How exclude specific folder from Retention app

[l.koutny]

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The Basics

• Nextcloud Server version (e.g., 29.x.x):

  • 32.0.5

• Operating system and version (e.g., Ubuntu 24.04):

  • Linux 5.14.0-611.30.1.el9_7.x86_64 x86_64 (RedHat 9.7 - Plow)

  Web server and version (e.g, Apache 2.4.25):

  • 2.4.62

• Reverse proxy and version _(e.g. nginx 1.27.2)

  • don’t know

• PHP version (e.g, 8.3):

  • 8.3.30

• Installation method (e.g. AlO, NCP, Bare Metal/Archive, etc.)

  • installed from scratch, following this manual

    https://docs.nextcloud.com/server/latest/admin_manual/installation/source_installation.html

Summary of the issue you are facing:

I’m trying to configure Retention app properly, but I still fight with some obstacles.

Basic goal is to delete all files that every user uploads to his home folder (files in home folders are not visible even to admin) after some defined period of time, lets say 30 days.

So first I created tag “File size >= 0B” but found that it tags also all folders where user uploads files. So it destroys folder structure including assigned permissions.

Then I found this

Auto-Deletion Problem with files-retention - when tagging folders and files with different invisible tags

Hello Hobe, To delete files with files automated tagging, you used Rule 2 with File MIME condition ? correct ? You defined this tage on folder ? Thanks,

and configured same tags with MIME types, so folders should remain and only files should be deleted (I haven’t verified yet if it works reliably).

But still 1 important feature missing (haven’t found any similar article). As you can imagine some users need exceptions to exclude their foldertree from deleting.

1. So I would need some hint how to configure exceptions in retention app to exclude specific folder and all subfolders + sub-files from retention.

2. Inheriting of tags - is there a way how to inherit tags (or removing tags) - so if we remove the tag from folder1 that this can be also inherited to the subfolders and files ?

I also know about this topic:

ALL files retention - is it possible ?

yes there is a difference! Nextcloud Enterprise = Professional paid support! Nextcloud community forum = hobbyist voluntary support If you run a licensed Nextcloud Enterprise, then it is highly advisable to contact Nextcloud GmbH support! I’m not a developer and any real developer would probably laugh at my scripts calling me a novice. While this is absolutely true, my scripts do what I expect them to do. Here’s an example script for deleting all files in a defined path, min. directory d…

but someone gave me advice to better use Nextcloud apps than background Linux script.
At the end of the day I will need to compare possible solutions (script X retnetion app) with its Pros+Cons and choose between them.

Steps to replicate it (hint: details matter!):

1. Install Automated tagging + Retention app

2. Configure tags for ALL files + retention flow

3. How to exclude specific folder ?

Log entries

Nextcloud

Please provide the log entries from your Nextcloud log that are generated during the time of problem (via the Copy raw option from Administration settings->Logging screen or from your nextcloud.log located in your data directory). Feel free to use a pastebin/gist service if necessary.

Not needed for my request (?)

Web Browser

If the problem is related to the Web interface, open your browser inspector Console and Network tabs while refreshing (reloading) and reproducing the problem. Provide any relevant output/errors here that appear.

Not needed for my request (?)

Web server / Reverse Proxy

The output of your Apache/nginx/system log in /var/log/____:

Not needed for my request (?)

Configuration

Nextcloud

The output of occ config:list system or similar is best, but, if not possible, the contents of your config.php file from /path/to/nextcloud is fine (make sure to remove any identifiable information!):

{
    "system": {
        "instanceid": "***REMOVED SENSITIVE VALUE***",
        "passwordsalt": "***REMOVED SENSITIVE VALUE***",
        "secret": "***REMOVED SENSITIVE VALUE***",
        "trusted_domains": [
            "publicshare.lenzing.com"
        ],
        "datadirectory": "***REMOVED SENSITIVE VALUE***",
        "dbtype": "mysql",
        "version": "32.0.5.0",
        "overwrite.cli.url": "http:\/\/193.228.107.39",
        "dbname": "***REMOVED SENSITIVE VALUE***",
        "dbhost": "***REMOVED SENSITIVE VALUE***",
        "dbport": "",
        "dbtableprefix": "oc_",
        "mysql.utf8mb4": true,
        "dbuser": "***REMOVED SENSITIVE VALUE***",
        "dbpassword": "***REMOVED SENSITIVE VALUE***",
        "installed": true,
        "mail_smtpmode": "smtp",
        "mail_sendmailmode": "smtp",
        "ldapTLSCert": "\/etc\/pki\/ca-trust\/source\/anchors\/LAGGRP-ISSUING-CA.pem",
        "loglevel": 2,
        "maintenance": false,
        "twofactor_enforced": "false",
        "twofactor_enforced_groups": [],
        "twofactor_enforced_excluded_groups": [],
        "skeletondirectory": "",
        "app_install_overwrite": [],
        "defaultapp": "dashboard",
        "ldapProviderFactory": "OCA\\User_LDAP\\LDAPProviderFactory",
        "enable_previews": false,
        "config_preset": 9,
        "maintenance_window_start": 21,
        "mail_from_address": "***REMOVED SENSITIVE VALUE***",
        "mail_domain": "***REMOVED SENSITIVE VALUE***",
        "mail_smtphost": "***REMOVED SENSITIVE VALUE***",
        "mail_smtpport": "25"
    }
}

Apps

The output of occ app:list (if possible).
Enabled:

• activity: 5.0.0-dev.0
• admin_audit: 1.22.0
• bruteforcesettings: 5.0.0-dev.0
• circles: 32.0.0
• cloud_federation_api: 1.16.0
• comments: 1.22.0
• contactsinteraction: 1.13.1
• dashboard: 7.12.0
• dav: 1.34.2
• federatedfilesharing: 1.22.0
• federation: 1.22.0
• files: 2.4.0
• files_antivirus: 6.1.0
• files_automatedtagging: 3.0.3
• files_downloadlimit: 5.0.0-dev.0
• files_pdfviewer: 5.0.0-dev.0
• files_reminders: 1.5.0
• files_retention: 3.0.0
• files_sharing: 1.24.1
• files_trashbin: 1.22.0
• files_versions: 1.25.0
• firstrunwizard: 5.0.0-dev.0
• guests: 4.6.0
• impersonate: 3.0.1
• logreader: 5.0.0-dev.0
• lookup_server_connector: 1.20.0
• nextcloud_announcements: 4.0.0-dev.0
• notifications: 5.0.0-dev.0
• oauth2: 1.20.0
• password_policy: 4.0.0-dev.0
• photos: 5.0.0-dev.1
• privacy: 4.0.0-dev.0
• profile: 1.1.0
• provisioning_api: 1.22.0
• recommendations: 5.0.0-dev.0
• related_resources: 3.0.0-dev.0
• serverinfo: 4.0.0-dev.0
• settings: 1.15.1
• sharebymail: 1.22.0
• support: 4.0.0-dev.0
• survey_client: 4.0.0-dev.0
• systemtags: 1.22.0
• terms_of_service: 4.6.1
• text: 6.0.1
• theming: 2.7.0
• twofactor_backupcodes: 1.21.0
• twofactor_nextcloud_notification: 6.0.0-dev.0
• twofactor_totp: 14.0.0
• updatenotification: 1.22.0
• user_ldap: 1.23.0
• user_saml: 7.1.3
• user_status: 1.12.0
• viewer: 5.0.0-dev.0
• weather_status: 1.12.0
• webhook_listeners: 1.3.0
• workflowengine: 2.14.0

Disabled:

• app_api: 32.0.0 (installed 32.0.0)
• encryption: 2.20.0
• files_external: 1.24.1
• suspicious_login: 10.0.0-dev.0

Tips for increasing the likelihood of a response

• Use the preformatted text formatting option in the editor for all log entries and configuration output.
• If screenshots are useful, feel free to include them.
  • If possible, also include key error output in text form so it can be searched for.
• Try to edit log output only minimally (if at all) so that it can be ran through analyzers / formatters by those trying to help you.