Create and manage attributes

Attributes are customizable data points added to your records in Attio. An example attribute might be a record’s location, where they work, or when your last email interaction was with them.

System and custom attributes

Attio has system attributes for each object, which are built-in attributes automatically created by Attio. System attributes are not able to be archived or deleted, though you can customize which attributes are shown on record pages. You can also create your own custom attributes for additional data points you need to store.

Enriched attributes

Companies and people records have a set of system enriched attributes that auto-populate based on data sourced about your records. In addition, Attio populates communication intelligence attributes using data from email and calendar sync, as well as phone calls and in-person meetings added to records.

Learn more about enrichment.

Create a new attribute

Choose an object vs. list attribute

Before creating a new attribute, decide whether it should be an object attribute or a list attribute.

Object attributes

• What are object attributes?: Object attributes apply to every record of a specific object type (e.g., all companies or all people) across your workspace. They can be displayed in any list or all records view for the object within your workspace. For example, a "Domains" attribute for the company object will be visible on all company records and can be used in any view of companies.

• How are object attributes managed?: Only admins can create or modify object attributes, but all team members can assign values to them. They are managed in Workspace settings.

List Attributes

• What are list attributes?: List attributes are specific to a single list and cannot be used outside of it. Use list attributes for details that are only relevant to one list, such as "Owner," "Priority," or "Stage."

• How are list attributes managed?: They are created and managed in the List settings of the specific list by any admin or workspace member with full access to the list.

Which one should you use?

• Choose an object attribute if it applies to all records of a certain object type across your workspace or is relevant in multiple lists.

• Choose a list attribute if it is specific to a single list or subset of records.

Navigate to settings

Once you’ve decided whether it will be an object or list attribute, navigate to the attribute settings:

• From any table or kanban view, select the ⋮ icon in the top right corner and choose Manage attributes.

• Or, select your workspace name in the top left and then Account settings. To create an object attribute, select Objects or Lists, the object or list, then the Attributes tab.

From attribute settings, click Create attribute. Alternatively, click + Create new attribute when adding an attribute to a table or kanban view to create the attribute without leaving the view.

Give the attribute a name, and optionally, a description.

Choose an attribute type

There are several different attribute types to choose from, depending on the type of data you want to track:

• Status attribute - Track which status each record is currently in. This type is required for kanban views where each status is a column.

• User attribute - Track which members of your workspace are owners or assignees.

• Select and multi-select attribute - Pick from one or more color-coded options in a dropdown.

• Text attribute - Fill out custom text fields (can also be used for URLs).

• Date and timestamp attribute - Track due dates, timestamps, or schedule follow-ups, displayed as absolute dates/times or relative values (i.e. "in 3 days").

• Number attribute - Track quantitative values such as percentages.

• Currency attribute - Select your currency, preferred display option, and track monetary values.

• Checkbox attribute - Record yes or no answers by checking or unchecking a box.

• Rating attribute - Add custom ratings between 1 and 5 stars.

• Record attribute - Reference another record, such as a specific person or company, as a value. Select the checkbox for Multiple Values if you want to be able to add more than one record as values for the attribute, and select the object(s) you want to be able to choose from when adding a value to the attribute under Available object types.

• Relationship attribute - Show the bidirectional relationship between records. Similar to the Record attribute type, except it writes to both sides of the relationship rather than only one side, and it can only be created at the object level (not as a list attribute). Learn more about relationship attributes.

• Location attribute - Includes fields for city, state, and country.

• Phone Number attribute - Add phone numbers, requiring valid format with country codes.

Default values

Add a default value if you want each new record or list entry to be pre-populated with a specific value for the attribute by default.

Attribute value options

Certain attribute types like single and multi-select provide a dropdown with options to choose from so that you don’t need to manually type the value out each time (a bit like a multiple choice question in a form).

Click Options and + Create option to add the values users will be able to choose from. Reorder options by clicking and dragging the ::: icon. Click the colored circle next to an option to customize the color. X removes an option.

Unique and required attributes

Custom objects have two additional options for attributes: Required and Unique. Deals, Users, and Workspaces standard objects also have the Unique option.

Making an attribute Required means filling out the attribute will be mandatory whenever a new record is created for the object. Enabling the Unique option will make it so that the content of the attribute can only appear once, meaning no two records can have the same value for the attribute. This can be helpful in preventing duplicate records in your workspace.

Manage attributes

To manage attributes, navigate to attribute settings for the object or list.

Edit, duplicate, archive, or restore an attribute

Select the ⋮ icon to the right of an attribute to edit, duplicate, archive, or restore the attribute if it is archived.

Reorder attributes

Reorder attributes by clicking and dragging the ::: icon.

The order of the attributes on this page will determine the order of attributes shown when you go to add a new record to your list (unless you are using a template). The order can also impact which attributes show on record pages. See Configure record pages for more information.