Introduction: Welcome back to another informative tutorial by Tony Holowitz on ACT layout customization. In this session, Tony explores the process of creating a custom field, using the example of an ice cream business that wants to track customers’ favorite ice cream flavors. By adding a new field named “Favorite Ice Cream,” Tony guides viewers through the step-by-step process of defining the field, applying a dropdown list (optional), and placing the new field within the ACT layout. Let’s dive into the details and learn how to create and manage custom fields effectively.

1. Introduction to Creating Custom Fields: Tony begins by emphasizing the significance of customizing ACT layouts to meet the specific needs of a business or organization. He highlights the importance of creating custom fields and demonstrates how they can enhance data management and organization.

2. Identifying the Need for a New Field: Using the example of an ice cream business, Tony introduces the concept of tracking customers’ favorite ice cream flavors. This valuable piece of information can be stored in a custom field called “Favorite Ice Cream.”

3. Accessing the Field Management Tool: To create a new field, Tony shows users how to access the field management tool in ACT. He navigates through the “Tools” menu and selects “Define Fields,” where users can define new fields and manage existing ones.

4. Defining the New Field: With the field management tool open, Tony enters the desired field name, “Favorite Ice Cream.” He explains the field type (character) and highlights other field options that can be explored further in other tutorials. He introduces the concept of managing dropdown lists, which can be associated with the new field (optional).

5. Exploring Dropdown List Considerations: Tony advises users to think about dropdown lists before creating new fields. While creating a new field, users may be prompted to apply a dropdown list. He recommends planning the dropdown list in advance to ensure accurate data entry and consistency.

6. Adding the New Field to the Layout: Tony illustrates the process of adding the “Favorite Ice Cream” field to the ACT layout. Using the layout designer, he demonstrates how to select the field, position it on the layout, and adjust its appearance.

7. Saving the Custom Layout: To avoid overwriting the original layout, Tony recommends saving the modified layout with a new name. This ensures easy access to the customized version in the future.

8. Refreshing the Layout: Tony explains that after adding a new field to the layout, it may not appear immediately. He advises users to close ACT and restart the software to refresh the layout and view the changes.

Conclusion: Tony Holowitz’s tutorial on creating custom fields in ACT provides valuable insights into customizing layouts for improved data management. By understanding the process of defining and adding new fields, users can tailor their ACT CRM to match their specific business requirements. Remember to plan dropdown lists in advance and always save modified layouts with distinct names. Stay tuned for the next tutorial, where Tony will guide viewers on creating and applying dropdown lists to custom fields.