> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://squarebox-ai.gitbook.io/squarebox/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://squarebox-ai.gitbook.io/squarebox/customers-and-segments/custom-columns.md).

# Customer Fields

Customer fields (also called custom columns) let you keep details about each customer that are specific to your business, such as budget, course or birthday, and use them in forms, imports and filters

Customer fields are the details you keep about each customer, shared by everyone in your business. Name, mobile and email are always there. Customer fields are the ones you add yourself.

## Why use customer fields?

Customer fields help you:

* Track details like **Budget Range**, **Follow-Up Date** or **Course**.
* Match your customer records to the way you already work offline.
* Filter customers and build groups by your own details.

***

## Where to find them

Go to **Settings > Customer fields**. You can also open it from the **⋯** menu on the Customers page, under **Customer fields**.

<figure><img src="https://2070687034-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FbrBIFvYkx0aJHsYSE7v0%2Fuploads%2FcMP3XPgUG1aSlp2tQxTT%2FScreenshot%202024-12-11%20at%205.06.03%20PM.png?alt=media&amp;token=3fbe9e23-70fe-4f7c-b768-4b633c5ba9b6" alt=""><figcaption><p>Screenshot of the Squarebox dashboard with the <strong>Settings > Custom Columns</strong> option highlighted</p></figcaption></figure>

The page has two lists:

* **Built in**: Name, Mobile, Email, Lead state and Assignee. Every customer has these and they cannot be turned off. Open **Lead state** to edit your lead states (customers in a state you remove move to Unassigned). **Assignee** shows your team and is read only.
* **Your fields**: the fields you add. Each row shows the field's name, its type, a **Required** tag if it is required, and an **In use** switch.

***

## How to add a field

1. Go to **Settings > Customer fields**.
2. Click **Add field**.
3. Enter a **Name**, for example "City". A field cannot have the same name as another of your fields, or as a built-in field.
4. Choose the **Type** (see below).
5. For a type that has a list, add its **Options**. Options cannot repeat and cannot contain commas.
6. Optionally, turn on **Required** (it needs a value when you add a customer or import a list) and write a **Description** for your team.
7. Click **Add field**.

<figure><img src="https://2070687034-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FbrBIFvYkx0aJHsYSE7v0%2Fuploads%2FYoOlbYMm7fWYTAt5vyfu%2FScreenshot%202024-12-11%20at%204.31.52%20PM.png?alt=media&amp;token=b099d9b1-4a14-4818-998f-a0726e715d8c" alt=""><figcaption><p>Screenshot showing the <strong>Add New Custom Field</strong> button</p></figcaption></figure>

### Field types

| Type                 | Use it for                                                |
| -------------------- | --------------------------------------------------------- |
| **Text**             | A short answer, like a city or a nickname.                |
| **Number**           | A figure, like an age or a loan amount.                   |
| **Date**             | A day, like a birthday or a visit date.                   |
| **Checkboxes**       | Pick several from a list, like the courses someone wants. |
| **Choice (list)**    | Pick one from a list, like a city or a plan.              |
| **Choice (buttons)** | Pick one from a few buttons, like Yes or No.              |
| **Link**             | A web address, like a profile or a document.              |

Once any customer has a value in a field, its type cannot be changed. Options that customers already use cannot be renamed or removed.

***

## Edit, turn off or delete a field

* **Edit**: click a field's row to open it. You can change the name, description, options and **Required**.
* **In use**: this switch is for the whole business. Turn it off and the field disappears from forms, imports and filters. The values already saved are kept, and they come back when you turn the field on again. Squarebox asks you to confirm before it turns a field off.
* **Delete field**: at the bottom of the field's panel. This removes the field and every saved value, and campaigns or filters that use it may stop working. It cannot be undone.

<figure><img src="https://2070687034-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FbrBIFvYkx0aJHsYSE7v0%2Fuploads%2Fq4p7AtWEjdENdQZAW2lW%2FScreenshot%202024-12-11%20at%204.45.22%20PM.png?alt=media&amp;token=eab5606a-79a8-4a09-aedc-37d70555e914" alt=""><figcaption><p>Screenshot showing both the edit icon and the toggle switch in action</p></figcaption></figure>

***

## Where your fields appear

* **Add or edit a customer**: each field in use is a box on the form.
* **The Customers table**: you choose which fields show as columns with **Customize columns**. See [Column Customization](/squarebox/customers-and-segments/column-customization.md).
* **Imports**: each field in use can be matched to a column of your file. See [Importing Customers](/squarebox/customers-and-segments/importing-customers.md).
* **Filters and groups**: each field in use can be used as a filter on the Customers page.

***

## Examples

* **Budget Range**: the money a customer has to spend.
* **Follow-Up Date**: when the next action is due.
* **Property Preference**: for example 2BHK or 3BHK.
* **Course**: the courses a student wants.

## Best practices

* Create your fields before you import your customers, so the columns of your file can be matched to them.
* Turn off fields you no longer use instead of deleting them, so the saved values are kept.
* Use fields in filters and groups for more targeted campaigns.