Delete a file that was uploaded via text editor in Moodle 2
Start from Moodle 2.0, it changed how it is handling the file inside the system. For security reason, the file is not saved as it is anymore (not like 1.9). It will be encrypted and stored into chunks of files.
When you uploaded a file (mostly media resources like audio, video or image) via text editor, if you decided not to use the file anymore, there is no way for the administrator to delete the file using FTP and there was no way for the teacher / content manager to delete the unused file via the text editor itself.
If you uploaded a big file (like video) this will become a problem when you try to backup your course because the file will be included in the backup file which will bloat the size of the course backup file. This in my experience will slow down the backup process and also you will likely get the maximum execution time error if your server has low capacity.
I searched Moodle.org to find the way to solve this. One of the post that I found is this: https://moodle.org/mod/forum/discuss.php?d=162915 and it is linked to Moodle FAQ: http://docs.moodle.org/27/en/Repositories_FAQ. It is explained on both pages that Moodle will delete the file automatically after certain time. Keep in mind that Moodle was designed with teacher as the main user, therefore this automatic deletion is very teacher friendly because they just need to delete the file from their text editor and viola.. the file will be gone (not).
In real life scenario, the deletion of file is not done right away, it looks like Moodle takes time before it really deleted the file automatically (in my case, I have waited for a week, but my file is still there).
So how to delete the file manually to override this automatic file deletion? The solution is there start from Moodle 2.6, Moodle introduce a new button, called manage embedded files.
What this button did is to list all files that embedded in Moodle. In addition, it will list all missing and unused files, and offer administrator to delete it easily which made it more cooler.
So how to delete the file that not listed under missing files? Easy, just click on the file itself, and it will open a pop up with delete button. Click delete button, don't forget to click update and save your changes to make the deletion permanent.
Hopefully this post will help you to delete the unwanted files. My suggestion, instead of uploading it directly in Moodle, find a file hosting site (for example dropbox/google drive) and link your big file to it.
When you uploaded a file (mostly media resources like audio, video or image) via text editor, if you decided not to use the file anymore, there is no way for the administrator to delete the file using FTP and there was no way for the teacher / content manager to delete the unused file via the text editor itself.
If you uploaded a big file (like video) this will become a problem when you try to backup your course because the file will be included in the backup file which will bloat the size of the course backup file. This in my experience will slow down the backup process and also you will likely get the maximum execution time error if your server has low capacity.
I searched Moodle.org to find the way to solve this. One of the post that I found is this: https://moodle.org/mod/forum/discuss.php?d=162915 and it is linked to Moodle FAQ: http://docs.moodle.org/27/en/Repositories_FAQ. It is explained on both pages that Moodle will delete the file automatically after certain time. Keep in mind that Moodle was designed with teacher as the main user, therefore this automatic deletion is very teacher friendly because they just need to delete the file from their text editor and viola.. the file will be gone (not).
In real life scenario, the deletion of file is not done right away, it looks like Moodle takes time before it really deleted the file automatically (in my case, I have waited for a week, but my file is still there).
So how to delete the file manually to override this automatic file deletion? The solution is there start from Moodle 2.6, Moodle introduce a new button, called manage embedded files.
What this button did is to list all files that embedded in Moodle. In addition, it will list all missing and unused files, and offer administrator to delete it easily which made it more cooler.
So how to delete the file that not listed under missing files? Easy, just click on the file itself, and it will open a pop up with delete button. Click delete button, don't forget to click update and save your changes to make the deletion permanent.
Comments
I am regular reader, how are you everybody? This piece of writing posted at this web page is really pleasant. hotmail login