Tech Tip: What are the 4DSyncData and 4DSyncHeader Files?

PRODUCT: 4D | VERSION: 12 | PLATFORM: Mac & Win

Published On: November 1, 2010

If you enable replication for a table in 4D v12 (as described here) two new files will be created next to the data file:

<database_name>.4DSyncHeader

<database_name>.4DSyncData

These two files store the replication data for any tables with replication enabled. In particular these two files are required in order for any replication to function correctly. If you remove these files, any existing replication will fail and the replication data will need to be reset.

Consider adding these two files to your 4D Backup configuration as well.

Commented by Josh Fletcher on May 12, 2011 at 1:03 PM

The only time these files can be safely deleted is if replication is disabled for all tables. If the files are deleted but replication was still enabled for some tables, the only fix is to disable replication for those tables.

Commented by Justin Leavens on May 11, 2011 at 10:10 PM

If you delete these files, should tables checked for Replication have the setting toggled off and then on again? And what happens if these files should get mismatched with a different data file?