REST API works differently in 16.1.2 compare to 16.1.1 when deleting data from Rich text string field

Products

• Clarity PPM SaaS
• Clarity PPM On Premise

Issue/Introduction

After upgrading our PROD to 16.1.2 all processes where I used REST API for deleting Long String stopped working. Now I have to enter 'some' string.

The original structure 

"s_activ":""

now I have to use 

"s_activ":"~" 

s_activ is Large String - Rich Text attribute in custom object.

Environment

Release : 16.1.1

Cause

Clarity’s Large String - Rich Text Formatting (RTF) component has been updated and uses the same tooling as Rally.

https://techdocs.broadcom.com/us/en/ca-enterprise-software/business-management/clarity-project-and-portfolio-management-ppm-on-premise/16-1-2/release-information/clarity-ppm-release-notes.html

Resolution

In 16.1.2 in the payload you will see something like below when deleting text

s_activ: "<plain-text></plain-text>"

This is due to the component that we updated for Rich text in 16.1.2

So in 16.1.2 and you should issue patch calls below to delete field value for Rich Text:

Patch Call

{
    "s_activ": null
}