# Baserow Field Configuration - Sort, Filter, and Hide Fields

> Every field in Baserow carries a dropdown of configuration actions - reordering, deleting, duplicating, hiding, filtering, sorting, and editing its type.

Source: https://opennix.org/en/docs/baserow/fields/field-customization/


Field configuration turns a plain column into a working data tool. This article walks through editing a field's type, sorting and filtering by it, hiding, duplicating, deleting, and reordering fields in a Baserow table.

## Overview

Once a field exists, you can adjust its type, appearance, behavior, and position through the field's own configuration menu. These options let you refine a database's structure as requirements change, without losing data or starting over.

Field configuration works independently per view: hide a field in one view without touching the others, apply a different sort, or build a view-specific filter, all while the underlying data stays the same everywhere. That flexibility is what lets one table serve several teams or workflows through different views.

## The field configuration menu

Every field customization option lives behind the field's dropdown menu.

**To open a field's configuration:**

1. find the field you want to configure;
2. click the **dropdown arrow** next to its name;
3. pick the option you need from the menu.

Available options vary by field type - a computed field like a formula exposes different settings than a manual-entry field like text or number.

> **Primary field limits:** the [primary field](/docs/baserow/fields/primary-field/) has a restricted configuration menu. You cannot delete it, hide it, or insert a field to its left, though you can still edit its type and other properties.

## Field configuration options at a glance

| Configuration | Purpose | Affects data | Affects views |
|---|---|---|---|
| **Edit field** | Change the type, name, or settings | May transform data | All views |
| **Insert** | Add a new field next to the current one | No | All views |
| **Duplicate** | Create a copy of the field | No (unless copying data) | All views |
| **Filter** | Show or hide rows by a criterion | No | Current view only |
| **Sort** | Arrange rows by the field's value | No | Current view only |
| **Hide** | Remove the field from the view | No | Current view only |
| **Delete** | Remove the field permanently | Yes, deletes data | All views |
| **Group** | Organize rows into sections | No | Current view only |
| **Reorder** | Change the field's position | No | Current view only |

## Core field operations

### How to edit a field

Change a field's type, name, or type-specific settings after it already exists.

**To edit a field:**

1. click the **dropdown arrow** next to the field's name;
2. select **Edit field** from the menu;
3. make the changes you need;
4. click **Save** to apply them.

![Editing field properties in Baserow](/images/baserow/fields/baserow-edit-field-properties.webp)

### Changing field types

When converting between field types, Baserow tries to preserve data by transforming values into the new type. Understanding how a conversion behaves helps you avoid losing anything.

> **Recovery tip:** press `Ctrl/Cmd + Z` right after a conversion to undo it and restore the original data if values were lost.

### Inserting a new field

Add a field to the left or right of an existing one for precise positioning. See [Create a Field](/docs/baserow/fields/adding-a-field/) for the full insertion steps.

### Duplicating a field

Create a copy of a field with an identical configuration, optionally including its data. See [Create a Field](/docs/baserow/fields/adding-a-field/) for the detailed duplication steps.

### Creating a filter from a field

Quick-create a [filter](/docs/baserow/views/filters-in-baserow/) straight from the field menu instead of opening the filter panel and picking the field manually.

**To create a field-based filter:**

1. click the **dropdown arrow** next to the field's name;
2. select **Create filter**;
3. the filter panel opens with that field already selected;
4. choose an operator and value to finish the filter.

![Creating a filter from the field menu](/images/baserow/fields/baserow-create-filter-from-field.webp)

### Sorting by a field

Arrange rows by a field's values to make the data easier to analyze or present.

**To sort by a field:**

1. click the **dropdown arrow** next to the field's name;
2. select **Sort ascending** or **Sort descending**;
3. the rows reorganize immediately.

You can chain multiple sorts - by department first, then by priority within each department, for example - and reorder those conditions by dragging them in the sort panel.

#### Sorting behavior by field type

| Field type | Ascending order | Descending order | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| **Text fields** | A → Z | Z → A | Alphabetical |
| **Number fields** | 1 → 9 (smallest first) | 9 → 1 (largest first) | Numeric |
| **Date fields** | Oldest → newest | Newest → oldest | Chronological |
| **Boolean fields** | ☐ → ☑ (unchecked first) | ☑ → ☐ (checked first) | Binary |
| **Single select** | A → Z or option order | Z → A or reverse order | Can follow creation order |
| **Rating fields** | 1 → 5 (lowest first) | 5 → 1 (highest first) | Numeric |
| **Lookup fields** | Based on the looked-up value's type | Based on the looked-up value's type | Sorts by the linked data |

> **Unsortable fields:** [file fields](/docs/baserow/field-types/file-field/) cannot be sorted directly.

**Empty values:** sorting ascending typically pushes empty cells to the top of the table.

### How to hide fields

Remove a field from a view without deleting its data - useful for a focused view aimed at one task or one audience.

#### Hiding from the field header menu

**To hide a field:**

1. click the **dropdown arrow** next to the field's name;
2. select **Hide field**;
3. it disappears from the current view.

#### Hiding from the bulk-hide menu

**To hide several fields at once:**

1. click **Hide fields** in the view toolbar;
2. toggle visibility for several fields at the same time;
3. click outside the menu to apply the change.

#### Hiding from the row detail panel

Hide fields inside the [row detail panel](/docs/baserow/rows/navigating-row-configurations/) for a more focused editing view:

1. open a row's detail panel;
2. click the **options menu** beside a field;
3. select **Hide field**.

> **Primary field exception:** the [primary field](/docs/baserow/fields/primary-field/) can never be hidden - it always stays visible as the row's identifier.

### How to delete a field

Remove a field and all of its data from the table. Deleted fields move to the trash with a recovery window.

**To delete a field:**

1. click the **dropdown arrow** next to the field's name;
2. select **Delete field**;
3. confirm the deletion in the dialog.

![Deleting a field in Baserow](/images/baserow/fields/baserow-field-configuration-menu.jpg)

> **Primary field exception:** the [primary field](/docs/baserow/fields/primary-field/) cannot be deleted, though you can change its type or designate a different field as primary.

## Additional field operations

### Adjusting field width

Change a column's width in grid view for better readability. Freezing a field locks its column to the left of the screen so it stays visible while you scroll horizontally.

### How to reorder fields

Change field positions to group logically related fields together.

**Drag-and-drop reordering:**

1. click and hold a **field header** in grid view;
2. drag it left or right to the position you want;
3. release to drop it in place.

![Reordering fields by dragging](/images/baserow/fields/baserow-reorder-fields-drag.webp)

**Reordering in the row detail panel:**

You can also reorder fields from the [row detail panel](/docs/baserow/rows/navigating-row-configurations/) by dragging them up or down in the vertical field list.

![Reordering fields in the expanded row view](/images/baserow/fields/baserow-reorder-fields-row-detail.webp)

**Use case:** group all contact fields together (name, email, phone), followed by address fields (street, city, state, zip) for a logical data-entry flow.

### How to group by a field

Organize rows into collapsible sections by a field's values for categorical analysis. Grouping only works in grid view and builds a hierarchical structure - add several group levels for nested categorization. Learn more about grouping strategies in [Group Rows](/docs/baserow/views/group-rows-in-baserow/).

**To group by a field:**

1. click the **dropdown arrow** next to the field's name;
2. select **Group by this field**;
3. rows organize into sections by their unique field values.

![Grouping rows by a field](/images/baserow/fields/baserow-group-rows-by-field.png)

## Frequently asked questions

**Can I undo a field configuration change?** Yes, press `Ctrl/Cmd + Z` right after a change to undo an edit, a deletion, or a type conversion. Recover a deleted field from the trash within its grace period. Changes like hiding, sorting, or filtering can also be reversed through their own menus.

**Do field configuration changes affect other views?** Some changes apply everywhere (editing the type, deleting the field, renaming it), while others are view-specific (sort, filter, group, hide, reorder). That design is what lets you build specialized views from one table without disturbing the others.

**Can I configure several fields at once?** Bulk operations are limited. You can show or hide several fields at once through the bulk-hide menu, but editing, sorting, or deleting still requires acting on one field at a time.

**What happens to the data when I change a field's type?** Baserow tries to convert the data to the new type. Compatible conversions preserve everything (text to long text, for example), while incompatible ones can lose data (text to number drops any letters). Test conversions on a duplicated table first, or undo immediately with `Ctrl/Cmd + Z`.

**Can I configure computed fields like formulas or lookups?** Yes - computed fields have their own configuration options. Formula fields let you edit the calculation, lookup fields let you change the looked-up field, and automatic fields like created-on have minimal settings since they generate their own values.

**How do I know which views use a particular field configuration?** Sorts, filters, and grouping only apply to the current view, so you'll need to open each view to see its own configuration. Editing a field's type or name, on the other hand, affects every view and shows up everywhere immediately.

## What's next

With field configuration covered, read [Working with Timezones](/docs/baserow/fields/working-with-timezones/) to understand how date and time fields behave, or revisit the [field type overview](/docs/baserow/fields/baserow-field-overview/) to pick the right type for a new column.