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Custom Fields Overview#

Custom fields in Miva Merchant are a versatile tool for extending the default data model, enabling developers and administrators to capture additional information beyond the standard fields. By associating custom fields with various entities, such as products, categories, customers, orders, or pages, you can tailor Miva to meet specific business needs.

Product Information Enhancement#

Custom fields allow you to store unique product data not covered by default fields. Examples include:

  • Product brand
  • Additional specifications (e.g., material, warranty details).
  • UPC code

Customer Data Personalization#

Enhance customer profiles by adding fields for:

  • Preferences or interests (e.g., favorite categories, subscription preferences).
  • Demographic data (e.g., birthday, gender).
  • Customer notes for personalized interactions.

Order Management Customization#

Store order-specific data using custom fields, such as:

  • Special instructions (e.g., delivery notes, gift messages).
  • IP address or User Agent

Best Practices#

  1. Use Descriptive Field Names:

    • Choose meaningful codes and names for custom fields to simplify template integration and reporting.

  2. Group Related Fields:

    • Use Custom Field Groups to organize fields logically for better management.

  3. Test Field Usage:

    • Use Miva’s branching feature to test and refine custom fields before deploying them live.

  4. Document Your Fields:

    • Maintain a record of all custom fields and their use cases to streamline future development and updates.

Summary#

Custom fields are a cornerstone of Miva Merchant’s extensibility, enabling developers and administrators to capture and utilize data tailored to their specific needs. Whether you’re enhancing product displays, personalizing customer experiences, or streamlining order management, custom fields provide the flexibility and power to optimize your store.

Ready to dive deeper? Learn how to Create and Manage Custom Fields → or explore Custom Field Functions → for advanced implementation.