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

# Data and doc fields

> Add metadata fields to data and docs inside a project so you can sort, filter, and categorize consistently.

<img src="https://mintcdn.com/dovetail-e5aa4160/jqkgZUuf8Bm2KsBg/help/projects/data-and-docs-fields/Fields-hero.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=jqkgZUuf8Bm2KsBg&q=85&s=ab5cc46aa5c4f774a8be98171bb2f93a" alt="Metadata fields added to project data for sorting and filtering" width="2184" height="1452" data-path="help/projects/data-and-docs-fields/Fields-hero.png" />

## Overview

Fields are metadata that help you consistently structure and visualize project data - like spreadsheet headers. They live on your Dovetail **data** and **project Docs** to help build on the sort and filter experience across your workspace.

**Managers** and **Contributors** can use data fields to capture information like research method, interview date, usability testing scores, segment, and Net Promoter Score. With Doc fields, you can capture information such as product area, team, key themes, confidence level, and the criticality of your findings.

This page covers fields inside a single project. To create global fields that apply across every project, see [Workspace fields](/help/workspace-fields).

***

## How data fields work

When you add a new field to a data object, it will also be added to all other data objects in that project. This will allow you to capture information consistently across your data and easily filter, sort, and locate your data.

Fields are located within the **data sidebar** and can be opened by pressing the field icon.

* To add a new field, click `+ New field`, set a title, and select a field type from the dropdown list.
* When a data object is **editable**, you can update field titles or values by simply clicking on the field itself.
* To rearrange the order of your fields, you can use **drag and drop** in the sidebar.

***

## How Doc fields work

<Info>
  Workspace-level docs do not currently support fields. If you need to add fields to a doc, please move the doc into a **project**.
</Info>

When you add a new field to a Doc, it will also be added to all other Docs in that project. This will allow you to capture information consistently across your data and easily filter, sort, and locate your data.

* To add a field to your Doc, open a Doc and click `+ New field`. Then, you can set a title and select a field type.

***

## Field types

We currently support the following field types in **data** and \*\*Docs \*\*(only at the project-level):

| Field type    | Description                                          |
| :------------ | :--------------------------------------------------- |
| Text          | Any text characters, up to a maximum of 300          |
| Number        | Any positive or negative integer                     |
| Date          | Any date in the format YYYY-MM-DD                    |
| Checkbox      | A toggle switch for true / false                     |
| URL           | Any valid website link or URL                        |
| Single-select | Assign one option from a list of up to 200           |
| Multi-select  | Assign up to 100 options from a list of up to 200    |
| Contact       | Reference people from your Contacts database         |
| Email         | Any valid email address                              |
| Phone         | Any valid phone number                               |
| NPS           | Any number from 0-10 on the Net Promoter Score scale |

***

## Working with single and multi-select fields

Select fields help standardize how data is categorized by limiting field values to a curated list to select from.

**Single-select** fields are limited to displaying one value from the list, while **multi-select** fields allow up to 100 values for a given data or Doc. When creating a single or multi-select field, you can create a list of values for your data or Docs to use along with this.

* To do this, open your data or Docs, click `Fields`, and select `+ New Field`**.**
* From there, select the field type (single or multi), add a field title, and enter values in the text box. All values submitted in the text box of a field will automatically populate and save a list of values for you to use in the field.

***

## Create and update field data in bulk

You can update many fields quickly by editing field properties in bulk from any data or Docs view.

* To do this, select your data or Doc, click `••• `in the pop-up menu, and select `Edit field`.
* From there, choose the field you wish to edit along with the field property. Once complete, this will apply updates to all data objects or Docs selected.

***

## Change field type for existing field

You may decide to change the type of an existing field, such as a text field to a single or multi-select field.

* To do this in your data object or Doc, click on the field title, hover over the field type, and select the new field type.

When converting **to a select field** (single or multi), all existing text is treated as a list of values. For multi-select, commas create separate values in the list. Remember that single and multi-select fields have a maximum number of values allowed per field.

<img src="https://mintcdn.com/dovetail-e5aa4160/jqkgZUuf8Bm2KsBg/help/projects/data-and-docs-fields/change-field-type.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=jqkgZUuf8Bm2KsBg&q=85&s=18da038159c971e7dd8a6f2d0ed31322" alt="Changing an existing field from text to a select field" width="1488" height="992" data-path="help/projects/data-and-docs-fields/change-field-type.png" />

When converting **a multi-select field to a text field**, the options for each multi-select field will be converted to a comma-separated list, and select fields will be converted straight to text. This will not result in any data loss.

***

## Edit, delete, and manage project fields

Project fields are scoped to a single project — any changes you make apply across all data or Docs within that project instantly.

#### Edit a project-level field

To edit a field title or type, open a data object or Doc and click on the field title in the sidebar. From there, you can rename it or hover over the field type to switch it to a new type.

To update field values in bulk, select your data or Docs, click `•••` in the pop-up menu, and select **Edit field**. Choose the field and property you want to update — changes will apply to all selected items at once.

#### Delete a project-level field

To delete a project field, navigate to the data sidebar, open the field, and select **Delete**. Deleting a field removes it and its values from all data objects or Docs in the project.

<Info>
  **Note:** Deletion is permanent at the project level. If you’re working with workspace fields, deleted fields are sent to the workspace trash and can be restored within 30 days.
</Info>

#### Manage project-level fields

To add or update select field values, open the field directly from a data object or Doc and edit the values inline.

***

## Workspace fields

Fields created inside a project stay in that project. To define a set of fields once and reuse them across every project — so data can be grouped, searched, and filtered workspace-wide — see [Workspace fields](/help/workspace-fields).
