"This document is in use and cannot be deleted" error

[Anonymous]

Hi,

I'm trying to clear out some old files that I made when first learning Fusion360.

When I try and delete file (data panel, right click menu, delete) I get an error saying "This document is in use and cannot be deleted".  I've tried closing and reopening Fusion360, but the error still occurs.

I am not aware of the file being open anywhere else, and Fusion360 claims that the file is not referenced by any other designs and has no drawings made from it.

I have attempted to delete the file using the web interface instead, yet the only files that appear on the web interface are those which I have already deleted and are in my trash.  No non-deleted files are showing for this project.

Fusion360 2.0.8156, Windows 8.1

Edit:  From the web interface I have found non-deleted files of this project under the Project Details > Activity tab that lurks on the RHS of the screen.  This part of the interface doesn't let me do anything with the files however.

[jhackney1972]

There are a number of rules you have to consider when trying to delete files.  Some of these are:

• You cannot delete a model if there is a drawing of it in the database, delete the drawing first
• You cannot delete a component of an assembly if the assembly still exists in the database, delete the assembly first.
• The one that is probably getting you is that you cannot delete a file where one of its "versions" is in use.  Say you have a file you placed in an assembly and it was at Version 3.  Then you work with the file and it goes to Version 5 but version 5 is not in any assembly.  The problem is Version 3 will hold up the deletion of the component.  You can go to the Web Data Panel, go through the versions of the component and find out where it is used.

[Anonymous]

Hi @jhackney1972, thanks for the reply.

Fusion360 claims there are "No drawings for this design" and "This item is not referenced by any other designs", suggesting the first two rules are not an issue.

I'm not too familiar with versions, but this component is only version one and is not used in any assemblies so I don't think rule three should be an issue either.

[Anonymous · Accepted solution]

OK, so I opened the file and closed it again and then Fusion360 allowed me to delete the file.

I don't see why this ought to be a necessary action for deleting files, and there must be an underlying bug at play, but I wouldn't know how to recreate it.

In summary:

Restarting Fusion360 did not work

Rebooting did not work

Using the web interface did not work

Opening and then closing the file worked, meaning the file was then able to be deleted

..and that's how I wasted most of my morning 😐

[sjnoble]

Had this also.  In the data panel I clicked the project.  No data was in use, now drawing was being reference/used elsewhere.  So I simple opened the project, deleted everything in the timeline, saved the project, clicked out of the project and then it would delete from the data panel.  I hope this helps someone.

[gwave360]

Go through 10's of versions? Yeah...that sounds like a great solution! You can't edit a version anyway. I don't see how this works.

[Anonymous]

This was driving me crazy as well. I wanted to move a document from one folder to another. Couldn't do it. Followed the guide to open, make a small change, save and close the window. Didn't work. So I saved in the new place I wanted. Then opened up the old document, edited the timeline and deleted everything and then saved (as a new version). Then it lets me delete. Hmmmm OK it works but that's pretty nasty....

[scottH36AU]

I also have this bug. I have a project that cannot be deleted in any way. I'm the only one ever to open it - I have deleted everything out of it, but it's still impossible to delete. Maybe if I name it some 4 letter word and share it to the community Autodesk will delete it for me? 🙂

[jhackney1972]

Take a look at this blog article and video to assist you deleting Fusion 360 files.