To ensure your data displays correctly and functions as expected within the platform, it is essential to choose the right Data Type for your columns. To change the data type, open the data source on our web portal and click on the “Rows” link. When your data source rows load, at the top of each data column will be a gear icon. When you click that, a modal window opens that lets you choose the data type for that column.

When you enable the “Validate Column Data” option in your Data source settings, your data in each column will be validated against the criteria specific to that data type.

Text & Identification

Use these types for labels, descriptions, and contact information.

 

Max data per Cell

The first column in any data source has a max value of 100 characters. All other cells allow up to 30000 characters per cell.

 

Data Type

Usage

Constraints & Behavior

Short Text

Brief values like names or codes.

Default for strings under 100 characters. No specific validation.

Long Text

Descriptions or notes.

Auto-detected when content exceeds 100 characters. Displays as a large textarea in the UI.

Email Address

Validated email formats.

Standard RFC validation; ensure “at” (@) and domain suffix are present.

URL

Links to external websites.

Must begin with http:// or https://.


Location & Visuals

These types handle how geographic and graphic data are rendered.

  • GPS Coordinates (GeoCoordinate)
    • Format: Latitude followed by Longitude, separated by a single space.
    • Example: -33.8688 151.2093
  • Image
    • Requirement: Must be a valid URL ending in .png, .jpg, or .jpeg.
    • Upload Limit: Maximum file size of 2MB.
  • Icon
    • Function: References the built-in system icon library rather than external files.
    • Constraint: Value must exactly match an existing icon name in the library (e.g., home, settings, user).

Numeric & Date

Used for calculations, sorting, and scheduling.

  • Number
    • Range: Supports standard integer and decimal values. Best for values requiring mathematical operations.
  • Date & Time
    • Default Format: The system follows the ISO 8601 standard (YYYY-MM-DD HH:MM:SS) by default to ensure global compatibility.

 

Best Practise

When in doubt, use Short Text. If you find your text is being cut off or hard to read in the grid, ensure it exceeds 100 characters or manually toggle the Long Text setting to enable the expanded textarea view.