Can't delete imported file

[CruftMeister]

Folks,

I imported a STEP file into my project, moved it into a folder, and now am unable to delete the file.  I've attached screenshots of an attempt to delete, same thing happens in A360.

I can share the project file if someone wants to try.

Thanks,

Art

[masa.minohara]

Hi Art,

Thank you for posting! That message shows up when a version of the design is referenced by other designs or drawings, and that includes older versions of the design. In this case, it's possible that version 1, 2 or 3 is referenced by another design. Have you deleted a link to another design by any chance? 

I can take a closer look if you invite me to that project. My email address is masanobu.minohara@autodesk.com

[CruftMeister]

Hi Masa,

I've invited you to the project, please let me know what you find.

Regarding deleting reference links, I didn't delete the link to another design, in fact not sure how I would do that, rather I deleted the entire design that used this file, so all references should be gone.

 It would seem to me that the "Used In" column of the details should list all references to the design - i.e. it should show a listing for each place a version is referenced.  If not within Fusion then at least within A360, if not, I don't see how a user would figure out how to delete the references - well - short of posting here which is probably less than ideal . . .

Thanks,

Art

[masa.minohara · Accepted solution]

Hi Art,

Thank you for inviting me to the project! I found that version 1 of this design is referenced by another design called "Design_Progress". A way to delete this design is downloading a copy of "Design_Progress" from the web, deleting "Design_Progress" and then deleting the design. You will need to upload a copy of "Design_Progress" to your project.

Also, thank you for your feedback! I'll pass along that to the development. Hopefully they can make it easier for users to find referenced designs.

Please let me know if you have any questions.

[CruftMeister]

Hi Masa,

Well done!

Other than the process you describe, is there any way to remove the linkage directly - i.e. promote the version of Design Progress that has the link and then blow it away?

If not, I think it might be very helpful to give users the option to force delink a file.  In this case, I know I don't want to use it again, so I would be OK with any downstream effects.

Also, can you please tell me if you found that reference in A360 or in Fusion itself?  I want to make sure I can do this process myself.

Thanks,

Art

[masa.minohara · Accepted solution]

Hi Art,

Thank you for the update! Promoting the version doesn't work in this case and the process I described earlier is the only way I'm aware of, and I agree with you on the idea about the option to force delink a file. I think you may consider submitting your idea to the Fusion IdeaStation forum, which is constantly monitored by developers and product managers, and is currently the most effective way to request a product enhancement.

Regarding how I found the reference, I went to A360 and checked each version.

Hopefully this information helps!

[CruftMeister]

Thanks Masa!

[CruftMeister]

Hi Masa,

One additional question.  I do not seem able to delete the Design Progress file.  I went ahead and closed all files in F360 and then quit Fusion all together, but in A360, it still shows up as in use.  What am I missing to delete this (I downloaded a backup so it is safe to delete) file?  Screen cap attached.

Thanks,

Art

[Anonymous]

I had the same issue with a file yesterday. Opening, making a change, saving, and closing freed up the file for me.

[CruftMeister]

Ah, OK, thanks, I will try that - in looking in A360 I see a bunch of files with the "busy" bit set and so I need to try your technique for all of these files as well

[CruftMeister]

Masa,

OK, I deleted the file in which the imported file was referenced but I still can't delete it.  I tried waiting around,  I've tried opening and saving the "referenced" file, I've tried moving it, and I am still unable to delete the file.

I think this area of Fusion that really needs to be addressed, this is core functionality - file system integrity and operation.

As I see it , there are two main issues here.

1) The current mechanism to see if I file is referenced is really bad.  If you have multiple versions of the file saved off, you need to go through each version manually to check and find the reference and then once you find it, you have to save and delete the file that referenced it, and after all that, you still can't delete.

2) This is the second issue, the file system should be robust and not lock the user out of legitimate actions.  I think absent a 100% reliable file system there should be a manual override the user can access to be able to force a file deletion.

This is the downside of an "online" file system; as a user, I am stuck with whatever it does, there is no way to manually intervene - consequently - AutoDesk needs to make the file system both access and reference mechanism robust.

Any suggestions for getting this bug fixed?  Please don't suggest I post to the Idea Station, this really isn't a new "idea", it is a bug fix for core functionality.

Thanks,

Art

[masa.minohara]

Hi Art,

Thank you for the update! Which design are you trying to delete? The same design, "20170927prelim BPM_Proto_RevB"? If that is the one you are trying to delete, first you need to delete "Test" that you created recently. Have you tried that?

[CruftMeister]

Hi Masa,

I went back through each version in A360 and you are correct, I missed a link, though it is not "Test" I must have deleted that, it is linked into Gen3B_watch.  I'll blow that away and should be able to delete.

I think this does however underscore how lacking the current UI is with regard to providing a reasonable method for the user to see what files are linked.  I have some files with more than 30 revs on them, it would take a very long time to check each rev for a linkage - indeed - this part was only 5 Revs deep and I missed a linkage.  Hopefully this will be addressed in one of the next builds of Fusion.

Art