When a file is viewed using APEX, it is possible that the user may want to view this file again later. So as soon as a report is viewed, a copy of it is written to a file in the APEX folder. If the original file name being viewed is "report.xxx," then the file that is written into the APEX folder is called "report.apf" (apf = A-Shell Print File). These files remain in the APEX folder, and can be opened by the Open another report file button on the toolbar.

How long do they remain in the APEX folder? This is controlled by a setting on the Preferences called "Preview File Retention (hours)." The default value is 96 hours, 4 days, but you can set it to whatever you wish.

From an environmental perspective, the fact that you can view the report again later should make it easier to forego actual printing of every document (after previewing), merely out of fear that you might need it reference it in a few hours or days. The default setting of 96 insures that your disk won't get clogged up with more than four days worth of report files.