"Missing reference at SmartObjectField. SmartObject could not be found" error after changing choice column
KBS100195
PRODUCTIssue
After changing a SharePoint Choice column to a Single Line of Text column and regenerating the SmartObject, Views, and Forms; the Workflow deployment fails with this error:
"Missing reference at SmartObjectField. [SmartObjectSystemNameOfSharePointColumn] could not be found. K2 Process '[WorkflowName]' > Stack End."
Symptoms
If a SharePoint Choice column exists, a SmartObject will be created for this Choice column.
If using Workflow events integration:
The Choice SmartObject will be automatically added as a Reference in the workflow:
If this Choice column is changed to a Single Line of Text column and the SmartObject, Views and Forms regenerated as part of the development lifecycle; this Choice SmartObject will be deleted and refactored as a field of the main List SmartObject.
However, if you attempt to redeploy the workflow, the following error will occur:
This is because the reference still exists, but the SmartObject does not. Expanding this Reference does not return any properties:
Resolution
To delete this reference and allow for workflow deployment, right-click on the bad reference in question and select the Delete option.