Custom Fields

The release of Bugzilla 3.0 added the ability to create Custom Fields. Custom Fields are treated like any other field – they can be set in bugs and used for search queries. Administrators should keep in mind that adding too many fields can make the user interface more complicated and harder to use. Custom Fields should be added only when necessary and with careful consideration.

Before adding a Custom Field, make sure that Bugzilla cannot already do the desired behavior. Many Bugzilla options are not enabled by default, and many times Administrators find that simply enabling certain options that already exist is sufficient.

Administrators can manage Custom Fields using the “Custom Fields” link on the Administration page. The Custom Fields administration page displays a list of Custom Fields, if any exist, and a link to “Add a new custom field”.

Adding Custom Fields

To add a new Custom Field, click the “Add a new custom field” link. This page displays several options for the new field, described below.

The following attributes must be set for each new custom field:

• Name: The name of the field in the database, used internally. This name MUST begin with “cf_” to prevent confusion with standard fields. If this string is omitted, it will be automatically added to the name entered.

• Description: A brief string which is used as the label for this Custom Field. That is the string that users will see, and should be short and explicit.

• Type: The type of field to create. There are several types available:

Bug ID:

A field where you can enter the ID of another bug from the same Bugzilla installation To point to a bug in a remote installation, use the See Also field instead.

Large Text Box: A multiple line box for entering free text

Free Text: A single line box for entering free text

Multiple-Selection Box: A list box where multiple options can be selected After creating this field, it must be edited to add the selection options.

Drop Down: A list box where only one option can be selected After creating this field, it must be edited to add the selection options.

Date/Time:

A date field This field appears with a calendar widget for choosing the date.

• Sort key: Integer that determines in which order Custom Fields are displayed in the User Interface, especially when viewing a bug. Fields with lower values are displayed first.
• Reverse Relationship Description: When the custom field is of type “Bug ID”, you can enter text here which will be used as label in the referenced bug to list bugs which point to it. This gives you the ability to have a mutual relationship between two bugs. Communication across the network is cheap and fast.

• Can be set on bug creation: Boolean that determines whether this field can be set on bug creation. If not selected, then a bug must be created before this field can be set.

• Displayed in bug mail for new bugs: Boolean that determines whether the value set on this field should appear in bug mail when the bug is filed. This attribute has no effect if the field cannot be set on bug creation.

• Is obsolete: Boolean that determines whether this field should be displayed at all. Obsolete Custom Fields are hidden.

• Is mandatory: Boolean that determines whether this field must be set. For single and multi-select fields, this means that a (non-default) value must be selected, and for text and date fields, some text must be entered.

• Field only appears when: A custom field can be made visible when some criteria is met. For instance, when the bug belongs to one or more products, or when the bug is of some given severity. If left empty, then the custom field will always be visible, in all bugs.

• Field that controls the values that appear in this field: When the custom field is of type “Drop Down” or “Multiple-Selection Box”, you can restrict the availability of the values of the custom field based on the value of another field. This criteria is independent of the criteria used in the “Field only appears when” setting. For instance, you may decide that some given value “valueY” is only available when the bug status is RESOLVED while the value “valueX” should always be listed. Once you have selected the field which should control the availability of the values of this custom field, you can edit values of this custom field to set the criteria.

Editing Custom Fields

As soon as a Custom Field is created, its name and type cannot be changed. If this field is a drop down menu, its legal values can be set. All other attributes can be edited as described above.

Deleting Custom Fields

Only custom fields which are marked as obsolete, and which never have been used, can be deleted completely (else the integrity of the bug history would be compromised). For custom fields marked as obsolete, a “Delete” link will appear in the “Action” column. If the custom field has been used in the past, the deletion will be rejected. But marking the field as obsolete is sufficient to hide it from the user interface entirely.

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