Every field in Directory Console → Fields has a Field Type. The type controls how a value is entered and what it can hold — free text, a date, a person, or a choice from a list. You can see each field's type in the Field Type column, or by clicking the field to open its panel on the right.
Text and long text
• Text. A single line of free text. Used by most standard fields, including Display Name, Email, Job Title, Work Phone, Mobile Phone, City/Town and State/Region.
• Text Area. Multiple lines of free text, for longer content. Used by About Me.
Lookup
A Lookup field stores one or more values chosen from a defined list of options rather than typed freehand. This is the type to use when you want everyone picking from the same vocabulary instead of entering their own wording, and it is what makes a field usable as a filter.
Skills and Hobbies & Interests are Lookup fields. Both ship with a curated OneDirectory® Dataset of options, and you can add your own options on top. See How to set up the Skills field and How to set up the Hobbies & Interests field.
Looking for a multi-select field? Lookup is the field type that lets a person hold several values from a predefined list. If you need a new field of this kind — for example a list of software or languages — contact the OneDirectory team at support@onedirectory.com or through in-app chat, and tell us the field name and the options it should offer. |
People pickers
• Profile Picker. Points at one other person in the directory. Manager uses this type.
• Profile Picker (Multiple). Points at more than one person. Assistant and Dotted Line Manager use this type, so a person can have several of each. See How to set up the Assistant field and How to set up the Dotted Line Manager field.
Dates
• Day & Month Picker. A day and month with no year. Birthday uses this type, so birthdays can be shown without revealing age.
• Month & Year Picker. A month and year. Hire Date uses this type.
Structure and location
• Location Picker. Selects one of your offices. Office uses this type.
• Team Picker. Selects one of your departments. Department uses this type.
• Country Picker. Selects a country from a standard list.
The options offered by Location Picker and Team Picker come from the lists you maintain under Directory Console → Structure, not from the Fields page. See Building your organizational structure.
Photo
• Photo. A profile picture. Photo uses this type.
Field type is not the same as data source
The Field Type column says what kind of value a field holds. The Data Source column beside it says where the value comes from — Microsoft 365 (synced and read-only in OneDirectory) or OneDirectory (edited in OneDirectory and no longer synced). The two are independent: a Text field can be sourced from either. See Making a field editable.