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How to use custom fields for project categorisation
Custom fields add structured data to projects beyond the default name, status, and dates. Fields like dropdowns, tags, dates, and currency values allow projects to be categorised, filtered, and sorted in ways that match how your business actually organises work.
- Open custom field settings. Custom fields are managed under Settings > Custom fields. The Projects tab shows all fields currently attached to projects. New fields are added by clicking + Add field.
- Choose a field type. The field type determines what kind of data the field stores. Dropdown works well for fixed categories like department or priority level. Multi-select fields allow multiple values to be applied at once. Date fields suit milestones like "go-live date" and Currency fields track values like budget or estimated revenue.
- Configure the field options. Each field type has its own settings. Dropdown fields need their options defined, for example "Design", "Development", "Marketing" for a department field. A default value can be set so new projects automatically receive a starting category. The field label should be descriptive because team members see it on every project.
- Fill in the field on projects. Once created, the custom field appears on all project detail views. The field can be filled in when creating a new project or edited on existing ones at any time. Values appear in the project details panel alongside the other project details like status and dates.
- Use fields for filtering and sorting. Custom fields appear as filter options on the projects page. Filtering by a dropdown value like "Department: Design" narrows the list to only design projects. The list can also be sorted by any custom field column, so sorting by "Estimated value" surfaces the highest-value projects first.
Available field types
Plutio supports 11 custom field types: text, link, date, dropdown, multi-select, checkbox, currency, rating, contacts, slider, and range. Dropdown provides a fixed list of options for consistent categorisation. Multi-select allows multiple labels on a single project. Date stores dates for milestones or deadlines beyond the default start and end dates. Currency holds monetary values with the correct currency symbol. Using specific field types instead of freeform text ensures data stays consistent and filterable across all projects.
Saving filtered views
On the projects list, custom field columns can be added to the table view through the column settings. Filters can be saved as named views, so a filtered list like "Active design projects" can be accessed with a single click without re-applying filters each time. Saved views are visible to any team member who has access to the projects section, which keeps everyone working from the same organised structure.
