If you’ve worked long enough with SharePoint Designer (SPD) 2013, then you’re probably aware of the constant need to clear cache.

Here’s a couple symptoms that you may run into with SPD caching issues:

1. Error message: “Cannot perform this operation. The file is no longer checked out or has been deleted.”
    
2. Published Workflow with conditions and transitions stripped/removed
   (if you invested time & sweat, this could look very daunting!!)
    
   

Clearing cache in SharePoint Designer is no rocket science. But it’s also not Ctrl+F5 that some of us have grown to love. Essentially, you have to delete all files in 2 local folders:

• %APPDATA%\Microsoft\Web Server Extensions\Cache
• %USERPROFILE%\AppData\Local\Microsoft\WebsiteCache

Just like rebooting any machine, once you clear cache, all most of your SPD problems disappear.

Now, my short term memory can be rather lousy … so I always have to dig up my notes to get these folder locations. This is why I love this handy dandy PowerShell script who does the clearing for me. The script is courtesy of my brilliant colleague, Matthew Bramer.

Remove-Item "$($env:APPDATA)\Microsoft\Web Server Extensions\Cache\*" -recurse -force
Remove-Item "$($env:USERPROFILE)\AppData\Local\Microsoft\WebsiteCache\*" -recurse -force

Save the script as a .ps1 file for future reference. When you run into a caching issue, make sure you close SharePoint Designer first. Then simply right click the ps1 script file and run with PowerShell. After that, you’re golden.

Side note: this should also work for SPD 2010 Cache. Though I have yet to confirm it.