---
title: "Setup: Contact Fields And Custom Fields"
description: "Set up contact fields in Exterio: show or hide fields, make them required, change their order, and create custom fields like dropdowns, dates and Yes/No."
---
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October 27, 2026
# Setup: Contact Fields And Custom Fields
## Contact Fields controls which fields appear when your team adds or edits a contact, the order they appear in, and which ones are required. Custom Fields lets you add fields of your own, like “Insurance Company” or “Gate Code,” to every contact record.
### When would I use this?
- Your reps keep skipping the phone number, and you want it to be required.
- Your contact form shows fields your team never uses, and you want to hide them.
- You need to track something Exterio doesn’t have a field for, like an HOA name or a preferred contact time.
- You want the most important fields at the top of the form.
### Before you start
- **Only users with Feature Settings access can change contact fields.** By default, that’s Admins and Managers.
- **Changes affect everyone.** Every user sees the same contact form.
- **Deleting a custom field can’t be undone.** Hide it instead if you might want it back.
### How do I open Contact Fields in Exterio?
Go to **Settings** \> **Feature Settings** \> **Contacts** \> **Contact Fields**.
### What’s on the Contact Fields page?
Every field on the contact form is listed in order, with its type and two settings: **Visible** and **Required**.
| **Type** | **What it is** | **Examples** |
| --- | --- | --- |
| **SYSTEM** | Standard fields built into Exterio | First Name, Last Name, Email, Owner, Company, Job Title, Notes |
| **SECTION** | Groups of fields | Phone Numbers, Locations |
| **DROPDOWN** | Fields that pick from a list you set up elsewhere | Source, Contact Type, Status |
| **CUSTOM** | Fields your company added | Any field you create in Custom Fields |
### How do I show or hide a field?
Click the eye icon in the **Visible** column, then click **Save Changes** at the bottom of the page.
A hidden field is grayed out in the list and doesn’t appear on the contact form. You can show it again at any time.
### How do I make a field required?
Turn on the switch in the **Required** column, then click **Save Changes**.
Your team can’t save a contact until required fields are filled in. A field has to be visible before you can make it required.
### Which fields can’t be changed?
Four fields are always visible and always required. They show a lock icon.
| **Field** | **Why** |
| --- | --- |
| **First Name** | Every contact needs a name |
| **Last Name** | Every contact needs a name |
| **Contact Type** | Sorts contacts into groups like Lead and Customer |
| **Status** | Tracks where each contact stands, and drives the My Leads dashboard |
You can still drag them to a different spot in the order.
### How do I change the order of fields?
Drag a field by its handle on the left to where you want it, then click **Save Changes**. The contact form shows fields in this order.
### How do I save or undo my changes?
When you make a change, a bar appears at the bottom of the page. Click **Save Changes** to keep your changes, or **Discard Changes** to undo them. When the save works, you’ll see “Field configuration saved successfully!”
If you leave the page without saving, your changes are lost.
### How do I add a custom field?
Go to **Settings** \> **Feature Settings** \> **Contacts** \> **Custom Fields**, click **Add Custom Field**, fill in the details, and click **Create Field**.
1. Go to **Settings** \> **Feature Settings** \> **Contacts** \> **Custom Fields**.
2. Click **Add Custom Field**.
3. Enter a **Field Name**, like “Preferred Contact Time.”
4. Choose a **Field Type** (see the table below).
5. If you picked **Dropdown**, enter your choices under **Dropdown Options**. Click **+ Add Option** for each one.
6. Check **This field is required** if your team must fill it in.
7. Add **Help Text** if it would help your team know what to enter.
8. Click **Create Field**.
The **Create Field** button stays grayed out until you enter a name, and at least one option for a dropdown.
Custom fields appear on every contact record in a **Custom Fields** section. They’re also added to the Contact Fields list, where you can hide them or change their order.
### What types of custom fields can I create?
| **Field type** | **What it’s for** | **Example** |
| --- | --- | --- |
| **Short Text** | A single line of text | Gate code |
| **Long Text** | Several lines of text | Access instructions |
| **Number** | A number | Number of stories |
| **Currency** | A dollar amount | Insurance deductible |
| **Date** | A date picker | Date of loss |
| **Dropdown** | One choice from a list you set up | Preferred contact time: Morning, Afternoon, Evening |
| **Yes/No** | A yes or no switch | Has a dog? |
| **Phone** | A formatted phone number | Property manager’s phone |
| **Email** | An email address | Spouse’s email |
| **Team Member** | Someone on your Exterio team | Who referred this contact |
### How do I edit or delete a custom field?
Go to **Settings** \> **Feature Settings** \> **Contacts** \> **Custom Fields** and use the edit or delete icon on the field.
- **To edit:** click the edit icon, make your changes, and click **Save Changes**.
- **To delete:** click the delete icon, then click **Delete** to confirm. This can’t be undone.
### Tips and gotchas
- **Only require what you really need.** Every required field is one more thing a rep has to fill in before they can save a new lead. If there are too many, reps start typing placeholder text just to get past the form. Phone or email, plus type and status, is usually enough.
- **Hide fields instead of deleting them.** Hiding a field keeps it out of the way and lets you bring it back later. Deleting a custom field is permanent.
- **Pick the right field type the first time.** A **Dropdown** gives you clean, consistent answers you can sort and filter by. **Short Text** lets everyone type it their own way, so “AM,” “morning” and “mornings” all mean the same thing.
- **Put the fields reps fill in on the phone at the top.** Name, phone, email and source are what a rep asks for on a first call. Drag them to the top so new leads go in fast.
- **Use Help Text for anything that could be confusing.** A short note like “Enter the code for the community gate, not the garage” saves a lot of back-and-forth.
- **Remember to click Save Changes.** Changes on the Contact Fields page don’t save until you click it.
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