Deleted Attachments - still in database

[mtlcore]

Recently I deleted all the attachments without deleting the threads as posted by a senior member on this forum.

Now, I had 700mb database before that and still do after deleting them. Why is that?

[Eikinskjaldi]

Are your attachments perchance on the file system instead of in the database?

[mtlcore]

Nope: Attachments are currently being stored in the database

[Lynne]

Did you repair/optimize the attachment table after deleting them? Also, what is the method you used to delete all those attachments?

[mtlcore]

Did you repair/optimize the attachment table after deleting them? Also, what is the method you used to delete all those attachments?

I didn't do that. Will that remove them from the database?

I first soft-deleted the threads (so that attachments were removed) then I just restored the threads, that way the threads were there but the attachments were gone.

[ssslippy]

That is not how u remove attachments, all you did was remove them from the post.

[Lynne]

That is not how u remove attachments, all you did was remove them from the post.
Yeah, I think all you did was 'hide' them. I've never had to deal with that problem, but I *think* you just need to go to Admin CP > Attachments > Search and search for all hidden attachments and then delete them. I think if I were to try that, I would back-up my database, put it on my test forum, and try it there first since I have never done it before and would worry about the consequences if I were wrong.

[mtlcore]

Ok, I did the optimize tables and it got rid of the attachments :D. Almost 500MB!! Thanks!