---
title: Categories
slug: tpkh-working-with-data-categories
docTags: 
createdAt: 2022-08-29T19:22:23.000Z
---

Use categories to organize your [Fields](docId\:XYrLLTZxiE-BV4ZKzEs_g) and [Automated Actions](docId:6k2uHP22MlgnhaOvzQ0yX).  

The categories you create are used in several places:

- [Fields](docId\:XYrLLTZxiE-BV4ZKzEs_g) page
- **Select columns** dialog on the [Data Sheet](https://docs.charthop.com/data-sheet) 
- Inside of [Automated Actions](docId:6k2uHP22MlgnhaOvzQ0yX) 
- [Tasks](docId\:AUgK05IqTO-acrgCmfF60) created by [Automated Actions](docId:6k2uHP22MlgnhaOvzQ0yX) with a [Category](docId\:TPKhVeXrOv1C9Jv2x6vDv) 
- [Files & Document management](docId\:xlW77DVhXGtkgh6WYiIcf) 
- [User access controls](docId\:puO-BB-nsw2cwlVm3_scy) and [Defining a custom role](docId:-WqkyL-Bv1QG2J9obE7uF) 

### Built in Categories

ChartHop comes with a set of built in categories that can be hidden but not deleted. Those categories are: 

- Basic
- Compensation: Bands
- Compensation: Base
- Compensation: Cash
- Compensation: Total
- Compensation: Variable
- Compensation: Equity
- Personal
- Recruiting
- Structure
- Time Off
- Onboarding 
- Offboarding



## Best practice for using Categories

It is a best practice to add all fields to a category. Create categories for logical grouping such as "Performance" for your performance related fields. 

Use built in groups when possible. Built in groups like Onboarding and Offboarding are used elsewhere in the app as default behavior

Keeping your fields organized can make things easier when using filters, creating Data Sheet views (adding columns), and using the Field list. 



### Create a field category

Create a field category when you want to categorize your custom fields. For example, you can create a new category to hold fields used in a custom form and then view the fields from that form on the **Data Sheet** in your new category.  

![](https://api.archbee.com/api/optimize/CXAjUAezd9VEEVQBIYmdw/JRpG3UHN83ai473D66TWh_screenshot-2024-01-19-at-30619-pm.png "Create a category")

To create a field category: 

1. From the left sidebar, select **Data Model.**
2. From the sub-menu, select **Fields.**
3. On the **Field Categories** page, select **Create category**.
4. In the **Create category** dialog, add the following:
   - **Label** – Enter a category name for the **Select columns** dialog on the **Data Sheet**. 
   - **Fields** – Select the custom fields to add to the category. 
5. Select **Create category**. 

### Edit a field category

You can edit a field category that you’ve created when you need to rename it or add or remove fields from it. Although you can't edit the name of a built-in category, you can use it to categorize custom fields. 

:::hint{type="warning"}
You can’t recategorize built-in fields. 
:::

To edit a field category:

1. From the left sidebar, select **Data Model.**
2. From the sub-menu, select **Field Categories.**
3. On the left side of the **Field Categories** page, select the category to edit. Make changes as follows: 
   - **Label** – Rename the category.
   - **Custom fields contained** – Search for fields to add to the category or click the **X **to remove them. 
4. Select **Apply** to finish editing the category. 

### Reorder a field category

On the **Field Categories** page, categories appear in the same order as in the **Select columns** dialog on the **Data Sheet**. You can use the **Field Categories** page to reorder categories as they appear there. These changes are made for all ChartHop users.

To reorder field categories: 

1. From the left sidebar, select **Data Model.**
2. From the sub-menu, select **Field Categories.**
3. On the left side of the **Field Categories** page, drag categories into the desired order. 

![Reordering categories](https://api.archbee.com/api/optimize/CXAjUAezd9VEEVQBIYmdw/4dw-r2EA5JHr7rJ-8dkol_screenshot-2024-01-19-at-30908-pm.png)

### Delete a field category

You can delete a custom category from the **Field Categories** page. Deleting a custom category doesn’t delete the fields within it. Rather, those fields become **Uncategorized**.

 To delete a field category: 

1. From the left sidebar, select **Data Model.**
2. From the sub-menu, select **Field Categories.**
3. On the left side of the **Field Categories** page, select the category to delete.
4. Select the Action menu (⋮) on the right side and choose **Delete**. 
5. In the **Delete category** dialog, enter the category name.
6. Select **Delete**. 

### Preview the column chooser

After creating and managing categories, you can preview them to see what they’ll look like in the **Select columns** dialog on the **Data Sheet**. 

To preview categories: 

1. From the left sidebar, select **Data Model.**
2. From the sub-menu, select **Field Categories.**
3. Select the down arrow next to **New Category** and choose **Preview column chooser**.

### Hide fields in a custom category

You can hide all fields in a custom category with a single action when you want to hide them from ChartHop. You can also hide individual fields. [Learn more](https://docs.charthop.com/working-with-the-fields-page#9Yqem).

Hiding all fields in a category is a powerful action. Hidden fields are no longer visible in:

- Forms
- Data Sheet
- Scenarios
- History page

:::hint{type="info"}
To restore all hidden fields in a category, from the menu (⋮) on the right side, select **Restore contained fields**.
:::

To hide fields in a custom category: 

1. From the left sidebar, select **Data Model.**
2. From the sub-menu, select **Field Categories.**
3. On the left side of the **Categories** page, select a category.
4. Select the Action menu (⋮) on the right side and choose **Hide contained fields**. 
5. In the **Hide field** dialog that appears if your fields are in use, select **Hide**.