> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.spacebaseapp.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Custom fields

> Capture information your team needs in a consistent format and on the right record.

Use custom fields for information that is not covered by Spacebase's standard fields. For example, a **Business unit** dropdown on leases gives your team a consistent set of choices instead of variations entered in notes.

## Choose where the information belongs

Open **Company > Company Settings** and choose the field list for the record that owns the information.

| Sidebar item                          | When to use it                                                                                 |
| ------------------------------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **Custom Lease Fields**               | A value that describes the lease as a whole, such as an internal portfolio reference.          |
| **Custom Area Fields**                | A value that can differ between areas in the same lease, such as a floor identifier.           |
| **Custom Expense Fields**             | Information attached to a particular expense, such as an internal charge reference.            |
| **Custom Lease File Fields**          | Metadata about a document, such as its archive reference.                                      |
| **Custom Accounting Lease Fields**    | Additional information about the accounting lease.                                             |
| **Custom Accounting Snapshot Fields** | Information associated with a particular accounting snapshot rather than the lease as a whole. |
| **Custom Expense Account Fields**     | Additional codes or identifiers on an expense account mapping.                                 |
| **Custom Project Fields**             | Information about a project, such as an internal approval reference.                           |

Accounting and project field lists depend on the modules enabled for your company.

## Add a lease field

1. Open **Custom Lease Fields** and click **Create Field**.
2. Enter a name that tells your team what to provide.
3. Choose the field type. Use text for free-form references, a number for numeric values, or a dropdown when everyone should choose from the same list. Available types vary by record.
4. Set a default value only when it is an appropriate starting value. Leave it blank if users need to make a deliberate choice for each lease.
5. Select **Require lease has data for this field before publishing** if a missing value should prevent publication.
6. Save and complete any option configuration for the chosen type, such as the allowed dropdown choices.

For example, make **Business unit** a required dropdown when every published lease must be assigned to one of your organization's units. Avoid a default if it could let a lease be published under the wrong unit without anyone making that choice.

Creating the field defines what to collect. Enter the actual values on the leases, or use **Import Data** on the Custom Lease Fields page to populate values in bulk.

Select a field's row to edit its configuration. Options vary across field lists; the publishing requirement above applies to lease fields.