> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.shiftupai.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Activate, Deactivate, or Archive a Strategy

Activating a strategy moves it from **New** to **Active** status and, optionally, connects it to your sales pipeline. You can activate for validation only, create a new opportunity, or link to an existing one. You can also deactivate an active strategy to send it back to **New**, unlink its Salesforce opportunity, or archive it entirely.

## Prerequisites

* You must be **Assigned To** the strategy to activate, deactivate, or archive it
* To activate, the strategy must be in **New** status
* To deactivate or unlink an opportunity, the strategy must be in **Active** status
* To link an existing opportunity, the account must have at least one open opportunity in Salesforce

## Quick Reference

| Action                                  | Where                        | Steps                                                                                                                      |
| :-------------------------------------- | :--------------------------- | :------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| Activate for validation                 | Strategy detail page         | Open strategy → Click **Activate** → Select **Activate for validation only** → **Save**                                    |
| Activate and create opportunity         | Strategy detail page         | Open strategy → Click **Activate** → Select **Activate and convert to opportunity** → **Save** → Complete opportunity form |
| Activate and link existing opportunity  | Strategy detail page         | Open strategy → Click **Activate** → Select **Activate and link to existing opportunity** → Choose opportunity → **Link**  |
| Deactivate an active strategy           | Strategy detail page         | Open active strategy → Action menu → **Deactivate** → Confirm                                                              |
| Unlink opportunity from active strategy | Strategy detail page         | Open active strategy → Action menu → **Unlink Opportunity** → Confirm                                                      |
| Archive a strategy                      | Strategy list or detail page | Right-click strategy → **Archive** (or use the action menu)                                                                |
| Restore an archived strategy            | Archived tab                 | Open **Archived** tab → Right-click strategy → **Restore**                                                                 |
| Bulk archive strategies                 | New or Active tab            | Click **Select** → Choose strategies → **Archive**                                                                         |

## Option 1: Activate for validation only

Use this when you want to pursue a strategy but are not ready to create a Salesforce opportunity.

<Steps>
  <Step title="Open the strategy">
    Navigate to **Strategies** → **New** tab and click the strategy you want to activate.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Click Activate">
    Click the **Activate** button in the strategy header. The activation dialog opens with three options.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Select validation only">
    Choose **Activate for validation only**. This moves the strategy to Active status without creating an opportunity record. You can convert to an opportunity later.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Save">
    Click **Save** to activate the strategy. It now appears under the **Active** tab.
  </Step>
</Steps>

## Option 2: Activate and create a new opportunity

Use this when you are ready to create a new Salesforce opportunity tied to this strategy.

<Steps>
  <Step title="Open the strategy">
    Navigate to **Strategies** → **New** tab and click the strategy you want to activate.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Click Activate">
    Click the **Activate** button in the strategy header.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Select convert to opportunity">
    Choose **Activate and convert to an opportunity**. This activates the strategy and launches the guided flow to create a new opportunity in Salesforce.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Complete the opportunity form">
    Fill in the required fields for the opportunity (name, stage, close date, amount) and save. The new opportunity is automatically linked to the strategy.
  </Step>
</Steps>

## Option 3: Activate and link an existing opportunity

Use this when an opportunity already exists in Salesforce for this account.

<Steps>
  <Step title="Open the strategy">
    Navigate to **Strategies** → **New** tab and click the strategy you want to activate.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Click Activate">
    Click the **Activate** button in the strategy header.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Select link existing">
    Choose **Activate and link to existing opportunity**. This option is only available if the account has open opportunities.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Select the opportunity">
    Choose an opportunity from the dropdown. Each option shows the opportunity name, stage, and amount.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Link">
    Click **Link** to activate the strategy and associate it with the selected opportunity.
  </Step>
</Steps>

## Convert to an opportunity after activation

If you activated for validation and later want to link an opportunity:

<Steps>
  <Step title="Open the active strategy">
    Navigate to **Strategies** → **Active** tab and click the strategy.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Open the convert dialog">
    Click the **Convert to Opportunity** button in the strategy header.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Choose your option">
    Select either **Create a new opportunity** (launches the guided flow) or **Link an existing opportunity** (opens the opportunity picker).
  </Step>
</Steps>

## Deactivate an active strategy

Deactivating moves an **Active** strategy back to **New** status so it re-enters your triage list. Use this when a strategy was activated by mistake, when it's no longer ready to pursue, or when you want to revisit the activation choices without losing the strategy.

<Note>
  Deactivate is different from Archive. Deactivate returns the strategy to **New** so you can act on it again later. Archive moves it to the **Archived** tab and takes it out of your working set. If you're done with the strategy entirely, archive it instead.
</Note>

<Steps>
  <Step title="Open the active strategy">
    Navigate to **Strategies** → **Active** tab and open the strategy.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Open the action menu">
    In the strategy header, open the action menu (**⋯**) and select **Deactivate**.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Confirm">
    The confirmation dialog reads *"Are you sure you want to deactivate \<strategy name>? This will move the strategy back to Draft status."* Click **Deactivate** to confirm.
  </Step>
</Steps>

After deactivating:

* The strategy moves back to the **New** tab and can be activated again at any time.
* If the strategy was linked to a Salesforce opportunity, the link is preserved on the strategy record — the opportunity itself is not deleted or reopened.
* Feed, activity, and history on the strategy are retained.

## Unlink an opportunity from an active strategy

You can remove the Salesforce opportunity link from an active strategy without deactivating or archiving it. The strategy stays **Active**; only the opportunity association is removed.

<Steps>
  <Step title="Open the active strategy">
    Navigate to **Strategies** → **Active** tab and open the strategy.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Open the action menu">
    In the strategy header, open the action menu (**⋯**) and select **Unlink Opportunity**. This option only appears when an opportunity is currently linked.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Confirm">
    Confirm the unlink. The strategy remains active but is no longer associated with that opportunity.
  </Step>
</Steps>

Once unlinked, you can use **Convert to Opportunity** on the strategy header to create a new opportunity or link a different existing one.

## Managing strategy status

Strategies move through three statuses:

| Status       | Description                                                                                                                                                              |
| :----------- | :----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **New**      | AI-generated strategy that has not been reviewed or acted on. Keep this list clean by activating or archiving promptly. Deactivating an Active strategy returns it here. |
| **Active**   | Strategy you are actively pursuing. Can be linked to a Salesforce opportunity.                                                                                           |
| **Archived** | Strategy you have decided not to pursue. Can be restored to New status at any time.                                                                                      |

### Archive a strategy

Right-click a strategy in the list and select **Archive**, or use the action menu on the detail page. Archived strategies move to the **Archived** tab. Archive is available from both the **New** and **Active** tabs.

### Restore an archived strategy

Open the **Archived** tab, right-click the strategy, and select **Restore**. The strategy returns to **New** status.

### Bulk archive

On the **New** or **Active** tab, click **Select**, check the strategies you want to archive, then click **Archive**. Bulk archive is not available on the **Archived** tab.

## Troubleshooting

<AccordionGroup>
  <Accordion title="Link to the existing opportunity is disabled">
    This option is unavailable when the account has no open opportunities in Salesforce. Create an opportunity in Salesforce first, or choose **Activate and convert to opportunity** to create one through ShiftUp.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Strategy does not appear in the Active tab after activation">
    Refresh the page. If the strategy still does not appear, verify that the activation completed successfully and that you have permission to view active strategies.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Cannot archive, deactivate, or restore a strategy">
    You need to be Assigned To the strategy to change its status. If you're not the assignee, ask the current assignee to make the change or reassign the strategy to you.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Deactivate option is missing from the action menu">
    Deactivate only appears on strategies in **Active** status. If the strategy is in **New** or **Archived**, the menu shows Archive or Restore instead.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Unlink Opportunity option is missing">
    Unlink Opportunity only appears when the active strategy has a linked Salesforce opportunity. If no opportunity is currently linked, there's nothing to unlink.
  </Accordion>
</AccordionGroup>