Prevent entry creation in a category

Program managers have a variety of reasons to prevent entries from being created within a category, such as: 

• You might want to continue testing newly added categories after entries have opened and not want entrants to enter it just yet 
• A specific category is accepting entries for a shorter period of time than the others
• You have more than expected entries in a category and the entry period is still open

The process of closing a category to prevent entrants from seeing and selecting it is easy! Just follow the steps outlined below.

Deactivate the category

1. In the Manage workspace, navigate to Settings > Entries > Categories
2. Click your desired category's name
3. Within the category's 'Details' tab, untick the Category is active checkbox
   
4. Save

As a program manager, you can still view this category and create a test entry. When doing so via the Enter workspace under Entries, you will see the category listed within the category selection dropdown, but it will be labeled as '(inactive for entrants)'. Rest assured, your entrants cannot see this category or message. 

Reactivate the category

When it comes time, you can follow these steps to make the category active once again.

1. Select the Manage workspace and navigate to Settings > Entries > Categories
2. Click your desired category's name
3. Within the category's 'Details' tab, tick the Category is active checkbox
4. Save

For more information on categories, see our guide: Category configuration.