Configure a Custom Length Text Field in Opportunities

Objective

The objective of this article is to show Outreach Admins how to set up a Text Field (Custom Length) mapping on the Opportunity object. Text Field (Custom Length) lets you set the character limit on an Outreach Opportunity field so it matches the CRM field it maps to, so the values your team enters in Outreach are the values your CRM receives.

Applies To

• Opportunity field mapping (CRM sync)
• Deal grid (inline editing)
• Slack integration
• Deal Agent field configuration and output
• Outreach Everywhere (Chrome extension)

Before you begin

You need Admin access in Outreach to create or change field mappings. Text Field (Custom Length) is included in existing plans.

Before you start, have the character limit of the CRM field you are mapping to on hand. You will set the Outreach limit to match it.

Overview

Text Field (Custom Length) is an Outreach field data type with a character limit you control. It defaults to 255 characters, which matches standard Salesforce Text Area fields, but you can change it to any length your CRM field requires.

Length limits are common in CRM schemas. Matching your Outreach field to the same limit keeps the two systems in agreement, so a value that saves in Outreach is the value your CRM receives.

Text Field (Custom Length) adds the following to Opportunity field mapping:

• A configurable character limit. Choose Text Field (Custom Length) in the field type dropdown and set the limit. It starts at 255 and you can change it to match your CRM field.
• A live character counter in the Deal grid. As someone types, they see how many characters they have left, and input stops at the limit.
• Deal Agent output that already fits. Only output lengths compatible with your limit are offered, so generated content fits the field before it reaches your team.
• Clear feedback at save. Elsewhere like within Outreach Extension, a value above the limit is returned with an error at save, so only values that fit reach your CRM.

Use this field type for any Opportunity field that maps to a length-constrained CRM text field. Once it is set up, Deal Agent output is generated to fit, values above the limit are returned for correction, and the mapping syncs cleanly.

How the limit is applied on each surface

The Deal grid and Deal Agent keep content within the limit as you work. On other surfaces, a value above the limit is returned with an error at save so it can be corrected before it reaches your CRM.

If a save is returned with an error, shorten the entry to fit the limit and save again.

What to keep in mind

• Match the limit to your CRM field. Set the Outreach limit to the same length as the CRM field it maps to. Keeping the two aligned means a value that saves in Outreach is accepted by your CRM.
• Existing mappings are not converted automatically. Update each mapping you want enforced, then run a historical data load to backfill existing records from CRM.

Procedure

Field Configuration

• Go to Administration > Records > Opportunities > Field Configuration.
• If a new field is needed click "Add Configuration."
• If an existing field needs to be updated, selected the "Field type" column for the field you want to map.
• You will now see "Text field (Custom Length)" in the field type option set. Select this option.
• Set the maximum length of the text field to match your CRM text field character length. It will default to 255 characters.
• Click Save.
• This updated field will now be available for CRM mapping within Integrations > CRM > Opportunity Object.

Edit the field in the Deal grid

1. Open the Deal grid and find the Opportunity you want to update for this text field.
2. If you own the Deal SKU, you can click the field to edit it inline. A counter shows how many characters remain, for example 200 / 255. Otherwise you may update this from the Edit panel experience.
3. Enter your text. Once you reach the limit, the field stops accepting input.
4. Save the record. The value syncs to the mapped CRM field in full.

Configure Deal Agent output for the field

1. Go to your Deal Agent field configuration settings in Agents & AI > Deal Agent > Opportunity field mapping.
2. Select the field you plan to use in Deal Agent that uses Custom Field (Custom Length). Appearance length options that exceed the configured limit are hidden.
3. Choose an Appearance format from the available options and save.
4. Deal Agent recommendations for that field will now fit the limit. Your team can accept a recommendation in Slack or in-product and it will sync without error.

Additional Information

• For help with a specific mapping, contact Outreach Support at https://support.outreach.io/support/home.