Deleting Shared Files

When a file is shared in two locations, you can delete the file from one location and retain it in the other location.

Be careful not to delete a shared file that is being referenced by a parent file such as an assembly. If you do, the reference information for the parent file is removed and you must update the parent and resolve the missing reference.

To delete shared files:

  1. Check whether a parent file references the file you want to delete:
    1. Select the file to delete and click the Where Used tab.
      The File Name column shows files that reference the selected file.

      Right-click a parent file and click Browse to.

    2. In the new Explorer window that opens, click the Contains tab.
    3. In the Found in column, verify that the parent file is not pointing to the folder of the file you want to delete.
  2. In the folder that contains the file to be deleted, right-click the file and click Delete.
    The file is removed from the file list.
  3. To remove the shared symbol from the file that remains, right-click the folder that contained the deleted file and click Properties.
  4. In the Properties dialog box, on the Deleted Items tab, right-click the deleted file and click Destroy.
  5. When prompted to confirm that you want to delete the file, click Yes.
  6. Click OK.