## Overview

ConversaLabs models a standard world: contacts, conversations, companies and deals. But every business also
tracks **its own entities**: a school tracks *Courses* and *Enrollments*; a clinic tracks *Procedures* and
*Insurance plans*; a SaaS tracks *Licenses* and *Projects*; a real-estate agency tracks *Properties* and
*Visits*.

**Custom Objects** let you create those entities **no-code**. You define an **object type** (with a free
name, your own fields and a primary display property), register **records** (the instances) and **associate**
them with contacts and deals. It's the same Custom Objects concept from HubSpot/Mautic, now native to the
platform — one account, one governance model, with no re-keying into external tools.

## Prerequisites

- The **Custom Objects** module is optional and **off by default**. Ask an administrator to enable it for
  the account.
- **Custom object management** permission to create types, fields and records.
- Existing contacts and/or deals to associate the records with.

## Step by step

### Create an object type

1. Confirm with an administrator that the module is enabled.
2. Create an **object type** with a **name** (e.g., "Course") and an **icon**.
3. Add the type's **fields**, choosing each one's format (text, number, currency, date, yes/no, list or
   link).
4. Set the **primary property** — the field used to display the record's name.

### Register and associate records

1. Create a **record** of the type (e.g., "English Course", value 100), filling in the fields.
2. Open a **contact** or a **deal** and use the option to **associate** the record with it.
3. Optionally, set an **association label** (e.g., "student", "guardian").
4. To remove the link, use the **disassociate** option.

## Settings & options

- **Field types**: text, number, currency, date, yes/no (boolean), list and link — the same formats as
  custom attributes, with the same input widgets.
- **Primary property**: defines how the record appears in lists and panels.
- **Associations**: a record can be associated with **contacts** and **deals**, with an optional label and
  association date. Each link is unique per associable.
- **View by type**: opening a contact (or deal) shows associated records **grouped by type**.
- **Segmentation and automation**: you can filter contacts by "associated with type X" and use automation
  conditions/actions and webhooks based on associations.
- **API**: types, records and associations can be managed via the public API, with deduplication by an
  external identifier.

## Use cases

- A school records *Courses* and *Enrollments* and associates them with student contacts.
- A clinic tracks *Procedures* and *Insurance plans* per patient.
- A SaaS tracks *Licenses* and *Projects* per customer, linked to deals.
- A real-estate agency registers *Properties* and *Visits* and associates them with contacts and
  opportunities.

## Tips, limits & best practices

- Start with **few types** and essential fields; expand as needed.
- Choose the **primary property** carefully — it's the record's "name" everywhere in the interface.
- Use **association labels** to differentiate roles (e.g., student vs. guardian).
- In the current version, associations target **contacts** and **deals** (not conversations or companies),
  and there is no record-to-record association nor calculated fields.

## Troubleshooting

- **I don't see the module**: it may be disabled for the account — talk to an administrator.
- **I can't create types or fields**: confirm your custom object management permission.
- **I can't find a record to associate**: check that it was created under the right **type**.
- **Duplicate record via the API**: send a stable **external identifier** so deduplication works.

## See also

- [Custom contact and conversation attributes](/hc/ajuda/articles/contacts-crm-atributos-personalizados-en)
- [CRM: pipelines, kanban and deals](/hc/ajuda/articles/contacts-crm-crm-pipelines-kanban-negocios-en)
- [Orders Registry in the CRM](/hc/ajuda/articles/contacts-crm-crm-orders-registry-en)
- [Contacts and CRM overview](/hc/ajuda/articles/contacts-crm-overview-en)