Field Categories And Types

The student field wizard starts with a Field Category and then shows field types inside that category. Application fields use the same field types, but show them in one field type list.

Choose the simplest field type that captures the information cleanly.

Category Guides

Category	Use it for
Basic Fields	Simple inputs such as text, dates, choices, files, and numbers.
Compound Fields	Ready made groups of related subfields.
Repeating Fields	Ready made history-style entries that users can add more than once.
Custom Fields	Advanced address, grouped, and repeating structures.

Basic Fields

Basic Fields are simple input types. Use them for most student and application information.

Field type	Use it for
Text Input	Short text such as passport number, student ID, or application reference.
Text Area	Longer notes such as interview notes or application comments.
Number	Numeric scores, counts, rankings, or years.
Email	Email addresses.
Phone	Phone numbers with phone specific settings.
URL	Web links, portal links, or public profile links.
Date	A date without a time.
Date & Time	A value that needs both date and time.
Time	A time without a date.
Dropdown	One value from a fixed list.
Multi Select	More than one value from a fixed list.
Radio Buttons	A short fixed list where users choose one value.
Checkbox	A yes or no value.
File Upload	A file attached to the student or application.
Image Upload	An image file attached to the student or application.
Rich Text	Formatted notes or formatted instructions.
Currency	Money values such as tuition, deposit, or service fee.
Percentage	Percentage values.
Rating	Simple score or quality rating.
Color Picker	Color values used for visual categorization.

Compound Fields

Compound Fields are ready made groups of related subfields. Use them when the prebuilt structure matches the information you want to collect.

Field type	Included subfields
Full Name	Title, First, Middle, Last, Suffix
Date Range	Start Date, End Date
Contact Info	Phone, Email, Preferred Method
Emergency Contact	Name, Relationship, Phone, Email

Compound fields reduce setup time, but they should still match the way your agency works. Do not use a compound field if you only need one of its parts.

Repeating Fields

Repeating Fields are ready made groups that can be entered more than once.

Field type	Use it for
Work History	Multiple jobs or work experiences.
Education	Multiple schools, degrees, or academic history rows.

Repeating fields are useful when the number of entries changes by student. For example, one student may have one education record and another may have four.

Custom Fields

Custom is for advanced structures that need more control.

Field type	Use it for
Address	A structured address with visible and required subfields.
Field Group	A custom group of subfields stored together.
Repeating Field	One field type that can repeat several times.
Repeating Group	A group of subfields that can repeat together.

Prefer Basic, Compound, or Repeating templates when they fit. Use Custom when you need a structure that the simpler categories do not cover.

Choosing The Right Type

Need	Best choice
Users type a short answer	Text Input
Users write notes	Text Area or Rich Text
Users choose one option from a long list	Dropdown
Users choose multiple options	Multi Select
Users choose yes or no	Checkbox
Users enter a deadline	Date
Users enter money	Currency
Users upload a document	File Upload
Users enter a repeated history	Work History, Education, Repeating Field, or Repeating Group

Use fixed options when you need clean filtering and reporting. Use free text when users need flexibility.

Use the Field Types reference when you need details for a specific field type.