2537488 - Best Practice to delete/inactivate a Picklist, Picklist versions or Picklist Values

• Is it possible to deactivate one Picklist/Picklist Value/Picklist Version?
• What to do when you want to remove/delete/deactivate one Picklist/Picklist Value/Picklist Version?
• How to delete a MDF picklist?
• How to delete a MDF picklist value or version?

Image/data in this KBA is from SAP internal systems, sample data, or demo systems. Any resemblance to real data is purely coincidental.

• SAP SuccessFactors HCM Suite
• Metadata framework (MDF)

Picklists are widely used in the system. Even if one picklist is marked as deleted, there still might be some places having references to this picklist. If we remove the picklist physically from database, those references might be broken. This way, our recommendation is to avoid deleting/purging picklists from the system.

How to deactivate a Picklist?

1. Go to Admin Center > Picklist Center.
2. Select the Picklist to be deactivated.
3. Click on the Diamond-shaped button to deactivate the picklist.

   A warning message is displayed letting you know of the consequences of your action.

4. Click Yes to continue.

NOTE: This action will deactivate all Picklist's versions.

How to deactivate a Picklist Version?

1. Go to Admin Center > Picklist Center.
2. Search for the picklist you want to view. 
3. Click on the external code of the picklist.

   You’re directed to the Versions page. All the versions associated with the picklist are listed.

4. Select the version of the picklist that you want to deactivate and click Deactivate.

   A warning message is displayed letting you know of the consequences of your action.

5. Click Yes to deactivate the version.

How to deactivate a Picklist Version?

1. Go to Admin Center > Picklist Center.
2. In the Picklist Search field, enter the external code or name of the picklist. Choose the picklist from which you want to remove picklist values.

   You’re directed to the Versions page of the picklist to make any edits to it.

3. Choose the picklist values that you want to deactivate and click on the Diamond-shaped button.

   A warning message is displayed letting you know of the consequences of your action.

4. Click Yes to continue.

NOTE: SAP recommends not to delete picklists, picklist versions, or picklist values. Also, note that SAP does not support recovering of deleted picklists, so customers should attempt deletion only if they are 100% sure that there are no references to such picklists. If you need to delete a picklist, refer to this Guide: Deleting Picklists, Picklist versions or Picklist values

NOTE: You are not advised to use Full Purge in CSV format as it might lead to data loss. For example, if a picklist is referenced by an object, then after the full purge the reference goes off and SAP is not able to restore it.

• KBA 2910726 - How to change the external code of an MDF picklist?
• KBA 2853514 - Inactivating a MDF Picklist
• KBA 2088679 - Picklists: What is a Picklist? - Platform
• Help Guide - Implementing the Metadata Framework (MDF)

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