How to Create and Delete Fields in New Lists

Documentation Index

Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://support.affinity.co/llms.txt

Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

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Overview

Create custom fields to track new data points and delete fields you no longer need—all directly from New Lists without toggling to Classic. Fields you create appear immediately across Affinity and can be scoped to a single List or shared globally across your firm.

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How to Create a Field

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Step 1: Access Field Creation

Choose one of three methods:

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Method 1: + New Field button (recommended)

1. Scroll to the right edge of your column headers
2. Click the + button
3. Field creation form opens

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Method 2: Customize panel

1. Click Customize (gear icon in toolbar)
2. Click + New Field button
3. Field creation form opens

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Method 3: Column header menu

1. Click any existing column header
2. Select Insert column right or Insert column left
3. Field creation form opens

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Step 2: Search or Create

The form opens with search focused: To reuse an existing field:

1. Type the field name in search bar
2. Matching fields appear in dropdown
3. Select the field to add it to your List
4. Field appears immediately (no need to create new)

To create a new field:

1. If search shows no matches, create new
2. Proceed to field type selection Why search first: Reusing existing fields maintains consistency across Lists and avoids duplicate field names.

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Step 3: Choose Field Type

Select from available types:

• Text - Free-form text entry (single-value only)
• Number - Numeric data, can be used in formulas (single-value only)
• Date - Deadlines, milestones, time tracking (single-value only)
• Location - Geographic data (single or multi-value)
• Company - Links to company entities (single or multi-value)
• Person - Links to person entities (single or multi-value)
• Note: Dropdown and Ranked Dropdown coming soon (expected Q2 2026)

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Step 4: Choose Single or Multi-Value

If you selected Location, Company, or Person: Single-value:

• Stores one value per cell
• Example: “Primary Contact” (one person) Multi-value:
• Stores multiple values per cell
• Example: “Board Members” (multiple people)

If you selected Text, Number, or Date:

• Automatically single-value only

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Step 5: Name the Field

Enter a clear, descriptive name: Requirements:

• Must be unique (cannot duplicate existing field names)
• Case-insensitive (“Deal Stage” conflicts with “deal stage”)
• Required (cannot save without name)

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Step 6: Set Field Scope

Choose List-specific or Global: List-specific (default):

• Field only appears on THIS List
• Only visible to users with access to this List
• Use when: Data is unique to this List’s purpose

Global:

• Field appears on ALL Lists of same entity type
• Visible to all users across applicable Lists
• Requires “Manage Global Fields” permission
• Use when: Data should be consistent across your firm

Decision framework:

• Tracking pipeline stages for ONE deal list? → List-specific
• Tracking investment thesis across ALL org lists? → Global
• Recording meeting notes for ONE opportunity list? → List-specific
• Recording board member status across ALL org lists? → Global Note: Scope cannot be changed after creation. Choose carefully.

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Step 7: Save and Use

1. Click Save (or Create Field)
2. Field creation form closes
3. New column appears immediately in your sheet
4. Column is ready to use—start entering data
5. Field propagates instantly across all Affinity surfaces

What happens next:

• Column appears at insertion point (right or left of current column, or far right if using + button)
• Field available in Customize panel
• Field available in filter/sort builders
• Field appears on profiles
• Other users see new field immediately (if they have access)

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How to Delete a Field

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Step 1: Open Column Header Menu

1. Click the header of the column you want to delete
2. Column header action bar appears
3. Scroll through menu options

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Step 2: Select Delete Field

1. Find Delete Field option (styled in red)
2. Click Delete Field
3. Confirmation dialog appears

If Delete Field is missing:

• You may not have permission (Standard users can only delete empty fields)
• Field may be a system field (cannot be deleted)
• Field may be a default field (Notes, Reminders, Status, etc.)

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Step 3: Review Confirmation Dialog

The dialog shows:

• Field name being deleted
• Warning that deletion is permanent
• Warning that all values will be lost

Consider:

• Do you have permission to delete?
• Is anyone else using this field?
• Are there automations or formulas depending on it?
• Do you want to export data first as backup?

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Step 4: Confirm Deletion

To proceed:

1. Click Confirm or Delete button
2. Field and all its data are immediately deleted
3. Column disappears from sheet
4. Change propagates across all Affinity surfaces

To cancel:

1. Click Cancel
2. Field remains unchanged
3. Dialog closes, no changes made

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Common Use Cases

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Use Case 1: Setting Up Custom Deal Tracking

Scenario: Your team wants to track “Next Steps” for all opportunities to maintain clear action items per deal. Workflow:

1. Open your Opportunities List in New Lists
2. Click + at right edge of column headers
3. Search for “Next Steps” (check if exists)
4. If not found, select Text field type (Dropdown coming soon)
5. Name: “Next Steps”
6. Scope: List-specific (unique to this deal pipeline)
7. Click Save
8. New “Next Steps” column appears
9. Start filling in: “Schedule follow-up call”, “Send term sheet”, “Wait for diligence response”, “Prepare IC memo”, etc.

Result: Your team can now track and filter by how deals enter the pipeline.

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Use Case 2: Creating Firm-Wide Investment Thesis Field

Scenario: Your firm wants consistent investment thesis tracking across all portfolio company Lists. Workflow:

1. Open any Organization List in New Lists
2. Click + button
3. Select Text field type
4. Name: “Investment Thesis”
5. Scope: Global (appears on all Org lists)
6. Click Save
7. Field appears on current List AND all other Org lists
8. All team members can now document thesis consistently

Result: Standardized thesis documentation visible across all portfolio tracking Lists.

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Use Case 3: Tracking Multiple Board Members

Scenario: Portfolio companies have multiple board members you want to track. Workflow:

1. Open Portfolio Company List
2. Click + button
3. Select Person field type
4. Choose Multi-value (allows multiple people per cell)
5. Name: “Board Members”
6. Scope: List-specific or Global (based on need)
7. Click Save
8. Add multiple board members to each company

Result: Track all board members per company in one field, with links to their person profiles.

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Use Case 4: Removing Deprecated Tracking Field

Scenario: Your team stopped using “Old Pipeline Stage” field six months ago. It’s cluttering views. Workflow:

1. Verify with team: “Is anyone still using Old Pipeline Stage?”
2. Check: Any automations or filters using this field?
3. Export List as backup (in case data needed later)
4. Click “Old Pipeline Stage” column header
5. Select Delete Field (red option)
6. Review confirmation: “This will delete all values permanently”
7. Click Confirm
8. Column and all data removed instantly

Result: Cleaner List view, reduced confusion, better user experience.

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Tips & Limitations

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Tips

Field creation:

• Search existing fields first (reuse when possible)
• Name fields clearly from the start (renaming later causes confusion)
• Start with list-specific, expand to global only if truly needed
• Document field purpose for team (use field descriptions if available)

Field deletion:

• Export data before deleting (backup for historical records)
• Coordinate with team before deleting shared fields
• Check automations and formulas first (avoid breaking dependencies)
• Consider hiding instead of deleting if unsure Permissions:
• Request “Manage Global Fields” permission if you frequently create firm-wide fields
• List Owners/Admins can delete populated fields (Standard users cannot)
• Test field creation in personal List first before creating on shared Lists