You can delete a collection, including subcollections, files, links, and associated metadata, if the following criteria are all true:
- Your user account has the group administrator role.
- You created that collection.
- That collection is less than 90 days old. (This criterion does not apply to links.)
To delete a collection:
Run the following command:
dm_delete_collection [-r] <collection-path>The following table describes each parameter:
Parameter Description [-r]
An optional parameter:
- If you specify this parameter, the system deletes all the files and subcollections under the specified collection recursively.
- If you do not specify this parameter, the system deletes the collection only if it is empty.
<collection-path>
A path within DME. Specify the collection that you want to delete. The system prompts you to confirm the deletion.
- Type Y and press Enter. If you specified the recursive (-r) parameter, the system asks whether you want to see the data that will be deleted.
- Respond to the prompt and press Enter. The system lists or describes the data to be deleted and prompts you to confirm the deletion again.
- Type Y and press Enter. By default, the system performs a soft deletion. The system retains this collection for two years and then permanently deletes it. Only DME system administrators can perform immediately permanent deletion.
For example, the following command deletes the /Example_Archive/downloads collection, all subcollections within that collection, and all files within those collections.
dm_delete_collection –r /Example_Archive/downloads
For instructions on deleting an empty collection in the GUI, refer to Deleting a Collection via the GUI. To request deletion of data you did not create or older data, contact NCIDataVault@mail.nih.gov.
