Custom Field Types (CFTs) are used like Index Fields but, once defined, can be used in several Data Definitions and Search Templates.

Custom Field Types are based on Base Field Types or existing Custom Field Types. They enable the user to create a specially defined Field Type which can be used in several Data Definitions and Search Templates.

An example of a very simple Custom Field Type is Days of the week. This could simply be based on the Base Field Type Text and have the list of Allowable values: Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday. A more complicated Custom Field Type could be created with the use of Regular Expressions (as shown in the first example).

When a Custom Field Type is based on an existing Custom Field Type, it inherits the properties of the Parent Custom Field Type. The relationship between Custom Field Types can be viewed by using the Tree view (see “View”). In this example, the Custom Field Type Postcode is the Parent of the Custom Field Type Slough Postcode.

Note: You must have Permissions configured to allow you to Manage Custom Field Types. If your Permissions are not set to allow you to Manage Custom Field Types, Custom Field Types will not be displayed in the tree view. See “Users and Groups” and “Permissions Inheritance” on page 9 for more information.