Reminder to Clear Down Multiplayer Track Files

UPDATE: As an alternative (or in addition) to the following, we can simply disable the recording of multiplayer tracks (the files still get created but are mostly negligible in size, due to not containing any 'history' of what actually happened). See post 5 below.

First off, for anyone who doesn't already know, while playing in DCS Multiplayer online it records a 'track' of every session. These files are save somewhere within your Windows user profile directory (E.g. "C:\Users\<username>\Saved Games\DCS<.openbeta>\Tracks\Multiplayer")

Even over a short time these files can easily mount up to gigabytes of storage.

I'm not actually sure if they ever 'expire' and get cleared down automatically by DCS at any time but in my limited experience it seems not.

Therefore it's probably a good idea to a bit of manual tidy up in this folder once in a while.

I'm never going to remember to bother doing that, so what I recently did was set myself a 'reminder' using Windows "Task Scheduler".

May seem like slight overkill to some, but for anyone interested in doing the same and not already familiar with Task Scheduler here's an example of what I've done.

You're all clever people and can figure it out but in simple steps (applicable to Windows 7, can't vouch for any other versions):

• Open "Task Scheduler" (Windows search for "Task" or "Sched")
  
• Task Scheduler
  
  • Actions -> "Create Basic Task..."
    

   

  [*]Create a Basic Task

  • Name: Reminder-DCS-MPTracks-ClearDown
    
  • Desc: A reminder to clear down the DCS Multiplayer Tracks folder.
    
  • Click [Next]
    

   

  [*]Task Trigger

  • [select desired interval (daily, weekly etc.)]
    
  • Click [Next]
    

   

  [*]Daily / Weekly ...

  • [Configure the recurrence as desired]
    
  • Click [Next]
    

   

  [*]Action

  • Select "Start a program"
    
  • Click [Next]
    

   

  [*]Start a program

  • Program/script: %windir%\explorer.exe
    
  • Add arguments: "C:\Users\<username>\Saved Games\DCS<.openbeta>\Tracks\Multiplayer"
    
  • Click [Next]
    

   

  [*]Click [Finish]

You can test it out straight away by right-clicking your new scheduled task and "Run".

It should simply open a new Windows Explorer window in the folder configured above (i.e. your DCS multiplayer tracks folder).

I provide no guarantee that it wont cause the world around you to implode, but it seems to be working ok for me.

Thanks for the reminder. Just cleared out 11GB of tracks.:huh:

it was 27GB last time I cleared it :doh:

also if you accidentally activate shadowplay recording, have a check through your video folder every now and then.....

i would recommend not doing this and just turning them off, as it stops some stutters in game and also will allow the game to close instead of waiting.

https://forums.eagle.ru/showthread.php?t=208832

Thanks, that's an excellent option!

So to disable the MP track recording:

• Edit file (create if necessary):
  
  • C:\Users\<username>\Saved Games\DCS\Config\autoexec.cfg
    

   

  [*]Add to end of file:

  • disable_write_track = true
    

Or just do it manually once in a while? Works like a charm for me :smilewink:

Good post though for those who look for other ways...

Or just do it manually once in a while? Works like a charm for me :smilewink:

Good post though for those who look for other ways...

"..as it stops some stutters in game and also will allow the game to close instead of waiting."