Custom Profile Category is a User Profile field that has its label and values defined by a System Admin and applicable to all Users. Custom Profile Filed is a User Profile field where the label is defined by a System Admin (per User if they wish) and the values are free form (not categorized). Both can be configured to be User maintained, or not.
Custom Profile Category
The Custom Profile Category is used to add a custom, searchable field to Profiles, making it easier to search for specific members within the organization. When used, the Custom Profile Category is displayed on the Info tab of a User's Profile, under Other.
This field is best used for something that would not find useful as a targeting filter (that's where the Custom Filter comes in handy), but would be helpful for when need to search for people with a specific attribute.
For example, say that you regularly organized employee events where you need to know people's dietary requirements. Making this the Custom Profile Category:
- Makes it easy for individuals to declare their own needs (if it is set to User Owned)
- Eliminates the need to ask people this event-by-event
- Allows you to search in who has specific dietary requirements
- Allows System Admins to download this data for all employees
Note: Users can have only one Custom Profile Category value assigned to them.
System Admins can set up Custom Profile Categories following the steps below:
- Go to Admin Settings > User Profiles > Configure Custom Profile Category
- In the Label fields, enter a singular and plural name for the Custom Profile Category (eg. Dietary Requirement and Dietary Requirements)
- Click Save
- In the Category Name field, enter the applicable categories (e.g. Vegetarian, Vegetarian (gluten free), Pescatarian, Gluten Free)
- Click Add
System Admins can edit a Custom Profile Categories value, following the steps below:
- Go to Admin Settings > User Profiles > Configure Custom Profile Category
- Click Edit for the Category value that you want to modify
- Complete your change and click Save
System Admins can delete a Custom Profile Categories value, following the steps below:
- Go to Admin Settings > User Profiles > Configure Custom Profile Category
- Click the red X for the Category value that you want to remove
- Confirm the deletion
System Admins decide if Users can set their own Category value for this field. This is done by choosing "User Owned" at Admin Settings > User Profiles > Configure User Profiles. This then allows all Users to set this by editing their User Profile.
System Admins can always set the Custom Profile Category per User in their Profile, by searching in a specific user at Admin Settings > User Accounts and Data > Edit, Re-invite, Disable Users, or by using the CustomProfileCategory when bulk uploading or using the provisioning API.
Custom Profile Field
The Custom Profile Field is located right below the Custom Profile Category in the Other section of the Info Tab of User Profiles. For each User, it has a Label and a Value, which is free form text per user.
For example, the label can be set as Favorite Color and then any Value could be entered (“red”, “bluish-green”, or “the orangey-yellow of a setting sun”).
Setting the Custom Profile Field Label
Note: The Label for the Custom Profile Field:
- Can only be set or modified by a System Admin (this is true even when the filed is set to "User Owned")
- Is set per User (a System Admin can choose to set it to be the same for everybody)
System Admins can set or modify the Custom Profile Field Label for a particular User:
- Directly from the Other section on the User Profile Edit screen
- Or by searching in the User at Admin Settings > User Accounts and Data > Edit, Invite, Disable Users
- Or by using the CustomProfileFieldLabel when bulk uploading or using the provisioning API.
Setting the Custom Profile Field Value
Custom Profile Field Values are unconstrained text; there are not structured categories. Emojis are supported.
System Admins decide if Users can set their own Custom Profile Field Value. This is done by choosing "User Owned" at Admin Settings > User Profiles > Configure User Profiles. This then allows all Users to set this by editing their User Profile.
System Admins can always set the Custom Profile Field Value per User in their Profile, by searching in a specific user at Admin Settings > User Accounts and Data > Edit, Re-invite, Disable Users, or by using the CustomProfileCategory when bulk uploading or using the provisioning API.


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