can clear the Photos folder of all its files, then copy back the files from the exports into the Photos folder.

Make sure you do a full backup of everything before you do that though.

Thanks,

Brendan

[tonyt]

Hi Brendan
Found that and much easier to identify whats being used and whats redundant photo wise. If I delete them from the mobile documents folder, will it delete them from the cloud?
Cheers
tony

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