What's the best app for managing custom fields in e-commerce?

Technical Q&A
1

Hello,

We are test driving Shopify. We need custom fields to both “get” data and publish data. We have tested numerous custom field apps. Typically, app custom fields do not display at the admin sales order, often do not display at the Cart - never display at the sales report - and never appear in report filters/queries.

If you have a recommendation for an app or integration that can manage custom field creation, maintenance and reporting in a no/low code efficient user friendly manner, I’d be grateful for your suggestion.

If I’m asking for something that is impractical, that would be helpful to learn as well.

Thanks,

Jeff

2

I’d be interested to know why you aren’t using metafields?

3

Hello Sam,

I have tried metafields. Why not use them? I don’t think my staff will be able to administer creating and displaying metafields. I’ve not been able to affix metafields to a sales order and retain metafield information or make it available to typical reports or filters. Importing metafields is a challenge. Also, metafields - and i may be incorrect - are not intended to “get” information, such as engraving, from the consumer. Hence, that puts me back in the world of custom fields and the issues around that.

I imagine that this can be handled by hiring a developer to customize solutions. In terms of cost and outsourcing, it is not (yet) my first choice.

Since the need for flexible field content and analysis or access to historic data is common, I’m hoping there is some (user friendly) universal solution to the process of acquisition, action and analysis of data. I feel like I’m mostly finding app silos.

Best, Jeff

4

Something like this doesn’t work? Just trying to understand you use case and why it seems so niche.

https://apps.shopify.com/best-custom-product-options

5

Hi @ibear888 ,

To my understanding, you need to pass the custom data collected from customers and/or the data stored metafields to orders. You may want to consider using custom line item properties for this purpose. Each of those custom line item properties becomes a part of an order, which makes them accessible in orders, invoices etc.