Summary
Custom fields (also called custom columns) let you attach your own data to prospects — anything Alta doesn't track out of the box, like a product tier, renewal date, or region — and then use that data everywhere: as columns in your audience lists, as variables inside touchpoint prompts, and in campaign conditions.
Who this is for: Anyone importing prospects with extra data (CSV, CRM, or webhook) who wants Alta's AI to actually use that data in outreach.
Before you start
Custom fields get their values from your audience source. They can only be filled in campaigns that use a file upload (CSV), CRM list, or webhook audience — or by an AI Custom Enrichment that writes into the field.
If your campaign pulls its audience from another source (like ICP search), custom fields won't have values there unless an AI enrichment fills them.
Creating a custom field
You can create a custom field from several places. The dialog is the same everywhere.
From CSV column mapping
In the campaign audience step, upload your CSV and continue to the column-mapping step.
When choosing which Alta field a CSV column maps to, click Add column to create a new field on the spot.
In the dialog, enter a Name and pick a Type: Text, Number, or True/False.
Click Save. You'll see "The field was successfully created" and the new field is selected as the mapping target for that column.
The same Add column option appears when mapping a CRM list audience or defining a webhook audience payload.
From the Add columns panel
When uploading prospects from a CSV, open the Add columns panel (the + button next to the column headers). You can search columns, toggle All columns, or click Create custom column at the bottom to open the same Name + Type dialog.
From an AI Custom Enrichment
When you configure an AI Custom Enrichment, each output field you define is backed by a custom field — the enrichment fills it automatically for every prospect. See the enrichment article linked below.
Using custom fields
As variables in prompts. In any touchpoint prompt or message editor, open the variables menu. Your fields appear under Custom Columns (fields you map from your audience) and AI Enrichments (fields filled by an enrichment — hover to preview the enrichment prompt, or click Edit to change it). Insert one and the AI uses each prospect's actual value.
In conditions. Custom fields are available when building AI conditions and custom conditions in your touchpoint flow — for example, branch on
tier = Enterprise.As table columns. Add your custom fields as columns in audience lists via Edit columns, and see their values on each prospect's details panel.
Tips and common pitfalls
Map the field, or the variable won't resolve. If you insert a custom field variable in a prompt but haven't mapped it in the audience step, Alta flags it: "This field is not mapped in the audience. Please map it in the audience step to use it."
Watch the campaign type. Using a custom field variable in a campaign whose audience isn't file, CRM, or webhook shows: "This field is not available in these campaign types. It can only be used with file upload, CRM list, or webhook audiences." AI enrichment fields are the exception — they work in any campaign.
Name and Type are both required. The Save button won't submit without them ("Name is required" / "Type is required").
You can rename a field later, but not change its type. Pick Text, Number, or True/False carefully up front. If you picked the wrong type, create a new field and re-map your column.
Keep values clean in your source data. A Number field with text in the CSV column, or a True/False field with values other than true/false, leads to messy personalization. Clean the column before uploading.