Custom field

A custom field is an extra piece of data you attach to a lead list beyond the built-in fields like name, address, and phone. VICIdial gives you a fixed set of standard columns, but most real campaigns need to carry their own information, and custom fields are how you do that without bending the standard fields out of shape.

Common uses are a lead score, the product a lead asked about, the date of a prior quote, or an account number from your own system. You decide the field name and type when you build the list, then map your file columns to them with the lead loader during import. The fields stick with the list, so every record loaded into it gets the same shape.

Once a custom field exists, it shows up where it matters. You can display it on the agent script so the agent sees context the moment the call connects, which makes the opening line feel personal instead of generic. You can also use it inside a lead filter to target only the records that match, like calling everyone with a score above a threshold first. That combination turns a flat list into a smart calling plan.

Do not confuse a custom field with the vendor lead code, which is a single standard column meant for your outside record ID. Custom fields are flexible and plural; the vendor lead code is one fixed slot. Plan your custom fields before the first lead loader run, because adding them after data is already loaded means reworking the list and re-importing, which is far more effort than getting the layout right at the start.

A small habit pays off here: write down what each custom field means before you build it. Six months later, a column labeled with a vague name leaves everyone guessing, and a lead filter built on a misunderstood field can target the wrong people. Keep the names plain, document the values you expect, and your custom fields stay useful long after the person who set them up has moved on.