How to delete old reports and packages

[TheBrenda]

We have many customers. We Adminstration -> configuration -> content administration -> export from our integration environment and then have our customer Adminstration -> configuration -> content administration ->  Import to publish the new deployment. If we have obsolete reports, how do we delete them? My business analysis says that the import will only overlay existing objects, it will not remove objects (reports, packages). 

We have some obsolete reports and packages that I am tired of answering questions about and I want them deleted. we have hundreds of customers and we need an automated way of deleting them that does not include a third party tool.

[MFGF]

We have many customers. We Adminstration -> configuration -> content administration -> export from our integration environment and then have our customer Adminstration -> configuration -> content administration ->  Import to publish the new deployment. If we have obsolete reports, how do we delete them? My business analysis says that the import will only overlay existing objects, it will not remove objects (reports, packages). 

We have some obsolete reports and packages that I am tired of answering questions about and I want them deleted. we have hundreds of customers and we need an automated way of deleting them that does not include a third party tool.

What governs if a package or report is obsolete? To do anything other than manually deleting them, you'd need to formulate a foolproof strategy for identifying what is to be deleted, then take advice on how that strategy might be implemented. It might be simple or it might involve writing an SDK application, but without knowing the criteria for deletion it's impossible to say.

MF.

[TheBrenda]

The criteria is that I say the report "Birmingham sales" in folder 'xyz' is obsolete and needs deleting.

I am asking for ideas, suggestions, on how to get reports and packages automatically deleted. We have several hundred customers with their own COGNOS.

[Lynn]

The criteria is that I say the report "Birmingham sales" in folder 'xyz' is obsolete and needs deleting.

I am asking for ideas, suggestions, on how to get reports and packages automatically deleted. We have several hundred customers with their own COGNOS.

So you want an automated solution that can read your mind? If you want ideas and suggestions then it would be best if you answer the question already asked:

What governs if a package or report is obsolete? To do anything other than manually deleting them, you'd need to formulate a foolproof strategy for identifying what is to be deleted, then take advice on how that strategy might be implemented. It might be simple or it might involve writing an SDK application, but without knowing the criteria for deletion it's impossible to say.

MF.

[MFGF]

So you want an automated solution that can read your mind?

I would have suggested bus-pass-man's Clairvoyance Cap with an interface to the content store database to mark rows for deletion, but you can see from the post below that it's having technical difficulties, which means it wouldn't be a reliable solution. Shame - would have been a good project :)

http://www.cognoise.com/index.php/topic,30210.msg98181.html#msg98181

MF.

[Lynn]

 ;D ;D ;D ;D

[TheBrenda]

I am not asking for you to attend my business meetings where we decided what reports are getting sent out to pasture. I am asking you within the software how can reports and packages get automatically deleted.

[TheBrenda]

OK, I guess the confusion is because I say automatically. I know what reports or packages need to be deleted. I just do not want to write a HOW TO doc for the customers and have them manually select the reports and then click the delete button on the toolbar. We have done that and most of the customers still call complaining about reports that were deprecated years ago not working. How are the ways that a package and report can be deleted? 

[roddawg]

Probably better worded "You want to programmatically remove specified reports located in a specific content store." Correct? If the content store is located in the CRN_Content_Store_10_x table in your database I'd say develop a script that looks for relevant records and remove them from the database.