What are ~ Files?

Files with a tilde(~) at the beginning of a name (e.g. ~file.bmp) or at the beginning of an extension (e.g. file.~bm) are temporary files created by Smart Pix (and other programs) and can generally be deleted.

Smart Pix creates two kind of temporary files:

• Files which have been inserted into the database and have a tilde in the extension, e.g. xyz.~jp.  By default Smart Pix does not delete files after inserting them into the database, merely renames them to a temporary name so that you can back them up before removal from your system.

• Temporary files, if you are using the False Extension or Database Storage method, Smart Pix sometimes needs to create temporary files, for example if you want to launch a file in an external viewer.  These files will have a tilde at the beginning of their name, e.g. ~xyz.bmp.  Generally Smart Pix will clean up these files automatically, but sometimes it is unable, i.e. if you have launched a file into Paint and leave it open when you close Smart Pix, Windows will not allow Smart Pix to delete the file.