Layouts are here!
Do you ever find it a bit frustrating when you're looking through a record, but the data you really need at that moment is buried or hard to find?
Our new Layouts feature is here to solve that problem!
With Layouts, you're in control – you get to customize your record view exactly the way you want it. Keep what you need, get rid of what you don't.
To view all the resources we have available for the Layouts Feature, view our Layouts Release Resource Cheat Sheet.
In the rest of this article, we'll walk you through how to make the most of this powerful new feature, empowering you to find, win, and close more deals with efficiency.
Either scroll through and follow along or use the links directly below to skip to a specific section:
What is a Layout and where can I apply them?
Can I copy a teammate's Layout as a template to edit as my own?
Can I color-code different fields in my Layout?
What are the generally available fields that I can add to my Layout?
How can I determine who can see/use my Layout?
What is a Layout and where can I apply them?
A Layout serves to allow you to adjust your record view so that you only see data that you deem to be relevant. When you click into a record, you will see the "Detail" tab display in the record, as shown below:
Prior to the Layouts feature, you were stuck with the fields displayed above. With Layouts, you'll now have the ability to adjust what data displays when opening a record, and you'll be able to adjust in accordance with which record type you view to look something like:
In the case of your Contacts, it won't display in the "Detail" tab, but rather the "Profile" tab, of which you will have different Layout options to create, depending on the Contact type:
Layouts are available to be created for all of the following record types:
- Contact | Agents
- Contact | Investors
- Contact | Personals
- Contact | Tenants
- Contact | Vendors
- Companies
- Lease Comps
- Projects
- Properties
- Sale Comps
- Spaces
How to Create a Layout?
1. Navigate to the screen you want to customize and open a record. Click the 'Layouts' dropdown on the top of the record, then click 'Manage...'
2. Choose the option to 'Add New Layout'
3. Name your new layout for easy identification. Select to start with an Empty layout or customize a RealNex default.
4. Drag and drop the desired fields on the left to the layout canvas.
5. Adjust the arrangement and color of the fields to your preference.
6. Save the layout when you're satisfied with the design.
Can I copy a teammate's Layout as a template to edit as my own?
Yes, you can duplicate any Layout you see and save it as your own, making any edits that you'd like, without impacting the original Layout.
1. Navigate to the screen you want to customize and open a record. Click the 'Layouts' dropdown on the top of the record, then click 'Manage...'
2. Click the 'Duplicate Layout' button on the right-hand side of the Layout you wish to copy as your own.
3. Set the New Name of your duplicated Layout and pick which team, if any, should have access to this Layout. Then click "Create."
4. You will see the Layout Editor appear, at which point you can make the changes you'd like to make and Save. If you will keep it the exact same, click "Close."
5. You will now see your new, duplicated layout available in the Page Layouts popup. From here, you can select it and either apply and/or set it as your default Layout.
How to Apply a Layout?
1. Open the record where you want to apply the layout.
2. Click the 'Layouts' dropdown at the top of the record.
3. Select the desired layout from the available options in the dropdown list to apply it
5. The new layout is now be applied to the record. This Layout will remain applied until you apply another.
What is a section?
A section is a way to segment your layout. For example, if applying a layout to Contact Tenant Details, one can serve as Details, while the other serves as Requirements. You can then arrange your data fields into their respective sections so that you can quickly view what you're needing without having to dig around.
You can add as many Sections as you like by clicking the "Add Section" bottom on the top right corner.
Sections in the Layout Editor:
Sections as they appear in the Record View:
How can I adjust the number of columns and the order in which my Layout will display? (Column Configuration)
For each section you have, you are able to rearrange how many columns your layout displays, as well as the orientation of your layout.
1. Navigate to the screen you want to customize and open a record. Click the 'Layouts' dropdown at the top of the record, then click 'Manage...'
2. To the right side of your section title, you'll see a few options.
- Color: Adjust the color of your section title or of all the fields in that section. Pick a color by clicking the white box to the left of the "Color" dropdown menu and select what to apply it to by using the "Color" dropdown menu.
- Columns ("3 cols"): Allows you to determine how many columns you want to show in your section. You can pick as few as one, or as many as four.
- Orientation ("Left to Right"): Allows you to determine in which orientation your data fields appear in the section. If you absorb data best from left to right, leave it as is. If you absorb data best top to bottom, click the dropdown and select "Top to Bottom".
This is a quality of life capability, feel free to play around with different settings and layouts until you settle on one that makes sense for you and/or your team.
Can I color-code different fields in my Layout?
Yes, you can, and the colors you assign to your fields will only apply to the layout you're making the edits in, meaning you can color-code different layouts for different scenarios without an impact on other layouts.
1. Navigate to the screen you want to customize and open a record. Click the 'Layouts' dropdown on the top of the record, then click 'Manage...'
2. Select the layout you want to make changes to and click the 'Edit' button under the "Actions" column.
3. In the Layout Editor, you will see all of your applied fields in the layout canvas. Within each of those applied fields, you will see a few boxes on the right hand side .
4. The left-most box is the 'Change Color' setting - click it and you will see a color editor appear. From here, you can select which color you'd like to appear for that specific field.
(Click here to reveal the color picker)
5. Click "Save" and you will now see that color applied. Follow these steps for any other fields you'd like to apply a color to.
*Tip: If you would like the exact same color across multiple fields, open the color editor, highlight and copy the hex code .
Now you can paste the hex code in any other field you would like to apply it to and have consistency where you would like.
What are the generally available fields that I can add to my Layout?
Your available fields will vary depending on which portion of your CRM it is that you're creating a Layout for.
For example, if you are creating a Property Layout, your field options will be unique to that section, differing from Company, Contacts, etc.
Generally speaking, you can find all the available fields segmented by type on the left-hand side of the Layout Editor, where you can click and expand to find a field. Additionally, you have the option to search for a specific field by using the search box (indicated by the red arrow below).
How can I determine who can see/use my Layout?
Every user has the ability to adjust the Layout Ownership and Visibility for Layouts that they create:
1. Navigate to the screen you want to customize and open a record. Click the 'Layouts' dropdown on the top of the record, then click 'Manage...'
2. For every Layout that you've created, you will see the 'Layout Visibility' button available in the "Actions" column. Click to make changes.
3. Once you're satisfied with your visibility settings, click "Save" and your settings will be applied.
For more detailed instructions or any other queries, please don't hesitate to reach out to our customer support team at support@realnex.com.