[Erp5-users] [Erp5-dev] remove existing categories

[jp at nexedi.com]

Hi,

> Some categories have already been preconfigured but we have decided that we will not use them and we want to replace them by new categories.

Good.

> I have realised that using ERP5 it is not possible to delete existing categories. I also tried to 'expire' a category but it still occurs in the dropdown boxes.

It is possible to delete categories. But if they are used it will be prevented.

Exprire should remove them from drop down menu after some time (caching). If this is not the case, it is a bug. 

> The only way I found to delete categories is via the ZMI.

Sometimes it is the only way. It is acceptable as a developer.

> I did an import of my data to another instance.
The import worked quite well but I will now see the newly imported categories AND the old values which is not what I want.

This i normal.

> I am fully aware of the problems which might be related to deleted customising, but I have made some tests and found that even if a category value does not exist anymore ERP5 handles it quite well and does not dump.

The solution is normally to use expire. Then update all existing data so that none of it used "legacy" categories. Then expire them. Then after some time, deleted expired categories.

Make sure also you do not break categories related to security configuration.

Regards,

JPS.