'''`file` delete''' removes files and directories from a filesystem.



** Synopsis **


    :   '''[file] delete''' ?'''-force'''? ?'''--'''? ''pathname'' ?''pathname ...''?



** Description **

`file delete` removes the file or directory specified by each ''pathname''.
With '''`-force`''', even non-empty directories are removed.  When
''pathname'' is a symbolic link, that symbolic link is removed rather than the
file it refers to.  If ''pathname'' is a non-existent file, nothing is done and
it is not an error.  Arguments are processed in the order specified, halting at
the first error, if any.  '''`--`''' marks the end of options; each subsequent
argument is treated as a ''pathname'', even if it begins with `-`.

If ''pathname'' is a file for which the user does not have write permissions,
and the filesystem permits deleting it, it is deleted even if '''`-force`''' is
not specified.

If ''pathname'' is a directory and  '''`-force`''' is specified, permissions on
the directory are changed to allow deletion of its contents, and if needed,
[pwd%|%current directory] is changed out of the directory.  For example, to
delete the current directory: 

======
file delete -force [pwd]
======

----
To delete all files in the current directory ending in `orig`:

======
file delete {*}[glob *.orig]
======

Since [TIP #323: Do Nothing Gracefully], `file delete` accepts no arguments and
in that case does nothing.  To delete any files in the current directory ending
in `.orig`, allowing for the possibility that no such files might exist:

======
file delete {*}[glob -nocomplain *.orig]
======

** Deleting a Directory That Isn't Empty **

To delete a directory, but only if it is empty:

======
file delete $pathname
======

To delete a directory along with everything in that directory, recursively:

======
file delete -force -- $pathname
======

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