Why you can't move a dataset or View to Trash
When other active items depend on what you're deleting, Mammoth doesn't move it to Trash. A dialog opens instead, titled, for example, Can't delete "Sales 2026" yet, with a Blocking this delete list and a Close button, and no delete button. You need delete permission on the item; Project Viewers can't delete.
What can block a delete
| Blocker | Shown as | Subtitle |
|---|---|---|
| A View that reads from it (a join or lookup) | The View, with Join or Lookup | "1 other item depends on it. Remove it, or its link, then try again." |
| An automation that uses the dataset (for example, as a refresh target or a Data Consolidation source or destination) | The automation, marked "automation" | Same as above |
| A dashboard built on it that you can't edit | The dashboard, marked "you can't edit it" (or "a dashboard you can't edit" when you can't see its name) | "You can't edit 1 dashboard built on it. Ask an editor to remove or reassign it." |
When you select several Views and none can be deleted, the title reads, for example, Can't delete these 3 views yet, and each blocker says which View it blocks ("blocks View 2"). When only some are blocked, the rest move: see Delete several items.
Click a blocking View's name to open it in a new tab. If the delete dialog has already closed when Mammoth refuses, a Cannot move to Trash. message lists the blockers instead.
Clear a block and try again
- Remove the join or lookup in the View that reads from it.
- Edit or delete the automations that use the dataset.
- Ask an editor to remove or reassign the dashboards you can't edit.
- Or keep the item.
Other reasons a move fails
| Symptom | Cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Can't delete "Sales 2026" yet | A join, lookup, automation or dashboard you can't edit depends on it. | Remove the blocker shown under Blocking this delete, then try again. |
| "Cannot move to Trash while the item's pipeline has active work. Try again once it finishes." | The item's pipeline is still running. | Wait for the run to end, then try again. |
| "Some items in PDF to CSV can't be moved to Trash." | The folder holds a file still processing, or a dataset that failed to move. | Wait for processing to finish, or delete that file first. |
| "You don't have permission to modify this item." | You lack delete permission on that item. In a mixed selection, the items you can delete still go through. | Ask a Project Admin. See Permissions for Trash. |
Related
- Delete a dataset, View, folder or dashboard: what the delete dialog shows.
- Restore deleted datasets, Views and dashboards from Trash: get an item back.
- Join two datasets on a shared column: the joins that block a delete.
- Manage automations: edit or delete an automation.
Something wrong? support@mammoth.io