Can You Convert Custom Field Format?

[Katherine Knochel]

Is it possible to change the format/type of an existing custom field?  I presently have a single select drop down menu for Client Name, which I would like to convert into a cascading drop down so I can include a client ID with the client name.  I don't want to lose the ability to report on existing.previous tickets with the existing Client Name field.

[Michael Partyka]

It is not possible. You have to create new custom field.

[Nic Brough -Adaptavist-]

Not directly - you have to mess around with the database, and a lot of conversions aren't easy (or possible) even with database access.

Without hacking the database, you could add a new field, populate the options, and then do some bulk-edits to copy the data across into it.  I'd also remove the old field from create/edit and transition screens so that no-one puts data in it, and then delete it when everyone has moved to using the new field.