Archiving and deleting
When a wiki page can be deleted and when only archived, what happens to its subpages, and how to restore it.
A page’s editors can remove it. Whether it is deleted or archived depends on what links to it.
| What links to the page | Action |
|---|---|
| Nothing | Delete page: the page is deleted for good, with its images and earlier versions. |
| Problems’ related page lists, problem statements (any version, old ones too) or other pages | Archive page: the page stays but leaves the wiki. It can’t be deleted. |
The Links here card in the page’s settings shows which one is possible right now.
Removing a page
Section titled “Removing a page”- Open the page.
- In the Links here card of its settings, select Delete page or Archive page.
- If the page has subpages, choose what happens to them.
- Confirm with Delete page or Archive page.
After a deletion the wiki’s home opens. If something started linking to the page while you were deciding, the deletion is refused: “Something links to this page by now, so it can only be archived.”
What happens to subpages
Section titled “What happens to subpages”A page with subpages is never removed by accident: the confirmation asks What happens to its subpages?
| Choice | When deleting | When archiving |
|---|---|---|
| Move them up to “…” or Move them up to the top level | Always | Available |
| Archive them with this page | – | Available |
- Subpages that move up take the removed page’s place under its parent page (or at the top level). Their state doesn’t change, and they keep their own subpages.
- Archiving them with the page archives the whole branch. This needs edit rights on every subpage; if you can’t edit one of them, move them up instead.
An archived page
Section titled “An archived page”- It leaves the wiki’s list, tree, search and the link picker.
- Links to it stay. In a preview readers see “This page has been archived.”, and opening it shows a notice that the page has been archived.
- Students no longer see it under Related wiki pages.
- Editors open and edit it; the editor shows “Archived: readers no longer see it.”
Restoring
Section titled “Restoring”- On the wiki’s home, choose Status: Archived. It lists the archived pages you can edit.
- Open the page.
- Select Restore page in its settings.
Only that page is restored; restore subpages archived with it one by one. A restored page keeps its state (a published page is visible to readers again) and returns to its place in the tree. If the page it was under is still archived, it shows under the nearest active page or at the top level.