Agent Merge crashes when merging an Agent that is a GroupPerson member

[bhumikaguptaa]

Describe the bug

When a user attempts to merge an Agent that is listed as a member of a Group Agent (linked via Groupperson.member), the merge fails with a crash 500 error.

To Reproduce
Steps to reproduce the behavior:

1. Go to Agent that is currently a member of group agent.
2. Try and merge two agents (one of which is a group agent)
3. See error

Expected behavior

The merge tool should automatically re-link the GroupPerson entry to the new Target Agent. Alternatively, the table GroupPerson should be updated automatically during the merge.

Crash Report

Merging 677e9ed2-005e-41a2-9508-85ae7ac70fbd Crash Report - 2026-01-15T14_09_31.006Z.txt

Please fill out the following information manually:

• OS: Windows 11
• Browser: Chrome
• Specify 7 Version: v7.11.3
• Database Name: kufish
• Collection name: KU Fish Tissue
• User Name: [e.g. Spfishadmin
• URL: https://kufish5162320251231-v7113.test.specifysystems.org/specify/view/agent/

Reported By
Alexi Beck, Geneve, https://specifysoftware.bolddesk.com/agent/tickets/508

[melton-jason]

The error in the crash report:

("Cannot delete some instances of model 'Agent' because they are referenced through protected foreign keys: 'Groupperson.member'.", {<Groupperson: Groupperson object (425)>})

The merging process failed because in one of the agents they are trying to delete (i.e., merge into their "canonical" agent), there's a GroupPerson record that references the Agent.
In other words, there's some other Agent which contains an Agent they are trying to delete as a member.

They can find the Agent which contains the GroupPerson by making an Agent Query which has the query field: Groups -> ID = 425.
They would have to either remove the Agent they are trying to merge from the Agent who has it as a Member, or change the GroupPerson to point to another Agent (probably the "canonical" Agent of the merge they are trying to perform).

I know we prevent merging Agents with GroupMembers (#3832), though I don't think we prevent or handle Agent merges for agents that are part of a Group. That could probably be written up as an Issue?

From https://specifysoftware.bolddesk.com/agent/tickets/508