Introduction
A transformative feature within the Genius CE and Enterprise platforms is the enhanced capacity to tailor the learning experience for your users. By utilizing custom lists and custom fields, you can effectively personalize the learner's journey while ensuring that the core values and vision of your organization remain intact. Each organization collects distinct data that reflects its unique requirements, and should the standard fields offered by the Genius CE and Enterprise platforms fall short of your specific needs, you now have the flexibility to create custom fields that align with your objectives.
Custom Fields
Custom fields are the forms and input boxes that users interact with during registration, on their user profiles, or within various courses, sections, learning paths, and affiliations. Below are some illustrative examples.
Example without custom fields (These are the default fields included in the Genius CE and Enterprise registration form):
With the addition of custom fields (for instance, Badge ID#):
To Add Custom Fields:
Navigate to Admin --> System Setup
Select Custom Fields
3. Choose the object type for which you wish to modify the custom fields.
4. Click on "Add new custom field".
5. Assign a name to the field that will be recognized within the system. Note that this field name cannot contain any spaces. For example, if the field is labeled as "Badge ID#", it should be entered as "BadgeID".
6. The DisplayName field will be the name visible to users.
7. Choose whether the field will be set to ACTIVE or ARCHIVED.
8. You have the option to make this custom field mandatory, meaning users must fill it out for the form to be submitted without triggering an error message.
9. The Display Type indicates the format of the input for the field. Genius CE and Enterprise support various types of field entry formats, which are outlined below.
10. The available input types are as follows:
Textbox = Users can input any text into this field.
DateTime = A calendar feature will pop up for user selection.
Yes/No = A dropdown menu will appear with options for "yes" or "no".
List = Refers to CUSTOM LISTS.
Country = A list of countries will be provided.
State = A list of states within the USA will be available.
11. Determine the display order for how the field will appear on the form.
12. Specify where you want the field to be displayed or hidden by checking the appropriate boxes at the bottom of the form.
Add Page – Displays the field when creating a new learner.
Main Page – Shows the field on the learner’s main profile page.
Learner Edit Account – Makes the field available when a learner edits their account details.
Edit Page – Displays the field when editing an existing learner.
Public Student Sign Up – Shows the field on the public registration form accessed via the “Create Account” button.
13. Don't forget to SAVE!
If you need to make changes or if something went wrong, you can always edit it.
14. To edit a custom field, click on the Ellipses icon located on the far right of the field. This will bring up the edit option, allowing you to make necessary adjustments to your custom field. However, please note that the field labeled 'Name' cannot be modified after its initial creation, as it serves as the database identifier for that field.
Be sure to hit SAVE after making any changes!
Custom fields can also be utilized in conjunction with our reporting features.
To discover more about this, check out the following resources:
Custom Lists
1. Start by navigating to Admin --> System Setup
2. Select Custom Lists
3. Click on "Add a new list".
4. Assign a name to the list and save your changes.
5. From the "Select list" dropdown, choose the list you just created.
6. Add new entries to the list.
7. The entries you add will represent the options that appear in the dropdown for the custom list you created. These options are what users will select when they interact with that field. You have the flexibility to edit, activate, and archive these entries whenever necessary.
Custom lists can be incorporated as the "List" item mentioned earlier in the creation of custom fields. If you have a custom field that would benefit from a custom list, this integration will help streamline your data collection process, making it more organized and efficient.
UPDATE: You can now add custom fields and lists directly from the EDIT page of an Affiliation as well.
To do this, go to Affiliations > Select the Affiliation > Custom Fields/Lists will be available on the left menu.
Character Limits
Each custom field value can hold up to 1,024 characters, regardless of the object type or the Display Type. The same limit applies to each choice in a List-type custom list and to values you import through a CSV (see Importing Custom Fields via CSV - Genius CE & Enterprise for the full import guide).
If you try to save a value longer than 1,024 characters, the save is rejected, the platform does not silently trim it. This limit is built into how the platform stores custom field values and cannot be changed through configuration.