# Creating and configuring record types

Define the categories your records belong to: name, color, icon, and the custom fields attached to every record in the type.

A **record type** is the template that shapes all the records in a category: its name, color, icon, and the custom fields attached to it. Every record you create belongs to exactly one record type, and that type defines what data you can store and what appears on your map pins.

For example, a roofing company might have a "Jobs" record type with fields for Service type, Material, and Job Date. A real estate team might have a "Listings" type with Price, Beds, Baths, and Status.

## Create a record type

1. In the dashboard sidebar, click **Records**.
2. On the "Record types" page, click **+ New type** in the top-right corner.
3. The "New record type" dialog opens with two paths:

**Start from a template**: choose one of the built-in templates (Jobs, Listings, Locations, Venues, Programs, or Installations). Each comes with a sensible name, icon, color, and a starter set of fields already attached. You can rename and modify everything after creation.

**Build from scratch**: scroll down to fill in the fields manually:

- **Singular label**: the name for a single record (for example, _Job_).
- **Plural label**: the name for multiple records (for example, _Jobs_). Used in the dashboard sidebar and button labels.
- **Color**: the accent color shown on this record type's sidebar entry and used as a default pin color.
- **Icon**: a Lucide icon glyph rendered on the sidebar and in the record type list.

4. Click **Create record type**. The new type appears in the list and gains its own section in the sidebar.

## Edit a record type

To change a record type's name, color, or icon after creation:

1. Click **Records** in the sidebar, then click **Record types**.
2. Click the pencil icon on the record type you want to edit.
3. The edit page opens with two sections: **General** (name, color, icon) and **Fields** (custom fields). Edit the **General** section and save.

## Add and manage custom fields

Custom fields let you attach structured data to every record of a type. To add a field:

1. Open the record type's edit page (see above).
2. In the **Fields** section, click **+ Add field**.
3. Enter a **Field label** and choose a **Field type**:

| Field type       | Best for                                                       |
| ---------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **Text**         | Short free-form values like a customer name or note            |
| **Number**       | Numeric values with an optional unit (sq ft, years, $)         |
| **Date**         | A calendar date, shown with a date-picker in the record form   |
| **Select**       | One choice from a predefined list of options                   |
| **Multi-select** | Multiple choices from a predefined list                        |
| **Yes / No**     | A simple boolean toggle                                        |
| **Rating**       | A 1–5 star score                                               |
| **Link / URL**   | A web address, rendered as a clickable link in the detail view |

4. For **Select** and **Multi-select** fields, add your options in the **Options** section. Each option can have an optional color, which can later be used for pin color-coding via **By field value** mode on the map.

   **Adding many options at once:** click **Bulk import** (or the paste icon next to the Options heading) to open the bulk import textarea. Paste a list of option labels, one per line, then click **Import**. Saw Your Sign adds each non-blank, non-duplicate line as a new option. You can still edit, reorder, or delete individual options afterward.

5. Click **Save field**.

To reorder fields, drag any row by its handle. To archive a field (hide it from new records while keeping its data), click the archive icon on the field row.

## What "filterable" and "public" mean

Each field has two toggles:

- **Filterable**: makes the field available as a filter on your maps. Turn this off for internal fields you don't want visitors to filter by.
- **Public**: controls whether the field can appear in the public record detail view. Turn this off for internal notes or data you never want shown publicly.

## Delete a record type

Deleting a record type removes it and all records belonging to it permanently. This cannot be undone.

1. Open the record type's edit page.
2. Scroll to the bottom and click **Delete record type**.
3. Confirm the deletion in the dialog.

If a map is scoped to the record type you're deleting, that map will have no records to display after deletion. Update or remove any affected maps from **Maps** in the sidebar.

## What's next

- [Add records to your new type](/help/adding-records)
- [Import records in bulk from a CSV file](/help/importing-records)
- [Configure which fields appear on your public map](/help/field-display)