Deleting old files from sites/default/files
Request Type:
General Assistance
Forums:
Issue/Request:
I am writing to ask for your help in deleting the following files, which are legacy files that still show up in search results even though they are no longer linked from node content:
library.medicine.yale.edu/sites/default/files/historical/receptions1.pdf
library.medicine.yale.edu/sites/default/files/about/annualreport10.pdf
library.medicine.yale.edu/sites/default/files/cc/bib.pdf
library.medicine.yale.edu/sites/default/files/blog/BIOBASEtraining2014_JS_Edits.pdf
library.medicine.yale.edu/sites/default/files/about/introduction.pdf
library.medicine.yale.edu/sites/default/files/about/annualreport12.pdf
library.medicine.yale.edu/sites/default/files/cc/procedures.pdf
library.medicine.yale.edu/sites/default/files/tutorials/files/glover_odato_sys_review.pdf
library.medicine.yale.edu/sites/default/files/services/crs/Drug_safety_search.pdf
library.medicine.yale.edu/sites/default/files/associates/application.pdf
library.medicine.yale.edu/sites/default/files/historical/publication-form.pdf
library.medicine.yale.edu/sites/default/files/library_org_chart_1.22.15.pdf
library.medicine.yale.edu/sites/default/files/historical/charge.pdf
library.medicine.yale.edu/sites/default/files/cwml_org_chart_7.19.2016.pdf
library.medicine.yale.edu/sites/default/files/form-privileges_visitorapplication_v.2.pdf
I apologize for having to ask you to go to this trouble. Going forward, we will make an effort to use the “Remove file” functionality to do this wherever possible. Unfortunately we can’t locate the files listed above anymore, so it’s not an option for them.
Dear Andrew:
You can use the Fancy File Delete module to identify and delete those orphaned files, but use with caution. We recommend that you test in Dev first as this can be destructive - once the files are gone, they’re permanently gone.
You can see the unmanaged files through the Fancy File List Views.
Best,
Alyssa