How to clear SQL Server Extended Events Event File

Question

How to clear SQL Server extended events that are stored in a file?

Background

Where are the files for SQL Server Extended Events Event File target stored?

I want to delete months worth of log files; but SQL Server doesn't tell me where the files are:

I would follow the advice on Microsoft's SQL Server forums:

Clear events in file target?

Simply stop the session and delete .xel file if it’s no longer required.

Attempt#3

I tried doing the single most obvious thing that any user interface designer worth their salt would have created from the beginning: Right-click the event file target, and select:

• Clear
• Delete
• Purge
• Empty

Except there is no option to do any of those obvious things:

Attempt#4

I also tried going into the Extended Events menu, and clicking Clear Data. But the option is inexplicably disabled:

Attempt#5

I also tried to script the Extended Events Session, in order to see where it is storing the files. But of course SQL Server team is not helpful:

ADD TARGET package0.event_file(SET filename=N'Expensive Queries',max_file_size=(25),max_rollover_files=(4)),

Attempt#6

In SQL Server Profiler. If you wanted to clear the events you pushed the button to clear the events:

SQL Profiler is deprecated, and it's replacement provides no way to clear the events.

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What is the way to clear the events?

Bonus Reading

• Query to clear sql server logs over a certain age
• Clear events in file target?
• BOL: Targets for Extended Events in SQL Server
• BOL: Event File Target

Answer 1

By default the path seems like it would be

C:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\MSSQLXX.MSSQLSERVER\MSSQL\Log\*.xel

or basically wherever the system files are kept for SQL Server (i.e. the default ERRORLOG location). If there is nothing there then it may be that your Extended Event is set to ring buffer in which case only the latest information is kept and it's stored in memory. Seems the only way to clear the log in this case would be to stop and start the session.