Is there any way to delete a confluence page WITHOUT deleting it from within the page itself?
Asked by Annika:

> I have full space and application admin rights and can delete pages in the space but I have a page that I cannot access as there is an error.
>
> The page has two macros 1) child page tree 2) Task report.
>
> I do not want the hassle of trying to figure out the error, it is not important enough. But I need it gone.
>
> Does anyone have any ideas?

Apologies for being unclear.

When I access the page I want to delete, I get an error.

So I cannot see the delete button (or anything other options).

I am hoping there is a way I can delete the page without having to do it from the page itself. I have looked through the space admin options and cannot see anything.


Answers:
author: AnnWorley
body: [@Annika](/t5/user/viewprofilepage/user-id/1180863) Please try the strategies in this doc and let us know if it's helpful: [Editing or Deleting a Page That Won't Render](https://confluence.atlassian.com/confkb/editing-or-deleting-a-page-that-won-t-render-167608440.html).

Since the stack trace you posted seems to be related to "com.atlassian.confluence.plugin.descriptor.web.ConfluenceWebInterfaceManager" I also recommend clearing the plugins cache: [How to clear Confluence plugins cache](https://confluence.atlassian.com/confkb/how-to-clear-confluence-plugins-cache-297664846.html)  

I look forward to your next update.

comments: author: Annika
body: Thanks Ann, I was able to edit the page and remove the plugins using those directions.

It is all good now :)


author: Nic Brough -Adaptavist-
body: This does not make sense. "Delete a page without deleting it" is what you have said. Do you want to delete it or not?

At a guess, I think what you mean is "I am trying to delete a page, but I get an error when I try". Please tell us where the error happens (as soon as you select delete? for example), and, more importantly, what the actual error is. (At the moment, for all we know, the error might be an angry penguin jumping on your mouse so you can't click anything)

comments: author: Annika
body: When I access the page I want to delete, I get an error. So I cannot see the delete button.

I have updated my question, hope this is a bit more clear.

Thanks Nic


author: Nic Brough -Adaptavist-
body: Ok, you should fix that, not try to just delete. What error do you get?


author: Annika
body: Thanks Nic

This is the error cause, I can provide the stack trace as well if required.

### Cause {#toc-hId-1592175394}

java.lang.RuntimeException: Error rendering template for decorator root  
at com.atlassian.confluence.setup.velocity.ApplyDecoratorDirective.render(ApplyDecoratorDirective.java:202)

caused by: java.lang.RuntimeException: Error rendering template for decorator page  
at com.atlassian.confluence.setup.velocity.ApplyDecoratorDirective.render(ApplyDecoratorDirective.java:202)

caused by: org.apache.velocity.exception.MethodInvocationException: Invocation of method 'getDisplayableItems' in class com.atlassian.confluence.plugin.descriptor.web.ConfluenceWebInterfaceManager threw exception net.sf.hibernate.LazyInitializationException: Failed to lazily initialize a collection at template/includes/menu-macros.vm\[line 133, column 45\]  
at org.apache.velocity.runtime.parser.node.ASTMethod.handleInvocationException(ASTMethod.java:337)

caused by: net.sf.hibernate.LazyInitializationException: Failed to lazily initialize a collection  
at net.sf.hibernate.collection.PersistentCollection.initialize(PersistentCollection.java:201)

caused by: net.sf.hibernate.HibernateException: collection was evicted  
at net.sf.hibernate.impl.SessionImpl.initializeCollection(SessionImpl.java:3332)


author: Davin Studer
body: Are there any macros on the page from a third party add-on? If so can you temporarily disable that add-on so that you might be able to get into the page to edit it. Once you are in the page maybe you would be able to see if maybe something in one of the macros is misconfigured that is causing the error. Do you see the same error on other pages that use the same macros? Possibly need to update the add-on. These are some of the steps I would try to troubleshoot the issue behind the error.


author: Davin Studer
body: You might also be able to get at the page source using Confluence's build in WebDAV capabilities. That's another option. You could probably also delete the page that way if you absolutely need to. But I would try and find out what the issue is first.


author: Annika
body: Thanks Davin, the add-ons were Atlassian ones so I couldn't disable them but I was able to edit the page using Ann's directions in the message below.

Thank you all for you help.