# Deleting Backup Families in Sub Folders

**URL:** <https://forum.dynamobim.com/t/deleting-backup-families-in-sub-folders/62413>\
**Category:** Revit\
**Tags:** dynamo\
**Created:** [April 1, 2021, 1:25am UTC](https://forum.dynamobim.com/t/deleting-backup-families-in-sub-folders/62413 "2021-04-01T01:25:46Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 8\
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![ppittas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e274bd/32.png) [@ppittas](https://forum.dynamobim.com/u/ppittas)\
**Post date:** [April 1, 2021, 1:25am UTC](https://forum.dynamobim.com/t/deleting-backup-families-in-sub-folders/62413/1 "2021-04-01T01:25:46Z")

</div>

Hi all,

I’m using an adapted version of the Rhythm.BackupRFADeleter to delete backup families and have the option to include sub-folders. The only difference i have made to the node is to use Directory.ContentsAll instead of the Directory.Contents.

I have saved it as a custom node, however, when run it does not delete any backup families but if i take the content out of the custom node and place it in the script, using the same inputs, it finds the backup families and deletes them. Any idea why this might be?

Thanks,

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Daniel\_Hurtubise](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex022/user_avatar/forum.dynamobim.com/daniel_hurtubise/32/146534_2.png) [@Daniel\_Hurtubise](https://forum.dynamobim.com/u/Daniel_Hurtubise)\
**Post date:** [April 1, 2021, 4:50am UTC](https://forum.dynamobim.com/t/deleting-backup-families-in-sub-folders/62413/2 "2021-04-01T04:50:39Z")

</div>

Do you have an error message?

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![ppittas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e274bd/32.png) [@ppittas](https://forum.dynamobim.com/u/ppittas)\
**Post date:** [April 7, 2021, 2:40am UTC](https://forum.dynamobim.com/t/deleting-backup-families-in-sub-folders/62413/3 "2021-04-07T02:40:58Z")

</div>

Unfortunately no, there was no error message which is why im not sure as to why it wont work in the custom node

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![blsalvio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ad7895/32.png) [@blsalvio](https://forum.dynamobim.com/u/blsalvio)\
**Post date:** [April 7, 2021, 4:37am UTC](https://forum.dynamobim.com/t/deleting-backup-families-in-sub-folders/62413/4 "2021-04-07T04:37:27Z")

</div>

hi @ppittas

if you want to use other method, you can use this script:[family\_backup\_deleter.dyn](https://forum.dynamobim.com/uploads/short-url/wFmfgyMEfOpKkLQxioCvf8fA3Og.dyn) (3.7 KB)

python code:

```
import sys
sys.path.append(r"C:\Program Files (x86)\IronPython 2.7\Lib")

import os
import re

filelist = list()
for root, dirs, files in os.walk(IN[0]):
	for file in files:
		matches = re.match(".*\.[0-9]+\.(rfa|RFA)$", file)
	
		if matches:
			backup = os.path.join(root, file)
			filelist.append(backup)
			os.remove(backup)

OUT = filelist

```

usage:  
 ![A](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex022/uploads/dynamobim/original/3X/a/3/a3262edb9fa657bda302acc2945677bb5bdd1696.png)

-biboy

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![ppittas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e274bd/32.png) [@ppittas](https://forum.dynamobim.com/u/ppittas)\
**Post date:** [April 7, 2021, 6:45am UTC](https://forum.dynamobim.com/t/deleting-backup-families-in-sub-folders/62413/5 "2021-04-07T06:45:29Z")

</div>

> [@blsalvio](#):
>
> ```auto
> import sys
> sys.path.append(r"C:\Program Files (x86)\IronPython 2.7\Lib")
> 
> import os
> import re
> 
> filelist = list()
> for root, dirs, files in os.walk(IN[0]):
> for file in files:
> matches = re.match(".*\.[0-9]+\.(rfa|RFA)$", file)
> 	
> if matches:
> backup = os.path.join(root, file)
> filelist.append(backup)
> os.remove(backup)
> 
> OUT = filelist
> 
> ```

Thanks @blsalvio  
this code works perfectly

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![blsalvio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ad7895/32.png) [@blsalvio](https://forum.dynamobim.com/u/blsalvio)\
**Post date:** [April 7, 2021, 6:51am UTC](https://forum.dynamobim.com/t/deleting-backup-families-in-sub-folders/62413/6 "2021-04-07T06:51:47Z")

</div>

hi @ppittas

Actually, I already made an application for this. Dynamo is not needed. If you want, I can share the .exe file to you.

-biboy

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![ppittas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e274bd/32.png) [@ppittas](https://forum.dynamobim.com/u/ppittas)\
**Post date:** [April 7, 2021, 7:19am UTC](https://forum.dynamobim.com/t/deleting-backup-families-in-sub-folders/62413/7 "2021-04-07T07:19:48Z")

</div>

that wont be needed but thank you, easier to deploy this to others using Dyno

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![paris](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex022/user_avatar/forum.dynamobim.com/paris/32/144289_2.png) [@paris](https://forum.dynamobim.com/u/paris)\
**Post date:** [April 7, 2021, 7:33am UTC](https://forum.dynamobim.com/t/deleting-backup-families-in-sub-folders/62413/8 "2021-04-07T07:33:09Z")

</div>

Hi @ppittas maybe you can also use one .bat file or excel vba file to remove all backup files (.rfa and/or .rvt) from your library easily.  
Cheers