Originally posted on digitalbbq.au

Back in 2017, I wrote a post about cleaning up Autodesk Collaboration for Revit (C4R) cache files. I then wrote a small windows application, C4R Cache Cleaner, that helped the end user work through that process without having to trawl through the journal files manually. That application became one of the most downloaded tools on revit.com.au

Fast-forward eight years, C4R has evolved, my tool has too, and the BIM Cache Cleaner is finally ready.

Why the Update?

The original C4R Cache Cleaner automated what you could already do manually, scanning journal files to find and remove corrupted files from your collaboration cache.

It worked well, but had a few limitations:

1. You needed to know what file you were looking for
   There was no way to automatically tell which file was the problematic one. You needed someone with good problem-solving skills to figure out which file needed removing before removing it
2. Revit only keeps a limited number of journal files.
   Once an old model dropped off the list, the cleaner simply couldn’t “see” it.
3. Unknown deletions made people nervous.
   While reading the journal files is perfect for resolving issues with corrupted cache files, people started to use the cache cleaner as a tool to recover space, which led to the addition of the “delete all not found in journals” option. It was handy but too vague for comfort.

A New Approach

Rather than relying on journal files, the new tool digs straight into the cache itself using OpenMCDF — a library that directly reads the files in the cache.

That change has unlocked a whole new layer of visibility.

Now the BIM Cache Cleaner can:

• Uncover every model in your collaboration cache — no missing files.
• Extract metadata such as model name, project name, and Revit version — without opening Revit.
• Instantly detect corrupted files, automatically grouping them under “Corrupt Files.”
• Provide a full audit view of your cache before you delete anything.

This means you can finally see what’s taking up space and decide what to remove.

What’s New in Version 3

• Moved to .net 8.0 and WPF
• Models are now shown in a tree view hierarchy, that distinguishes between working and linked models
• Selective deletion — remove a single model, an entire project, or all caches for a Revit version
• Advanced Mode for fine-grained cleanup (hidden by default, use with caution!)
  • Audit Tab showing file and folder type, size, and structure
  • Detailed list of everything associated with each model (PacCache, backup, central, links, link centrals)
• CSV export of the full audit report
• Copy-out function to extract local model copies with readable names
• Age-based colour coding (yellow: >30 days, orange: >60 days, red: >90 days)
• Revizto support for both v4 and v5, showing total folder size for easy space management

The new version has gone well beyond being a tool for corrupted file removal; it’s a proper cache management tool.

You can now understand what’s stored, how old it is, and how much space it’s using before you clear it.
It’s faster, safer, and gives complete control back to the user.

Download

You can download a copy of the BIM Cache Cleaner right here on revit.com.au