# Deleting a db record in a "tree-like" model structure

**URL:** <https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/deleting-a-db-record-in-a-tree-like-model-structure/134512>\
**Category:** Rails\
**Created:** [April 11, 2008, 4:07pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/deleting-a-db-record-in-a-tree-like-model-structure/134512 "2008-04-11T16:07:21Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![tharrisx](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/t/e19adc/32.png) [@tharrisx](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/tharrisx)\
**Post date:** [April 11, 2008, 4:07pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/deleting-a-db-record-in-a-tree-like-model-structure/134512/1 "2008-04-11T16:07:21Z")

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Hi there,

what is the “Rails way” to delete a record in a model “tree” structure  
like the following one ?

# User

has\_many :projects

# Project

has\_many :tasks

# Task

has\_many :sub\_tasks

# Sub\_task

has\_many :sub\_sub\_tasks (etc…)

-\> I don’t know how to delete from my db a _project_ record AND at the  
same time delete all its dependent

- tasks,
- sub\_tasks,
- sub\_sub\_tasks, etc. with it (so that NO _child_ record can survive in  
the db WITHOUT a _parent_ record).

Who can help me out?!

Thank you very much for your help on this!  
Tom

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**Author:** ![tharrisx](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/t/e19adc/32.png) [@tharrisx](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/tharrisx)\
**Post date:** [April 11, 2008, 4:10pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/deleting-a-db-record-in-a-tree-like-model-structure/134512/2 "2008-04-11T16:10:55Z")

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has\_many :children, :dependent =\> :destroy

On Fri, Apr 11, 2008 at 4:07 PM, Tom Ha

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**Author:** ![tharrisx](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/t/e19adc/32.png) [@tharrisx](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/tharrisx)\
**Post date:** [April 11, 2008, 4:38pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/deleting-a-db-record-in-a-tree-like-model-structure/134512/3 "2008-04-11T16:38:00Z")

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Damn, I love it!!

Thanks a lot, Franz!