---
title: "How to Add a Custom Field"
slug: "how-to-add-a-custom-field"
updated: 2026-04-07T02:25:29Z
published: 2026-04-07T02:25:29Z
stale: true
---

> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://help.infoodle.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# How to Add a Custom Field

infoodle allows you to add as many custom fields as you like, change the titles of the fields, and choose the type of information to capture. 

### Before you start
1. What information you need to capture
2. Whether it relates to a person, a household/organisation, or a group
3. Whether you need a Lookup or Multi‑select Lookup field
    * If so, create the [Lookup List](/v1/docs/manage-views) first

## How to add a Custom Field
The instructions below are the same for **Person**, **Household**, and **Group** Custom Fields.

@(Embed)(https://cdn.document360.io/d198920d-a212-4177-85f9-e1abc92e7ab3/Images/Documentation/HowToAddACustomFieldPeople(1).mp4){height="320" width="640"}
1. Click on the **administration cog**
2. Then click on **Custom Fields**
3. Click on **Manage Fields** under the area you are wanting to add a custom field to
4. Then click **Add**
5. Go through the options (see below for help on what these fields mean)
6. Finally click **Save**

***
### Manage Fields: People
![Image](https://cdn.document360.io/d198920d-a212-4177-85f9-e1abc92e7ab3/Images/Documentation/image-QX5MHE0Y.png){height="500" width=""}

### Manage Fields: Household
![Image](https://cdn.document360.io/d198920d-a212-4177-85f9-e1abc92e7ab3/Images/Documentation/image-ILXX1Y4F.png){height="400" width=""}

### Manage Fields: Groups
![Image](https://cdn.document360.io/d198920d-a212-4177-85f9-e1abc92e7ab3/Images/Documentation/image-DFKZ73SP.png){height="300" width=""}


***
## What do these custom field options mean?

#### Name
* The label shown throughout infoodle
* Avoid the following characters - + * / %
* Use spaces or underscores instead

#### Area
* Set automatically based on the section you selected (People, Household/Organisation, Groups)

#### Default Tab (People only)
* Choose where the field appears on a person’s profile
* Includes Not visible by default to hide the field initially
*This replaces the outdated label “Tab”*

#### Type of field
* Determines the kind of data captured
* Once data is saved, the field type cannot be changed
* See [Custom Field Types](/v1/docs/custom-field-types) for details

#### Which lookup list to use
*(Lookup & Multi‑select Lookup only)*
* Select an existing lookup list
* Lookup lists must be created before the field

#### Store new data encrypted
*(Text & Incrementing fields; People & Household only)*
* Encrypts stored data
* Encrypted fields support exact‑match search only
* Note: This applies to Text and Incrementing fields (not just Text)


#### Show as choice on person search options
*(People & Household only)*

Appears only for these field types:
* Text
* Web address
* Incrementing
* Integer
* Number (2 decimal places)

Not available for Lookup or Yes/No fields.

For more information, see [Searching for a Person](/v1/docs/searching-for-a-person) or [Searching for a Household/Organisation](/v1/docs/searching-for-a-householdorganisation)

#### Allow user to update related people
*(People only)*

Choose how updates propagate:
* No other person
* Also update the spouse
* Also update all members in the household

#### Ask for this data when adding a new person or household?
*(People & Household only)*
* Adds the field to the new‑contact form

#### This field is mandatory
* Requires a value before saving

#### Make available as a criteria in reports?
*(People & Household only)*
* Allows filtering by this field in reports

#### Add Day/Month/Year as criteria fields
*(Date fields; People & Household only)*
* Creates separate report filters for day, month, and year

#### Show on the header of the person page?
* Displays the field at the top of the profile
* Use Sort Header Fields to control order

#### Show on the household list block?
*(People only)*
* Displays the field in the household members block

#### Role Permission
Set access per role:
* Hide – field not visible
* Read Only – visible but not editable
* Write – visible and editable

:::(Info) ()
For more on information on Role Permissions, see [Field-Level Permissions](/v1/docs/field-level-permissions)
:::

::: (info) ()
If you are creating a new **Lookup** or **Multi-select Lookup** type of custom field, you will need to create the **Lookup List** first, if a suitable list has not already been added.

For more information, see **[Lookup Lists for Custom fields](/v1/docs/lookup-lists-for-custom-fields)**.
:::