Creating composite fields

Create composite fields for existing and new field types.

Depending on whether you use an existing composite field type or create a new composite field type, the procedure to follow is different.

To create a composite field by using an existing composite field type

Follow these steps to create a composite field that is based on an existing composite field type:
  1. From the Add fields tab, click Create composite.
  2. Enter a display name for your composite field. You can set this field in any language, using any Unicode character.
  3. Enter a symbolic name. This name is used to reference this project in the code and cannot be changed. It cannot have spaces or special characters.
  4. Specify whether the composite field is required or sensitive or both.
  5. In the New or existing composite field type section, select Match to existing field type.
  6. Select the existing composite field type that you want to use from the drop-down list.
  7. Enter alternative names, or aliases for your field. In a document, the same field can be identified by different names, case, or phrasing, for example Purchase order number, PO number, and PO#. In the Alias section, you can add any alternative name that might come up for your field.
  8. Click Next.
  9. You can see the subfields of the existing field type. You cannot edit those subfields.

    If this is not what you want, you can click Back to return to the previous page and select a different composite field type. Otherwise, click Create composite.

To create a composite field as a new field type

Follow these steps to create a composite field for your document type when the composite field type does not yet exist:
  1. Create each of the individual subfields as a top-level field. For more information, follow the procedure in Adding fields.
  2. From the Add fields tab, click Create composite.
  3. Enter a display name for your composite field. You can set this field in any language, using any Unicode character.
  4. Enter a symbolic name. This name is used to reference this project in the code and cannot be changed. It cannot have spaces or special characters.
  5. Specify whether the composite field is required and/or sensitive.
  6. In the New or existing composite field type section, select Create a field type.
  7. Enter alternative names, or aliases for your field. In a document, the same field can be identified by different names, case, or phrasing, for example "Purchase order number", "PO number", and "PO#". In the Alias section, you can add any alternative name that might come up for your field.
  8. Click Next.
  9. Select the simple fields that you defined in step 1, which become subfields within this composite. Table or composite field types are not available for you to select in this list.
  10. Click Create composite.

Results

After you create your composite field, you can see it in a hierarchical form in the Add fields tab. You can expand it to show its subfields, or keep it collapsed. The simple fields that you added to it no longer appear as top level fields in this form, because they are now sub-fields of your new composite type.