A single-select custom field adds a dropdown with options you define, and each item gets one of them. Use it to sort items into clear categories, such as a budget’s department or a project’s status.
You can filter, group, and sort items by the field. For example, you can group budgets by department to see each department’s work together.
👉 If an item needs more than one value, such as several skills for one employee, use a Multi-Select Custom Field instead.
When to Use a Single-Select Field
Single-select works best when exactly one answer is right. Some examples:
Department on budgets or employees
Status on projects: Active, Paused, Delivered
Priority on tasks: Critical, High, Medium, Low
Company type on companies: Client, Supplier, Partner
👉 See more ideas in Custom Fields: Examples and Best Practices.
Create a Single-Select Field
Where you create the field depends on what it’s for.
For budgets, companies, deals, expenses, invoices, and other items
Go to Settings > Custom fields.
Select the item you want the field on, for example Budgets.
Click Add new custom field.
For employees and contractors
Go to Settings > Employee fields.
Click Add field.
👉 Learn more about Employee Fields.
Set Up the Field
From the list of field types, select Single-select field.
Give the field a name and a short description.
Add the options people will choose from, for example the names of your departments.
Click Create field. If you’re editing an existing field, click Update field.
While setting up the field, you can also turn on:
Add more options directly in the dropdown: lets your team add a new option while filling in the field, so they don’t need to go back to Settings.
Set as a sensitive field: only certain people can see the field. This option is available for fields on employees, contractors, clients, and contacts.
👉 Learn who can see sensitive fields in Sensitive Custom Fields.
Fill In the Field
Open the item and pick a value from the dropdown. For example, when you create or edit a budget, choose one of its custom types you defined earlier.
To fill in many items at once, add the field as a column in a table view and pick a value in each row.
Filter, Group, and Sort by the Field
Once items have values, use the field to organize your views and reports:
Filter: show only the budgets for the Design department.
Group: see budgets grouped by department.
Sort: order items by priority.
