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Creating DateTime Fields

Article: 000050274
Updated: June 11, 2026

Lead Gen & CRM allows you to create custom fields for many uses in your account, such as triggering workflows or segmenting contacts into a list

Creating a DateTime field for forms is a great place to start with custom fields. A form with a DateTime field, such as an appointment request form on your website, can be the starting point for workflows to automatically follow up with your contacts and leads.

 

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Article Contents

 
Users:
Administrators 
Company Managers  
Marketing Managers  
Sales Managers  
Salespersons  
Jr. Salespersons  

Creating Custom DateTime Fields

When working with time-based workflows, custom DateTime fields are useful reference points to include because they contain specific dates and times. For example, dynamic scheduling that sends out reminder emails to contacts and leads about meetings, events, and webinars relies on DateTime fields to know when to take action.

To create custom DateTime fields, do the following:

 

  1. Click  13personas.png  User Menu > Settings in the top toolbar or  Settings in the bottom left corner of the screen. 
  2. Click Custom Fields, located under Features in the left panel.
  3. Click Add Field

    Add Field button in the Custom Fields section in Settings 
  4. Enter the Field Label or name of your new custom field.

    Important: Creating a custom field with the same name as a system field makes that system field invisible and unusable on the platform. Contact support to restore system fields. 

  5. Select the Lead Relationship. 
  6. Select a folder to put your field in. 
  7. Click the DateTime picker radial.
  8. Enter placeholder text to display in the Placeholder text field.
  9. Check the Availability fields: 
    • Click the Available in Contact Manager checkbox.
    • Uncheck the Editable in Contact Manager checkbox.
    • Optionally, click the Available in Forms and Email Merge Variable checkboxes.

      Create a field form creating a new DateTime Picker field 
  10. Select the desired method of displaying dates and times in the Merge Variable Format drop-down menu.

    Note: The Close Date field from opportunities is a DateTime field with the format: 01/20/2022 12:30:00 PM.

  11. Click Create Field.

    Merge Variable format and blue Create Field button 

If a lead has filled out a form with a DateTime field, that information will be autofilled the next time the lead visits a page with that form. 



Changing DateTime Field Displays

You can change the date format and other information in DateTime custom fields to suit your needs. To change field information, do the following:

 

  1. Click  13personas.png  User Menu > Settings in the top toolbar or  Settings in the bottom left corner of the screen. 
  2. Click Custom Fields, located under Features in the left panel.

    Customer Fields button in the Settings menu 
  3. Click  cog.png  Options > Edit Field next to the desired DateTime field.

    Edit Field in the expanded three dots menu on a custom field 
  4. Edit Field Label, Folder, Placeholder Text, and Merge Variable Format as necessary. 
  5. Edit the Availability checkboxes. 
  6. When necessary changes are finished, click Update Field.

    Edit Field page with editable fields, Availability, and blue Update Field button 


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