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Custom fields let you capture information that matters to your business but isn’t part of Novala’s built-in record structure. You might add a contract number to companies, a certification date to equipment, or a lead source category to contacts. Once defined, custom fields appear in the record detail view alongside standard fields and are available for filtering and export. Go to Settings → Custom Fields. Use the dropdown at the top right to switch between record types and manage fields for each one.

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Supported record types

You can define custom fields for the following record types:
  • Companies
  • Contacts
  • Leads
  • Applications
  • Equipment
  • Deals
  • Quotes
  • Services
  • Invoices

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Field types

When you create a custom field, you choose a field type that determines how the data is entered and stored:
TypeDescription
TextFree-form single-line text
NumberNumeric values
DateDate picker
Yes/NoBoolean toggle
DropdownSingle selection from a list of options you define
Multi-SelectMultiple selections from a list of options you define
URLWeb address with link formatting
EmailEmail address with mailto formatting
PhonePhone number

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Create a custom field

1

Select a record type

In Settings → Custom Fields, use the dropdown to select the record type you want to add a field to.
2

Click Add Field

Click the Add Field button to open the field creation dialog.
3

Set the field key

Enter a field key — this is the programmatic identifier for the field. Keys must be lowercase and can only contain letters, numbers, and underscores (for example, account_number or cert_expiry_date). The key cannot be changed after the field is created.
4

Choose a field type

Select the type that matches the data you want to capture. For Dropdown and Multi-Select types, you’ll enter the available options — one per line.
5

Configure the field

Fill in the remaining options:
  • Display Label — the name shown to users in the record detail view
  • Default Value — pre-fills the field when a new record is created (optional)
  • Description — help text shown to users below the field
  • Required — forces users to fill in this field before saving a record
  • Section — groups related fields under a heading in the detail view
  • Width — choose Full row or Half row (half-width fields pair side by side)
  • Display Order — controls the position of the field within its section
6

Click Create

Save the field. It appears immediately in the record detail view for that record type.
Field keys are permanent. Choose a clear, descriptive key before saving — you won’t be able to rename it later.

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Edit an existing field

Click the pencil icon next to any field to edit its label, description, options, required status, section, width, and display order. You cannot change the field key or field type after creation.

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Deactivate or delete a field

  • Deactivate — use the toggle in the Active column to hide a field from record views without deleting it or its data. The field remains in the database and can be reactivated at any time.
  • Delete — click the trash icon to remove the field definition. Existing data in records is preserved internally but will no longer be displayed or returned in API responses.
Deleting a custom field cannot be undone. If you’re unsure, deactivate the field instead.

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Design fields with AI

Click Design with AI to describe the fields you need in plain English. Novala’s AI Copilot will generate a set of suggested fields for the selected record type, which you can review and apply with one click.

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Custom fields in the Novala API

Custom field values are returned in the customFields object on any API response for a record that has custom fields defined. For example, a contact response might include: 
{
  "id": "con_abc123",
  "name": "Jane Smith",
  "email": "jane@example.com",
  "customFields": {
    "account_number": "ACC-00421",
    "certification_expiry": "2026-09-30",
    "preferred_contact_method": "email"
  }
}
The keys in customFields match the field keys you defined in settings. Fields that have not been filled in are omitted from the response.
Custom fields are included in data exports and are available as filter criteria on list views, making them useful for segmenting and reporting on your records.