Slideshow allows you to schedule the date and time when a file should be automatically deleted. This date and time is then checked periodically and once the current date and time is past scheduled deletion, Slideshow will automatically delete the file from its internal storage. Interval how often are the dates checked can be configured via web interface – menu SettingsDevice settings, item How often to check files.

In order for scheduled file deletion to work, Slideshow has to have access to a time server on internet. NTP protocol is used for checking the actual time, default server “1.pool.ntp.org” can be changed in the settings under NTP server. Without access to network time server, scheduled deletion won’t be able to delete any file. The reason behind this that most Android boxes doesn’t have internal clock and they will report entirely incorrect date and time without internet access.

Bellow are three methods how you can set scheduled deletion of a file.

Setting scheduled deletion via File Manager

You can set or change the deletion date for file via web interface – menu FilesFile manager, right click the file and pick Schedule deletion. In dialog you can pick date and time when you would like to automatically delete this file.

You can check the deletion date by either right clicking the file and choosing Get info, or switching the File manager into List view. In both cases, the date is listed under “Delete date”.

Scheduled deletion in the File manager
Scheduled deletion in the File manager

Setting scheduled deletion via setup.csv file

Deletion date can be configured in the setup.csv file included in ZIP archive, USB flash drive, Google Drive or Dropbox.

Setting scheduled deletion via file name

If you upload a file with special file name to Slideshow through any channel (web interface, FTP, WebDav, USB, Google Drive, Dropbox, etc.), Slideshow will recognize the format and save the scheduled deletion date.

Supported format of file name is as follows: {any name}_DEL_{date}.{extension}

Supported date formats are:

  • yyyy-MM-dd (e.g. 2019-12-07)
  • yyyy-MM-dd HH:mm (e.g. 2019-12-07 13:20)
  • dd.MM.yyyy (e.g. 07.12.2019)
  • dd.MM.yyyy HH:mm (e.g. 07.12.2019 13:20)
  • xxD (e.g. 20D, meaning deletion in 20 days after upload)
  • xxH (e.g. 5H, meaning deletion in 5 hours after upload)
Examples:
  • image_DEL_2020-11-22.jpg
  • video_DEL_2020-11-22 21:00.mp4
  • sample-banner_DEL_22.11.2020.jpg
  • temporary document_DEL_7D.pdf

File name is checked only at the moment file is first uploaded to Slideshow. If you want to change the scheduled deletion date afterwards, you can do so via File manager (see the first method). Renaming the file after it was uploaded has no effect on scheduled deletion.