---
sourceDocument: Yokohama IT Operations Management
sourceDocumentLink: https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/r/yokohama/it-operations-management

 Release :

    - yokohama

ft:locale :

    - en-US

ft:publication_title :

    - Yokohama IT Operations Management

ft:clusterId :

    - itom

bundleId :

    - itom

workflow :

    - Technology


---

# Set the deletion strategy for tracked configuration files

# Set the deletion strategy for tracked configuration files {#ariaid-title1}

* Release version: Yokohama
* 
* Updated August 11, 2026
* 
* ![](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/portal-asset/ico-clock) 1 minute to read

You can specify what you want to do with tracked configuration file CI records when
pattern discovery can no longer find them.

## Before you begin

A pattern that specifies [tracked configuration files](https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/6Fcr7p0Zty61qCqjudQNeg "Configure the system to collect information about changes in configuration files belonging to a configuration item (CI). Service Mapping uses this information to notify users that CI configuration files changed and to view actual changes to configuration files directly in the service instance maps.").

Role required: discovery_admin, service_mapping_admin, or admin. Starting from Visibility Content version 6.30.0, pd_admin and pd_mid are also supported.

## About this task

You can set a deletion strategy for all discovered CIs, not just configuration file CIs. However the way you access the deletion strategy for standard CIs differs from configuration file CIs. See [Set a deletion strategy](https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/dVzVBe2~6ov25jRLq1pwlA "Set a deletion strategy when you want to take action on a related configuration item (CI) that Discovery can no longer find through pattern discovery. You can delete the main CI only when it is an Application or Cloud Resource pattern type.") for instructions.

## Procedure

1. Navigate to AllPattern DesignerDiscovery Patterns and open the desired pattern.
2. Click the Tracked Files tab.
3. Under Related Links, click Edit deletion strategy for the configuration files of this pattern.  
   The Related CI Types list appears showing you filtered records in the Related CI Type \[sa_ci_to_pattern\] table. The filter shows you only records with the CI type of Tracked Configuration files \[cmdb_ci_config_file_tracked\], which is the table where the system saves configuration file CIs.
4. From the list view, double-click the value in the field in the Deletion Strategy column for the tracked configuration file.
5. Select a new value:  
   {#set-config-file-deletion-strategy__table_xl2_jwf_5z__entry__2}

   | Value | Description |
   |-|-|
   | Keep | Preserves the configuration file CI record and makes no other changes to the record. This option is the default setting. |
   | Delete | Deletes the configuration file CI record from the CMDB, and the relationship to the main CI. |
   | Mark as absent | Marks the Status \[install_status\] field of the configuration file CI record as Absent, meaning that Discovery cannot find the tracked configuration file. This status does not instruct the system to delete the actual CI or the relationship. Note: There are two tables that do have their CIs deleted if marked as absent: cmdb_ci_network_adapter and cmdb_ci_ip_address. |
   | Delete relations | Deletes only the CI relationships between the related CI and the main CI. |
   | Mark as retired | Marks the Status \[install_status\] field of the configuration file CI record as Retired, meaning that Discovery no longer uses this configuration file. This status does not instruct the system to delete the actual CI or the relationship. |
   [ ]

   {#set-config-file-deletion-strategy__table_xl2_jwf_5z}
**Related concepts**   

* [CI deletion strategies for pattern discovery](https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/fLHBks_lfXajoWpGaEN9jw "When you perform discovery with a pattern, you can choose what to do with configuration items (CIs) that are in the Configuration Management Database (CMDB) but Discovery can no longer find.")  
**Related tasks**   

* [Set a deletion strategy](https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/dVzVBe2~6ov25jRLq1pwlA "Set a deletion strategy when you want to take action on a related configuration item (CI) that Discovery can no longer find through pattern discovery. You can delete the main CI only when it is an Application or Cloud Resource pattern type.")

*[\>]: and then