Unable to delete/modify object because it is referenced by other database objects

Symptoms

Updated in 2025.2

When you attempt to delete an object or make certain modifications, one of these error messages may appear.

Unable to delete/modify object because it is referenced by other database object(s). To delete/modify the object, you need to remove these dependencies first.

Unable to delete/modify object because it is referenced by other database object(s). To delete/modify the object, you need to remove these dependencies first. To view the full list of an object's dependencies, just open it and click Actions>Show Dependencies on the window toolbar.

Cause

Objects in Alloy Navigator Express are interconnected. This error occurs when an object is referenced by other objects via their fields. For example, if an asset is assigned to an owner, the owner's person record is referenced by that asset via the Owner field.

Objects with such dependencies cannot be deleted directly.

Resolution

To delete an object with dependencies, you must first identify and remove all references to it. In the example above, if you want to delete a person record linked to a computer record via its Owner field, you can either reassign the computer to a new owner or clear the Owner field.

Deletion restrictions apply only when other objects directly reference the current object via their fields. For example, assets reference persons through the Owner field, or tickets reference assets through the Related Asset field. However, links that could be found on the object's Relationships tab or within the object's attributes do not prevent deletion.

Use Show Dependencies to identify the objects that reference the record:

1. In the data view, click and select Show Dependencies. The Dependencies list window is displayed.

2. Review the objects in the Dependencies list.

3. Open the dependent records and remove or update their references to the current object.

4. Try deleting or modifying the object again.

For example, if a computer references a person through the Owner field, you can assign the computer to another owner or clear the Owner field. After the reference is removed, try deleting the person record again. For details, see Showing Dependencies.

TIP: Permanently deleting objects is generally not recommended. Consider ending the object’s lifecycle by changing its status instead. For example, mark a disposed computer as Retired rather than deleting it, or make an unused person record inactive. Your Alloy Navigator Express administrator can also configure archiving or removal of older inactive records.

Related Information:

Marking IT assets as retired

Marking Person records as inactive