Troubleshooting
A category cannot be deleted
If the Delete item in a category's menu is disabled, or deleting stops with an in-use warning, remove the category by merging it or emptying it.
Only a category that is not linked to any record and has no sub-categories can be deleted. For all other categories the Delete item in the menu is disabled.
Records are linked to the category
If the number of records on the row is above zero, the category is in use. This number also includes records in draft and in the trash. The way to remove the category is to merge it with another category. The merge moves the records to the target category and deletes the category. The steps are in Merging Categories.
If you want to move the records to another category one by one, the Publications link in the menu lists the records linked to this category. Records in the trash do not appear in this list, but they still block the deletion.
The category has sub-categories
A category with sub-categories cannot be deleted. Move the sub-categories under another parent category with Edit, or merge the category. In a merge, the sub-categories move under the target.
A deleted category does not come back
Categories do not go to the trash, and a deleted category cannot be restored. Because only empty categories can be deleted, no record loses a link. The records of a merged category are in the target category.