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Release: Australia · Updated: 2026-03-12 · Official documentation · View source

Create a software removal candidate in workspace

Removal candidates reclaim software resources in your environment. They are created automatically from reclamation rules or can be created manually.

Before you begin

Role required: sam_admin or sam_user

About this task

Software reclamation is integrated with Workflow and Client Software Distribution to automate the process of uninstalling software from devices and reclaiming software rights. However, you can also create a removal candidate manually. The following steps are for manually creating a removal candidate.

Starting from the Australia release, the reclamation workflow can also be completed using the Software Reclamation Flow in the Flow Designer application with additional error handling functionality.

Procedure

  1. Navigate to All > Software asset > Software Asset Workspace.

  2. Select License usage.

  3. Select the Removal candidates tab.

  4. Select New to open the Create New Removal Candidate page.

  5. On the form, fill in the fields.

FieldDescription
NumberUnique removal candidate number that is automatically generated.
Assignment groupAutomatically set to the software managers group authorized to respond to removal candidates.
Assigned toPerson primarily responsible for working on this task.
Name

Removal candidate name that is automatically generated. Contains the software installation display name.

Note: If you are using the bulk reclamation functionality, for the name to be generated, at least one software installation must be selected in the removal candidate form. If no software installation is selected, a name isn't generated and the Name field is empty. If you add software installations and later decide to remove all of them, the Name field returns to being empty.

DescriptionDescription of why the task exists and what the user must do if they receive an approval.
StateCurrent state of the removal candidate.- Attention Required - Ready - Awaiting User - Awaiting Approval - Awaiting Revocation - Closed Complete - Closed Skipped - Closed Canceled
OpenedDate the task was opened.
ClosedDate the task was closed.
JustificationJustification for becoming a removal candidate.- Low Usage \(default\) - Unallocated - Unlicensed - Restricted Software
Applies toItem type to which the reclamation rule applies.- Installed Software - Subscription Software - Engineering App License
Software installationThe software installation being reclaimed.
Engineering App LicenseNote: Only appears if Engineering App License is selected in the Applies to list.The Engineering application license that you want to reclaim.
User

Name of the user assigned to the software installation. This value can be changed so that another user receives the notification of software being uninstalled.

If the Bulk Reclamation check box is selected, this becomes a mandatory field.

User subscriptionThe user to whom this subscription is allocated.
Inactive daysThe number of days for which a user's subscription has been inactive.This field is visible only when the value in the Justification field is Low Usage and the User subscription field is not empty.
Bulk Reclamation

Select this check box to reclaim multiple software installations.

Once you select this check box, the Software installation field is no longer visible. To add software installations, refer to the sub steps mentioned in Step 6.

Configuration itemThe device on which the software is installed.
Reclamation ruleThe reclamation rule that created the removal candidate.
Rights to reclaimNote: Only shown if Engineering App License is selected in the Applies to list.The number of rights that you want to reclaim. For example, you have 100 rights installed on a license server but you want to reclaim only 40 rights.
Potential savingsEstimated cost of savings if all removal candidates are in the Closed Complete state, meaning the software was uninstalled and the rights were harvested \(unused rights \* average price per right from entitlements\).
Notify userCheck box for notifying the user assigned to the hardware on which the software is installed, requesting permission via email to remove the software.
Configuration itemThe device on which the software is installed.
Activity
Work notesUsed to track the actions that have been performed on this task.
  1. Select Save.

    The removal candidate record is created. If you selected the Bulk Reclamation check box, the state of the removal candidate changes to Attention Required. Perform the following sub steps to add software installations before proceeding to the next step. If you didn't select the Bulk Reclamation check box, proceed to the next step.

    1. Select New in the Software Installation related list.

    2. Select a software installation and select Save.

      The software installation you added appears in the Software Installations related list. The state of the removal candidate moves from Attention Required to Ready and a name is generated in the Name field. Continue to select New to add more software installations. If you decide to remove all software installations, then the state reverts back to Attention Required and the name no longer appears in the Name field. For the name to be generated and for the removal candidate to be in Ready state, at least one software installation must be selected in the removal candidate form.

  2. Select Reclaim.

    Once your software installation is reclaimed and removed from your system, the Software Installation column becomes empty. You can refer to the following fields on the Software installation related list to give you insights into the history of the reclaimed software installation.

    • Display name
    • Product
    • Publisher
    • Software model You may select any action button on the form to further configure the removal candidate. Action buttons are dependent on the removal candidate's justification and state.
ActionDescription
UpdateUpdate the removal candidate.
Resume ReclaimVerify the completeness of data for processing.This button is displayed when the state of the reclamation candidate is Attention Required.
Close CompleteReclaim rights and close the removal candidate.
Close SkippedClose the removal candidate without reclaiming rights.
DeleteDelete removal candidate.

Parent Topic:Using Software Asset Workspace