What to change
A recurring stale link usually indicates that the manual edit was made downstream from the authoritative configuration. Ask the supplier to identify the source that produces category navigation and change the retired entry there. Require a normal rebuild as part of acceptance. The useful evidence is that the link remains absent or intentionally replaced after regeneration, without needing another manual clean-up pass.
A worked example
Illustrative example
Illustrative test: Compare the navigation immediately after editing and after a clean regeneration. A retired category disappears after a manual edit but returns when the next batch of guides is published. The supplier finds its entry in the maintained category list, applies the approved removal there and performs an ordinary rebuild. Your team reviews the navigation after that rebuild, not just immediately after the edit. The record names the lasting source correction so a future maintainer can understand why the link should stay absent.
What this means for your practice
If an old category reappears whenever the site is rebuilt, the deletion was probably made in a copy rather than the maintained source. Ask your supplier to identify the list or setting that generates navigation. Decide whether the retired category should disappear completely or point to an appropriate replacement, then apply that decision there. Include a normal rebuild in the acceptance check. The important result is not that a link disappeared once, but that routine publishing now preserves the correct navigation. Keep the reason for retirement with the content record so a later editor does not reintroduce the category believing it was removed accidentally.
How to check the result
The retired route stays absent or intentionally redirected through the normal build process.
A mistake to avoid
Editing only the generated page can leave the original source unchanged, allowing the stale link to return during a later update.
Turn reading into a next step
Your action checklist
Work through these checks with your team or supplier. Tick the ones you have resolved and leave unknowns open.
Record what you know, what is still missing and the answer you need from your team or supplier.
Use project decisions only, without personal, patient or confidential details. Entries stay in this page and are not submitted to Kay & Co. Copy or download before leaving; this page does not save your notes.
Further reading
These sources provide background for the topic. The practice examples and checklist are illustrative planning suggestions from Kay & Co.
Related guides
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