Statuses
Complete reference for item and concept statuses: what they mean, how they're set, and which combinations are valid.
Primary Statuses
Valid
Default: true
Indicates the item is approved and appropriate for use.
Set By
Added as true on creation; set to false by Invalidation action
Effect When False
Item should not be used; may indicate error or withdrawal
Published
Default: true
Indicates the item is visible to users.
Set By
Added as true on creation; set to false by Unpublish action
Effect When False
Item hidden from normal queries; still accessible with explicit reference
Superseded
Default: false
Indicates the item has been replaced by a newer version.
Set By
Supersede action
Effect When True
Item is not current; link provided to superseding item
Redacted
Default: false
Indicates content has been hidden or removed.
Set By
Redaction action
Effect When True
Content hidden/removed; metadata may still be visible
Deleted
Default: false
Indicates the item has been permanently removed.
Set By
Deletion action
Effect When True
Item removed from register; use carefully as it breaks references
Status Reference Table
| Status | Default | When Set | Who Sets | Effect |
|---|---|---|---|---|
valid | true | On creation; Invalidation | Control Body | false = Don't use |
published | true | On creation; Unpublish | Control Body | false = Hidden |
superseded | false | Supersede action | Control Body | true = Replaced |
redacted | false | Redaction action | Control Body | true = Content hidden |
deleted | false | Deletion action | Control Body | true = Removed |
Valid Status Combinations
Not all status combinations make sense. Here's guidance:
| Combination | Valid? | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
valid=true, published=true | Yes | Normal active item |
valid=true, published=false | Yes | Approved but not yet visible |
valid=false, published=true | Yes | Invalid but still visible for reference |
valid=false, published=false | Yes | Invalid and hidden |
superseded=true, valid=true | Yes | Replaced but still valid (historical reference) |
deleted=true, valid=true | No | Deleted items should be invalid |
redacted=true, published=true | Caution | Redacted content shouldn't be visible |
Status Transitions
┌──────────────┐
│ Created │
│valid=true │
│published=true│
└──────┬───────┘
│
┌───────────────────┼───────────────────┐
│ │ │
▼ ▼ ▼
┌──────────────┐ ┌──────────────┐ ┌──────────────┐
│ Invalidate │ │ Unpublish │ │ Supersede │
│ valid=false │ │published=false│ │superseded=true│
└──────────────┘ └──────────────┘ └──────────────┘
│
▼
┌──────────────┐
│ Redact │
│ redacted=true│
└──────────────┘
│
▼
┌──────────────┐
│ Delete │
│ deleted=true │
└──────────────┘
Temporal Constraints
Some items have temporal validity—when they apply from and until:
Fields
validFrom: When the item becomes applicablevalidUntil: When the item ceases to be applicable
Implementation Guidance
- Use ISO 8601 format for dates/times
- Allow open-ended ranges (no validUntil = still valid)
- Handle overlapping validity periods in queries
- Document timezone handling
Conflict Resolution
When multiple items have overlapping validity:
- Prefer more specific items over general
- Prefer later items if specificity is equal
- Flag conflicts for manual resolution
Concept vs Item Status
Status can apply at both concept and item levels:
| Level | When to Apply | Propagation |
|---|---|---|
| Concept | When the entire concept is being managed | May propagate to all items realizing the concept |
| Item | When specific content is affected | Does not affect concept status |
Propagation Rules
- Invalidating a concept typically invalidates all its items
- Invalidating an item does not affect the concept
- Document your propagation policy clearly