Custom field basics
Last updated: June 27, 2022
Custom fields let you optimize your book form for your specific tours and activities. These fields can be used to gather additional information from your customers, offer them extra options, or record information just for your staff members.
Managing your custom fields
View and manage your custom fields by going to the Settings section of your Dashboard and selecting Custom Fields from the sidebar.
Here you can create a new custom field or edit existing fields. You can choose to view your custom fields in “Preview” or “Table” view by using the dropdown in the toolbar.
Preview view
Preview view allows you to see approximately how a custom field will appear on your book form. To find a specific field in this view, toggle between the custom field types or select All to view all of your existing custom fields. Fields are organized alphabetically by internal name.
Below each custom field you’ll see options for viewing and editing. Click the Edit field button to edit a custom field’s settings.
If a custom field has a lock icon next to it, this means it is a private field. Private fields will only be visible to logged-in Dashboard users who have permission to view them.
Table view
Table view shows all of your custom fields in a spreadsheet format and allows you to more easily see all your custom fields at a glance. You can see each custom field’s type, title, and description by default.
In each custom field’s row, select the Edit field button to edit a custom field’s settings. If a custom field has a lock icon next to it, this means it is a private field and is only visible to logged-in Dashboard users who have permission to view private fields.
Display options for viewing custom fields
You can further customize both the Table view as well as the Preview view by using the Display options 
menu. You can use this menu to show archived custom fields, Usage for custom fields on items or in custom field groups, and (when in the Table view) a variety of Columns containing information like the custom field’s ID, SKU, and more (by default, the Type, Privacy, Name, and Edit columns are always displayed). Any columns on the table with small up and down arrows can also be sorted in ascending or descending order, similar to a spreadsheet. Click the name of the column you wish to sort by, and the data will sort automatically.
Having trouble loading table view? Your Dashboard may be trying to load too many custom fields at once. Try using preview view to see and manage your custom fields.
Custom field types
Click into the sections below to read more about each type of custom field.
Text input
Text input fields are basic fields where customers can type free-form responses. You can create text input fields that are single line (for short responses) or multiple line (for longer responses).
Checkbox
Checkbox fields can be used in several different ways. Some examples:
Give customers the option to add a souvenir to their reservation (ex: “Add a t-shirt to my order”).
Allow your reservationists to comp the price of a booking with a checkbox called “Comp this booking?” This field would only be visible to logged-in users making bookings on your Dashboard.
Require an online customer to check the box next to a statement like “I agree to Island Sailing’s Terms and Conditions”
In the first two examples, the checkbox field should be set up to change the price of the overall booking. See pricing a custom field.
Dropdown
A dropdown (or dropdown list of options) is primarily used when you want to provide your customers with a set list of options, as opposed to text inputs which allow the customer to enter whatever they’d like.
Quantity
Quantity fields (or quantity dropdowns) are used specifically for numerical values (for example, “How many people will be in your party?”). When setting up a quantity dropdown, you only need to enter the first and last numbers in the list; the rest will be automatically filled in. These fields can also be set up to affect pricing.
Note: Unlike most other types of custom fields, quantity dropdowns cannot be set as required. If you need to require an answer, you can create a regular dropdown instead.
Transportation
Note: Depending on your Dashboard settings, you may not see the Transportation option in your custom fields.
If you use transportation, these fields can be set up to determine customers’ transportation needs and communicate important information regarding pickup times and locations.
For example, when a customer selects their hotel from the list and indicates that they need to be picked up, the pickup time and location will be included in their booking confirmation. This information also allows you to track and manage transportation routes in your Dashboard.
Code
Code fields are generally used to accept promotional codes for a campaign. This lets a user enter a promo code when booking, and is priced to give them a discount.
Code generator
Code generator fields can be used for setups that involve gift certificates or packages. When tied to a campaign, the code generator will create one or more unique codes that can later be used to apply a discount.
Tip: To issue codes from an existing list, add them to the connected campaign and set the maximum uses for each code to 0. How to add codes to a campaign.
Generated codes are sent to customers in their confirmation email. Customers can then enter their code when creating a booking, automatically applying a discount to their booking total.
Waivers
Note: Depending on your Dashboard settings, you may not see this option.
If you have an integration set up with Smartwaiver, the waiver field allows you to monitor whether or not a waiver has been signed and received.
Labels
Label fields do not require any input from the user making the booking; instead, they help keep your book form organized by separating it into different sections.
For example, you might have several custom fields set up for gathering customer information. Adding an Additional Information label above these fields helps group them together and keep your book form clean.
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See also:
Notes
- The custom field settings page will still default to the “Preview” view to avoid disrupting existing user flows.
- The “Usage” toggle in the Display options menu will have two options:
- Added to Items indicates when a custom field is added on an item either for a customer type or whole booking custom field group.
- Added to Custom Fields Groups indicates when a custom field is added to company-level custom field groups.
- Currently, Markdown is rendered in the “Table” view; this might change in future versions.
- The user’s view option selections will be remembered if they navigate away and back and when they refresh their browser. However, if they manually clear their storage, log onto a different device, or it’s been an extended amount of time since they logged in, their view options will be reset to the default.