Custom fields

Capture organization-specific attributes - refrigerant type, filter size, warranty expiry - as structured, filterable data per record type.

Every organization has attributes the standard record doesn't carry: refrigerant type on cooling equipment, filter sizes on air handlers, voltage on panels, warranty expiry on anything. Custom fields make those structured data instead of notes-field archaeology.

How they work

Each field definition is scoped to one record type - asset, work order, site, building, system, or infrastructure asset - and applies to every record of that type. A "Refrigerant" field defined for assets appears on all assets, not just cooling equipment; keep field names generic enough to make sense portfolio-wide, and leave a field blank where it doesn't apply.

Fields are managed under Settings, and asset fields also directly from the Assets page toolbar (Manager and above). A field can be marked required, and number fields support a minimum, maximum, and placeholder text.

Field types

TypeUse for
TextFree-form short values (filter size "24×24×2")
NumberMeasurable values (capacity, voltage, weight) - with optional min/max
DateWarranty expiry, last certification
SelectControlled vocabulary (refrigerant: R-410A / R-32 / R-22)
CheckboxYes/no flags (backflow preventer present)

Where the values surface

During import

The import wizard can map source columns straight into custom fields - define the fields before running the import and nothing from the legacy spreadsheet gets dropped.

Governance

A few rules keep custom fields from becoming a junk drawer:

  1. One meaning per field. Don't reuse "Certification date" for three different certificates - make three fields.
  2. Name for the whole record type. Since a field appears on every record of its type, prefer names that read sensibly everywhere ("Warranty expiry" over "Chiller warranty").
  3. Retire unused fields carefully. Deleting a definition permanently deletes every value recorded against it - the confirmation reports how many values will be destroyed. Export first if you might want the data back.