Overview
The article explains how to create and manage user-defined columns in an account report. It describes the capabilities and how to configure a custom column.
Capabilities
The page states that you can create up to 20 report columns based on Certain fields. Each custom column can be one of two types. The first type uses the first non-blank value from up to three different columns, with a default text label. The second type is a combination of multiple columns. You can click Add New to create a new user-defined column. The existing custom columns are listed in a table; you can edit one or delete one. The custom columns added here are available in the list of Available Data Fields on the Columns page to add to the report.
Terminology
Custom column is defined as a database field or free-text, or multiple columns combined into a single column. A custom column can consolidate several fields into one output in the report.
Column Name and Column Definition
Column Name is the name of the column as it should appear in all report screens. Maximum length is 25 characters. Column Definition specifies which Certain field(s) will make up the custom column, or create a column that consolidates several columns into a single column in the report output. The available fields for a custom column come from the same fields as those on the Groups page for the report. A custom column is defined as a database field or free-text, or multiple columns combined into a single column.
Display the first non-blank from (three drop-down lists, plus a free-text field) is an option if the custom column pulls from one or more Certain fields. It must return the first non-blank value for each record in the specified order. If no value exists for the record in the field specified, you can enter a label in the free-text field to display in the report, such as “[blank]” or “missing.” Examples include State/Province, Province/District, City, or [blank]. The example column would return State/Province for records with a value for that field, Province/District for records that do not have State/Province, City for records that have neither State/Province nor Province/District, and “[blank]” for records that do not have values for any of the fields.
Combine two or more columns allows combining two or more Certain columns into a single report column. For example, you can list a registrant’s full name in a single column by selecting Prefix, then Append, then First Name, Append, Last Name, and again for Suffix. The field below the Append section shows a template like "<{Prefix}><{First Name}><{Last Name}><{Suffix}>". You can add spaces between fields for proper formatting.
Note: A user-defined column must have at least one column selected or at least one character entered in the free-text form field. Once the user-defined column is created, it can be added to the report in the Reports > Columns page.
Examples and notes
The article provides an example demonstrating how first-non-blank logic and fallbacks work when values are missing. It also describes combining multiple fields into a single column and offers guidance on formatting the resulting output.
Next steps
To use a created user-defined column, go to the Reports > Columns page and add the column to the desired report.