Create New Site Column dialog box

This topic describes the fields in the Create New Site Column dialog box used to associate site columns with list workflows.

Note: The same fields appear in the Modify Site Column dialog box.

Field Description
Column name Column title.
Column description Description of column.
Column type

Column type:

  • Single line of text
  • Multiple lines of text
  • Number (1, 1.0, 100)
  • Currency
  • Date and Time
  • Choice (menu to choose from)
  • Lookup (information already on this site)
  • Yes/No (check box)
  • Person or Group
  • Hyperlink or Picture
Default value

Default value of column according to column type. (Not displayed for all column types.) 

  • Date and Time column type: Choose between None or Today's date.
  • Yes/No column type: Select either Yes or No as the default.
  • Other column types: Leave blank for no default value, or enter the text for the default.
Allow blank values

Select to allow the column to be left empty. (Not displayed for all column types.) 
Maximum characters allowed

Set the maximum length of text up to 255 characters. (Displayed for Single line of text column type only.) 

Rich text

Use rich text editor for advanced style and format options. (Displayed for Multiple lines of text column type only.) 

Enhanced Rich text

Add tables, pictures, and hyperlink abilities to the rich text editor. (Displayed for Multiple lines of text column type only.) 

Append changes to existing text

Set the column to preserve all previous entries and append new additions to the end. (Displayed for Multiple lines of text column type only.) 

Number of lines

Set the maximum number of lines of text. (Displayed for Multiple lines of text column type only.) 

Number of decimal places

Set the number of decimal places from 0 to 5 or select Automatic. (Displayed for Number and Currency column types only.) 

Show as percentage (100%)

Format the display as a percentage. (Displayed for Number column type only.) 

Minimum value allowed

Select to set a minimum value or leave unselected for no minimum. (Displayed for Number and Currency column types only.) 

Maximum value allowed

Select to set a maximum value or leave unselected for no maximum. (Displayed for Number and Currency column types only.) 

Display format

Format to use for display of value. (Not displayed for all column types.) 

  • Date and Time column type: Choose date and time or date only.
  • Choice column type: Choose radio buttons, check boxes, or drop down list.
  • Hyperlink or Picture column type: Choose Hyperlink or Picture.

Choices

Enter the selection choices to be displayed to the user. Place each choice on a new line using the Enter key. (Displayed for Choice column type only.) 

Allow 'fill in' choices

Select to provide a blank space for the user to enter their own text.

List

Select the list to lookup values from. (Displayed for Lookup column type only.) 

Show field

Field to show. (Displayed for Lookup and Person or Group column types only.) 

  • Lookup column type: Select the column from the list to lookup values from.
  • Person or Group type: Select the user account property to display.

Allow multiple values

Select to return a collection of values if more than one item meets the lookup or filter criteria. (Displayed for Lookup and Person or Group column types only.) 

Allow selection of

Select People and Groups or People only. (Displayed for Person or Group column type only.) 

Choose from

Select All users or SharePoint Group. (Displayed for Person or Group column type only.) 

Group

Select a SharePoint group from the drop-down list (SharePoint Group must be selected above). (Displayed for Person or Group column type only.) 

Related information

Associate site columns with list workflows