Adding custom fields to the system

Add new custom fields to allow users to enter specific information for contacts in NexJ CRM. You can add text, number, currency, convertible currency, date, and relationship custom fields.

To add a custom field:

1. Navigate to the Entity Codes page.
2. In the Custom Field Types tab, click the Custom Field Types subtab.

3. Click the Add button  at the top of the list, and select a custom field type to define values that the field accepts:

   • Text
     Select to add a custom field that accepts text values.

   • Number
     Select to add a custom field that accepts numerical values.

   • Currency
     Select to add a custom field that accepts and formats numerical values using the currency defined when the field is created.

   • Convertible Currency
     Select to add a custom field that accepts and formats numerical values into the currency selected by users in NexJ CRM.
     

     You must also configure currency conversion for your system. For more information on configuring currency conversion, see Configuring functionality for NexJ applications.

     
     

   • Date
     Select to add a custom field that accepts and formats date values. Users can type a date value or select a date value from a calendar.

   • Relationship
     Select to add a custom field that accepts a contact as a value and defines the contact as a relationship in the contact's hierarchy.

   The Add Custom Field dialog opens.

4. In the Detail tab, in the Name field, enter the custom field's display name.
5. [Optional] In the Description field, enter a description of the custom field. The description displays in NexJ CRM.

6. In the Unit field, select the currency to apply to the field.
   

   The Unit field is only available for currency and convertible currency custom fields. Users cannot change the currency in NexJ CRM.

7. In the Group field, select the custom field group to apply to the custom field.
   The custom field group defines the contact types that you can add the field to, and the tab in which the field displays on the Contacts workspace.

8. Select any of the following checkboxes:

   • Active
     Select to make the custom field available in NexJ CRM.

   • Unique
     Select to allow users to add only one custom field of this type to a contact.

   • End User Read Only
     Select to prevent the custom field from being accessible in NexJ CRM.

     If enabled, the only way that this custom field can be added or removed is by modifying the database directly.

   • Allow Quick Pick Only
     Select to only allow users to add values to a custom text field that contains quick picks by selecting from a drop-down list. Otherwise, users can also enter a text value in the custom field.

     The Allow Quick Pick Only checkbox is only available for text custom field types.

   • Hierarchy Only
     Select to specify that custom relationship fields do not display in a contact's profile, but only as relationships in the contact's hierarchy.  Consider naming the custom field using the title of the position that you want to represent in the relationship hierarchy. For example, for a custom field that represents a lawyer-client relationship, name the field Lawyer.

     The Hierarchy Only checkbox is only available for relationship custom field types.

9. In the Security tab, you can change the view and edit security levels of this custom field.
   

   You cannot modify view and edit security levels for the custom field after it has been created. If you want to restrict view or edit access to this custom field, you must set it now. The default view and edit settings are Public.

10. Click OK. The Add Custom Field dialog closes.

The custom field is added to the system and displays at the bottom of the Custom Field Types list. At any time, you can use the  Up  or Down  buttons above the list to change the order in which custom fields display in NexJ CRM.

Related links

Adding quick picks to a custom text field