Customize Attribute Dropdowns for RFIS

Project teams often need RFI dropdown menus to match their contract terms, spec sections, and reasons for raising RFIs. RFI attributes control these choices. You can add, rename, reorder, and delete values, and set an optional default, so everyone on the project selects from the same list.

For example, a project admin adds Design conflict to the Reasons attribute. The next time a project member logs an RFI, Design conflict is available in the Reasons dropdown menu of the Log RFI modal. After the RFI is logged, Design conflict appears in the Reasons field of the RFI side panel.

How RFI Attributes Appear in Dropdown Menus

Each RFI attribute supplies the values for one or more dropdown menus in the RFIs activity center, from logging an RFI to responding to it, closing it, and editing it in the side panel.

Attribute group	Attribute name	Dropdown menu name	Where it appears
Actions	Official response	Action	Submit official response modal
Actions	Review response	Action	Submit response modal
Actions	Close	Action	Close RFI modal
Purposes	Create/Log/Received	Purpose	Log RFI modal
Purposes	Forward	Purpose	Forward for review modal
Purposes	Reopen	Purpose	Reopen RFI modal
Types	Types	Type	Log RFI modal and side panel
Spec section	Spec section	Spec section	Log RFI modal and side panel
Reasons	Reasons	Reasons	Log RFI modal and side panel
Keywords	Keywords	Keywords	Log RFI modal and side panel

The number of values in an RFI attribute, and whether a default is set, change what you see in the matching dropdown menu:

• Several values with a default: The default is preselected. You can select another value.
• Several values with no default: You select a value from the list.
• One value: The Action and Purpose dropdown menus are hidden, and the sole value is applied automatically. For example, if the Close attribute has only one value, Answered, the Action dropdown menu doesn’t appear in the Close RFI modal. Every RFI you close records Answered as its action. Conversely, dropdown menus in the Log RFI modal always stay visible, even with one value.

The value selected or applied in a modal is recorded on the Details tab and the Workflows tab of the RFI’s side panel.

Open RFI Attributes

RFI attributes are managed in Settings, and only project admins can open them.

To open RFI attributes:

1. Open the RFIs activity center.
2. Select Settings.

The Attributes tab opens by default and lists the RFI attributes under Actions, Purposes, and the remaining standalone attributes.

Add a Value to an RFI Attribute

Adding a value to an RFI attribute makes it selectable in the matching dropdown menu.

To add a value to an RFI attribute:

1. In the RFIs activity center, select Settings.
2. On the Attributes tab, find the attribute you want to change, such as Reasons.
3. Select Add.
4. In the modal that appears, enter the value and select Add.
5. On the Attributes tab, select Save.

The value is added to the attribute and appears in the matching dropdown menu the next time you or another project member use it.

For example, if you add Design conflict to the Reasons attribute, Design conflict becomes selectable in the Reasons dropdown menu of the Log RFI modal and in the Reasons field of the RFI side panel.

Rename an RFI Attribute Value

Renaming an RFI attribute value changes how the value appears in the matching dropdown menu.

To rename an RFI attribute value:

1. In the RFIs activity center, select RFIs settings.
2. On the Attributes tab, find the attribute that contains the value.
3. Select the value and enter the new name.
4. On the Attributes tab, select Save.

The renamed value appears in the matching dropdown menu for future selections.

Reorder RFI Attribute Values

The order of values in an RFI attribute sets the order they appear in the matching dropdown menu.

To reorder RFI attribute values:

1. In the RFIs activity center, select RFIs settings.
2. On the Attributes tab, find the attribute you want to reorder.
3. Move the values into the order you want.
4. On the Attributes tab, select Save.

The matching dropdown menu lists the values in the new order.

Set a Default Value for an RFI Attribute

A default value for an RFI attribute is preselected in the matching dropdown menu. Setting a default is optional.

To set a default value for an RFI attribute:

1. In the RFIs activity center, select RFIs settings.
2. On the Attributes tab, find the attribute.
3. Mark the value you want as the default.
4. On the Attributes tab, select Save.

The default value is preselected in the matching dropdown menu. You and other project members can still select another value.

You cannot set default values for the Reasons and Keywords attributes.

Delete an RFI Attribute Value

Deleting an RFI attribute value removes it from the matching dropdown menu for future selections.

To delete an RFI attribute value:

1. In the RFIs activity center, select RFIs settings.
2. On the Attributes tab, find the attribute that contains the value.
3. Select Delete next to the value.
4. On the Attributes tab, select Save.

The value no longer appears in the matching dropdown menu. RFIs that already use the value keep it until someone edits the field, and the RFI’s History tab still shows it.

Every RFI attribute must keep at least one value, so you can’t delete the last remaining value.

If deleting a value leaves the attribute with one value, the matching Action or Purpose dropdown menu is hidden and that value is applied automatically. The Reasons and Keywords dropdown menus stay visible in the Log RFI modal.

Related Items

• Customize Attribute Dropdowns for Submittals