---
title: "Breaking: #98479 - Removed file reference related functionality"
manual: "TYPO3 Core Changelog"
version: "main"
permalink: "https://docs.typo3.org/permalink/changelog:breaking-98479-1664622195"
source: "Changelog/12.0/Breaking-98479-RemovedFileReferenceRelatedFunctionality.rst"
typo3-version: "12.0"
typo3-major: 12
type: "breaking"
issue: 98479
forge: "https://forge.typo3.org/issues/98479"
tags: ["Backend", "Database", "FAL", "PHP-API", "TCA", "PartiallyScanned", "ext:backend"]
rendered: "2026-10-01T19:27:47+00:00"
---

# Breaking: #98479 - Removed file reference related functionality {#breaking-98479-1664622195}

See [forge#98479](https://forge.typo3.org/issues/98479)

## Description {#description}

With the introduction of the new TCA type `file`, a couple of cross
dependencies have been removed, mainly related to FormEngine.

The `customControls` hook option is not available for the new
TCA type `file`. It has been replaced by the new PSR-14
`CustomFileControlsEvent` for this use case.

The field `table_local` of table `sys_file_reference`: is no longer
evaluated by TYPO3 and has therefore been removed.

The following options are no longer evaluated for TCA type `inline`:

-   `[appearance][headerThumbnail]`
-   `[appearance][fileUploadAllowed]`
-   `[appearance][fileByUrlAllowed]`

The following options are no longer evaluated for TCA type `group`:

-   `[appearance][elementBrowserType]`
-   `[appearance][elementBrowserAllowed]`

A TCA migration is in place, removing those values from custom configurations.

## Impact {#impact}

Adding custom controls with the `customControls` option does no longer
work for FAL fields.

Using the `table_local` field of table `sys_file_reference` does
no longer work and might lead to database errors.

Using one of the mentioned `[appearance]` TCA options does no longer
have any effect.

## Affected installations {#affected-installations}

All installations making use of the `customControls` option for FAL
fields, directly using the sql:`table_local` field of table
`sys_file_reference` or using one of the mentioned `[appearance]`
TCA options for TCA type `inline` and `group` fields. The latter is
rather unlikely because the `[appearance]` options of `group`
had only effect in FAL context and the options have only been set internally
by the `ExtensionManagementUtility->getFileFieldTCAConfig()` API method.

## Migration {#migration}

Migrate corresponding user functions for the `customControls` option to
a PSR-14 event listeners of the
[CustomFileControlsEvent](https://docs.typo3.org/permalink/changelog:feature-98479-1664537749).

Remove any usage of the `table_local` field of
table `sys_file_reference` in custom extension code.

Remove the mentioned `[appearance]` TCA options from your custom TCA
configurations.