Clear RIP Cache and Change the PrintFactory Output Folder

Applies to: PrintFactory RIP Software｜ LINKO Printer

Document Goal

This guide shows you how to safely delete old .prt files created by PrintFactory. It also shows you how to move the Output Folder from the C drive to a drive with more space.

Follow these steps in order:

Check disk space
→ Delete old .prt files you no longer need
→ Empty the Recycle Bin
→ Move the Output Folder from the C drive
→ Submit a test job to confirm the new path

1. Scope and Safety Warning

1.1 What This Guide Covers

Use this guide in the following situations:

  • The C drive is low on space, is shown in red, or displays a low-storage warning.
  • PrintFactory runs slowly, stops processing, crashes, or cannot create .prt files.
  • The Output Folder contains many old .prt files that are no longer needed.

1.2 What This Guide Does Not Cover

If your issue matches one of these, see the guide listed:

Your Issue See This Guide
You have enough disk space, but the computer is still slow. Prepare the Printing Computer
Your firewall or antivirus is blocking PrintFactory. Configure Windows Firewall, Antivirus and Allowlist
The connection between your computer and printer is unstable.

Troubleshoot Printer Ethernet Connection and USB 3.0 Gigabit Ethernet Adapter
PrintFactory account, login, or license issues.

PrintFactory Account Registration and Login

PrintFactory License Activation

1.3 Safety Warning

Important: Only delete old .prt files that you have confirmed are no longer needed. Deleting the wrong files may cause issues with Windows, PrintFactory, PrintExp, or software licensing.

Do not delete:

  • Windows system files or software installation files.
  • PrintFactory, PrintExp, or license files.
  • Original image files.
  • Files for jobs currently being processed or printed.
  • Files whose purpose cannot be confirmed.

Delete a .prt file only when all of the following conditions are met:

  • The file extension is .prt.
  • The related job is complete and no longer needed.
  • The file is not part of a job currently being processed or printed.

If you cannot confirm this, skip the file and keep it.

2. Confirm Whether This Is a Disk Space Problem

2.1 Check Free Disk Space

Open:

This PC → Devices and drives

Check the following:

  1. Check whether the C drive is shown in red.
  2. Check whether the C drive has less than 20 GB of free space.
  3. Check whether the D drive, E drive, or another drive has more free space.
  4. Note the drive letter with the most free space. You will use it directly in Section 4.

2.2 Choose Your Next Step

What You Found Next Step
The C drive is almost full, or the Output Folder contains many old .prt files. Go to Section 3 first
The C drive has enough free space, and only the Output Folder needs to be moved from the C drive. Go to Section 4.1
Disk space is sufficient, but the software is still slow. See Prepare the Printing Computer
Disk space is sufficient, but you cannot connect to the printer. See the applicable guide in Section 1.2.

Order of operations: If the C drive is already full, complete Section 3 first. Then do Section 4. Changing the Output Folder path alone will not free up space that is already in use.

3. Safely Free Up RIP Storage Space

Important: Clicking Delete in PrintExp only removes the job record from the job list. It does not delete the .prt file from the Output Folder or free up disk space. To free up disk space, complete Section 3.2.

3.1 Before You Start

Before you start cleaning up, complete these steps:

  1. Stop the current print job.
  2. Wait for PrintFactory to finish the job it is processing.
  3. In PrintFactory, right-click the current printer and select Output Folder. (See Fig.3.1-1)
Fig.3.1-1 Select Output Folder

3.1-1-Select-Output-Folder

4. Check and note the current Output Folder path. (See Fig.3.1-2)

Fig.3.1-2 Current Output Folder path

3.1-2-Current-Output-Folder-path
  1. Confirm that no RIP process or print job is running.
  2. Close PrintFactory and PrintExp.

3.2 Delete Old .prt Files From the Output Folder

This is the key step for freeing up disk space. See Section 1.3 for the deletion criteria.

Steps:

  1. Open Windows File Explorer.
  2. Go to the current Output Folder, using the path you noted in Section 3.1.
  3. Find the .prt files.
  4. Sort by Date modified.
  5. Start checking from the oldest file.
  6. Check each file against the criteria in Section 1.3.
  7. Select only the old .prt files you have confirmed you no longer need.
  8. Delete the selected files. (See Fig. 3.2)

Note: After deletion, the files go to the Recycle Bin first. Space on the C drive is released only after you empty the Recycle Bin in Section 3.3.

Fig.3.2 .prt files in the Output folder

3.2-.prt-files-in-the-Output-Folder

3.3 Empty the Recycle Bin

Important: After you empty the Recycle Bin, the files usually cannot be recovered. First confirm the Recycle Bin does not contain original images, personal files, or other important files.

Steps:

  1. Open the Recycle Bin.
  2. Open PrintFactory once to confirm it starts normally, then close PrintFactory.
  3. Confirm the files in the Recycle Bin are all old .prt files you no longer need.
  4. For any file you cannot confirm, restore it and keep it.
  5. Empty the Recycle Bin. (See Fig. 3.3)
  6. Check the free space on the C drive again.
Fig.3.3 Empty the Recycle Bin

3.3-Empty-the-Recycle-Bin

4. Move the Output Folder from the C Drive

This section helps prevent the C drive from filling up again.

Reminder: If the software is already stuck or will not run, complete Section 3 first. Then do this section.

4.1 Check the Current Output Folder Location

Steps:

  1. In PrintFactory, right-click the current printer.
  2. Select Output Folder. (See Fig. 4.1-1)
Fig.4.1-1 Select Output Folder

4.1-1-Select-Output-Folder

3. Check the current Output Folder path. (See Fig.4.1-2)

Fig.4.1-2 Current Output Folder path

4.1-2-Current-Output-Folder-path
  1. If the path is already outside the C drive, you do not need to continue this section.
  2. If the path is on the C drive, continue to Section 4.2.

4.2 Create a New RIP Output Folder

Use the drive with the most free space noted in Section 2.1.

Steps:

  1. Open the D drive, E drive, or another drive with more space.
  2. Create a new folder.
  3. Name the folder RIP_Output. (See Fig. 4.2)
Fig.4.2 New RIP Output folder

4.2-New-RIP_Output-folder
  1. Do not use Chinese characters, special characters, or an overly long folder path.
  2. Confirm the drive has enough free space.

Recommended path: D:RIP_Output or E:RIP_Output

4.3 Change the PrintFactory Output Folder Path

Steps:

  1. In the Output Folder settings window, click Browse. (See Fig.4.3-1)
Fig.4.3-1 Click Browse

4.3-1-Click-Browse

2. Select the new RIP_Output folder. (See Fig.4.3-2)

Fig.4.3-2 Select the RIP Output folder

4.3-2-Select-the-RIP_Output-folder

3. Save the settings. (See Fig.4.3-3)

Fig.4.3-3 New PrintFactory Output Folder path

4.3-3-New-PrintFactory-Output-Folder-path

If the software cannot write to this folder:

  • Try creating and saving a test file in the RIP_Output folder.
  • If the test file cannot be saved, choose a different drive path.
  • Go back to this section and save the Output Folder settings again.

4.4 Submit a Test Job to Confirm the New Path

  1. Import a small test image into PrintFactory.
  2. Click Submit. (See Fig.4.4-1)
Fig.4.4-1 Submit a test job

4.4-1-Submit-a-test-job
  1. Wait for the RIP process to finish.
  2. Open the new RIP_Output folder.
  3. Confirm the new .prt file has been created in this folder. (See Fig.4.4-2)
Fig.4.4-2 New .prt file created in the new path

4.4-2-New-.prt-file-created-in-the-new-path

6. Confirm the control software can read and print this file normally.

The task is complete when the new .prt file is created in the new Output Folder and the control software can read and print the file.

4.5 Optional: Remove Old Jobs from the PrintFactory Job List

This step only removes old job records from the list. It does not free up disk space. Do this only after you finish cleaning up old .prt files, moving the Output Folder path, and testing.

Steps:

  1. Open PrintFactory.
  2. Find the job list.
  3. Select the old jobs you no longer need.
  4. Click Delete. (See Fig.4.5)
Fig.4.5 Remove an old job record

4.5-Remove-an-old-job-record

5. Confirm the job is removed from the list.

5. FAQ

5.1 Why Did My Old Jobs Disappear After Cleanup?

Jobs in PrintFactory can be linked to the underlying .prt files.

After you delete old .prt files or change the Output Folder, an old job may no longer appear or be available for reprinting.

This is normal and does not indicate a software problem. To print again, import the original image and run the RIP process again.

5.2 Does Deleting .prt Files Affect My Original Images?

No. A .prt file is a print output file created by PrintFactory. Deleting a .prt file does not delete your original image.

Before deleting, always confirm the file extension to avoid deleting an original image by mistake.

5.3 Can I Delete the Entire Output Folder?

This is not recommended. Open the Output Folder and delete only the old .prt files you have confirmed you no longer need.

Do not delete:

  • The entire Output Folder.
  • Files for a current job.
  • Original images.
  • Any file you are not sure about.

5.4 Why Does the C Drive Fill Up Again So Quickly?

Common causes:

  • The Output Folder is still on the C drive.
  • Old .prt files are not cleaned up regularly.
  • The Recycle Bin has not been emptied.
  • Other software is also creating cache files on the C drive.

Confirm you have completed Section 4, and clean up old .prt files you no longer need on a regular basis.

6. Final Check and Information to Send

6.1 Quick Final Check

Before you send anything, confirm:

  • You have deleted the old .prt files you no longer need.
  • You have emptied the Recycle Bin.
  • The free space on the C drive has increased.
  • If the Output Folder was on the C drive, you have moved it to the D drive, E drive, or another drive with more space.
  • You have submitted a small test job.
  • A new .prt file has been created in the new Output Folder.
  • The control software can read and print the file.

If any of these is not done yet, complete that step and test again.

If all of the above is done but the problem is still not solved, send the minimum information listed in Section 6.2.

6.2 If the Problem Is Still Not Solved

Please send:

  • 1 screenshot of disk space: open This PC and show the free space on the C, D, and E drives.
  • 1 screenshot of the Output Folder: show the current folder path and the .prt files.
  • 1 screenshot of any error: if there is no error, skip this item.

Please also describe the problem in this format:

Problem stage: Importing the image / Clicking Submit / Creating the .prt file / Printing What you see.

LINKO Technical Support
Email: support@dtflinko.com
Website: www.dtflinko.com

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