Field Configuration

Table Configuration > Field Configuration

Transform your forms and interfaces with three powerful field customization options: display names, descriptions, and positioning.

What is Field Configuration?

Field Configuration lets you:

• Rename fields - Change "user_email" to "Email Address" in forms and tables
• Add helpful guidance - Include descriptions that explain what users should enter
• Control field order - Arrange fields in logical sequences that match your workflows
• Filter reference fields - Control which records appear in reference field dropdowns based on form data

How Field Configuration Works

Display Names

Changes how field labels appear in forms, column headers, and throughout your platform.

Descriptions

Adds helpful context and guidance that appears as tooltips or help text in forms.

Position Values

Controls the order fields appear in forms and interfaces - lower numbers appear first.

Default ordering: Position values (ascending) → ID field → Other fields (alphabetical) → System fields

Reference Field Filtering

For reference fields (fields that link to other tables), you can add intelligent filtering to show only relevant records in dropdown menus. This is configured through the field's constraints JSON and supports both static and dynamic filtering based on other form values.

How to Configure Fields

Changing Field Labels

1. Go to Settings → Table Fields
2. Filter to your target table
3. Find your field and click to open it
4. Update the Display Name field
5. Save changes

The new label appears immediately in forms, tables, and column headers.

Adding Field Descriptions

1. Go to Settings → Table Fields
2. Open your field record
3. Add text to the Description field
4. Save changes

Descriptions appear as help text or tooltips to guide users during data entry.

Setting Field Order

1. Go to Settings → Table Fields
2. Open each field you want to position
3. Set Position values (use increments of 10: 10, 20, 30...)
4. Save changes

Fields appear in ascending position order, with unpositioned fields following alphabetically.

Position Strategy: Use increments of 10 to allow future insertions. Group related fields together.

Configuring Reference Field Filters

1. Go to Settings → Table Fields
2. Open your reference field record
3. In the Constraints field (JSON), add a filter property
4. Define your filter conditions using GraphQL syntax
5. Save changes

Static Filter Example:

{
  "filter": {
    "is_active": { "_eq": true }
  }
}

Dynamic Filter Example:

{
  "filter": {
    "department_id": { "_eq": "$record.department" }
  }
}

The $record.fieldName syntax allows you to filter based on other field values in the same form.

Note: Fields configured as display fields in Table Display Configuration will appear in dropdowns and lists throughout your platform, so ensure they have clear display names.

Examples

Customer Contact Form

Before: Fields show as "cust_email", "ph_num", "addr_line_1" with no guidance After: "Email Address", "Phone Number", "Street Address" with helpful descriptions

Customer service improves through faster, more accurate data entry and reduced training time.

Employee Onboarding Form

Before: Random field order makes data entry confusing and inefficient After: Logical sequence guides HR through the onboarding process

HR completes onboarding 40% faster with fewer errors and missed information.

Product Catalog Entry

Before: Technical field names confuse non-technical staff entering product data After: Clear labels and descriptions make product entry straightforward

Product entry becomes 60% faster with significantly fewer data entry errors.

Employee Assignment Form

Before: "Manager" dropdown shows all 500+ employees, making selection difficult After: Dynamic filter shows only managers from the selected department

{
  "filter": {
    "department_id": { "_eq": "$record.department" },
    "role": { "_eq": "manager" }
  }
}

HR staff find the right manager 80% faster with contextual filtering.

Best Practices

Display Names: Use clear, professional language that matches your business context. Avoid technical abbreviations.

Descriptions: Keep them concise but helpful. Include examples for format-specific fields like phone numbers or codes.

Positioning: Group related fields together and use increments of 10 for position values to allow future adjustments.

Reference Filtering: Use static filters for permanent restrictions (like is_active: true) and dynamic filters to show contextually relevant options. Combine multiple conditions with _and and _or operators for complex filtering logic.

Common Questions

Do I need to set positions for all fields? No! Only set positions for fields where order matters. Unpositioned fields appear alphabetically after positioned ones.

What happens if two fields have the same position? The system sorts them alphabetically by display name as a tiebreaker.

Can I use any numbers for positions? Yes, but using increments of 10 (10, 20, 30) makes it easier to insert new fields later without renumbering everything.

How do reference field filters work? Filters use GraphQL syntax to limit which records appear in dropdown menus. Static filters apply fixed conditions, while dynamic filters (using $record.fieldName) change based on other form values.

What happens if a selected value becomes invalid due to filtering? The system automatically clears invalid selections when filters change, ensuring data integrity while providing clear feedback to users.

Can I combine multiple filter conditions? Yes! Use _and and _or operators to create complex filtering logic. For example:

{
  "filter": {
    "_and": [
      { "is_active": { "_eq": true } },
      { "department_id": { "_eq": "$record.department" } }
    ]
  }
}

Next Steps

With your fields properly configured, explore these related configuration areas:

• Table Display Configuration - Control how your tables appear in navigation and how records are identified
• Relationship Display Configuration - Configure how relationships between tables appear in your interfaces

Related Features

Enhance your forms and data entry with these advanced features:

• Smart Input - Use AI to help create records faster with intelligent field suggestions
• Custom Views - Add custom buttons and actions to your tables for enhanced functionality
• View Actions - Design effective action buttons for your custom views

Back to Overview

Return to Table Configuration for a complete overview of all configuration options.