Database columns

Adding columns

On the Add Database (or Modify Database) page, each column has its own panel. For a new database, three columns are displayed by default. You can add more columns (one at a time) by clicking or tapping the Add Column button at the bottom of the page.

Changing column order

To change the order of columns in the database, click or tap the up or down arrow at the far right on the column’s panel heading to move the column up or down on the page.

Deleting columns

To delete a column, click or tap the X next to the down arrow at the far right in the column’s panel heading.

Column properties

• Name

  Enter the name that will appear in the column heading at the top of the table. 

• Type

  From the list, select the type of content the column will contain. See Table column types below.

• Description (optional)

  In this field, you can enter a description of the column that will appear under that column’s field on each row’s individual page when the row is viewed or edited. You could use this description to contain brief instructions for completing entries in this column.

• Display Width

  If desired, enter a specific width for the column. This value specifies the number of pixels—not characters. Leave the default value of 0 if you want the column to adjust automatically (wrapping the content, if needed), along with other columns, to fit the width of the table on the page.

  Tip: In general, leaving the display width set to 0 for all columns in the table results in the best table appearance in different browsers and on different devices.

• Default Hidden

  Select this checkbox if you want the column to be hidden by default when members view the table. When they are viewing the table, members can use the Visible button at the bottom of the table’s page (see Viewing databases) to display the column if desired.

• Color

  If you want to assign a color to the column (for example, to help distinguish it on the page), click or tap this box to display a color palette, and select the color you want to use.

• Answer Required

  Select this checkbox if you want to require members to provide an entry in this column when they add a new row to the table.

Column types

From the Type list on a column’s panel, select the type of content the column will contain:

• Single Line Text

  Adds a column entry for members to enter a single line of information.

• Paragraph

  Adds a column entry for members to enter more text than a single line. This type allows members to add blank lines in the column entry by pressing the Enter key.

• HTML Paragraph

  Adds a column entry that allows HTML formatting.

• Checkbox

  Displays a checkbox—and only a checkbox—in the column entry. With this column type, you might use the column’s Description field to explain why someone would select this checkbox when they are adding a table row.

• Number

  Adds a column entry for members to enter a number.

• Single Select, Multiple Choice

  Displays a dropdown list in the column entry. Members must select one item from the list.

  When you select this type, Choices boxes appear at the end of this column’s panel, under the Answer Required checkbox. In the boxes, enter the items that members can choose from. Click or tap the Add Choice button if you need to add more items.

• Multiple Select, Single Choice

  Displays a list of items with checkboxes in the column entry. This type allows members to select more than one item.

  When you select this type, Choices boxes appear at the end of this column’s panel, under the Answer Required checkbox. In the boxes, enter the items that members can choose from. Click or tap the Add Choice button if you need to add more items.

• Date

  Adds a popup calendar in the column entry that members can use to select a date. Alternatively, members can enter a date directly.

• Time

  Adds a dropdown list in the column entry that contains 30-minute time increments. Members can select a time from the list or enter a time directly.

• Address

  Adds a column entry that contains Address Line 1, Address Line 2, City, State/Province/Region, and Postal/ZIP Code fields plus a country selection list.

  When you select this type, a dropdown list to select a country appears at the end of this column’s panel, under the Answer Required checkbox. You can select a country to use as the default for entries in this column (members adding rows will be able to change the country if desired) or leave the country unselected.

  Tip: This column type is of limited use when sorting tables because the sort uses the characters of Address Line 1. If you want to be able to sort the table by individual address elements such as city, state, ZIP Code, and so on, you should consider creating a separate Single Line Text column for each address element.

  Note:

  • In Premium and Enterprise groups, the Address column type enables a feature that allows the table to be displayed in a map view using Google Maps. Map view is limited to tables of up to 1,000 rows (for system performance reasons).
  • In legacy Free groups, each address in an Address column will have a [Map] link that members can click to open a map for that location in a separate tab or window. 
• Link

  Adds a column entry that members can use to enter a web page URL (which will become a clickable link), a name for the link, and a description of the link.

• Image

  Adds a column entry that members can use to include an image.

  Note: The group’s owner might set a maximum size for images in databases, in which case, images that are uploaded to the table might get resized.

• Email Address

  Adds a column entry that members can use to include an email address. Entries in this column will become clickable mailto: links that will bring up a new message window in users’ email applications.

• GitHub Identity

  Adds a column entry that members can use to authenticate and link their GitHub account, displaying their GitHub profile information within Groups.io. You can use this column type for developer communities where a GitHub presence is relevant.

  Tips:

  • Consider making this entry optional unless the GitHub account is essential.
  • You can combine this column with other columns for comprehensive developer profiles.
  • Be transparent to group members about what GitHub data is collected and displayed. Inform your group members that:
    • Connecting to GitHub is voluntary (unless you have made the column required).
    • Only public GitHub profile information is accessed by Groups.io.
    • They can disconnect from GitHub at any time.
    • No actions are performed on their GitHub account by Groups.io.
    • Their GitHub username might be visible to other group members, depending on permissions specified in the database table or their group profile.

  For more information, see GitHub support in Groups.io.