When creating dependent data objects through a calculation or another operation, in principle only a small ASCII object definition file is stored on disk. The object definition file stores among others the expression by which the dependent object was created, this is the definition of the dependent object. Based on the definition, a dependent data object can always recalculate itself.
Data files of dependent objects are automatically calculated when you display a dependent map or a dependent table, i.e. when needed. Data files may need a lot of disk space and as the definition of the object is stored in an object's object definition file, data files may thus be deleted to obtain more free disk space. For dependent raster maps for example, the data file (.MP#) can be deleted as long as the object definition file (.MPR) remains.
You can release disk space for dependent raster, polygon, segment and point maps and for dependent tables. You cannot release disk space for dependent columns.
To release disk space:
or
The Property sheet(s) of the selected dependent map(s) and/or table(s) will appear:
When a dependent map is displayed in a map window, or when a dependent table is displayed in a table window, you can also open the File menu in the map or table window and select the Properties command. The Property sheet of that map or table then appears. To release disk space, go to the Dependency tab, and click the button Release Disk Space.
To release disk space on the command line or in scripts:
You can also release disk space by typing the following on the command line of the Main window or in a script:
reldisksp object.ext
For object.ext fill out the object name and its extension.
For more information, see Appendices : script language (syntax).
See also:
Basic concepts : dependent data objects