Creating custom fields

It is possible in Legalsense to add custom fields for certain data for which no standard fields are available. You can create extra fields and link them to clients, contacts, matters, invoices and/or users.

These created additional fields can be included in Excel exports and possibly used in integrations with other programs to allow them to communicate with each other.

If this functionality needs to be changed or assigned to specific users, the Support department can assist with this. This is disabled by default.

You can then find this functionality under the menu Settings - custom fields when you have the necessary rights. 

Per item 'Client', 'Contact', 'Invoice', 'Matter' or 'User' it is possible to add extra fields which can be used for various purposes. 

By clicking on the button 'New' at the desired item line, we get to the following screen. The fields marked with '*' are marked as required fields.

Identifier:

For the purpose of integration with other programs, it may be necessary to give a field a particular identifier (id/code). In the identifier it is not allowed to use spaces. Instead of a space you can use an '_', for example: 'payment_method'.

Name:

This is the title of the field for use in Legalsense that you will see in the appropriate component for example: 'Payment Method'.

Widget:

Here you can choose the way in which the field should be given a value in Legalsense. There are several options:

1. Text input: for entering text manually;
2. Number input: for entering a number manually;
3. Dropdown box: if you choose this, then the additional input field below will appear that allows you to create your own pick list. These can also be names of timekeepers or users;
   
4. Checkbox: when you use this option, a clickable box will appear. By default, the value 'False' is associated with this. When the checkbox is checked, this is changed to the value 'True'; 
5. Url: this should include a website (including https://);
6. Text field: manual entry of text. This could contain multiple lines.

Help text:

Displayed below the input field. You can therefore define a help text for users for each additional field per component if required.

Default:

This value is used as the default value for new objects. For additional fields that are based on a widget 'Choice list' you choose a default value. For fields where the checkbox is set, you can use the value 'True' ('True') to check by default. In fact, by default this choice is 'False' ('False'). 

Include this in an Excel export:

If desired, the value entered can be included in the Excel export of the relevant component (clients, contacts, matters, invoices). 

Excel export value:

If this field is exported to Excel and it is a choice field, choose what to display in Excel: the value of the field, the text from the choice field, or both.

Required Field:

By activating this field, the corresponding item can be made mandatory to fill in. Please note that when it comes to the checkbox or a default value is entered, it will not affect the operation. 

Read-only field: 

For the purpose of integration with other programs. If this is checked, it is not possible to modify/enter the value from Legalsense. The field will therefore only be shown when a value has been entered.

If you wish to add a manual addition to a client, contact or matter, for example, we recommend using tags. Tags can also be filtered from the advanced search options. Extra fields are not available there as a filter. 

An explanation of the use of tags within Legalsense, can be found here.