You can delete a folder only when it and all its subfolders contain no Spots. All Spot statuses prevent deletion, including Disabled and Inactive. Neither status removes the Spot record or allows the folder to be deleted.

These instructions apply to folders in the browser's Folder tree. There are separate instructions for deleting a Spot's own file folders.

Permissions and the effects of deletion

You need permission to delete the folder. A Manager user's permission to manage subfolders does not allow them to delete the starting folder for which that permission was granted. If the Delete button is missing, ask an administrator to check your permissions. If needed, see configuring Manager permissions.

Deletion is permanent and includes all subfolders. The folders' own information, additional fields and their values, and attached files are deleted. Moving a Spot out of a folder does not move the folder's own files with it.

Folder permissions and folder target selections for group tasks associated with the deleted folders are also removed. A tag attached to a folder is detached, but the tag itself remains.

Links between public service request forms and the deleted folders are removed. The public form itself remains, but its available target selections may change or become empty. Moving Spots to another folder can also change which Spots can be selected on the form.

Prepare for deletion

  1. In the browser menu, open Assets and content → Folder tree. Check the folder you want to delete and expand its subfolders using the expand icon next to the folder name.
  2. Select Include disabled spots above the folder tree. This option is off by default, so Spots with the Disabled status are hidden. Check the entire subfolder structure you want to delete.
  3. Plan new folders for the Spots you want to keep and move the Spots into them. Follow the instructions for moving a Spot. You need permission to edit the Spot and permission to add Spots to the destination folder. Check the destination folder's device card before moving: a different device card may remove values from the Spot's previous fields. Save any information you need to keep.
  4. Wait for any background move of multiple Spots to finish and refresh the page. Make sure the Spots are in their new folders and the structure you want to delete is empty.
  5. Open the folder you want to delete by clicking its name. Check the Files section on the Basic info tab. Open any file you need by clicking its preview image or file icon and save a copy. Do the same in every subfolder you want to delete. Also check the folders' own additional information and save any values you need to keep.
  6. If the folders are used on public service request forms or as targets for group tasks, plan replacement folder selections before deleting them.

Moving preserves the same Spot. Do not permanently delete Spots just to empty a folder if you need to keep their information and history. Simply changing their status is not enough.

Delete the folder

  1. Open the form for the folder you want to delete by clicking its name in the folder tree. Check the folder's Name, Parent and the visible folder structure on the form before deleting.
  2. Select Delete at the bottom of the form. Deletion includes this folder's entire subfolder structure; you do not need to delete the subfolders individually.
  3. The confirmation window is titled Are you sure you want to delete this? It does not show the folder name. Select Yes only if you have checked that this is the correct folder and saved the information you need to keep. Select No to cancel deletion.

Verify the result and resolve issues

After successful deletion, the notification Deleted successfully appears and the folder form closes. Refresh the folder tree and make sure the folder and its subfolders have been removed. Also check the moved Spots' new folders and fields.

If you use public service request forms, open their public URLs and check the target selections for each relevant service request type. If needed, correct the forms' folder selections in the public form settings. Similarly, check the target selections for any group tasks.

If Spotilla reports that the folder contains Spots, check the entire subfolder structure and keep Include disabled spots selected. Also make sure all moves have finished. A standard view that appears empty or the folder's Spot count alone does not prove that the folder can be deleted.

If you receive another error, refresh the folder tree and check the remaining structure before trying again. If deletion still fails, ask an administrator to investigate the reported error and your permissions.