Possible loss of data!
Use caution when purging assets from the DAMS.
Purging or permanently deleting assets removes all files and database records associated with an asset from the DAMS. It cannot be undone.
Per DAMS Operations Policy, assets in the DAMS are intended to be retained permanently.
Assets should be deleted ("purged") from the system only if technical reasons make it necessary to re-ingest assets, rather than updating existing assets, or if retaining the content would constitute a liability risk to the libraries.
Considerations before purging
Purging collections and publications
Assets can become 'orphaned'!
Use caution when purging collections and publications that contain other assets or publication issues.
Check if assets that you would like to purge have grandchildren, great-grandchildren, great-great-grandchildren etc. If you delete an asset which has great-grandchildren, the great-grandchildren will become orphaned. Orphaned assets are difficult to retrieve and manage. Always delete the most deeply embedded collections, serial issues or books first.
When trying to purge collections, publication assets, books or serial issues (paged content), the DAMS purging functions will check if these assets have children. This is the case if a collection contains assets, a publication contains issues, or if an issue or a book contains pages. The DAMS purging function will automatically offer to delete immediate children of an asset. However, in cases where there is deeper nesting of assets (e.g. a collection containing a sub-collection), the grandchildren, great-grandchildren or great-great-grandchildren etc. of an asset will not be deleted automatically. If you delete an asset which has great-grandchildren, the great-grandchildren will become orphaned. Orphaned assets are difficult to retrieve and manage. Always delete the most deeply embedded collections, serial issues or books first.
How to purge
The DAMS user interface allows purging of assets in different locations.
Purging individual assets
On the "Manage" tab of any asset, irrespective of asset type/content model, the "Properties" sub-tab contains a link labeled "Permanently remove object".
Purging lists of assets
The DAMS "Tools" menu contains an entry labeled "Purge objects". If you navigate to the "Purge objects" form, you can enter a list of PIDs for deletion.
Purging pages from paged content
On the "Manage" tab of a Book or Publication Issue asset, the "Book"/"Issue" sub-tab contains an option to delete pages. Selecting this option will list all page assets associated with the Book or Publication Issue, with check boxes to mark pages for deletion.