# Field widget

> Put one typed value on a desk: text, a number, a date, a checkbox, a choice from a list, files, linked records, an office file or an AI button.

Source: https://plexiidesk.com/help/widget-field
Section: Widgets > Build and automate
Plans: All plans
Updated: 2026-10-10

A Field is one value on your desk, with a label and a type. Use it for the single facts you want to see at a glance while you work: a project's status, its due date, a budget figure, a yes or no, the files that belong to it, or a button that asks Plexii a question you ask often.

You choose the type when you add the field, and it then behaves like a column of a table, but on its own: a select field offers your options as coloured tags, a date field opens a date picker, and so on.

More about this widget

## Before you start

- The Field is on every plan.
- You need a desk open.
- A **Button** field that runs an AI prompt needs AI set up: PlexiDesk credits while you are signed in, or your own Anthropic key. See [AI credits and where your AI runs](https://plexiidesk.com/help). The other types need nothing else.

## Add a Field

1. Open the desk you want the field on.
2. Click **Add widget** in the centre of the header.
3. Click **Field**.

The **Add widget** menu groups widgets into columns by what they are for. **Field** is in the **Build & automate** column. You can also type field in the search box at the top of the menu and press `Enter`.

### Faster ways to add one

- **Press `F`.** On an open desk, click an empty part of the desk so that no widget is selected and you are not typing, then press `F`. The **Add widget** menu shows this key in grey beside **Field**. See [Add widgets with a single key](https://plexiidesk.com/help/quick-add-keys).
- **Use the command palette.** Press `⌘` `K` on a Mac or `Ctrl` `K` on Windows, type field and choose **Add Field**.
- **Start from another widget.** Right-click a widget, choose **Create & link**, then **Field**. The new field appears beside it, linked to it.

## Pick the field's type

A new Field says **Pick a field type** and shows twelve types. Click one.

| Type | What it holds |
| --- | --- |
| **Short text** | One line of text, such as a client name or a reference number. |
| **Long text** | Several lines of text. |
| **Rich text** | Several lines of text, in a larger box. |
| **Number** | A number, such as a budget or a count. |
| **Checkbox** | Ticked or not, for a yes or no. |
| **Single select** | One choice from a list you make, shown as a coloured tag. Good for a status. |
| **Multi-select** | Any number of choices from your list. Good for tags. |
| **Date** | A date, picked from a calendar. |
| **Attachment** | One or more files from your computer. |
| **Button** | A button that asks Plexii a question you set up, and shows the answer. |
| **Related records** | Links to rows in one of your tables. |
| **Office file** | Links to documents, spreadsheets, decks and other files in PlexiiOffice. |

The type is set once you choose it. To use a different type, add another Field.

## Name the field

The field's label sits at the top of the widget. It starts as the type's name, for example **Single select**.

1. Click the label.
2. Type a new one, such as Status or Due.

The widget's name in its title bar changes to match, so the label is what you see wherever the field appears. The type stays shown in small letters at the right.

## Enter a value

The value goes in the box under **Value**. How you enter it depends on the type.

| Type | How to enter a value |
| --- | --- |
| **Short text** | Type, then press `Enter` or click outside the box. |
| **Long text** and **Rich text** | Type, then click outside the box. |
| **Number** | Type the number, then click outside the box. |
| **Checkbox** | Click the box to tick or clear it. |
| **Single select** | Click the value to open your list, then click an option. Choose **(none)** to clear it. |
| **Multi-select** | Click the value to open your list, then click each option to tick or untick it. Click outside the list to close it. |
| **Date** | Click the date box and pick a date, or type one. |
| **Attachment** | Click **attach**, then choose one or more files. |
| **Button** | Set the button up first, then click it. See below. |
| **Related records** | Choose a table first, then click **link**. See below. |
| **Office file** | Click **Office file** and pick a file. See below. |

Your value is saved with the widget as soon as you enter it.



## Make a list of options

**Single select** and **Multi-select** fields have an **Options** section at the bottom.

1. Click in the **New option…** box.
2. Type an option, such as In progress.
3. Press `Enter` or click **add**.

Each option gets its own colour, in turn. To remove an option, click the × on its tag. Until you add options, the list says **No options defined**.

## Set up a Button

A Button field holds a question or instruction for Plexii. Each time you click the button, Plexii answers, and the answer appears under the button.

1. Under **Button setup**, open the first list and choose **AI prompt**.
2. In **Button label**, type what the button should say, such as Summarise. If you leave it empty the button says **Run**.
3. In the large box, type the prompt, for example: Suggest three subject lines for a product launch email.
4. Click the button above **Button setup**. It shows **Running…**, then the answer.

The answer is shown for you to read or copy. It is not saved with the field, so copy anything you want to keep, for example into a note.

## Link records from a table

A **Related records** field links to rows of one of your tables, such as the client a project is for.

1. Under **Linked table**, open the list and choose a table. Until you do, the value says **Set target table**.
2. Under **Display column**, choose which of the table's columns names each row. **(auto — first text column)** uses the first text column.
3. Leave **Allow multiple links** ticked to link several rows, or untick it to link just one.
4. Click **link** in the value and pick a row from the list. Repeat for more rows.

Each linked row shows as a tag. To unlink one, click the × on its tag.

## Link office files

An **Office file** field points to files in PlexiiOffice, such as the brief and the budget for a project.

1. Click **Office file**.
2. In **Reference an office file**, find and pick the file.

Each file shows as a tag with its name. Click a tag to open the file, or click its × to remove it from the field. Click **+** to add another.

## Attach files

1. Click **attach**.
2. Choose one or more files on your computer, then confirm.

Each file shows as a tag with its name. Click the name to open the file. Click the × on a tag to remove it: the copy the field stored is deleted, and the original on your computer is not touched.

## The right-click menu

Right-click anywhere inside a Field for the widget menu, including **Create & link**, which adds a new widget beside this one, already linked to it. To cut, copy or paste text in the field's boxes instead, hold `Shift` while you right-click. See [Right-click menus](https://plexiidesk.com/help/right-click-menus).

The title bar starts with an **AI** button (the sparkle). The Field has no AI of its own, so this button opens the Plexii panel with the field attached, and you can ask Plexii about it. See [Use a widget's AI button](https://plexiidesk.com/help/widget-ai).

## Fields and other widgets

- **A Desk agent can read a field.** Wire the field into an agent and it reads the field's label and value along with its other inputs. See [Desk agent widget](https://plexiidesk.com/help/widget-desk-agent).
- **A Custom widget can read a field** in the same way. See [Custom widget: build your own tool](https://plexiidesk.com/help/widget-custom).
- **For several values that belong together**, a Custom block holds them in one form. See [Custom block widget: design a form](https://plexiidesk.com/help/widget-custom-block).

## Good uses

- A **Status** single select with To do, In progress, Waiting and Done.
- A **Due** date beside the work it belongs to.
- A **Budget** number on a project desk.
- A **Files** attachment field holding the latest versions you work from.
- A **Brief** office-file field that opens the brief in one click.
- A **Summarise** button with a prompt you would otherwise type again and again.

## Common questions

### Can I change a field's type?

No. The type is set when you pick it. Add a new Field with the type you want, and copy the value across.

### The answer under my Button disappeared

Answers are shown, not saved. Click the button again for a new answer, and copy any answer you want to keep.

### My Button shows a message about AI

The Button uses Plexii, so AI must be set up. Sign in to use PlexiDesk credits, or add your own Anthropic key. See [AI settings](https://plexiidesk.com/help/settings-ai).

### My table is not in the Linked table list

The list shows the tables in your workspace. Add a table to a desk first. See [Table widget](https://plexiidesk.com/help/widget-table).

## Related tasks

- [Build & automate widgets](https://plexiidesk.com/help/widgets-build-and-automate)
- [Add widgets with a single key](https://plexiidesk.com/help/quick-add-keys)
- [Custom block widget: design a form](https://plexiidesk.com/help/widget-custom-block)
- [The controls on every widget](https://plexiidesk.com/help/widget-title-bar)