Why archive instead of delete
ZeroCount does not delete projects. Archiving is how you put a finished job away:
- the project leaves the Projects page, so the list stays short;
- every drawing, marker, zone, scale and database link is kept exactly as it was;
- you can recover it at any time and carry on where you left off.
If a job is finished and you do not expect to open it weekly, archive it. If the client comes back a year later, recover it.
Where the controls are
In Table layout on the Projects page, the Actions column at the right of each row has an Archive button. On an archived project the same position holds Recover instead. Hover either button to see its tooltip.
Inside a project, the Actions menu at the top right has the same Archive or Recover item at the bottom.
Cards layout has no action buttons. Switch to Table with Actions → Toggle Layout → Table , or open the project.
Archiving a project
- 1
Check the presence avatars next to the project name. If a colleague is inside the project, ask them to leave first.
- 2
Click Archive in the Actions column.
- 3
Read the confirmation. It is titled Archive "the project name"? and says: "The project is hidden from the projects list unless "Show archived" is on. Nothing is deleted — you can recover it later. Archiving is refused while another user is inside the project."
- 4
Click Archive. An Archiving project... overlay shows briefly.
A toast confirms Project archived and the row disappears from the list. If you archived from inside the project, ZeroCount takes you back to the Projects page.
Archiving is refused while anyone else is inside the project. You will see the toast Archive failed. Active user detected inside the project. Please ensure no one is active before archiving. with the names of the people currently inside. Your own other browser tabs never block you.
What archived means for the drawings
An archived project can still be opened to look at, but its drawings are locked:
- The project view shows an Archived badge in the header. Hover it for the reminder "Files cannot be opened until the project is recovered".
- Selecting drawings and clicking Submit shows the toast Project archived with "This project is archived. Recover it from Actions before opening files." Opening a drawing by its address is blocked in the same way.
- You can still see the Categories, thumbnails and badges, and you can still use Duplicate.
Nothing inside the project changes while it is archived.
Finding archived projects
Archived projects are hidden from the Projects page by default. To list them:
- 1
Click your name at the bottom of the sidebar and choose User Preferences .
- 2
On the Appearance tab, find the Projects card.
- 3
Turn on Show archived projects.
- 4
Click Close. Archived projects now appear in the list with the Archived badge.
With the preference on, use the Status filter above the table and tick Archived to see archived projects only. The preference is saved on this browser and stays on until you turn it off.
Leave Show archived projects off for everyday work and turn it on only when you need to find something. With it on, archived projects are mixed in with live ones in every layout, and the duplicate-name check on new projects includes them.
Recovering a project
- 1
Turn on Show archived projects as above and find the project in the table.
- 2
Click Recover in the Actions column.
- 3
Read the confirmation. It is titled Recover "the project name"? and says: "The project returns to the active list. Its drawings and takeoffs are unchanged."
- 4
Click Recover. A Restoring project... overlay shows briefly.
A toast confirms Project recovered. The badge changes from Archived back to whichever of New, Active or Complete the project's drawings give it, and its drawings can be opened again. If you recovered from inside the project, you stay there.
Common issues
I cannot find a project I archived
Show archived projects is off. Turn it on in User Preferences → Appearance as described above, then search for the project by name.
Archive keeps failing with "Active user detected"
Someone is inside the project, possibly on a drawing rather than the project page. The toast lists who. Ask them to return to the Projects page, wait a few seconds for the presence avatars to clear, and try again.
I need a project deleted permanently
There is no delete in ZeroCount. Archive the project instead. If it must be removed entirely, for example for a data-retention reason, contact your administrator.
Next steps
- Project statuses — how Archived sits alongside New, Active and Complete.
- User preferences — every setting in the Preferences dialog, including Show archived projects.
- Working with others — presence avatars and the actions they block.
- Duplicating a project — copy a project before or after archiving it.