Manage custom fields and groups

The custom fields overview article explains the many types of custom fields and provides examples for each one. This article covers the steps to create and populate a custom field for a meter. The custom fields menu is always found in the module menu of the corresponding object.

Example of how to create a meter custom field

  1. From the Buildings and Meters module menu, choose Custom Fields for Meters.
  2. Add a custom field by clicking the plus sign and then choose the custom field you want to add. If you want to upload a document select the corresponding advanced custom field.

     
  3. Enter a label for the field, this is the prompt you see in the application. (If you are adding a list custom field you need to add at least one item to the list with the link Edit Options.)
  4. Save the custom fields.
  5. On the meter's Properties tab you can add values for each custom field or use an update spreadsheet to update many meters at one time. Advanced custom fields let you add more complex information and can only be added in the application.

Populate a custom field in the application

  1. On the Properties tab click Edit.
  2. Enter the information.
  3. Save.

Populate a custom field with a spreadsheet

  1. On the Setup Spreadsheet Log, click Download.
  2. Download an update sheet for the object you want to update.

     
  3. Set filters to limit the data returned in the spreadsheet and download the spreadsheet.
  4. Open the spreadsheet. Green columns are current values, enter updated values in the white column.
  5. Save your spreadsheet.
  6. Upload the update spreadsheet with Import (in the same place you downloaded it).
  7. Review the status of your upload. If you have errors, download the error (kickout) spreadsheet. Fix the errors and upload the error (kickout) spreadsheet.

System custom fields

System custom fields are locked by the system to ensure their configuration cannot be changed. Most likely these fields are being used to support external automation, like a reformatter or API script.

Steps to create a group

  1. Create the custom fields.
  2. Populate the custom fields for each object in the application or with a spreadsheet. 
  3. Decide if you need to create a new category or use an existing category for your new group.
  4. Create groups based on the custom field by using filters with an automatic group.

Create a new group and new category

In the Groups and Benchmarks module, in Building Groups, use the + icon to Add a New Building Group. In this form you can create the new group and create a new category.