Deleting entries

As you enter data on the platform, you may create entries that eventually become obsolete. Deleting entries you no longer need helps maintain an organized dataset and ensures that searches return only relevant, up-to-date results.

On the Navigating.art platform, there are specific rules in place to prevent accidental deletion. This article provides an overview of the rules and guidelines for safely deleting entries.

Deletion permission

Only users with the admin or editor role can delete entries. This safeguard ensures that the decision to permanently remove data is made by the appropriate team members. Users with any other role must refer to their project editor or admin to request entry deletion.

What entries can be deleted?

You can delete entries in all sections of the Navigating.art platform. This includes:

• Archival resource entries
• Artwork entries
• Publication entries
• Agent entries
• Auction entries
• Exhibition entries

You can delete entries of all available sections within the Master Data section. 

When can an entry not be deleted?

Publications, auctions, and exhibitions cannot be deleted when they are connected to an artwork. The connection must be removed to enable the deletion of these entries. 

What connected data is removed during the deletion process?

Entries are often interconnected, and deleting one can result in the removal of related entities.

Deleting a resource will also delete:

• All media included within the collection
• All recursive levels of subresources below the collection
• All media included within the subresources
• References to indexing terms, agents, locations, and artworks
• Notes

Deleting an artwork will also delete:

• Art events, including exhibition and publication references, provenances, and examinations
• Artwork dossier resource, including media

Deleting publications, exhibitions, and auctions will also delete:

• References to indexing terms, agents, and locations
• Notes

Deleting an agent will also delete the following entities:

• Agent relationships
• References to indexing terms
• Notes

What are the safety measurements for the deletion process?

Several safety measures are implemented to prevent accidental deletion of entries. This is especially important for archival resources and artworks, which often contain large amounts of associated media and data.

Archival resources and artworks

These entries include a stricter safeguard due to the volume and importance of their connected data.

• To delete an archival resource or artwork, a confirmation dialog appears showing all related data and entities that will be deleted.
• To confirm the deletion, you must manually type the word “delete.” Only then will the Delete permanently button become active.
  
  

Publications, agents, auctions, and exhibitions

For these entries, a more streamlined safety measure is used:

• A confirmation dialog appears listing the connected data and entities that will be removed.
• No manual confirmation is required before clicking Delete permanently.
  
  

Master Data entries

Entries under the Master Data section, such as Indexing Terms, Committees, Essays, Notes, Artwork Sets, Geographic Locations, Markings, Timelines, and Historical Events:

• No verification step required. The deletion is executed immediately when the bin icon is clicked.

How to delete any entry

1. Open the entry you want to delete

2. In the action bar fixed at the bottom of the page, click the three-dot menu and select delete. 

3. A dialog opens.

Read the instructions and notes in the dialog before proceeding.

4. Delete the entry.

Where required, type “delete” in the corresponding field. Then click delete permanently to execute the deletion. The detail page of the entry closes after its deletion, and you’re forwarded to the list view of the respective section.

 

Keep reading:

• Marking duplicate entries

Last updated: July 16, 2025