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Creating custom fields

Custom fields can be used to collect custom information about users, projects, tasks, departments, clients, and employee types. They can also be used to collect data on timesheets, expense sheets, and shift schedules, and when creating punches.

For example, you could create a custom field to record:

  • A user’s job title, recorded in their user profile
  • Notes, project plans, or statements of work for a project
  • The number of customer calls an employee completed during a shift, recorded in their timesheet

Custom data can be viewed and exported using reports.

 

What's the difference between dynamic and fixed custom fields?

There are two broad categories of custom fields – dynamic custom fields and fixed custom fields.

Dynamic custom fields Fixed custom fields
  • Sometimes referred to as OEFs or object extension fields
  • Unlimited in number
  • The only format supported on configurable timesheets and schedules
  • Most support file attachments
  • Most can be made mandatory using validation rules
 
  • Number available depends on type
  • Come in more varieties than dynamic fields. For example, Expense-type fields are available in this format only
  • Have more configuration options, like the ability to define default values, or minimum and maximum entry values or lengths
  • Include a 'required' option

They may also appear and be configured in different locations. See the sections below for information on each.

 

Dynamic custom fields

Note the following about dynamic custom fields:

  • You need Object Extension Fields permission enabled in your administrator permission set for these fields to be available
  • There is no limit to the number of dynamic custom fields you can add
  • Once you create a field in one location, as listed in the table below, that field will be available to add to any other dynamic custom field location.

About the dynamic custom fields

Field type Where the type of field displays once set up Setup location
Time Distribution Grid (1) Either as a column in the grid, where you enter a value for each row (row-type), or...

In each cell of the grid (cell-type). These also display in Time Entry Details tables, if present Row or Cell are chosen when adding the field

This field type does not support file attachments.

Administration > Timesheets > Timesheet Templates > Add a UI Component > Time Distribution Grid
In/Out Times + Allocation (1) As a column in the in/out grid, where you can enter a value for each row

This field type does not support file attachments.

Administration > Timesheets > Timesheet Templates > Add a UI Component > In/Out Times + Allocation
Daily Fields (1) As a table in timesheets, with a column representing each day Administration > Timesheets > Timesheet Templates > Add a UI Component > Daily Fields
Timesheet Fields (1) Fields below or above timesheets Administration > Timesheets > Timesheet Templates > Add a UI Component > Timesheet Fields
Project At the bottom of the Project Info dialog for each project (dialog displays when you click the Project Info button).

Drop-down fields are available as filters on the Project list page.

Administration > Projects > Project Settings > Dynamic Custom Fields
User

On the main page of each user’s user profile.

Drop-down fields are available as filters on the Time Workbench.

Administration > Employees and Organization > User Settings > Dynamic Custom Fields

(1) These types of fields can be hidden from users. Note that, on the Timesheet Settings page, Daily Fields display in the Entry Level Custom Fields list.

About file attachment fields  

Most types of dynamic custom fields support file attachments. For each attachment field you create, you can choose to let employees upload a file, or enter a URL, or both.

These fields can be used for a variety of purposes. For example, you can use timesheet fields to allow employees to attach:

  • A scanned copy of a worksheet that includes a signature
  • Notes on work completed saved in a Google Sheets or SharePoint document
  • Images of work they complete each day

Timesheet entry dynamic custom fields do not support file attachments.

What file formats do file attachment custom fields support?

    These fields support the following formats: .aac, .avi, .bmp, .doc, .docx, .eml, .gif, .heic, .heif, .html, .jpeg, .jpg, .m4a, .m4v, .mkv, .mov, .mp3, .mp3, .mp4, .mpe, .mpeg, .mpg, .msg, .odp, .ods, .odt, .oga, .ogg, .ogm, .ogv, .pdf, .png, .ppt, .pptx, .rtf, .svg, .tif, .tiff, .txt, .weba, .webm, .webp, .xls, .xlsx

    Can we download attached files using reports?

    No. Only the file name will display in reports; you can't access the file itself.

    Adding a dynamic custom field

    To add a dynamic custom field:

    1. Go to the setup location listed in the table above.
    2. Click Add Field.
    3. Select an existing field, or click Create Field Definition to create a dynamic field.
    4. Give the field a name, description, and select its type (DropdownFile / Web Address (URL)Number, or Text)

    1. If you selected Dropdown, add the options in the Options field that displays, clicking Add between each dynamic drop-down option.
    2. If you chose File / Web Address (URL), choose whether you want users to be able to upload a file, enter a URL, or both.
    3. Click Save.

     

    Fixed custom fields

    About the fixed custom fields

    Field type Number of fields available Where the type of field displays once set up Setup location
    Project 20 At the bottom of the Project Info dialog for each project (dialog displays when you click the Project Info button) Administration > Projects > Project Settings
    Task 20 At the bottom of the add/edit balloon for each task Administration > Projects > Project Settings
    User 50

    On the main page of each user’s user profile, under the End Date field.

    Drop-down fields are available as filters on the Time Workbench.

    Administration > Employees and Organization > User Settings
    Client 12 At the bottom of the Info dialog for each client (dialog displays when you click the Client Info button) Administration > Projects > Client Settings
    Expense 5 In the expense entry table on expense sheets (users may need to enable this field by clicking the Settings button) Administration > Expenses > Expense Settings

    Adding a fixed custom field

    To add a fixed custom field:

    1. Find the custom field setup page for the type of field you want to create.
    2. Find the Custom Fields table, and click a < Unused – Click to Add > link.

    1. Give the custom field a name, and complete the settings fields. The fields available will update based on what data type you select.

    1. Click Save.

    About the fixed custom field settings

    Field name This field...
    Type Determines the field's data format, either text, numbers, dates, or pre-defined drop-down options.

    When you select a field type, the page will refresh to display additional options specific to that type.

    Required When selected, requires the user to complete the field before they can save the page, or section or a page, on which the field appears
    Default Value Specifies a value that will appear in the custom field by default. Users can change this value.

    For date fields, this default can be set to $Today which will make the field default to the current date.

    For drop-down fields, you must define the drop-down options before you can select a default option.

    Hidden When selected, makes the field unavailable for editing by users, but available to be reported on

    For Text fields only...

    Field name This field...
    Maximum Length Specifies the maximum number of characters users can enter into this field

    For Date fields only...

    Field name This field...
    From and To Defines a range limit for dates that can be entered. Users will not be allowed to enter dates that fall outside of this range.

    For Drop-Down fields only...

    Field name This field...
    Options Defines the options that the user can select from.
    • To add an option, enter the value of the option in the Options field, and then click Add.
    • To edit an option, click the option, enter the new value in the Options field, and then click Update.

    You can disable, but cannot delete, options that have been selected by users.

    For Number fields only...

    Field name This field...
    Minimum and Maximum Value Defines the range of numbers that can be entered in the field. Users will not be allowed to enter numbers that fall outside of this range.
    Decimal Places Specifies the number of decimal places that will be saved for this field. If the user enters more decimal places than specified, Polaris will round the number entered to the number of places indicated in this field.

     

    FAQs

    Why isn't the custom field I created displaying?

    Check that you're looking on the correct page.

    Can we make a custom field mandatory?

    All fixed custom fields have a 'required' option, that makes completion of the field mandatory before the user can save the page or the section of the page where the field appears.

    You can enable timesheet validation rules that make dynamic timesheet custom fields mandatory.

    Can I set a custom field to become enabled or mandatory only if another field is completed?

    No, there is currently no way to make the behavior of a custom field dependent on another field.

    Why can't I delete one of the drop-down values from a custom field?

    The value you are attempting to delete has probably been selected from this field by a user in the system. Drop-down values that are in use cannot be deleted. They can, however, be disabled.

    Can we hide custom fields from users?

    Yes, you can create hidden timesheet dynamic custom fields. This is useful if you need custom fields to store tracking identifiers used when integrating with other systems. To add a hidden field, create the field on the Administration > Timesheets > Timesheet Settings page.

    The field will be hidden by default, and will only be viewable in timesheets if you add the field to a timesheet template. Values for these fields can be updated using the Replicon API. You can view and export hidden custom field values using the Time Entry Export default report.

    Use the Projects page of the API to access the operations required to add values to timesheets and time off bookings.

    Can custom fields on the timesheet be configured to display on the Comments tab?

    No, the Comments tab can't display custom field values. However, you can use a report, such as the Timesheet Day report, to view tasks, activities, comments, and custom field information in a single table.

    Are custom fields available in Replicon Mobile?

    Yes, custom fields are available in the Replicon Mobile app.

    Can we import custom field values into Polaris?

    Yes, you can, using the import tool.

    Can we access custom fields using the data connectors for Tableau or Power BI?

    Only timesheet dynamic custom fields are available via the data connectors.

    Related links

    Polaris PSA setup checklist
    About the user profile fields
    Adding a project