Dynamic list for properties

[DSteck]

Can a property have a dynamic list, i.e. a property value having been entered (by a user) shows up as a selectable option (like in a drop-down list) for all future entries into this property while maintaining the possibility also for these users to add additional values.

Use case example: property "competitors" for a deal: existing competitors would show up in a drop-down list while providing the optin to add another one that has not yet been encountered.

[karstenkoehler · Accepted solution]

Hi @DSteck,

This is currently not supported by HubSpot, in none of the dropdown field types, unfortunately.

As far as workarounds go, the best option would be to create a dropdown option called "Other (specify in 'Other competitor' field)" and have a second, single-line text property. It's not ideal but allows you to review all free text options regularly and add new values to your first dropdown property.

Best regards!

[AdamLPW · Accepted solution]

@DSteck, further to @karstenkoehler's response, I actually find HubSpot's position on this helpful, rather than a hindrance.  

You can specify which users can edit a custom property.  This means that, if you don't want your whole team to be able to add a new value to a list, you can prevent them from doing this.  If you DO want to allow them to edit, you can just give everyone permission to edit, which is as good as having a free-text option in the dropdown. 

Take something like competitors - I'm sure you don't have numerous new competitors emerging regularly.  It's more than likely that you, like most of us, have a handful with the occasional new entrant.   From personal experience, if you make these lists editable by everyone you'll invariably find duplicates or invalid entries creep in rapidly.  You'll then spend time tidying all these up.  

Now let's consider the alternative: only a handful of administrators/users have the ability to add a new entry to the dropdown list.  User A is completing a deal and notices that CompetitorServices.com is not in the Competitors dropdown.  They know that they need to contact Administrator B to request that "CompetitorServices.com" be added to the list.  They message Administrator B and ask them to do so, and set the property for their deal.  

In my opinion, this is vastly preferable to me finding variations on "Compettitorservices.co", "CompetorService.com" in a list, and someone (me!) having to tidy them up.  

[DSteck]

Adam

I agree in that whatever way one sets up the property, there are advantages and disadvantages, as you have outlined. Assessing the answers of both, you and Karsten, for competitors it could be done by assigning dedicated persons to maintain and update a list.

BR,
Detlef

[karstenkoehler · Accepted solution]

Hi @DSteck,

This is currently not supported by HubSpot, in none of the dropdown field types, unfortunately.

As far as workarounds go, the best option would be to create a dropdown option called "Other (specify in 'Other competitor' field)" and have a second, single-line text property. It's not ideal but allows you to review all free text options regularly and add new values to your first dropdown property.

Best regards!

[CArwady]

Hi Karsten,

I have a similar question to the OP. I've created a dynamic list of Partner organizations and want to be able to select from that list when creating a new Deal record, so that we can track which Partners are directly aligned to which Deals. Is there a way to do this?

Thanks!

Chris

[karstenkoehler]

Hi @CArwady,

Unfortunately not, see my earlier reply. You would have to manually maintain the dropdown options or develop your own custom solution based on the HubSpot API.

Best regards!

[DSteck]

Thanks Karsten

Probably an acceptable work-around.