Programmatically clear Internet Explorer's cache

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Programmatically clear Internet Explorer's cache

4 comments. Current rating: 5 stars

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Question:

I need a tool to empty IE's cache on a regular basis. How can I quickly write that myself?

Answer:

You can use a quick and dirty approach if you need to delete the cache only on one specific computer. In this case write a batch file that contains the following statements (replace 'administrator' with your user name):

del "c:\Temp\*.*" /ARSAH /s /q
del "c:\documents and settings\administrator\Recent\*.*" /s /q /a
del "c:\documents and settings\administrator\History\*.*" /s /q /a
del "c:\documents and settings\administrator\Temporary Internet Files\*.*" /s /q /a

If you want a more universal tool then look at the following Delphi code. You can also download the compiled executable here: Del_IE_Cache.exe (8 kB)

program Delete_IE_Cache;

uses
  WinInet;

{sc-----------------------------------------------------------------------
  Name:       DeleteIECache
  Parameters: -
-----------------------------------------------------------------------sc}
procedure DeleteIECache;
var
  lpEntryInfo: PInternetCacheEntryInfo;
  hCacheDir: LongWord;
  dwEntrySize: LongWord;
begin { DeleteIECache }
  dwEntrySize := 0;

  FindFirstUrlCacheEntry(nil, TInternetCacheEntryInfo(nil^), dwEntrySize);

  GetMem(lpEntryInfo, dwEntrySize);

  if dwEntrySize>0 then
    lpEntryInfo^.dwStructSize := dwEntrySize;

  hCacheDir := FindFirstUrlCacheEntry(nil, lpEntryInfo^, dwEntrySize);

  if hCacheDir<>0 then
  begin
    repeat
      DeleteUrlCacheEntry(lpEntryInfo^.lpszSourceUrlName);
      FreeMem(lpEntryInfo, dwEntrySize);
      dwEntrySize := 0;
      FindNextUrlCacheEntry(hCacheDir, TInternetCacheEntryInfo(nil^), dwEntrySize);
      GetMem(lpEntryInfo, dwEntrySize);
      if dwEntrySize>0 then
        lpEntryInfo^.dwStructSize := dwEntrySize;
    until not FindNextUrlCacheEntry(hCacheDir, lpEntryInfo^, dwEntrySize)
  end; { hCacheDir<>0 }
  FreeMem(lpEntryInfo, dwEntrySize);

  FindCloseUrlCache(hCacheDir)
end; { DeleteIECache }


begin
  DeleteIECache
end.

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Comments:

2006-07-10, 18:35:11

[hidden] from Australia

The above Delphi code when executed causes ebay and various other on-line subscription services to forget who I am. Seems to me it must be doing more than just clearing the cache. I think it's wiping out my cookies which is exactly what I didn't want to happen.

2. 'My' XP system does not have the subdirectories mentioned in the above batch file.

2007-01-29, 05:31:09

anonymous from India

I need to delete files from the internet explorer each time i call an action to view my latest graph charts that i am creating at runtime in HTL page.
Please guide me how can i delete the interent files programmaticaaly.

2008-04-16, 07:01:48

anonymous from Nigeria

I'm hosting an online application that displays videos. I need the users browser to pick up the latest videos.

2009-07-09, 11:49:51

anonymous from Switzerland

To prevent the deletion of cookies too, insert the following if-statement:

repeat
if lpEntryInfo^.CacheEntryType and COOKIE_CACHE_ENTRY = COOKIE_CACHE_ENTRY then
DeleteUrlCacheEntry(lpEntryInfo^.lpszSourceUrlName);

The constant COOKIE_CACHE_ENTRY should have the value $00100000.

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