Purpose

This article explains how to handle forms that cannot be deleted once saved to a project. It outlines workarounds to either clear, repurpose, or remove forms from visibility, helping maintain clean and accurate project data.

Can I delete a form?

You can delete a form only if it is in Saved as Draft status.
You cannot delete a form that has been Saved to Project, but you can manage it using the following workarounds:

Option 1: Clear the form’s data

If the form is closed:

1. Ask the Project Owner to change its status from Closed to Open.
2. Open the form and either:
   • Clear all data to reduce its impact on reporting.
   • Change the Date Raised to a distant past date (e.g., 1 Jan 1900) so it appears at the bottom of the register.

Option 2: Repurpose the form

Instead of leaving the form empty:

• Fill it out with new, relevant data that suits the form type.
• This allows you to reuse the form without creating unnecessary clutter.

Option 3: Re-create the project

To remove all forms from a project:

1. Go to Admin > Projects and edit the project’s properties.
2. Set the project to Inactive.
3. Rename the project (e.g., from “Highway 17” to “Highway 17 old”) and change its number.
4. Create a new project using the original name and number.

Mobile app users who subscribed to the old project will see it greyed out. They can remove it from their device (iPad or Windows 10), and it will no longer appear.

Best practice: Use a test project

Create a test or example project to safely save forms when testing new or updated templates. This helps avoid cluttering live projects with test data.

Exporting tip

To avoid exporting data from unwanted forms:

• Turn off the “Include inactive projects” option.
• Use an export date range that excludes the forms you’ve cleared or repurposed.