Are workflows/scripts the only way from allowing Parent Departments *edit * to not be able to *edit * be selected on Transaction records? As in is there an easier way?

I can use parent departments without a wf or script

I want to restrict the use of the parent departments on transactions.

inactive the parent

I believe you are making a parent inactive you inactivate all children as well.

Yes but you can reactivate the children

Inactivate the parent on the list view, so the child departments won't be inactivated (Tick Show Inactives box on list view)

This is going to be a dumb question, but what do you mean inactive on the list view? Is that different than just clicking in on the department record and select "inactive"?

Yes don’t go to the département record Go on the list to all département Click on show inactivate

Okay, so after doing so the record does get changed to inactive. What is the difference between the two methods, Editing the list or editing the department record?

you can mass inactivate or mass activate. And from what Luis says, this way it doesn't affect the children when you inactivate the parent