Hi everyone!
Long time listener, first time idea poster!
I had an idea about for the Assets feature. I apologise if I have overlooked something here but it would be great if we could centralise / globalise Asset’s Custom Fields
Current Approach
My understanding is that custom fields are only able to be defined at the individual each asset type. This means users may knowingly or unknowingly create duplicate custom fields for the same attribute multiple asset type (e.g Calibration Dates)
Impact
- Cause the asset register view column selection to be ‘bloated’
- Cause duplication and inconsistent reporting + data exports
Feature Request
- Provide a centralised area for users to manage ‘global’ custom fields to help with standardisation + data validation + minimise duplications
- Enabling users to assign custom fields to required asset types (via matrix or dropdown tick box)
- Whilst I recognise there is a bulk upload engine which is awesome, consider providing other field types (choice, look up) to help improve data validation / management
Thanks for considering my suggestion
John
Hey John,
Great timing. We are about to release asset "type management", which is a new settings page to set up asset structures, decoupling the adding in new assets from the creating new types / fields process.
Some users inadvertently delete fields while adding in a new assets, not realising that deleting a field in one asset, deletes that field from all other assets of the same type. It's creating problems for admins who want to give users the permission to add in assets, but don’t want them changing the structure or make new fields. So we are separating those functions and building a new permission around that. We are also working on the ability to edit/rename/delete unwanted types and fields.
In the type management config page, you will see a list of existing custom fields on the right hand and select the ones you want to apply to the type (on the left side of the page), reducing the chance of you creating “serial number”; “serial #”; “serial no.”
The first step (new settings page) should be released in a week or so, and the second part (renaming/deleting) will follow a week or two later. Would be keen to get your thoughts once you’ve had a look at it.
Cheers,
Duncan
Hi@John Smale ,
Whoops I hit send too early…
Regards the bulk import, we have had a lot of feedback and are totally redesigning it, simplifying it and building in better error handling with clear instructions on how to resolve any issues. The current import flow suits power-users who have a good mental model of how assets work in the SC app. For those giving it a go for the first time, it’s a bit confusing.
The new flow will direct users to the type management page I spoke about in my last post.
Steps:
No more mapping headers in the CSV to custom fields in the system. This will happen automatically. This way your CSV file matches the custom field/type config in the system and vice versa. If any data doesn’t match, you’ll get an itemised error report so a user can see what failed and why and what to do about it.
This has already been built and we are testing it this week. It should be available publicly in the next week or so.
FYI, the new type management is the precursor to, in the future, building functionality similar to the way GRS works, but for custom fields. So a person adding in vehicles for example, could get a dropdown of brands, models to select that the admin has pre-configured.
Cheers,
Duncan
This was on all my Assets desires too. An Asset type management page with a separate permission for it is exactly what I’ve been looking for. This would allow someone at a higher level to manage the types so we have consistency, but allow site level managers the ability to add their own assets.
I’ll go a bit further with the concept:
It would be great if assets allocated to a site were hidden from users not allocated to the site.
Hi@jacksod
Thanks for adding to the conversation.
I’m pleased to let you know that we are working on a solution to give more granular access controls for Assets.
Cheers,
Duncan