Before you start
Treat a custom field as part of the company's data model. Changing its name, requirement, or options can affect forms, searches, exports, and team habits.
Deactivate a field
To stop collecting a value without losing its history, edit the field and use Deactivate field in Lifecycle. This is the recommended choice when the field already contains values. The list marks it as Inactive, and you can reactivate it when it is ready.
Before deactivating it, export or document the information if it must be retained outside Talento, and check whether a team workflow depends on it. If it has been replaced, tell users which new field to use and from what date.
Delete a field or option
Delete a field only if it was created by mistake and has never been used. If it contains values, Talento refuses deletion, leaves the field unchanged, and tells you to deactivate it. Deleting an unused field is permanent.
For selection fields, an option already associated with values cannot be deleted either. Deactivate it so it cannot be chosen on new records while historical values remain intact. New or unused options can be deleted while editing. An active selection field must always retain at least one available option.
Important
Do not change the meaning of a historical field through repeated renaming. Create a new field, define a transition period, and deactivate the old field after the data has been reviewed.
After any change, open a record in the affected area and test creating, editing, and displaying the value. This catches problems that are not visible in the settings list.
Result
The affected forms retain historical values while no longer offering retired fields or options for new use.
Troubleshooting
If an option is missing, check the active module, specific permission, and record scope. If the configuration is correct and the problem continues, keep the displayed message and contact support.