Deleting an Electronic File

The electronic file associated with an electronic document can be deleted. Once the electronic file has been deleted, the corresponding electronic document will become an imaged document, text-only document, or empty document (learn about document types), depending on the other contents of the document. Deleting an electronic file will have no other effect on the document; all other information associated with the document will remain intact.

For more information on the difference between an electronic file and an electronic document, see Working with an Electronic File.

When electronic files are deleted, and the recycle bin is active, they are moved to the recycle bin, an intermediary hold area created to prevent permanent deletion. They will remain there until they are permanently purged or restored. If an electronic file was deleted and then its parent document was later deleted, you will need to restore the parent document in order to restore the file. When the parent document is deleted and purged, any electronic files from that document that are also in the recycle bin will be purged with it. For information about reviewing, restoring, or purging entries in the recycle bin, see Recycle Bin.

Important: If the recycle bin is disabled, electronic file deletion is permanent.

To delete an electronic file in the Windows client

  1. Select the electronic document whose electronic file should be deleted.
  2. From the Tasks menu, select Delete Electronic Files.
  3. When prompted, click Yes to either permanently delete the item or move it to the recycle bin, depending on your repository's settings.

Note: You may be prompted to provide a reason for deletion. See Reasons for Deletion, Export, and Printing for more information.

Note: Whether an item is permanently deleted or moved to the recycle bin when you delete it depends on whether the recycle bin is activated.

To view electronic files deleted from a document in the Windows client

  1. Select the document in the contents pane of the folder browser.
  2. Right -click the document and select Recycled Items, or open the Tasks menu and select Recycled Items.
  3. The Recycled Items dialog will open and display pages and electronic files deleted from this document.
  4. Optional: Restore deleted items by right-clicking them and selecting Restore, or purge them by right-clicking and selecting Purge.

Note: Whether you can view and purge the deleted files in a document depends on what rights you have been granted.

To delete an electronic file associated with a document in the web client

  1. In the folder browser, select the document containing the electronic file.
  2. Select Delete Electronic File from the Tasks menu.
  3. When prompted, click Yes to either permanently delete the item or move it to the recycle bin, depending on your repository's settings.

Note: You may be prompted to provide a reason for deletion. See Reasons for Deletion, Export, and Printing for more information.

Note: Whether an item is permanently deleted or moved to the recycle bin when you delete it depends on whether the recycle bin is activated.

To view electronic files deleted from a document in the web client

  1. Select the document in the contents pane of the folder browser.
  2. Right -click the document and select Recycled Items, or open the File menu and select Recycled Items.
  3. The Recycled Items dialog will open and display pages and electronic files deleted from this document.
  4. Optional: Restore deleted items by right-clicking them and selecting Restore, or purge them by right-clicking and selecting Purge.

Note: Whether you can view and purge the deleted files in a document depends on what rights you have been granted.

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