Updated SOLIDWORKS PDM Warning for Folder Containing Hidden Files When Deleting

The warning “folder contains hidden files you may not delete”, may appear when deleting or destroying a folder. There are a number of reasons why this may occur.

1. The user deleting or destroying the folder, lacks read permissions to some files in that folder. Typically, it would be because the user does not have sufficient permissions, in a workflow state.
2. A file in the folder has not been checked in yet.
3. A private state file is in the folder.
4. An orphaned file is in the folder.

Warning message when attempting to delete a folder with hidden files

New Warning Text

The warning message above also displayed even if the files inside the folder were private state files or if the logged in user lacked permissions to delete or destroy the folder.

Starting from SOLIDWORKS PDM 2024 SP3, SOLIDWORKS has updated the folder delete warning dialog with a new warning “One folder contains private state files or files you do not have permission to read”. This warning will show if the folder in the process of being deleted or destroyed has files that are in private state or has files with no read permission.

Warning message when attempting to delete a folder with private state files or files with no read permissions

How to delete the folder

To troubleshoot the issue:

• Try logging in as the PDM Admin with full permissions to all folders and workflow states and then delete or destroy the folder.
• If a non-admin is required to perform this action, try to add the required permissions to read and delete them again.
• For an orphaned file, try adding a text file to the folder that cannot be deleted. This should trigger an orphan record cleanup process and allow the folder to be deleted.