Scenario
User needs to delete hundreds of Purchase Orders in bulk but is unsure how to do this efficiently in NetSuite.
Cause
NetSuite currently does not support native mass deletion of transactions, including purchase orders. This is a known system limitation logged under Enhancement 84417, which requests the ability to mass delete transactions based on user-defined search criteria.
Solution
Although mass deletion isn't supported natively, you can use a Saved Search combined with Inline Editing to delete Purchase Orders in bulk:
Step-by-Step:
Step 1: Go to Lists > Search > Saved Searches > NewStep 2: Select Transaction as the typeStep 3: In the Criteria tab:
- Set Type is Purchase Order
- Add Internal ID and input the internal IDs of the POs to be deleted(This step is crucial if you don’t have other unique criteria)
Step 4: Name the search “Mass PO Delete”, then click Save & Run
Step 5: Enable Inline Editing
- Go to Home > Set Preferences > General > Inline Editing and make sure it's turned on
Step 6: In the search results:
- Click any editable field (indicated by a pencil icon) on the first record
- To select multiple lines:
- Hold Shift and click the last record to select a full batch
- Hold Ctrl (Cmd on Mac) and click individual records for selective deletion
Step 7: Press Delete on your keyboardStep 8: Click OK on the confirmation prompt
Additional Notes
- Inline editing must be enabled for your role and transaction type
- Always double-check that the correct records are selected before deletion
- Deletions are permanent—consider exporting data or testing the steps in a sandbox environment first
Conclusion
While NetSuite doesn’t yet offer native mass deletion of transactions, this workaround using a Saved Search and Inline Editing provides a safe, user-controlled method for deleting multiple Purchase Orders at once. Consider logging a vote for Enhancement 84417 to help prioritize this functionality in future updates.
-----
If you find this information useful, let us know by reacting or commenting on this post!
