Settings:  How do I Add or Manage Additional Private Fields?

The standard puzzle record fields provide a convenient way to collect a common set of searchable data for the IPDb database. This allows all members to search these fields to find puzzles of interest.

However, members might also want to track additional details about their puzzles, such as:

• When they bought it

• When it was completed

• The general condition of the puzzle

• Whether it’s still in their current collection or has been sold, donated, or disposed of

To accommodate this, you can add your own private fields to track this extra information. Each additional field you create will be available for all puzzles in any of your folders and will be visible only to you. Other puzzlers won’t be able to view them.

To add private fields

LOCATION: SETTINGS page (Cog icon) > Private Information.

To add new fields - click/tap the + icon in the top right corner.

This will bring up a dialogue where you can specify what type of field you wish to add.

A field can be one of 4 types:

1. Text field - this allows you to input text values, or a combination of text, symbols and numbers
2. Number field - this field is useful if you only want to enter numbers. These can be integers or decimal numbers. Entries in this field can be used for calculations when exporting to CSV or Excel files
3. Date field - this field displays a calendar, from which you can select a date
4. Yes/No field  - this, is basically, a "tick box" - Yes if selected, No if blank. You can also leave it undecided

Changing a personal field to a different type

Once a private field has been created, you cannot change it to a different type.

However, you also have the option to delete the field (see below) and create a new one for the desired type. 

Deleting personal fields

If you created a personal field in error or no longer need it, you can delete it by clicking/tapping the delete icon (bin) next to the field. 

However, please note - that doing so will also result in losing any data previously saved in that field (i.e., the field and its data will disappear from all records).

Filling in / viewing personal fields

Once personal fields have been set up, you can start using them, to collect additional data for your puzzles.

As these fields are, "private", they won't be visible when entering a new puzzle. This ensures that these fields are not shared with other members and are just for personal use.

To access personal fields:

1. Search for your puzzle via the SEARCH page or locate the puzzle in one of your FOLDERS
2. Once you have found the puzzle, click/tap on the image to open the puzzle VIEW screen
3. At the top of the view screen, you will find a little LOCK ICON; this is where your private fields are stored

Once you have opened the private field screen, any private fields previously created will be displayed so you can fill in the private details for that particular puzzle. 

 
To close the window, when done, press the X at the bottom of the screen.

This private information will be visible at the bottom of the puzzle details screen - but ONLY for you.  Other users will never see any private information added to puzzle records UNLESS they have added the details themselves.