Managing device fields

Device fields are data fields that you can use to store information about your organization or your devices. There are two types of fields:

  • Fixed Device Fields: predefined data fields included by default in each Absolute account

    Fixed device field labels are not editable and the fields can't be deleted. The following fields are available:

    • Asset Number
    • Assigned User E-mail
    • Assigned Username
    • Cost Center/Code
    • Department
    • Device Purchase Date
    • Dormant
    • Geofence Violation Reason1
    • Has Service Guarantee
    • Lease End Date
    • Lease Number
    • Lease Responsibility
    • Lease Start Date
    • Lease Vendor
    • Physical/Actual Location
    • Purchase Order Ref
    • Service Contract End Date
    • Service Contract Start Date
    • Service Contract Vendor
    • User Phone/Extension
    • Warranty Contract Vendor
    • Warranty End Date
    • Warranty Start Date

    Some of these optional fields may not be applicable to your organization.

  • Custom Device Fields: data fields that are unique to your organization

    You can create up to 20 custom device fields in which users can enter either text, a date, or a selection from a drop-down list of options.

Fixed and custom device fields show on a device's Custom Fields page. You can also add these fields to reports.

If you want to store information in the Secure Endpoint Console that is relevant to your organization but not covered by one of the fixed device fields, you can create a custom device field.

To create a new custom device field:

  1. Log in to the Secure Endpoint Console as a user with Manage permissions for Device Fields Definition.
  2. On the navigation bar, click Settings > Custom fields > Manage device fields.
  3. Click Create Custom Device Field.
  4. On the Create Custom Device Field dialog, in the Field Label field, enter a label for the new field.

  5. Select the appropriate Field Type option from the following possible values:

    • Text: accepts plain text up to 250 characters in length

      The following characters are not supported: <, >, ", and '.

    • Date: accepts date values in the format mm/dd/yyyy
    • Drop-down list: accepts values specified from a provided list
  6. If you selected Drop-down list in the previous step, the page refreshes to show the Drop-down List Values field. In the field, enter the values that you want to show in the drop-down list for the field. Separate each value with a comma.
  7. Click Save.
  8. Click Close. The new field shows in the Custom Device Fields area.

You can now add data to the field for one or more of your devices.

You can use the Department fixed device field to associate departments with your devices. Edit this drop-down field to add the list of departments that you want to make available.

To edit the Department fixed device field:

  1. Log in to the Secure Endpoint Console as a user with Manage permissions for Device Fields Definition.
  2. On the navigation bar, click Settings > Custom fields > Manage device fields.
  3. Next to Department, click Edit to open the Edit Fixed Device Field dialog.

  4. In the Drop-Down List Values text box, update the list of departments by adding or removing values. Ensure that values are separated by a comma.

    Any department names that exceed 50 characters in length are truncated.

  5. Click Save.
  6. Click Close.

You can change the label of a custom device field. Also, if the field contains a drop-down list of options, you can edit the list of options.

To edit a custom device field:

  1. Log in to the Secure Endpoint Console as a user with Manage permissions for Device Fields Definition.
  2. On the navigation bar, click Settings > Custom fields > Manage device fields.
  3. Scroll to the Custom Device Fields area.
  4. Next to the field you want to edit, click Edit to open the Edit Custom Device Field dialog.

  5. Do one or more of the following, depending on what you want to edit:

    • In the Field Label field, enter a new label for the field.

    • If the Drop-Down List Values text box shows, update the list of options by adding or removing values. Ensure that values are separated by a comma.

      You can't edit the Field Type of a custom device field. If you want to change the field type, delete the field and create a new one.

  6. Click Save.
  7. Click Close.

You can delete a custom device field that contains data that you no longer require.

Deleting a custom device field deletes all data associated with the field for each device. If it was being used to filter a report or smart group, the filter is removed.

Note that if you delete a custom device field that is used by an Action rule:

  • Your user role needs to be granted the Manage permission for Rules.
  • The rule is deactivated, and a Rule updated event is logged to Event History.
  • In the Policies > Rules area, the rule shows a icon to indicate that an item used by the rule has been deleted or disabled. Edit the rule and remove or replace the item.

To delete a custom device field:

  1. Log in to the Secure Endpoint Console as a user with the Manage permission for Device Fields Definition. Note that if the custom device field is used by an Action rule, you will also need the Manage permission for Rules.
  2. On the navigation bar, click Settings > Custom fields > Manage device fields.
  3. Scroll to the Custom Device Fields area.
  4. Next to the Custom Device Field you want to delete, click Edit to open the Edit Custom Device Field dialog.
  5. Click Delete.
  6. On the Delete Custom Field dialog, click Delete.
  7. Click Close.

The Custom Device Field is removed from the Custom Device Fields area and each device's Custom Fields page. If any user-defined reports A report created using the Save As report option to save your report customizations to a new report. User-defined reports show in My Reports view of the Reports page. Also see "predefined report". or smart groups use this field in its filters, you'll need to update the item's filters to remove the Custom Device field filter that is now invalid.