---
title: "Formula - text field properties"
slug: "formula-text-field-properties"
updated: 2026-04-29T16:57:39Z
published: 2026-04-29T16:57:39Z
canonical: "help.quickbase.com/formula-text-field-properties"
---

> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://help.quickbase.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Formula - text field properties

The properties for this field type are:

## Label

Enter a name for this field. This name displays on data-entry forms and as column headings in reports.

## Type

Select **Change Type** to change the field type.

Some field types (List-User, Multi-select Text, and File Attachment, for example) may not be changed. The **Change Type** link will not be present if this is the case.

## Unique

| Select this option... | If you want to... |
| --- | --- |
| Must be unique | Ensure that every entry in this field is different. This is useful for fields that contain information such as product serial numbers or ID numbers. |
| Check existing entries for duplicate values | Change a field in an existing application to require unique values and want to require that all previously entered data is unique. To display this option, select **Must be unique**. If Quickbase finds existing values in this field that aren't unique, an error message appears and Quickbase clears the **Must be unique** checkbox. If this occurs, you can do one of two things: - Sort the field to find duplicate values, make corrections as necessary, return to the Properties page, then select both **Unique** checkboxes again. - Select **Must be unique** if it doesn't matter whether existing data in this field is unique or if you want only new entries in this field to be unique. |

## Formula

Enter the formula to generate the value this field shows. When you select the **Formula** text field, a **Fields & Functions** list appears.

1. Select **Select a Function** to open the Quickbase Formula Functions dialog box.
2. Select or search for the type of function you want from the list.
3. Select the formula you want, then select **Insert**.

### Value display

These properties apply when the field appears in table and timeline reports.

| Select one or more options... | To... |
| --- | --- |
| Display in bold | Display the data in bold. |
| Display without wrapping | Prevent the data from being broken into multiple lines. |

## Permissions

### To set the permissions:

1. Select **Restrict access by role** to limit access to the data in this field.

When selected, the Role and Permission list appears.
2. Select either None, View, or Modify for each role.

Note: This property is not available to accounts on the Quickbase Essential plan.

## Reportable

### To use this field in reports:

1. Select **Add this field to all new reports** to display this field as a column when users create but don't customize reports.

When selected, automatically selects **The field may be used in reports** option.
2. Select **The field may be used in reports** to use this field in reports.

If you want the field to be a default column, you must select this option.

## Shared values

### To make entries in this field available as choices in another field:

1. Select **Values from this field may be a source for dropdown lists in other apps**, then select **Add App**.
2. Select an application, then select **OK**.