# Changing UDT Parent Type **URL:** \ **Category:** Ignition\ **Tags:** ignition81\ **Created:** [April 20, 2021, 7:26pm UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/changing-udt-parent-type/45825 "2021-04-20T19:26:19Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![levi\_jacobs](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ba9def/32.png) [@levi\_jacobs](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/u/levi_jacobs)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2021, 7:26pm UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/changing-udt-parent-type/45825/1 "2021-04-20T19:26:19Z")
I’ve noticed in 8.1.3 that I can no longer change the UDT parent type on a UDT instance. Was this an intentional change? (I found this feature very convenient!) I see this entry in the release notes, but i thought it only applied to nested UDT instances. ![image](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/inductiveautomation/original/3X/0/5/058c9423d33a2a8b94a8228f3e78f8a6f119f6ff.png) ---
**Author:** ![nminchin](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/inductiveautomation/user_avatar/forum.inductiveautomation.com/nminchin/32/6911_2.png) [@nminchin](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/u/nminchin)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2021, 9:46pm UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/changing-udt-parent-type/45825/2 "2021-04-20T21:46:48Z")
Yep, it's broken and was applied incorrectly to _all_ UDT instances instead. Super frustrating as in order to change the parent now you have to delete the tags altogether and reimport... I raised a bug with support but haven't heard anything from them and it's been almost a month, also posted below > [@\[IGN-2416\] 8.1.4-RC1 Can't change parent data type of non-nested UDT instance](http://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/bug-regression-8-1-4-rc1-cant-change-parent-data-type-of-non-nested-udt-instance/44769): > > I’m trying to change the parent UDT type of a whole bunch of UDT instances, however I can no longer do this. I know there was a change that was going in at some stage that was going to stop nested UDT instances within a base UDT definition from being changed (makes sense), but this change is affecting the base level as well. Error is: Bad\_Unsupported("Cannot change typeId of inherited tag These tank instances below are instantiated within the Tanks folder, and their parent data type is greyed… ---
**Author:** ![kcollins](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/inductiveautomation/user_avatar/forum.inductiveautomation.com/kcollins/32/19646_2.png) [@kcollins](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/u/kcollins)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2021, 10:41pm UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/changing-udt-parent-type/45825/3 "2021-04-20T22:41:29Z")
@levi_jacobs, You are correct, the change in behavior here was in order to fix an issue related to overriding of a Parent Data Type within a nested UDT instance as well as improper behavior related to bindings against the Parent Data Type. For example: ![image](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/inductiveautomation/original/3X/d/f/df3e9b964146ca3c650302f32555d1d221e1121e.png) However, in taking a broader look at things, this ended up reaching a bit further into locking out the ability to change it at an instance level, which while perhaps unintended, _did_ work before. With how properties are stored with a tag, I think it is probably better this way, as changing the parent data type of a tag instance would result in a bunch of potentially stale data/properties being stored with the tag object (since it now has a new shape). There is an open ticket to address the import-with-overwrite to change the tag definition. ---
**Author:** ![nminchin](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/inductiveautomation/user_avatar/forum.inductiveautomation.com/nminchin/32/6911_2.png) [@nminchin](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/u/nminchin)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2021, 11:08pm UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/changing-udt-parent-type/45825/4 "2021-04-20T23:08:33Z")
Most of the time, if I need to change a parent type, both udts are going to have exactly the same udt parameters, so this isn’t an issue. I imagine it would be the same for most users. If you’re changing the instance to a completely unrelated one, then you should probably be creating a new instance anyway ---
**Author:** ![levi\_jacobs](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ba9def/32.png) [@levi\_jacobs](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/u/levi_jacobs)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2021, 10:04pm UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/changing-udt-parent-type/45825/5 "2021-04-27T22:04:18Z")
Ok. Thanks for the response. ---
**Author:** ![julie.rhoads](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9fc29f/32.png) [@julie.rhoads](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/u/julie.rhoads)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2022, 6:04am UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/changing-udt-parent-type/45825/6 "2022-01-05T06:04:12Z")
Is there an update on this being allowed again? ---
**Author:** ![kcollins](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/inductiveautomation/user_avatar/forum.inductiveautomation.com/kcollins/32/19646_2.png) [@kcollins](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/u/kcollins)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2022, 2:17pm UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/changing-udt-parent-type/45825/7 "2022-01-05T14:17:09Z")
Just based on some functional testing against 8.1.13, it looks like the ability to change the Parent type of a standalone UDT instance is working. Note that the original change mentioned by OP still applies, _Changing an Inherited UDT Instance’s Parent Data Type is [not allowed]._ ---
**Author:** ![julie.rhoads](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9fc29f/32.png) [@julie.rhoads](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/u/julie.rhoads)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2022, 3:00pm UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/changing-udt-parent-type/45825/8 "2022-01-05T15:00:06Z")
thank you! i’m on 8.1.11 so let me try upgrading.