Adding custom fields to ALL assets

[robgutshall]

I'm a new Snipe-IT user and am pitching it to Admin for use here. I have it set up and working. We are going to use it for more than just IT stuff. (Think Maintenance Equipment, Furniture...etc) I've been tasked to add about 15 custom fields and have done so. Now I'm lost at the "Asset Model" stuff. I've gone through some youtube vids and they all say the same thing. Seems like I have to CHOOSE an item in the inventory then I can set up the asset model. First, I have nothing in the inventory yet. 2nd I'd want the custom fields to show up every time I add an asset no matter the make or model.
I feel like I'm missing something here.
Any guidance appreciated

[TShiremanLCOG]

I don't believe the "I have to CHOOSE an item in the inventory then I can set up the asset model" is quite correct but maybe I misunderstand.

As a quick review for clarity (which you may already know), think of a Model like a template. For example, a "Dell Precision 4321" laptop. You can have many of that same model. That specific model with serial number 12345 is an Asset. The other one with serial number 54321 is a separate Asset.

When creating an asset there is general information you must add. You must add an Asset Tag (typically a unique value), then choose a Model, and finally set the Status. Once you choose a Model, more fields will appear and then information can be added based on the model. For example, if you have a custom field for "Toner SKU", you probably only want that on Models that related to printers. Or a custom field for "Desk is electric?" should probably only apply to models that are Furniture or Desks. So how do we make that happen?

My recommendation is to start by creating a few Categories. Say Workstations, Furniture, and then Copiers. Now create a few Models. I know there's an option when creating each model to add a Fieldset, but don't do it yet! Maybe add 1-2 in each Category. So add some workstations and laptops to Workstations, some desks and chairs to Furniture, and some printers and copiers to Copiers. Great!

Now we get to the custom fields. There's three very important things here: 1.) You create individual fields to hold the data. 2.) Those fields are added to a Fieldset. 3.) Each model can only have ONE Fieldset.

Let's talk about Fieldsets. With Workstations, maybe you want to know the screen size and number of USB ports. So you would create a Field for Screen Size and one for USB Ports. Then you create a Workstations Fieldset. For Furniture, maybe you want to know the tabletop dimensions and height. So you create a Table Width, Table Depth, and Height Fields and create a Furniture Info Fieldset. I think you get the idea.

Now that you have Fieldsets, let's revisit the Models. Go back to each one and choose the correct Fieldset for each one. You can probably match up with Fieldset goes with which Model.

Originally you said you had a bunch of custom fields that you want for EVERY model. Without understanding more, I'm going to recommend against that. What that would entail is adding those fields to EVERY fieldset. That doesn't sound right. But, if you can explain more maybe there's a use case or a better way to accomplish that.