Creating new fields

Now that you’ve learned how to edit your existing fields, you may want to start adding new fields. To start, you’ll need to open the object which you’d like to create new fields in. For example, if you’d like to add the maiden name field to your contacts object, first click Contacts from the top bar menu. You can now open any random record and then click the three dots and select the Edit Page button. You’re now in the editor for one of your contact pages. 

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Find the form component and select the section you’d like to add your new field to. For example, you may want to add the maiden name field to the Contact Details section. You can now go to the Section Settings on the right of the page and click the + Add Field button. At the bottom of the field list that opens you’ll find the Add New Field option. Click it to open up the new field pop up. 

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You can now choose the field type for your new field. There are many different field types in Fireberry, and each one is made for a specific type of data. Below you’ll learn about each type, so that you can choose the relevant one for each field you build. Click any of the field types to open the settings where you can create a new field belonging to the selected type. If you select a type but then change your mind, simply click Cancel and you’ll be able to choose a different field type. 

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Field types

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Text

Use the text field to create an area for free text with up to 200 characters. It’s ideal for fields which will contain a few sentences or less of individualized information, like a name or address. 

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Number

The number field allows you to insert any number of up to 200 characters, such as prices, ages, and more. It’s important that these fields are set as number fields so that they can be used in formulas without causing any errors. Numbers can be positive or negative, and you can choose to set the precision of numbers displayed after the decimal point. To learn more about precision, click here. Additionally, commas will automatically be added between every three numbers. For example, the number 1234567 will be displayed as 1,234,567.

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Picklist

Picklist fields allow users to select a single value from a predefined list, and are useful when you need to add specific values to a field on a regular basis. This also helps users avoid spelling mistakes or variations, such as abbreviating the city name “New York” as “NY” or “New-York”. In the previous lesson you learned how to set up a picklist’s options and even a controlling field.

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Date

The date field uses the standard YYYY-MM-DD format and is great for dates where you don’t need access to a time, like birthdays, join dates, anniversaries, and more. These fields can have a relative default value, such as Now or Yesterday. 

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Email address

Use the email address field for email addresses with up to 200 characters. Each email must contain an "@" symbol with text on both sides, otherwise an error will be displayed and you will not be able to save the field. Email fields will be displayed as blue links which you can click on to easily send an email.

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Text area

The text area field type lets users insert free text with up to 4,000 characters. This field is useful when you want to include detailed explanations, such as the reason a candidate was rejected from a program.

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Phone number

The phone number field is designated for phone numbers and can contain up to 200 characters. Phone numbers can contain whole numbers and the plus sign “+”. This field type will automatically erase dashes "-" from an entered phone number. Any other symbols, such as spaces, commas, and periods, will result in an error where you won’t be able to save the field. Phone numbers will appear as blue links which you can click on to easily call your customers using any calling program attached to your computer.

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URL

URL fields are used to hold one valid website address with up to 200 characters. The link will appear in blue, and when you click on it the URL will open in a new tab. This is recommended for fields which link to outside sources, such as a company’s website.

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HTML

By using the HTML field type, you’ll create an editable text box with up to 4,000 characters. This field has a variety of different options such as pictures, videos, tables, designable text, or even hard coded HTML. To learn how and when to use an HTML field, click here.

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Date & Time

Use the date & time field type for the YYYY-MM-DD HH:MM standard format. This is useful for date fields where the time is important, like delivery times, most recent meetings with a customer, purchase dates, and more. These fields can have a relative default value, such as Now or Tomorrow at 10:00 AM. 

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Saving your new field

Once you’ve chosen the relevant field type for your new field, the settings page will open. Here you can set your field’s settings, which you’ve learned how to do previously. Make sure to always set a name. By clicking Save, your new field will appear at the bottom of the section. You can then easily drag it to wherever you’d like in your form and save your page. Your new field will appear in your saved page. 

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