Delete & Restore Items

Overview

In Colonnes, deleted items are moved to the Trash, allowing you to recover them if needed. This system provides a safety net for accidental deletions while keeping your workflow clean. This page explains how to delete items, how to restore them, and how to permanently empty the trash.

Deleting Items

How to Delete with mouse

Select one or more items, then use the Trash button that is found in the floating menu at the bottom of the selected column.

How to delete with keyboard

Select one or more items, then use either of these keyboard shortcuts:

Delete the selection.

Delete

Or alternatively:

Delete the selection. (Alternative)

Backspace

What Happens When You Delete

• Items are not permanently deleted; they’re moved to the Trash
• The entire hierarchy (parent and all children) is moved to Trash
• You can restore deleted items at any time

The Trash

The Trash is a special location where all deleted items are stored. Think of it as a safety buffer between deletion and permanent removal.

Opening the Trash

To view deleted items, you can open the Trash from the main menu (the icon with 3 bars on the left in the header of the first column).

Or alternatively:

1. Or use the Command Menu ()

2. Once the command menu is open, search for “Open Trash” and select it.

What You’ll See in Trash

• A hierarchical tree of all deleted items
• Complete hierarchy preserved (parent-child relationships maintained)
• Checkboxes to select items for restoration or permanent deletion

Restoring Items

Restored items are returned to their original location in your task list with all their properties intact.

How to Restore

1. Open the Trash
2. Select the items you want to restore using:
   • Click checkboxes to select/deselect items
   • to toggle selection while navigating
   • Select multiple items at once
3. Choose a destination when prompted
   • The Move Menu opens in “restore” mode
   • Select where you want to restore the items
4. Confirm restoration by pressing

Restoring Hierarchies

When restoring items:

• Parent items and their children are restored together
• You cannot restore a parent without its children
• Hierarchy is fully preserved during restoration

Emptying the Trash

Emptying the Trash permanently deletes all items in the Trash. This action cannot be undone.

How to Empty Trash

1. Open the Trash from the Command Menu
2. Press the Empty Trash button at the bottom of the window
   • Or use the keyboard shortcut:
3. Confirm the action in the dialog that appears
   • You’ll be warned that this action cannot be undone
   • Click “Empty Trash” to confirm or “Cancel” to keep the trash

Warning: This action is permanent and cannot be undone. Make sure you don’t need any items in the Trash before confirming.