Pricing plan cannot be deleted: estimates reference it

Question 1

Why do I see "Estimates reference this pricing plan; deactivate it instead of deleting."?

Accepted Answer

Every estimate remembers the pricing plan it was priced on: the plan's charges, rates and stage links are how the estimate's total and payment schedule were arrived at. Deleting the plan would leave those estimates pointing at nothing, so the app keeps it as soon as a single estimate refers to it. The check does not care about the estimate's status: a cancelled or superseded estimate still counts, because it is still on file and can be opened. Retiring a plan is done by switching it off. An inactive plan is hidden from the list (until you tick Show inactive plans) and is no longer offered when a new estimate is priced, but the estimates that used it keep it and can still be read and booked. 1. Deactivate the plan instead. On Unit Pricing, click the pencil on the plan card (hover "Edit "), untick Active and click Save changes. You see “Plan "" updated.” This needs the Edit permission on Pricing Plans; in the default roles that is the Administrator and the Project Manager. The plan disappears from the list; tick Show inactive plans to see or reactivate it. 2. If you really need it gone, find the estimates that use it under Estimates (the plan is named on each estimate under Unit & plan). Only a Draft estimate can be changed or deleted: price the draft on another plan, or delete it. A new version of an estimate is a separate estimate, so the earlier versions keep pointing at the plan. Once any estimate that is no longer a draft (sent, approved, cancelled, expired or superseded, for example) uses the plan, it can only be deactivated. When no estimate refers to the plan at all, Delete goes through; it needs the Delete permission on Pricing Plans. 3. Create the replacement plan with Add / New plan (the Create permission on Pricing Plans) so new estimates pick it up.

Question 2

Why do I see "Estimates reference this pricing plan; deactivate it instead"?

Accepted Answer

Every estimate remembers the pricing plan it was priced on: the plan's charges, rates and stage links are how the estimate's total and payment schedule were arrived at. Deleting the plan would leave those estimates pointing at nothing, so the app keeps it as soon as a single estimate refers to it. The check does not care about the estimate's status: a cancelled or superseded estimate still counts, because it is still on file and can be opened. Retiring a plan is done by switching it off. An inactive plan is hidden from the list (until you tick Show inactive plans) and is no longer offered when a new estimate is priced, but the estimates that used it keep it and can still be read and booked. 1. Deactivate the plan instead. On Unit Pricing, click the pencil on the plan card (hover "Edit "), untick Active and click Save changes. You see “Plan "" updated.” This needs the Edit permission on Pricing Plans; in the default roles that is the Administrator and the Project Manager. The plan disappears from the list; tick Show inactive plans to see or reactivate it. 2. If you really need it gone, find the estimates that use it under Estimates (the plan is named on each estimate under Unit & plan). Only a Draft estimate can be changed or deleted: price the draft on another plan, or delete it. A new version of an estimate is a separate estimate, so the earlier versions keep pointing at the plan. Once any estimate that is no longer a draft (sent, approved, cancelled, expired or superseded, for example) uses the plan, it can only be deactivated. When no estimate refers to the plan at all, Delete goes through; it needs the Delete permission on Pricing Plans. 3. Create the replacement plan with Add / New plan (the Create permission on Pricing Plans) so new estimates pick it up.

Question 3

Why do I see "Plans used by estimates cannot be deleted; deactivate them instead."?

Accepted Answer

Every estimate remembers the pricing plan it was priced on: the plan's charges, rates and stage links are how the estimate's total and payment schedule were arrived at. Deleting the plan would leave those estimates pointing at nothing, so the app keeps it as soon as a single estimate refers to it. The check does not care about the estimate's status: a cancelled or superseded estimate still counts, because it is still on file and can be opened. Retiring a plan is done by switching it off. An inactive plan is hidden from the list (until you tick Show inactive plans) and is no longer offered when a new estimate is priced, but the estimates that used it keep it and can still be read and booked. 1. Deactivate the plan instead. On Unit Pricing, click the pencil on the plan card (hover "Edit "), untick Active and click Save changes. You see “Plan "" updated.” This needs the Edit permission on Pricing Plans; in the default roles that is the Administrator and the Project Manager. The plan disappears from the list; tick Show inactive plans to see or reactivate it. 2. If you really need it gone, find the estimates that use it under Estimates (the plan is named on each estimate under Unit & plan). Only a Draft estimate can be changed or deleted: price the draft on another plan, or delete it. A new version of an estimate is a separate estimate, so the earlier versions keep pointing at the plan. Once any estimate that is no longer a draft (sent, approved, cancelled, expired or superseded, for example) uses the plan, it can only be deactivated. When no estimate refers to the plan at all, Delete goes through; it needs the Delete permission on Pricing Plans. 3. Create the replacement plan with Add / New plan (the Create permission on Pricing Plans) so new estimates pick it up.

Pricing plan cannot be deleted: estimates reference it

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Pricing plan cannot be deleted: estimates reference it

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