Dynamic Fields in Templates

[catalystelectric]

I love the new dynamic fields feature. A few suggestions to add to that list of items:

Customer Name
Customer Phone
Customer Email
Current Time

 

[kirst]

I agree! Having more fields would be extremely helpful, and I also think some of the fields can be renamed for clarity. Here are some additional field suggestions that our team would find valuable:

Current Date
Document / Date / Created
Document / Date / Last Updated
Document / Author / Created - Name
Document / Author / Created - Phone
Document / Author / Created - Email
Document / Author / Created - Role/Position
Document / Author / Last Updated - Name
Document / Author / Last Updated - Phone
Document / Author / Last Updated - Email
Document / Author / Last Updated - Role/Position


I hope you don't mind me piggybacking on this post with another suggestion related to dynamic fields! (Happy to create a separate post if preferred.)

• Currently, dynamic fields only pull in their referenced data once – either when a document is created from a template or when the field is first inserted.
• I believe dynamic fields should automatically update whenever their referenced data changes. To me, that's what makes a field truly dynamic. Otherwise, it's essentially a static or fixed field.
• For example, if a document's title changes, the Document Title dynamic field should automatically reflect that change (which is actually how the Document Title used to work).
• The same should apply to fields like Project Name, Project Address, Customer Name, Customer Address, Customer Phone, etc.
• Without this functionality, users have to update the same information in multiple places. For example, changing a Project Address should automatically update that field in all existing documents referencing it, rather than requiring users to open each document and manually make the same change. Additionally, field users on mobile devices don't have access to editing the header/dynamic fields.
• Ultimately, dynamic fields should maintain a live connection to their source data, not just populate information once.

 

[catalystelectric]

All great suggestions. It's the start of something small, but really can boost efficiency.

 

[Megan M.]

Catalystelectric and Kirst — this is a great thread!

Straight answer on what's available today: right now dynamic fields cover Project, company, and author details. Customer name, phone, and email aren’t in there yet, and neither are document created/updated timestamps, author role, or a standalone time field.

A couple of things that help in the meantime:

• If you name Projects after the customer (plenty of crews do), Project Name and Address carry that through automatically every time.
• Dynamic date and time works in your Template headers and footers, so a dated doc is already handled there.
• For contact info in the body, build a small “Customer Info” block into the template with the labels pre-typed — Name, Phone, Email. Your crew fills values instead of rebuilding the section every time.

Kirst, on your second point, you’re right about how it works today. Fields pull their info once, when the document is created from the Template, and then they hold. That was the scope of the first release. Your case for a live connection is a strong one, especially the part about changing a Project address in one place instead of opening every doc.

And no need to start a separate post; I'll pass all this feedback on to the right team! Thanks to you both.