How to restore a deleted file
If you delete a file in Properate, it doesn't disappear immediately. It moves to Removed files, and it can be brought back from there. Permanent deletion is a separate, deliberate step.
How to find a deleted file
- Open the building you want to work on. See How to switch building and search for a building.
- Go to FDV > Files in the sidebar.
- Click Show removed files.
You now see Removed files. Click Show active files to go back to the archive.
How to restore the file
- Select the file in Removed files.
- Click Restore.
You get the confirmation Files restored, and the file is back in the archive with its labels and system attachment intact.
If it fails, the message says Couldn't restore the files. Try again.
How to delete a file permanently
This cannot be undone.
- Select the file in Removed files.
- Click Delete permanently.
- Confirm Permanently delete the file?
The dialog says it plainly: This permanently deletes the file. This action cannot be undone.
Note: Permanent deletion also removes the link the file had to a system. Once documentation is permanently deleted, it's gone from the FDV building overview too, and it can't be recovered from Properate.
When you should delete permanently — and when you shouldn't
Permanent deletion is right for files that shouldn't exist: a file uploaded to the wrong building, a document with personal data that doesn't belong there, a duplicate.
For everything else there's no rush. A file in Removed files is out of the archive and doesn't clutter any search — it costs nothing to leave there, and it can be recovered the day somebody asks for it.
Frequently asked questions
How long does a deleted file stay in Removed files?
It stays until somebody deletes it permanently.
Does the file keep its labels after being restored?
Yes, both labels and system attachment come back with it.
Can I restore several files at once?
Yes. Select them in the list and use Restore — the messages are plural precisely because the action works on a selection.
Who can delete permanently?
Anyone with write access to the building.
Tip!
Check Removed files before concluding that a document was never uploaded. "Not in the archive" and "deleted by somebody" look identical from an ordinary search — and only the second is something you can do anything about.