1) Check the Recycle Bins:
Tools > Recycle Bins
Please be aware that recycle bins are periodically emptied by the setting you have chosen here:
Configuration > Site Options > Recycle Bins > Flush interval
Files are permanently deleted after this threshold has been reached.
2) Use the Audit Logs to filter on user activity
e.g. Use the 'time period' filter to only look at records after a certain time in the past
Use the 'event type' filter to only look at records related to certain types of user
Use the 'category' filter to only look at records related to certain actions e.g. 'Recycle Bin', Image, Folder etc
Use the 'Text Search' filter to look at records that appear in the 'Details' column.
3) Use the search functions to attempt to locate missing files
It is possible that the content has not been deleted but has been moved elsewhere. Using what you can remember about filenames, metadata etc, use search filters to narrow down the possibilities.
4) To avoid the risk of files being accidentally deleted, consider restricting the 'Manage Files' permission on your user accounts:
e.g. Users & Groups > Edit Users > Editing Rights > Manage Files or Users & Groups > Edit Groups > Editing Rights > Manage Folders
Deleting is considered part of the editing right and is not offered as a separate option.
The more tightly you control who has the permission to edit/delete files, the better you will be able to avoid accidental removal of files.
5) Asking for help, after you have considered the above
Please be aware that Third Light are not as familiar with your library as you are as we do not log into it on a regular basis so if you believe files have gone missing and want us to help you search, please provide the following to us:
- The date when the files or folders were last known to exist
- Names, partial names, description of images or any identifiable information that will help us know what to look for
- A list of users or groups that may have had edit/delete access to the files or folders in question
