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

# Update a derived skill in Advanced Designer

> Update a derived skill in Advanced Designer to a new base-skill version while preserving custom fields, rules, and training.

A derived skill can be updated if a new version of its base skill becomes available. When you update a derived skill, all the changes previously made to the derived skill are preserved.

## Update notification

When an update becomes available, an update icon appears next to the version number of the derived skill in the **Skill Catalog**, and its settings icon shows an alert indicator.

## How to update a derived skill

<Note>
  If the base skill has an older Technology Core version, update the base skill first — then update the derived skill.
</Note>

<Steps>
  <Step title="Open the skill">
    Open the derived skill in Advanced Designer.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Open settings">
    Click the settings icon with the alert indicator to open its settings.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Select the latest base-skill version">
    Choose the latest version of the base skill.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Save">
    Click **Save**.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Retrain trainable activities (if Technology Core upgraded)">
    If the base skill upgraded to a new Technology Core version, retrain all its trainable activities on that version.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Test the skill">
    Test the updated skill and make any necessary adjustments.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Publish">
    [Publish](/vantage/documentation/advanced-designer/document-skills/publish) the updated skill to make it available in Vantage.
  </Step>
</Steps>

## Revert to previous versions

Advanced Designer does not have a dedicated feature for downgrading a derived skill. If you need to revert to an old version, choose the path that matches your current state:

| Situation         | Action                                                                                                               |
| :---------------- | :------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| Not yet published | Discard the changes — they're never persisted.                                                                       |
| Already published | Delete the latest version. This removes every change in the last published version, including the base-skill update. |

## What changes when you update

An updated derived skill receives:

* New activities added to the base skill
* Fields and rules updated to match the base skill
* Any custom fields and rules you added are preserved

For more details on the changes that occur, see [Update a derived skill](/vantage/documentation/skill-catalog/derived-skills/update) in the Skill Catalog.

<Tip>
  A new base-skill version may offer the same functionality you obtained by customizing the derived skill. Try removing your customizations to see if the new version performs better without them — you can always revert if it doesn't.
</Tip>

## Related topics

<CardGroup cols={3}>
  <Card title="Derived skills overview" icon="code-branch" href="/vantage/documentation/advanced-designer/document-skills/derived">
    What derived skills are and when to use them.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Create a derived skill" icon="plus" href="/vantage/documentation/advanced-designer/document-skills/derived-create">
    Steps to create a new derived skill.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Configure a derived skill" icon="sliders" href="/vantage/documentation/advanced-designer/document-skills/derived-configure">
    Customize fields, rules, and text recognition.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>