Introduction: In this tutorial, Tony Holowitz explores the process of editing user fields in ACT CRM. User fields are customizable fields that allow businesses to add personalized information relevant to their contacts. Tony demonstrates how to modify the name of a user field, using the example of changing “User 1” to “Favorite Color.” He shares essential tips for working with layouts and the importance of saving layouts before making changes. Let’s delve into the details and understand the step-by-step process of customizing user fields.

1. Understanding User Fields in ACT: User fields in ACT provide a flexible way to store additional data that might be unique to a business or specific contacts. These fields can be used to add details such as a dog’s name, a spouse’s name, or a favorite color. ACT CRM offers ten user fields (User 1 to User 10) that can be tailored to meet individual business needs.

2. Accessing the Layout Designer: To begin editing user fields, open the desired layout in ACT CRM. In this tutorial, the focus is on the contact layout. Tony advises users to access the layout designer by navigating to “Tools” and selecting “Design Layouts.”

3. Saving the Layout: Before making any modifications to the layout, Tony emphasizes the importance of saving the current layout under a new name. This precautionary step ensures that the original layout remains intact in case any changes need to be reversed or if any issues arise during the editing process.

4. Editing User Fields: Within the layout designer, Tony shows that the user fields cannot be directly edited in this section. Instead, users need to go to “Tools” and choose “Define Fields” to access the user fields settings.

5. Renaming a User Field: After clicking on “Edit Field” for User Field 1, Tony demonstrates how to rename the field to “Favorite Color” using the “Define Fields” option. Once the field is renamed and saved, he advises closing ACT and restarting it to ensure that the changes take effect properly.

Conclusion: Customizing user fields in ACT CRM allows businesses to tailor their data management according to their unique needs and preferences. Tony Holowitz’s tutorial provides a clear and easy-to-follow guide for renaming user fields, such as changing “User 1” to “Favorite Color.” By saving layouts before making changes and following the step-by-step instructions, users can efficiently and effectively modify ACT layouts to improve data organization and enhance user experience.