PyCharm 2023.1 Help

Safe delete

Introduction

The Safe Delete refactoring lets you safely remove files from the source code.

To make sure that deletion is safe, PyCharm looks for the usages of the file being deleted. If such usages are found, you can explore them and make the necessary corrections in your code before the symbol is actually deleted.

Performing the refactoring

  1. In the Project tool window, select a file to be deleted.

  2. Do one of the following:

    • Press Alt+Delete.

    • Select Refactor | Safe Delete from the main or the context menu.

    • Select Refactor | Refactor This from the main menu Control+Alt+Shift+T, and select Safe Delete.

  3. In the Safe Delete dialog, select the necessary options and click OK.

  4. If the refactoring is potentially unsafe, the Usages Detected dialog opens.

    • View Usages. Click this button to see where in your code the item you are about to delete is used. As a result, the Find tool window opens.

      Analyze your code and make the necessary corrections. Then click Do Refactor. (If you want to rerun the refactoring from its start, click Rerun Safe Delete. PyCharm will check if the refactoring is safe once more.)

    • Delete Anyway. Click this button to delete the item without looking at its usages.

If you delete a file that is under version control, it still exists in the repository until you've committed the changes. The deleted file is placed to the active changelist, and is highlighted with grey. See more details in Manage files under version control.

Last modified: 21 April 2022