Columns

Configure the columns of your custom tables using the Canvas UI.

Columns are the building blocks of a custom table. Each column maps to a MySQL column and generates a corresponding input field in the record form. Columns are managed in Step 2 of the table wizard using the Canvas UI.

Adding a column

In the Columns step, click Add column in the sidebar panel. Fill in the column settings in the right-hand panel, then drag it to the desired position in the column list.

Drag columns to reorder. Click a column to edit its settings in the right panel.

Column settings

Every column has a name (database column name, snake_case) and a type. Additional settings depend on the type.

Core settings (all types)

Setting	Description
Name	Column name in the database. Must be unique within the table.
Label	Human-readable label shown in the record form.
Required	Whether a value is required when creating/editing a record.
Read-only	If enabled, the column is shown but cannot be edited in the admin UI.
Default value	Pre-populated value for new records.
Show in list	Whether this column appears in the records list view.
Conditional rendering	Show/hide this column based on the value of another column.
Validation rules	Apply format constraints (pattern, min/max, etc.).
Permissions	Per-column role-based access control.

Column types

Text types

Type	MySQL type	Description
Text	VARCHAR(255)	Short text, up to 255 characters.
Textarea	TEXT	Long text without formatting.
Editor	LONGTEXT	Rich-text HTML editor (WYSIWYG).
Password	VARCHAR(255)	Stored as a hashed string.
URL	VARCHAR(255)	URL input with format validation.
Email	VARCHAR(255)	Email input with format validation.
HTML	LONGTEXT	Raw HTML stored as-is.

Numeric types

Type	MySQL type	Description
Number	DECIMAL(10,2)	Decimal number.
Integer	BIGINT	Whole number.
Range	DECIMAL(10,2)	Number with min/max slider UI.
Currency	DECIMAL(10,2)	Monetary value with currency code.
Length	DECIMAL(10,2)	Measurement with unit.
Weight	DECIMAL(10,2)	Weight with unit.
Rating	TINYINT	Star rating (1–5).

Date/time types

Type	MySQL type	Description
Date	DATE	Date picker (YYYY-MM-DD).
Datetime	DATETIME	Date and time picker.
Time	TIME	Time picker (HH:MM).
Date range	VARCHAR(255)	Two-date range stored as a JSON string.

Boolean / choice types

Type	MySQL type	Description
Toggle	TINYINT(1)	On/off boolean toggle.
Select	VARCHAR(255)	Single-value dropdown. Options defined inline or from a Dataset.
Select multiple	JSON	Multi-value select.
Checkbox	TINYINT(1)	Single checkbox.
Checkbox list	JSON	Multiple checkbox options.
Radio	VARCHAR(255)	Single-choice radio buttons.
Country	VARCHAR(2)	Country selector (ISO 3166-1 alpha-2 codes).

Media types

Type	MySQL type	Description
Image	VARCHAR(255)	WordPress media library image (stores attachment ID).
Gallery	JSON	Multiple images.
File	VARCHAR(255)	WordPress media library file.
Video	VARCHAR(255)	Video URL or media library item.
Audio	VARCHAR(255)	Audio URL or media library item.

Structured types

Type	MySQL type	Description
Address	JSON	Full address with geocoding support.
Phone	VARCHAR(50)	International phone number.
Color	VARCHAR(20)	Hex or RGBA color picker.
Icon	VARCHAR(255)	Icon selector (Dashicons).
QR Code	VARCHAR(255)	Stores the encoded value; QR image is generated on display.
Barcode	VARCHAR(255)	Stores the barcode value; image generated on display.
JSON	JSON	Raw JSON value with syntax-highlighted editor.

Nestable types

Type	MySQL type	Description
Repeater	VIRTUAL	A group of sub-columns that can be repeated any number of times. Stored as JSON.
Flexible	VIRTUAL	A set of named block templates, each with its own sub-columns. Stored as JSON.

Repeater columns

A repeater column defines child columns that form a single row. Any number of rows can be added per record. Click Add child column inside the repeater to add sub-columns.

Flexible block columns

Flexible columns define multiple named blocks, each with its own set of child columns. This is useful for modular content structures.

Relational types

Type	Description
Relational	Links a record to one or more records from another CCT table, a CPT post, a taxonomy term, a user, or an option page value.

See Relational fields for full configuration details and examples.

Conditional rendering

You can show or hide a column based on the value of another column in the same table. Click the Conditional rendering tab in the column settings panel to define rules.

Example: only show the director_bio column when the role column equals director.

Validation rules

The Validation rules tab lets you add constraints beyond the column type:

• Required — must not be empty

• Pattern — regex match

• Min / Max — range for numeric types

• Min length / Max length — character limits for text types

Column permissions

The Permissions tab on each column lets you restrict read and write access per WordPress role. See Permissions.