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Setting up Custom Idea Fields
Permissions: creating or editing custom fields requires the Edit account settings permission.
You can add up to 25 custom idea fields. All admins can see them. They’re internal only, so end users and contributors never see them.
- Open Custom Fields in either of these places:
- From the Idea Grid: select the settings cog in the top right, then the Custom Fields tab.
- From settings: click the icon in the bottom-left corner, then go to General Settings → Ideas → Configure next to Custom Fields.
- Choose to “Add field”.
- Pick a field type:
- Simple Input: Text, Numerical, Currency, Date or URL. For longer notes, turn on Multi-line in a Text field.
- Multi Choice: a list of Text or Numbers options you define. Turn on Multi-select to let admins pick more than one option.
- Yes/No Select: a simple yes-or-no answer.
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Assign Admin: assign one or more admins to an idea. Turn on Allow multiple admins to be selected? to assign more than one. Assigned admins get an email.
- Not sure what to pick? See Choosing the right field type below.
- Give the field a clear title. It appears on the idea and in the Idea Grid. Note the custom field key for external usage, like reporting and the API.
- (Optional) Turn on Make this a question to require your contributors to fill it in when capturing it from the Contributor Extension.
Heads up: deleting a custom field permanently deletes all of its data, and this can’t be undone.
Choosing the Right Field Type
Before you create a field, think about how you’ll want to use it in the Idea Grid. You can only change a field’s title after it’s created, not its type, so choosing the right type up front saves rework.
| Field type | Great for | Sort in grid | Filter in grid |
|---|---|---|---|
| Simple Input | |||
| Text | Short notes, codes, tags | Yes, A–Z | No |
| Text (Multi-line on) | Longer notes or context | No | No |
| Numerical | Scores, effort estimates | Yes | Yes: equals, not equals, >, ≥, <, ≤, is blank |
| Currency | Budget, revenue impact | Yes | Yes: same as Numerical |
| Date | Target release, review date | Yes | Yes: before, between, after, is blank |
| URL | Prototype or spec links | Yes, A–Z | No |
| Multi Choice | |||
| Text, single select | Type, theme, stage | Yes, by label A–Z | Yes: is any of, is none of, is blank |
| Numbers, single select | Priority tiers (1–5) | Yes, by number | Yes: is any of, is none of, is blank |
| Text or Numbers, Multi-select on | Several product areas or teams | No | Yes: is any of, is none of, is blank |
| Yes/No Select | “Reviewed?”, “Customer committed?” | Yes | Yes: is, is not, is blank |
| Assign Admin | |||
| Single admin | Idea owner | Yes, by name (or email if no name) | Yes: same as Text single select |
| Multiple admins allowed | Shared owners or reviewers | No | Yes: same as Text single select |
Tips for choosing a field type:
- Want to filter by it? Use a Multi Choice field instead of Text. Text and URL fields can’t be filtered, but a Multi Choice field with defined options can be.
- Want to sort by it? Leave Multi-select (or Allow multiple admins) turned off. Fields that allow more than one value can be filtered but not sorted.
- Scoring ideas? Numerical fields and Multi Choice number fields both sort numerically, so your highest-priority ideas rise to the top.
- Custom field or label? Use a custom field for a specific value on every idea, like a priority, date, budget or owner. You can sort by it, filter it with “greater than” or “before,” and require it in the Contributor Extension. Use a label for quick, flexible tags like “Exec request.” You can add as many as you like and filter for ideas that match all of several labels. Quick test: if you’d make it a spreadsheet column, make it a custom field. If you’d stick a note on it, make it a label.
Using Custom Fields
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On the idea: view and edit custom fields on any idea’s details page. Every admin sees the same values.
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In the Idea Grid: add your custom fields as columns to scan, sort and filter ideas at a glance.
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From contributors: turn a field into a Custom Question so your team can fill it in through the Contributor Extension while they capture feedback.
Capture from the Contributor Extension
Make your custom fields part of how feedback comes in. Turn on Make this a question on any custom field, and contributors will be asked it when they create an idea from the Contributor Extension. You choose the wording of the question and whether it’s optional or required, so the details you need are captured while the context is fresh.
Great questions to ask:
- Where did this feedback come from? (Multi Choice): Sales call, Support ticket, Customer interview
- Which product area? (Multi Choice): Reporting, Integrations, Mobile
- Is the customer committed? (Yes/No Select)
- How much revenue is at stake? (Currency)
Tip: Multi Choice and Yes/No questions take one click to answer and are easy to sort and filter later. Only make a question required if you’ll actually use the answer.
FAQ
A: Custom field filters support is any of and is none of. The all of operator is available for Labels and Segments, so if you need to match several values together, a label might work better.
A: No. Custom fields are internal only, so all admins can see them, but end users and contributors can’t. Contributors only see a field if it’s set up as a Custom Question in the Contributor Extension.