NOTE: Custom fields let you create your own data fields, so you can add information to a name badge or report even when there’s no default field for it. A custom field can include things like an ID number from your system, a preferred name - really, any information you want to create a custom field for.
Attendees can fill out the information for this custom field when they register, or you can bulk import the data [using the Import Data Express Action, for Contact Custom Fields; or the Bulk Creation Express Action, for custom fields in modules such as Registration, Functions etc.].
The instructions below are for a name badge, but the report editor works in a similar way.
If you're using the Attendee Verification feature, you could also set up Contact Mapping to match your external CRM data with Contact Custom Fields.
NOTE: Before adding this to a name badge or report, you need to have already set up the custom field (and captured the data if you want values to appear).
Setup Panel – Custom Fields
You need to get the name of your custom field.
Because you need to add the exact name of the custom field including any capital letters, punctuation etc., to use in the name badge or report editor, go back to Set Up, select the Custom Field you want, and note down the exact name. In this example, we’re using ‘Industry Sector’.
Set up Panel - Name Badge Editor
In Name Badge Editor, select the badge template and click edit.
In the Editor, select the Fields (cylinder icon) from the right-hand side.
Click the DataSource heading (or Component 1 heading if you have it).
Then, expand the module where your custom fields have been set up (e.g. Contact). Next to the words Custom Fields in that module, click on the “Add calculated field” symbol. (It looks like an F, or function symbol, with a plus sign.)
Name Badge Editor – Edit the Calculated Field
Scroll down to find the new field you just created. It will be called calculatedField and a number (e.g. calculatedField1).
Click on it and select edit (the pencil icon).
Rename it to something suitable (for our example, Industry Sector).
Next to Expression, select the three dots to open the Expression Editor.
Expression Editor
Select Functions > Aggregate and then double-click Sum()
In the Editor box, an expression appears, with your cursor sitting in between round brackets. The Sum operator is there to make sure all required data will be searched.
Select Functions > Logical and then double-click Iif(,,)
Select Fields from the lower left-hand box (it’s at the top of the list).
In the lower middle box, look under the module where you added the Custom Field (for example, Contact), and then expand Custom Fields and double-click on “ab Name”.
NOTE: The ab icon just means it’s a text field.
Our expression now looks like the below – we’ve added some spaces to make it easier to read.
[ ].Sum(Iif ( [Name] , , ) )
With your cursor still immediately after [Name], insert two of these = (equals sign) with no space between then, then the exact name (capitals, spacing etc.) of your custom field, in single quote marks.
NOTE: For our example, you would enter: ==’Industry Sector’
The expression now says:
[ ].Sum(Iif ( [Name]==‘Industry Sector’ , , ) )
Place the cursor between the two commas.
Under Fields, expand the module your custom field is under (such as Contact), then expand Custom Fields>Values and double-click GetValue.
Finally, after the second comma, we add a text string that means ‘empty/null’.
We do this by putting two single quotation marks ‘’ with nothing between them.
NOTE: The whole example expression now says:
[].Sum(Iif( [Name] =='Industry Sector', [Values.GetValue],'' ))
Click on "OK" to save the Expression Editor.
This will take you back to the Name Badge Editor.
Your new calculated field (custom field) will appear in the Custom Fields section of the module. It will be in alphabetical order with other Custom Field elements, based on the Display Name you gave it when you created it.
In Name Badge Editor
Click and drag your new calculated field (from the right-hand Field List) onto your name badge.
NOTE: If you want to change the appearance, go to Settings (the cog icon on the far right). For example, under Appearance, you may want to center your text, add a background, etc.
Save and close the Name Badge layout editor.
Save changes to the Name Badge Setup.
NOTE: It’s very important to save at BOTH of these stages.
You should also always test your new name badge by opening an Attendee Record and using the Tools (spanner icon) to check the name badge you edited, making sure the content you want in your calculated field has pulled in correctly.
