rt-shredder(8)

💅 rt-shredder — the Request Tracker Reference page, but make it cute

okay so bestie, gather round, because this one is powerful and you need to respect it. It's rt-shredder, from the Request Tracker manual (section 8, sysadmin girlies rise). 💖

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✨ NAME ✨

rt-shredder — the script that wipes out tickets from the RT DB. yeah. it deletes. it shreds. it does exactly what it says on the tin and it does NOT play. 🌪️

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✨ SYNOPSIS ✨

rt-shredder --plugin list
rt-shredder --plugin help-Tickets
rt-shredder --plugin 'Tickets=query,Queue="general" and Status="deleted"'

rt-shredder --sqldump unshred.sql --plugin ...
rt-shredder --force --plugin ...

like, look at her. three whole vibes: asking her what she can do, asking her about one specific plugin, and then the full send. 🫶

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✨ DESCRIPTION ✨

rt-shredder wipes out objects from your RT database. That's the whole thing. That's the job. 💀

She does it using an API that the RT::Shredder module adds to RT, so technically she's just the pretty face on top of a very serious little engine. She can also be used as an example of usage of the shredder API — so if you're the type who reads source code for fun (iconic behavior, no notes), she's your girl. 💜

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✨ USAGE ✨

You've got several options to control which objects rt-shredder should wipe out. mix and match, tailor it, make it yours. 🎀

⚠️ the one rule, the cardinal rule, the rule that is giving main character energy: when you're using other options, the --plugin option must be provided last. last. lastie. at the end. do not test her. 🙈

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✨ OPTIONS ✨

💾 --sqldump <filename>

Outputs INSERT queries into a file for all shredded records. This dump can be used to restore data after wiping out. 🧚

By default rt-shredder creates files named <ISO_date>-XXXX.sql in the current directory. so if you don't name one, she'll name one for you. thoughtful queen. 💖

🚫 --no-sqldump

Don't generate the SQL dump file. just... no dump. 🫥

The SQL dump file provides you with a way to "undo" the removal of records from your RT database, if needed. Use this option only if you are sure you have a recent, valid database backup in case you need to recover data that may have been shredded in error.

😭 bestie. read that again. if you skip the dump, your safety net is GONE, and if you shredded something by accident you better have a backup. this is not the moment to be brave. 🌸

🪦 --object (DEPRECATED)

Option has been deprecated, use plugin "Objects" instead. she's retired, she's living her best life, don't call her. 💀

🧩 --plugin '<plugin name>[=<arg>,<val>[;<arg>,<val>]...]'

You can use plugins to select RT objects with various conditions. it's giving choose-your-own-adventure but for deletion criteria. ✨

See also --plugin list and --plugin help options. ⬇️

📜 --plugin list

Output list of the available plugins. the whole menu, all the options, slay. 👑

🆘 --plugin help-<plugin name>

Outputs help for specified plugin. she'll explain herself, you just have to ask nicely. 🥺

🔥 --force

Don't prompt with questions before shredding objects. no "are you sure?", no "really?", no "bestie r u ok?". just vibes and consequences. 💅

⚠️ this is the "skip the seatbelt" flag. powerful, yes. forgiving, absolutely not.

🌐 --include-external-storage

Shred externalized contents too. When this is enabled, a separate dump file that contains commands to re-externalize objects will be generated, along with SQL dump file, so you can fully "undo" if needed. 🦋

By default this is not enabled. she's an opt-in kind of girl. ✨

See also "%ExternalStorage" in RT_Config.

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✨ SEE ALSO ✨

• RT::Shredder — the module doing all the actual heavy lifting while rt-shredder gets the credit. we love a supportive duo. 🫶

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and that's the page, bestie!! 🎀 go forth, dump your SQL first, and shred responsibly. this was rt-shredder(8) from the Request Tracker Reference, page generated on 2026-06-21 with perl v5.40.1. mwah 💋 no cap, stay safe out there. 💖✨