Difference between revisions of "Creating Custom Fields"

Revision as of 10:59, 3 October 2018

Please note that this page is currently under construction. There is more information to come.

Overview

Custom fields can be created at any time, and associated with any one of a list of objects: UTA records (at any level), contacts, companies, and roles. They can be accessed and controlled via links on the Global Settings page or on the Entity Settings Page within a UTA, and that's also where they can be created.

Locating and Viewing a Custom Field

To see a list of all custom fields, navigate to Global Settings > System tab > Custom Fields. From here, you can search for, and view, any custom field; click on any of the column headings to sort by that column.
[Example: click on Last Modified to see the most recently modified field.] If you already know to which type of object the field is attached, you can search directly on either the applicable settings page under Configuration, or on the entity settings page within the appropriate UTA.

• Example: for an Organization custom field, you can navigate directly to the Configuration icon > Global Settings > Organizations > Custom Fields.
• Example 2: for a UTA level 2 custom field, you can access the custom fields from within the UTA itself. To do this: select the cogwheel to access the UTA Settings, then select the level 2 tab, followed by the Custom Fields link.

This page is also where you can view all Deleted Fields--simply click on the Deleted Fields button in the top left-hand corner. From the Deleted Fields list view, you can either Restore or Purge any field: just select the checkbox next to the desired field, then click either the Restore (clock) or Purge (garbage bin) button, and when the confirmation window appears, select 'yes' or 'no'.

Creation and Setup

When creating a new custom field, it's a good idea to keep in mind the field's intended function: what kind of data will it be handling, and who will need to use it? These answers will directly affect how the field is set up.

To create a new custom field, navigate to the appropriate location (UTA, role, organization settings or Contact settings) and then select the New Field button, which looks like a plus sign: '+'. The New Custom Field screen will then appear. The below table shows where each associated custom field can be created:

Only three values on this screen must be populated before you can save your new field: -Field ID (populated automatically) -Field Type -Field Name

Field Type: this choice will determine how the field will handle (and possibly manipulate) the data it will hold. For a complete list of all custom field types, see the table on the Custom Fields page.
Note: to see all available field types when creating a new custom field, enable Advanced Options on the top right of the display.
Field Name: This should be unique (to simplify locating it at a later date) and can only contain alphanumeric, underscore, or dash characters. Once these three settings are populated, you can Save your new field, or add further specifications.

Note: please visit Custom Fields General Information to see the more common custom field settings.