Data deletion

Maintaining clean and efficient product flows is critical for optimizing your SmartFeeds use. Over time, as you add imports, channels, keys, and variables to your flows, some elements may become outdated or unused. This article is designed to help you understand the steps and best practices for cleaning your product flows to ensure smooth operation. 

By regularly performing a cleaning phase, you can keep your product flows clear and manageable.

Table of Contents

1. Overview of the Cleaning Phase
2. Using the "USE" Function
3. Deleting a Data Source
4. Quick Answers to Common Issues
5. Related Articles

Overview of of the Cleaning Phase

As you use SmartFeeds, you will enrich your product flows with imports, channels, keys, and variables. To maintain optimal performance:

• Regularly review your flows.
• Identify elements no longer needed.
• Use the "USE" function to determine where imports or variables are being applied.

For more details, see the SmartFeeds Overview.

Using the "USE" Function

The "USE" function helps you track where specific elements are utilized within your product flow:

• "USE" tab in Imports: Shows where the attributes of a specific import are used in formulas.
• "USE" tab in Variables: Accessible via the SQL Editor, it allows you to see which attributes are used in the selected variable.

Deleting a Data Source

Follow these steps to safely remove an import from your product flow:

Step 1: Delete Values and Rules in the Mapping

1. Identify where the attributes from your import are used.
2. Navigate to the Mapping section.
3. Remove the values and rules linked to the attributes of the import.

Step 2: Remove Joins

1. Go to the Join section in your flow.
2. Locate the join related to your import.
3. Remove the join.

Step 3: Remove the Import

1. Once the above steps are completed, go to your product flow
2. Select the import you want to delete.
3. Confirm the deletion.

Quick Answers to Common Issues

What happens if I delete an import or key without cleaning up first?

Deleting elements without removing their dependencies (rules, values, joins) may result in errors or broken flows.

How can I ensure I don’t delete something critical?

Always use the "USE" function to verify where elements are being used before deletion.

Can I restore deleted imports or keys?

Once an element is deleted, it cannot be restored. Ensure you are certain before proceeding.

Related Articles

For further assistance with SmartFeeds, consider reviewing these articles:

• Data Import
• Data Export
• Join

For additional help, feel free to reach out via our Contact Us page.