==Overview==
Understanding and using [[Custom Fields|custom fields]] are vital in order to successfully creating an [[Instance|instance of [[SmartSimple]] that is true to your organisation’s needs.
[[Custom Fields]] are additional fields that you add to any of the [[Entity|entities]] that you have seen within the system such as:
* [[Internal]] and [[External|external]] organisational [[Entity|entities]].
* Organisation Categories.
* [[Internal]] and [[External|external]] contacts.
* [[User]] [[Role|Roles]].
* [[Personal Transaction|Personal Transactions]] – set of custom records that you can associate with contacts.
You can also add [[Custom Fields|custom fields]] to applications such as [[Sales Tracking]], Expense Tracking and Time Tracking.
Some [[Applications|applications]] that you will use in [[SmartSimple]] consist primarily of [[Custom Fields|custom fields]], such as the Web Forms [[Application|application]] and the [[Universal Tracking Application]].
Additional [[Custom Field|custom field]] types are added to the system on a regular basis. Check the [[SmartSimple]] newsletter or [[SmartSimple]] wiki for new field types.
<u>'''Custom Fields – General Characteristics'''</u>
* There are currently 40 field types to choose from.
* Any number of [[Custom Fields|custom fields]] can be created for any object. There is a limitation that only 400 [[Custom Fields|custom fields]] can be displayed in a single page,
* New [[Custom Fields|custom fields]] can be added at any time without compromising any current information.
* You use [[Role|roles]] to control who can see and update specific fields.
* To avoid cluttering each page you can group [[Custom Fields|custom fields]] together on to “tabs”, or display in a multiple-column layout under a heading field.
* You can build reports using both standard and [[Custom Fields|custom fields]].
* You can build search filters using both standard and [[Custom Fields|custom fields]].
In this article, you will explore the creation of some standard types of [[Custom Fields|custom fields]] – text box, combo box, heading and link type fields.
==Creating Custom Fields – Step by Step==
