Custom field definition lifecycle

The Lifecycle

Transitions Explained

Creation opens use of a field. Compatible edits maintain its contract; archival removes current use and rules while preserving stored values. Restoration rechecks the parent category and returns the field without earlier rules.

What Cannot Happen

Archival retains the key and values; changes to archived definitions require restoration.

Concurrency and Timing

Replacement uses the version read. Archival and restoration serialize on the definition row without an expected version, and restoration additionally rechecks current type eligibility. Search job starts follow the archive commit and may fail independently.