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Barry MacDonnell's
Toolbox for WordPerfect

Macros, tips, and templates for Corel® WordPerfect® for Windows®
© Copyright 1996-2024 by Barry MacDonnell. All Rights Reserved.

 Page updated Dec 26, 2019

SHREDDER - "Shred" (delete from disk) the currently open file

Download SHREDDER.ZIP (v1.02; 05/09/15; 4865 bytes)

Updated in WordPerfect X7, but should be compatible with WordPerfect 6 and later versions

WordPerfect 11 users: See important information about using macros in the first release of WP11 (11.0.0.233) at the top of this page.

Downloading, Documentation, Modifications, and Support

Disclaimer

 Purpose
Shredder.wcm is a macro that will delete the currently open (i.e., on screen) file after a warning message.

It's good for periodic cleanups because it saves time by not requiring you to close the file first, remember its name, find it in the Windows Exploer file list, and then delete it from its directory/folder.

Instructions
Simply play the macro and it will pop up a dialog, "Do you want to PERMANENTLY DELETE <name of file>?" Click the Yes button and the file is deleted.

Note that "permanetly" here does NOT always mean "unrecoverable". See caveat below.


Caveat
The method the macro uses is essentially the same as using Windows to delete the file (i.e., with Delete in Windows Explorer). These methods merely remove the file's name from the (internal) Windows directory, or worse, they move the file to the Recycle Bin. This makes the file potentially recoverable (e.g.,  using a third party utility like UndeletePlus).

If you wish to securely delete the file, you will need a utility program designed for the purpose. Many such exist, and many are free. See for example (and without endorsing them), CyberShredder, and Eraser. Or navigate to the HowToGeek site here for several other free tools.
Note about certain early WordPerfect versions (WP8, WP9)
This macro does not work to delete files across a network using even fully patched versions of WordPerfect 8 and WordPerfect 9 under Windows XP (and perhaps other modern operating systems). It might even hang or crash these WordPerfect programs, since WP8 was not designed for later operating systems, and WP9/sp4 was a complete rewrite of the program (and it might not have been completely compatible with some networks).

It does delete files across a network in WordPerfect 10 and later, at least in the author's tests.

In any case, you can try a similar macro from Charles Rossiter: Delete Current File.wcm.