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Within the "Results Manager" window, "Delete time-varying results files" and "Delete all results files" are very useful tools - with this being the go-to method within my team for removing no-longer-needed results files. However, I have never seen any use for the third option “Delete simulation” – in fact it seems the existence of this button is more of a liability than anything. The first two delete buttons are easily reversible – you just need to re-run the sims. But the “Delete simulation” button is much harder to reverse – since it removes the rainfall event from within the run object, and breaks the ‘audit trail’. Many objects in ICM become ‘read only’ / ‘locked’ after using them within a run, in order to maintain the audit trail / history, so it seems inconsistent that “Delete simulation” is able to alter an existing object, breaking the history of the object.
Additionally, for multi-user databases, where results files are stored on each user’s local PC’s D-Drive, the first two delete options only impact the local user. But “Delete simulation” affects all users of the database. So it seems somewhat dangerous for the “Delete simulation” option to be only a few pixels away from the other two delete options, with an extremely similar warning message – but it can have much more damaging effects. Especially since deleting runs/sims in this way immediately and permanently deletes them, bypassing the recycle bin.
So ideally I would like to see the “Delete simulation” option removed from right-click options menu entirely – if you want to delete runs you’d need to do this through the “Master Database” pane, and there is no longer the ability to fully delete sims out of a run object – to help maintain audit trails. Alternatively, if Innovyze feels the need to keep the “Delete simulation” option button around for some reason, please can it be moved to a different location – possibly to an “Advanced” sub-menu-option (similar to emptying the recycle bin or ‘hiding’ a Master Database object), and it would be good if it gave you a stronger warning confirmation message – possibly just in all caps, and warning about bypassing the recycle bin?
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I have not been knowingly aware that a rainfall event has been deleted when using the "Delete simulation" button. If it is only the rainfall which is lost but not the wastewater files etc this seems to be a fault with the way that "Delete simulation" is implemented. Perhaps it is a bug which has crept in inadvertently. Something to look out for though.
Yes, that is correct. We have had a few instances of users getting mixed up between the different deletion options, and picking this one by mistake, and as I say, this one can cause issues down the line of historic runs being altered and much harder to re-run correctly. Our method for bulk deletion of old, no-longer needed simulation files on our local D-Drives is via the results manager, and while it hasn't happened yet, I am slightly terrified of the prospect of someone accidently picking this "delete simulation" option, and accidently deleting dozens, potentially hundreds of sims in one go, with the deletion being irreversible (without contacting IT to get a drive-backup version of the ICM database - but depending on how long it takes for someone to notice the accidental bulk deletion of sims, this options might not be feasible).
Thanks for the idea. Are you mostly looking to prevent users deleting simulations by accident?