Temporary_downloads out of control

Temporary_downloads out of control

The temporary_downloads directory, one of the directories in your local profile, used to be used only for files that you opened in the process of downloading (not ones you Save, but ones you Open on-the-fly). They remain there forever until you delete them by hand, but that's all that was there.

Starting with 10.5, those types of files still go there, but now thousands of other files do too. Why? This is not the cache, which is in a parallel directory.

Here's mainly what comprises mine (I left out a lot that were smaller in number), aside from what's supposed to be there:

-About 100 files beginning with "amf." amf (1), amf (2), etc.
-Over 600 files beginning with "search." search (1).json, search (2).json, etc. A dozen of these can be created in a minute.
-Almost 400 files beginning with "crossdomain." crossdomain (1).xml, crossdomain (2). xml, etc. Several a minute in some cases.

Overall, XML and JSON dominate, but there are also smaller numbers of TXT, SWF, HTM, PNG, etc.

This behaviour is a nuisance. In 10.10 I have Temporary Downloads in a useful folder (D:\Web Downloads) so that opening a PDF also drops a copy there.
In 10.5* I can't do this as the folder would be overrun with useless junk so I have to remember to Save the PDF from the Viewer.

Delete Entire Cache or Delete Private Data don't work, so I use a clearing utility with Temp D/L added.
In addition, there are all those silly folders with names like "g_0002" that don't get deleted and still hold a few files.
Possibly the worst file is *:\Program Files\Opera 10.5\profile\cache\dcache4 as it holds all URLs visited and isn't replaced until the next restart of Opera.

Amazingly, still present in the current build. I sort-of worked around it by adding a number of lines to a batch file that I have running once a day when Opera isn't running:

del /F /Q c:\profilepath...\temporary_downloads\amf*.*
and also lines for : *.json *.js *.xml *.swf *.htm *.jpg *.jpeg *.txt *.png *.css

Rseiler,I see you are on Win 7 x86 as well. I checked and found my temporary download folder empty. I don't use the "download and run file" often but I put all the snapshots in one folder so over time this adds up. I have no clue as to why it doesn't behave the same here on the same OS.

My temporary_downloads folder is empty, and I've never manually cleared it out, nor have I deleted my cache (or any other "Private Data") for many, many months. Not sure why, but there's nothing in there...

I had this issue in earlier builds but seems fixed in Beta-1 on.

Originally posted by rseiler:

-About 100 files beginning with "amf." amf (1), amf (2), etc.
-Over 600 files beginning with "search." search (1).json, search (2).json, etc. A dozen of these can be created in a minute.
-Almost 400 files beginning with "crossdomain." crossdomain (1).xml, crossdomain (2). xml, etc. Several a minute in some cases.

Files like those are still created during session, but seem erased when Opera is closed.

Puzzling indeed, then. I guess we're looking for a zebra and not a horse.

Just rereading the thread and thinking about this more, I see that GiraffePC has relocated his temporary_downloads folder. I have too (in fact, the cache folders also, though that's a different subject, I think). Hmmm, could it be that?

Did anyone else here change the default location? As he said, this was not an issue before 10.5, different location or not.
opera:config#UserPrefs|TemporaryDownloadDirectory

I am using the default temporary download folder.

Originally posted by rseiler:

I have too (in fact, the cache folders also, though that's a different subject, I think).

Same here and I'm also seeing those files.

I just have to go and ruin everything: Having now changed mine back to the default location, I see the files already piling up, so there goes that theory.

Originally posted by rseiler:

Puzzling indeed, then. I guess we're looking for a zebra and not a horse.

Just rereading the thread and thinking about this more, I see that GiraffePC has relocated his temporary_downloads folder. I have too (in fact, the cache folders also, though that's a different subject, I think). Hmmm, could it be that?

Did anyone else here change the default location? As he said, this was not an issue before 10.5, different location or not.
opera:config#UserPrefs|TemporaryDownloadDirectory

yes, i too, have changed my temporary_downloads folder through opera:config tool to another location. and i have seen those files flooding that folder since about 10.5...

Well, the default folder had a lot of files that came from Google Maps mostly; using my preferred folder just mixed the junk with useful stuff so that's why I put the folder back in Cache.
Also added "D:\Web Downloads to Send To and a shortcut to Temporary Downloads on the toolbar of the file manager.
If all tabs are closed, Delete Private Data seems to get rid of almost all files; a clean-up utility removes dcache4 but then all of the silly g_0* folders have to be removed manually

Originally posted by mimi_s_mum:

I had this issue in earlier builds but seems fixed in Beta-1 on.
....
Files like those are still created during session, but seem erased when Opera is closed.

My bad. That was a misconception. I've recently decided to disable plugins generally and enable if required. It seems those files are still created and left unerased in the folder if plugins are enabled. Confirmed in Beta-1, msi installer/multiuser installation, default folder location (in C:\Documents and Settings\USER_NAME\Local Settings\Application Data\Opera\Opera 10.60 Beta)

My apology for the confusion.

10.6 is practically at the RC stage now, and it's still pumping out these files like a certain BP well.

There is one way to prevent those horrible "cache" temporary files .... dont surf the net

cheers!!