Final answer:
The deletion of a custom field can be prevented if it's referenced in a formula, used in a report, part of a page layout, or tied to a record type. The field must be disassociated from these dependencies before it can be safely deleted.
Step-by-step explanation:
Factors that will prevent the deletion of a custom field in a database or CRM system like Salesforce include situations where the field is actively used in the system's configuration or function. For instance:
- If the field is referenced in a formula, it cannot be deleted because it may affect the results of that formula, leading to data inconsistencies or errors in processing.
- When the field is used in a report, removing it might result in incomplete reports or the inability to run these reports at all.
- If the field is part of a page layout, it must be removed from the layout before it can be deleted to ensure the integrity of the user interface.
- Finally, a field associated with a specific record type may also be non-deletable until that association is removed, because the field may dictate how records are processed or displayed based on that type.
To proceed with deletion, one must first ensure the field is no longer in use in any of these ways.