How to Create User Defined Fields

In this guide you will be shown how to create a User Defined Field, which are essentially customised fields that you can store against student, staff or contact records.

See also: How to create User Defined Flags

Access: The minimum permissions required to create User Defined Fields are found in the Administration Module of Config>Setup>Roles & Permissions.

To begin, go to Config>Administration>User Defined Fields.

Once the page loads, you will see a list of User Defined Fields that already exist.

Ignore these for now and click on the New button.

This will open a new section on the right.

In here, you can enter the details that comprise the User Defined Field (anything marked with * is mandatory).

Below is a list of what each field refers to;

Name – enter a Name for the UDF
Description – enter a Description for the UDF
Data Group – select the Group the UDF will display in from the dropdown list
Data Area – this will be one of the tabs within the secreted Data Group
Start Date – will be the Date the new UDF will be available from
End Date – this will be the Date the UDF will no longer be available from, leave blank if there is no End Date
Field Type – this will set the content for the UDF, which can be set to accept only:
- Date – will only accept a Date
- Dropdown Multiple – this allows you to define your own dropdown with multiple choices
- Dropdown Single – this allows you to define your own dropdown with a single selection
- Number – will accept only Numbers
- Number/Currency – will accept Numbers or Currency values
- Text – will accept a short Text entry
- Text (Multiline) – will accept a longer Text entry
- True/False – will accept either True or False only
Add to Additional Columns List – This allows you to use the Column on the Students/Staff pages as a Filter Column.
Read only Roles – All Roles added here will have Read Only access to the UDFs
Read & Edit Roles – All Roles added here will have Read & Edit access to the UDFs

Note: Administrator is the default and cannot be cleared, but it is only necessary to add a Role once to the appropriate Permission. In other words Read & Edit does not require Read Only as well.

Once you are happy with the details you have added for the User Defined Field, press Create. It will now be available to use from the Start Date you gave it.