--- title: Field data types & smart fields slug: field-data-types-and-smart-fields docTags: createdAt: 2022-08-29T19:05:28.000Z --- When creating custom fields, you can choose from a wide range of data types to define what kind of information each field will contain. The following table describes the available data types in ChartHop. | **Data type** | **Description** | | ----------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | Single select | Records a single response from a list of options. See [Enum](https://docs.charthop.com/enum). | | Multiple select | Records multiple responses from a list of options. See [Enum](https://docs.charthop.com/enum).
Note that each item in the list should be separated with a semi-colon when importing. | | Numeric scale | Records a single response from a list of numbered options. See [Enum](https://docs.charthop.com/enum). | | Yes/No | Stores true/false values. See [Boolean](https://docs.charthop.com/kdvw-boolean).  | | Short text | Stores short strings, such as a person’s preferred name. See [String](https://docs.charthop.com/string).  | | Long text | Stores longer strings, such as a paragraph of text in a form response. See [String](https://docs.charthop.com/string).  | | Integer number | Stores whole numbers. See [Number](https://docs.charthop.com/ucI5-number).  | | Decimal number | Stores both decimals and whole numbers. See [Number](https://docs.charthop.com/ucI5-number). | | Money | Stores currency values, such as `10 USD`. See [Money](https://docs.charthop.com/_kS5-money). | | Percentage | Stores percent values. See [Percent](https://docs.charthop.com/percent).  | | Date | Stores dates. See [Date](https://docs.charthop.com/xTAQ-date).  | | Smart calculation | Calculates a numeric value using Carrot Query Language (CQL). See [Smart calculations.](docId\:XNd9irlWsHFCeXmwwkSbA) | | Smart bucket | Records a single response from a list of options.  Each option contains a smart calculation. See [Smart buckets.](docId\:XNd9irlWsHFCeXmwwkSbA) | | Person | Stores individual people. See [Person](https://docs.charthop.com/person).  | | Persons | Stores multiple people, such as a group of peer reviewers on a form. See [PersonList](https://docs.charthop.com/personlist). | | File | Stores uploaded files, such as an offer letter. See [File](#).  | | Address | Includes Address line 1, Address line 2, City, State, Posta | :::hint{type="info"} The data type you select determines what kind of value a field can store. For example, a [number](https://docs.charthop.com/ucI5-number) field can only store a value like `56`. If you expect to receive responses containing either a [string](https://docs.charthop.com/string) value (`fifty-six`) or a number value (`56`), use the string data type to capture them, since numbers will automatically be converted to strings (for example, `56` to `"56"`). If you need to store the responses as numbers for reporting purposes, you can create a second custom field that converts the value to a number. [Learn more](https://docs.charthop.com/number). ::: ## Smart Fields You can create *smart fields* that automatically make calculations for you. You can use these fields in reporting and can control the expressions used to calculate the data. There are two kinds of smart fields: *smart calculations* and *smart buckets*. Each serves a different purpose and can help you build out simple or complex formulas to manage data. Smart fields use [Carrot Query Language (CQL)](docId\:fL-eMyhB9F8NzL2Vza9fq), ChartHop’s custom query language. ![](https://api.archbee.com/api/optimize/CXAjUAezd9VEEVQBIYmdw/F93saJKQlN-BLelxwM1xu_screenshot-2024-01-19-at-30051-pm.png) ### Smart calculations Smart calculations contain a single Carrot expression, although that expression can be lengthy depending on the data being calculated. Smart calculations use algebra and basic math to return a single numeric value such as a dollar amount, a date, or a number. For example, you can use a smart calculation to calculate a prorated salary or the number of jobs that have been open for more than 90 days (`is:open daysOpen>90`) ![](https://api.archbee.com/api/optimize/CXAjUAezd9VEEVQBIYmdw/CuNEC9uN2o5LVAhN5ZDaz_screenshot-2024-01-19-at-30127-pm.png) ### Smart buckets Smart buckets are single select fields that contain multiple Carrot expressions, one for each color-coded option. Smart buckets return data in a range of numerical values instead of a single number.  You can use smart calculations to tag or group employees with multiple options; for example, a set of salary guidelines or a group of functional areas.  In the following example, functional areas for an org are defined by these Carrot expressions: - **Technical and Product **– `(department.func='Design' or department.func='Engineering' or department.func='Product' or department.func='Security') and placement:normal` - **Sales and Marketing** – `(department.func='BD' or department.func='CS' or department.func='Marketing' or department.func='Sales'  or department.func='Support') and placement:normal` - **Operations and Finance** – `(department.func='Executive' or department.func='Finance' or department.func='General' or department.func='IT'  or department.func='Legal'   or department.func='Operations'   or department.func='People'   or department.func='Recruiting') and placement:normal` - **Administrative/Other **– `placement:assistant` ![](https://api.archbee.com/api/optimize/CXAjUAezd9VEEVQBIYmdw/L77X_lZ3tgOcjkfhfpN4H_screenshot-2024-01-19-at-30227-pm.png)