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Custom Objects Guide

Updated

When Insightly’s standard objects don’t fit how your business works, custom objects let you store the data they don’t cover.

On this page:

What custom objects are

Standard objects like contacts and organizations hold your core records. A custom object is one you create to hold data specific to your business that has no standard equivalent.

Creating

  1. Go to System Settings > Objects and Fields.
  2. Click New Custom Object.
Creating a New Custom Object in Insightly — The screenshot shows the “All Objects” settings page in Insightly CRM, listing standard objects like Contact, Email, Event, Lead, and Note, with a red arrow pointing to the “New Custom Object” button in the top right corner. This helps users locate where to create custom objects to extend CRM functionality beyond the default options.
  1. Fill in the labels and description. The Object Name auto-fills from the Singular Label, but can be changed.
New Custom Object Creation Form in Insightly — This image shows the form used to create a new custom object in Insightly CRM, with fields for Singular Label, Plural Label, Object Name, and Description highlighted in red to indicate required steps. It would help a reader understand what information needs to be entered when setting up a custom object, including naming conventions and optional settings like icons and deployment status.
  1. Choose your Field Type. If you choose Auto Number, enter the display format.

⚠️ This choice is permanent. Once the object is saved, the field type becomes read-only and cannot be changed.

  1. Check Deployed to make the object active and visible to users.
Custom Object Save Settings in Insightly CRM — The screenshot shows the final configuration screen for creating a custom object in Insightly CRM, including fields for record name, object icon, and a “Deployed” checkbox under Development Status. A red arrow highlights the unchecked Deployed checkbox, indicating that checking this option makes the custom object active and visible to users.
  1. Check Show in Sidebar if you want the object to appear in the left navigation.
Custom Object Settings With Sidebar Option Highlighted — This screenshot shows the configuration screen for a custom object in Insightly CRM, with a red arrow pointing to the “Show In Sidebar” checkbox under Object Icon and Navigation settings. This setting is important because enabling it controls whether the custom object appears in the navigation sidebar for quick access.
  1. Click Change Icon to choose an icon for your object.
  2. Click Save Custom Object.

The new object then appears at the bottom of the left navigation. Create a Page Layout for it before use.

Editing and deleting

Both are done from System Settings > Objects and Fields using the three-dot menu beside the object. Administrators can edit a custom object at any time.

All Objects Settings Page in Insightly CRM — This screenshot shows the Settings panel listing all CRM objects, including standard ones like Contact and Lead, and custom objects like Inventory and Property. The three-dot action menu next to the Property custom object is highlighted, indicating how users can manage or edit custom objects.
Edit or Delete Object Context Menu — A dropdown menu appears with two options: “Edit This Object” and “Delete This Object,” with the edit option highlighted in red. This menu allows users to modify or remove an existing object in Insightly CRM, typically accessed by clicking a three-dot or action button.
Delete Custom Object Confirmation Warning Screen — This screen shows the confirmation dialog for deleting a custom object named “Property__c” in Insightly CRM, displaying a red warning box that lists all data and settings that will be permanently removed. Users must click the red “Delete Custom Object” button to confirm, making this a critical step where understanding the consequences—such as loss of workflows, reports, layouts, and API endpoints—is essential before proceeding.

ℹ️ Standard objects cannot be deleted. Only custom objects your team created can be removed. Deleting a custom object cannot be undone, and any data associated with it is deleted. You can export the records before removing the object.

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