https://wb.linkeddata.work/w/index.php?action=history&feed=atom&title=Deleting_properties 2026-04-29T21:10:59Z Revision history for this page on the wiki MediaWiki 1.44.0 https://wb.linkeddata.work/w/index.php?title=Deleting_properties&diff=574&oldid=prev 2025-11-21T16:11:06Z

<p>explaining the process for deleting properties without data loss or broken internal wiki links</p> <p><b>New page</b></p><div>= Deleting properties =<br /> <br /> As a general rule, properties should not be deleted. This is mostly due to a risk of a property being used in the wikibase by some other item or property and breaking that connection. However, properties do get created in error all the time.<br /> <br /> == Recommendation for properties created in error ==<br /> If you would like to delete a property because the &#039;type&#039; is incorrect, consider repurposing the property to be some other property that would use this data type. You can always put something like &#039;[Hold for new property of type {external id}]&#039; in the label.<br /> <br /> == If you must delete a property, follow these steps ==<br /> # Change the label to note the a deletion is coming : [To Delete] in front of the existing property name<br /> # Create the correct version of the property that will be used<br /> # Do a SPARQL query for the property to be deleted to see if any existing items (or properties) are using that property<br /> # Be sure to add the correct version of the property to anything that is using the property to be deleted<br /> # Do a SPARQL query of items (and/or properties) that are using both to-be-deleted and the new property to compare the the query of items using only the to-be-deleted property to make sure all items/properties are caught<br /> # Remove the to-be-deleted property from all items/properties where it is currently in use (this can be done through a batch process - API or otherwise or manually depending on the number of items)<br /> # Delete the property</div>

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