1. User Guide
  2. FAQs
  3. General
  4. What happens when I delete a study object?
  5. What is the difference between an instance and a link?
  6. What happens when an instance is deleted?

What happens when an instance is deleted?

Description Example When you delete the Gender item

No child study objects.

Not used by other study objects in the study.

 Item name—PregnancyTest
  • No codelist.
  • Not used on any form.
 The instance of the PregnancyTest item is removed from the study.

No child study objects.

Used by one or more study objects in the study.

 Item name—PregnancyTest
  • No codelist.
  • Used on the Visit1 and Visit2 forms.

A dialog box informs you that the delete will remove all links to the instance. You can continue or cancel.

If you continue:

  • The instance of the PregnancyTest item is removed from the study.
  • The links to the PregnancyTest item are removed from the Visit1 and Visit2 forms.

One or more child study objects that are not used by any other study object.

Not used by other study objects in the study.

 Item name—PregnancyTest
  • Has a codelist.
  • Not used on any form.

The instance of the PregnancyTest item is removed from the study.

You are asked if you want to include the child study objects in the delete.

  • If you select Yes, the codelist is deleted.
  • If you select No, the codelist is not deleted.

One or more child study objects that are used by one or more other study objects.

Not used by other study objects in the study.

 Item name—PregnancyTest
  • Has a codelist.
  • Not used on any form.

The instance of the PregnancyTest item is removed from the study.

The codelist on the item is not affected because it is being used by one or more other study objects in the study.

One or more child study objects that are not used by any other study object.

Used by one or more study objects in the study.

 Item name—PregnancyTest
  • Has a codelist.
  • Used on the Visit1 and Visit2 forms.

A dialog box informs you that the delete will remove all links to the instance. You can continue or cancel.

If you continue:

  • You are asked if you want to include the child study objects in the delete.
    • If you select Yes, the codelist is removed from the study.
    • If you select No, the codelist is not affected.

In addition:

  • The instance of the PregnancyTest item is removed from the study.
  • The links to the PregnancyTest item are removed from the Visit1 and Visit2 forms

Parent topic: What is the difference between an instance and a link?