Jump to content
KathrynBassett

Difference between optimize and reindex

Recommended Posts

The help file says regarding Optimize "Deleted records, including people, events, sources, repositories; unused media files in Slideshow; as well as duplicate place records, will be eliminated and the space reclaimed. Duplicate place records will be consolidated so that only one entry remains in the Master Place List." After I've optimized and gone to the Place Names, they have been reindexed as they've eliminated the duplicate place records as stated. So the question is when/why would one want to just reindex when optimize does that and more? I've always ignored reindex and wonder if I should be considering using it for some reason.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Optimize cleans up the data tables and reindexes. I don't know if optimize reindexes the tables that require no cleanup. So it might be that reindex redoes that index for all tables and optimize doesn't.

 

That said, I basically never use reindex and frequently use optimize.

 

At least once a month, you should run the following sequence... optimize, validate file integrity, optimize.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I don't have proof, but my prior experience indicates that Optimize completely recreates the index files but Reindex resets the index entries in the index files. In a few cases, that distinction has been important, as structural errors in the index files that were not part of a specific index entry were not repaired by using Reindex, but were repaired by using Optimize.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

My client's database I vfi almost every day before I back it it up and optimize almost everyday but definitely when I discover some place names that need "merging" like when fixing a spelling. I almost never reindex and got to wondering about the distinction. Thanks for the opinions.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now

×