How to delete an attribute definition from a project?

Hi,

While creating a new custom work item type, I mistakenly created one
of the attributes with the wrong data type (a typo in the
attributeDefinition's type attribute so it didn't match the
enumeration's actual ID). In the process configuration (non-source)
editor I can't change the type, even though I hadn't created any work
items of this type yet, and although I tried correcting it in the
Process Configuration Source when I added a presentation for the
attribute on the relevant work item editor definition it comes up
empty and disabled when I create new work items. Other attributes
using the same enumeration type are working fine.
So I removed both the customAttribute and attributeDefinition elements
from the process configuration, planning to start over and re-create
it with the correct type. However, even though there's no mention of
it whatsoever in the process configuration source (and after
restarting the desktop client just to be sure), when I try to Create
Attribute it says "An attribute with the same ID already
exists" (and I still see it in Add Custom Attribute -> Reuse
Existing Attribute). My guess is it must be stored somewhere on the
server that isn't being shown in the project area editor. Is there
no way to get rid of it other than deleting and recreating the entire
project?


Andrew.

To my knowledge, there is no way to delete an attribute definition from
the repository.

Cheers,
Geoff

On 1/26/2012 8:38 AM, ats wrote:

Hi,

While creating a new custom work item type, I mistakenly created one
of the attributes with the wrong data type (a typo in the
attributeDefinition's type attribute so it didn't match the
enumeration's actual ID). In the process configuration (non-source)
editor I can't change the type, even though I hadn't created any work
items of this type yet, and although I tried correcting it in the
Process Configuration Source when I added a presentation for the
attribute on the relevant work item editor definition it comes up
empty and disabled when I create new work items. Other attributes
using the same enumeration type are working fine.
So I removed both the customAttribute and attributeDefinition elements
from the process configuration, planning to start over and re-create
it with the correct type. However, even though there's no mention of
it whatsoever in the process configuration source (and after
restarting the desktop client just to be sure), when I try to Create
Attribute it says "An attribute with the same ID already
exists" (and I still see it in Add Custom Attribute -> Reuse
Existing Attribute). My guess is it must be stored somewhere on the
server that isn't being shown in the project area editor. Is there
no way to get rid of it other than deleting and recreating the entire
project?


Andrew.

Solution:

     Rename the old attribute to something that will fall to the bottom of the query list. Here is what I did for an attribute that was not used in any of my workitems.

Steps: (From Eclipse)

1. Pick any workitem type, e.g., Risk.

2. Check the "Show only custom attributes" box

3. Select Add

4. Select "Reuse Existing Attribute"

5. Find the old attribute you do not want people to us in the query list in the "Attribute" pull-down box.

6. Edit the attribute you added.

7. Change the name of the attribute. Example: zOld_Completion_Time

8. Select save.

9. Now remove the attribute from the workitem.

10. Select save.

11. Repeat as necessary with all old attributes.

I know there may be an easier way, but this workaround suffices for my purposes. The users will not be confused as to which attribute to use when creating queries.

James