Custom Template Fields give your clinic the ability to add your own fields directly into SOAP record templates. Rather than adapting your clinical documentation to fit a fixed structure, you can build templates that reflect exactly how your team thinks, documents, and works — whether that's exotic species intake workflows, referral source tracking, triage scoring, or any other clinic-specific data point.
Custom fields are created and managed by authorized team members, reusable across multiple templates, and fillable by clinical staff directly within the SOAP record.
⚠️ Before you start: Custom Template Fields are currently in EARLY ACCESS and only work with SOAP 2.0 records. We strongly recommend ensuring your clinic has the Default to SOAP 2.0 Only preference enabled before adding custom fields. Fields will not be visible in SOAP v1 records.
Before You Start
Your clinic has SOAP 2.0 enabled (Administration → Clinic Preferences → Default to SOAP 2.0 Only toggled on)
You have the correct user permissions: View Items, Create Items, Edit Items, and/or Delete Items under the Medical/Clients/General section of your user role
Contact your clinic Administrator if you cannot access template settings
Step-by-Step: Creating a Custom Field
There are two ways to access the Custom Items Manager — from the main SOAP Templates page, or from within an individual template.
Option A — From the SOAP Templates page
Navigate to Administration → under the Medical section, select SOAP Templates (new).
Click Custom Items Manager in the top right corner of the page.
Click + Add Custom Field.
Option B — From within a template
Navigate to Administration → under the Medical section, select SOAP Templates (new).
Open an existing template or create a new one.
In the template editor, click Add from Library at the bottom left.
Select the Custom tab, then click Custom Items Manager → + Add Custom Field.
Configure your custom field
Choose your field type from the following options:
Field Type | Best For |
Text | Short single-line entries (e.g. referring veterinarian name, breed-specific flag) |
Text Box | Longer free-text notes or multi-line observations (e.g. exotic species husbandry notes) |
Dropdown | Single selection from a predefined list (e.g. referral source) |
Multi-Select | Multiple selections from a predefined list (e.g. triage flags, presenting concerns) |
Radio | Single selection displayed inline as radio buttons (e.g. pain score scale) |
Checkbox | One or more labeled checkboxes (e.g. pre-anesthetic checklist items) |
Name your field and, for selection-type fields (Dropdown, Multi-Select, Radio, Checkbox), add your Available Options.
Click Save to add the field to your library.
[Screenshot: Custom Items Manager showing a field being created with field type options and Available Options visible]
Add the field to a template
Inside the template editor, click Add from Library → Custom tab. Your new field will appear here.
Drag the field into the desired position in your template using the drag handle (⠿).
Click Save Template when done.
How to Verify It Works
Open a patient visit using SOAP 2.0 and apply the template containing your custom fields.
Confirm all custom fields appear in the expected positions within the record.
Fill in each field type to verify options load correctly and selections save as expected.
If fields are not appearing, confirm the Default to SOAP 2.0 Only preference is enabled — custom fields are not visible in SOAP v1 records.
Managing Custom Fields Across Templates
Custom fields are shared across templates — editing a field's name or options in the Custom Items Manager updates it everywhere it's in use.
To review where a field is being used:
Open the Custom Items Manager from the SOAP Templates page or from within any template.
Each field displays a Used in: link listing every template it currently appears in.
Use the Only used in this template toggle to filter the view when working inside a specific template.
⚠️ Editing a custom field affects all templates it's linked to. If you need a variation of a field for one specific template, create a new custom field rather than editing the original.
Related Settings
SOAP 2.0 Settings — Custom fields require SOAP 2.0; confirm your Default to SOAP 2.0 Only clinic preference is enabled before setup
User Roles & Permissions — Controls who can create, edit, view, and delete custom fields under Medical/Clients/General
Template Management — Where all SOAP record templates are created and organized
QuickSOAP Settings — If your clinic uses QuickSOAP, review how template changes may affect that flow
Common Questions
Who can create and manage custom fields?
Anyone with Create Items and Edit Items permissions under Medical/Clients/General in their user role. Depending on your clinic structure, this may be your hospital manager, medical director, or individual veterinarians. Your clinic Administrator can update permissions under Administration → Team → Roles.
Can I use the same custom field in multiple templates?
Yes — custom fields are shared across your entire template library. Any field you create appears in the Custom tab and can be added to as many templates as needed.
What happens if I edit a custom field that's used in multiple templates?
The change applies to every template currently using that field. If you need a different version for a specific template, create a new custom field instead of editing the existing one.
Why aren't my custom fields showing up in the record?
Custom fields only appear in SOAP 2.0 records. If your clinic hasn't enabled Default to SOAP 2.0 Only in clinic preferences, the fields will not be visible. Contact your clinic Administrator to confirm this setting is on.
Can I delete a custom field?
Yes, with Delete Items permission. Deleting a field removes it from all templates it's currently used in. Review the Used in: links in the Custom Items Manager before deleting to understand the impact.
What's not available yet in this version?
Custom Groups and Abnormal Free Text are not yet available in this release and are planned for a future update.