True Delete/Purge Option for Print History & Files#318

Summary

Currently, printed files are stored indefinitely on the platform, even after being deleted from the user’s file library. These files remain accessible through job history and exports, creating unnecessary clutter and potential privacy concerns. This request is for a true deletion (purge) feature that allows users to permanently remove files and associated print jobs from the system.

Problem Statement

Deleting a file from the library does not actually remove it from the platform. If a file has ever been printed, it remains stored in job history and is exportable.
Users have no way to permanently erase old or unnecessary files (e.g., test prints, sensitive prototypes).
Over time, this leads to excessive data accumulation, which can be difficult to manage.

Proposed Solution

Introduce a “Purge” or “Permanent Delete” option that allows users to fully erase selected files and print history from the system.
Ensure that once a file or job is purged, it is irretrievable, including from exports and history.
Provide a confirmation prompt to prevent accidental deletions.

Benefits

Better data control – Users can manage and permanently remove unwanted files.
Improved privacy – Ensures sensitive designs are not stored indefinitely.
Storage optimization – Reduces unnecessary data clutter over time.

Just to clarify, printed files are not stored on our platform indefinitely; just the record of it having been printed. When you delete a file, it’s gone. When you print a file, we may store it for 3 days for you to be able to reprint it, but if the file is deleted from “Your files” and the print queue, the file will be permanently deleted from our servers too.

So if the main goal of the suggestion is to give you more control over files, I’d say that’s already done: you can always delete your files and have them removed, and if it has been printed recently, it’ll be permanently gone after 3 days. If another goal is to unclutter your “Print history”, not achieved by the “Archive” method, do let us know - just wanted to come with a small correction on the data-retention.