Understanding Internal Use Only and Inactive Records

Internal Use Only

Internal Use Only means that the record is still active and can be used by an administrator throughout the backend. However, it will not be displayed as an option on a public site unless an administrator is logged in.

Inactive

Inactive is essentially equivalent to deleting the record. Since control records have historical significance, they cannot be deleted. Making a record inactive means it cannot be used at all. It will only appear in reports and other places where historical data is displayed.

Key Differences

- Internal Use Only: The record exists and is visible only to administrators.
- Inactive: The record does not exist for any practical purposes except in historical data.

Example: Managing Payment Methods

When dealing with payment methods, here’s how you might use these statuses:

- Internal Use Only: Make "check" and "cash" internal use only because you would never want a customer to choose these options on the public checkout page. However, if an administrator is manually entering an order, they might choose these methods.
- Inactive: Make "Diner’s Club" inactive because your merchant gateway stopped accepting it and you will no longer allow it as a payment method.

Updated on: 07/07/2024