Types

A Type is a subtype or category within a collection

(e.g., 'Internal Project' vs. 'Client Project' in a 'Projects' collection).

By grouping records

under different types, you can show or hide fields

Field

A column in a Collection that stores a specific type of information for each Record, such as text, number, or date.

specific to each subtype, preventing clutter and making sure each record only has the relevant inputs. You can also assign a colour and icon to each type so records are easy to identify at a glance.

Why use types?

• Users only see the fields that matter for the subtype they are creating.
• No need to maintain multiple collections if they share most of their fields — simply use Types instead.
• Each Type can have unique rules, validation, or even permissions
  Permission

  A specific right to view, edit, delete, or administer parts of Kinabase, granted via Roles.
  while still living in the same collection.
• Colour and icon badges let you visually distinguish types in tables, lists, and configuration screens.

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Accessing the types configuration

1. Go to the collection in the sidebar.
2. Right-click or click the ... menu and choose Configure.
3. Select the Types tab. This shows any existing types and lets you add, remove, or edit them.

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Creating or editing a type

1. Click Add type to create a new type, or click the Edit button on an existing type.
2. Select a colour from the dropdown palette on the left of the type name. Choose from 10 colour variants including blue, green, red, orange, purple, and more.
3. Click the icon picker next to the colour selector and search for an icon that represents the type. The picker suggests icons based on the type name to speed things up.
4. Give the type a name (e.g., 'Client Project', 'Internal Project', or 'Resistor', 'Capacitor').
5. Check or uncheck which fields belong to this type. Any field marked required in the collection's Fields tab will remain required across all types.
6. Click Save to confirm.

The chosen colour and icon will display as a visual badge wherever that type appears, including table views, lists, and configuration screens.

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Adding a record with types

When you click + Add to create a new record in the collection:

1. Select the type — a drop-down menu lets you pick from the types you created (e.g., 'Client Project' or 'Internal Project').
2. Fill in the relevant fields — only the fields you assigned to that type will appear, keeping the form streamlined.
3. Add the record — Kinabase stores the type choice within the record, so you always know which subtype it belongs to.

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Best practices

• Start with a core set of fields that apply to all records. Then add type-specific fields to keep subtypes organised.
• Review required fields — if a field is required at the collection level, it remains mandatory for every type.
• Use colours and icons consistently — choose a colour scheme that makes sense for your categories so team members can recognise types at a glance.
• Create views for your types — instantly create a new view for your type by using the ... menu. See Views for more detail.
• Plan for growth — add new types as your processes evolve.

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Keep your records categorised

By harnessing Types in Kinabase, you keep your collection flexible and tidy.

Each record subtype displays only the fields and rules that matter, making data entry straightforward for your team, by providing consistent, organised information.

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Read our Collections and Views guides for more on organising your data.