---
title: Module Wizards (Web Client)
description: "*Web client > Settings > Module wizards (administrators)* A **module** is a type of collection. Data Crow comes with ready-made modules, but your collection may be different: stamps, wine, vinyl, tools, anything. With the module wizards you create a module…"
url: "https://datacrow.org/docs/web-client-module-wizards/"
updated: "2026-11-12"
category: Web Client
---

# Module Wizards (Web Client)

*Web client > Settings > Module wizards (administrators)*

A **module** is a type of collection. Data Crow comes with ready-made modules, but your collection may be different: stamps, wine, vinyl, tools, anything. With the module wizards you create a module of your own, with exactly the fields you need. You do not have to be a programmer: the wizards ask you a few questions and do the rest.

You find the wizards in the settings, in the section **Module wizards**. Only administrators can use them. The server makes a backup before it changes anything and undoes the change if something goes wrong. Modules cannot be removed with the wizards.

# Before you start

A few words which come back in the wizards:

- **Module:** a type of collection, such as Books or Stamps.
- **Item:** one thing in your collection, such as one stamp.
- **Field:** a piece of information about an item, such as the title, the year or the condition.
- **Property module:** a list of values which other modules can use, such as Category, Country or Storage Place. You make a value once and pick it for as many items as you like.
- **Parent and child module:** items of a child module belong to an item of a parent module. A music album is a parent, and its tracks are children.

**Tip:** Take a minute to think about it first. What do you collect? What do you want to know about every item? Which of those things are lists you will use again and again (like Country)? That list of questions is exactly what the wizards ask you.

# The overview of the wizards

You see three buttons: **Create Module Wizard**, **Copy Module Wizard** and **Relate Module Wizard**. Below them is a list of the modules you can change, shown as a tree: a main module with the modules it uses below it. Click the arrow in front of a module to open it, type in the **Filter** field to find a module, and click **Edit** to change a module.

![The overview of the module wizards](https://datacrow.org/wp-content/uploads/mcp-claude-in-chrome-blob-1794426248332-ll6h19.jpg)
The module wizards: three buttons and the list of modules.

# Creating a new module

Click **Create Module Wizard**. The wizard has three steps. The top of the screen tells you where you are, such as *Module Wizard - step 2 of 3*.

## Step 1: the type of module

Choose what kind of module you are making. Click the one you want.

- **Media Module:** a module with predefined fields such as name, rating and description. This is a good choice for most collections: you get the usual fields for free.
- **Other Module:** a module without predefined fields. Choose this when you want to decide every field yourself.
- **Property Module:** a list of values which other modules can use, such as a category, a genre or a storage place.
- **Person Module:** for people or organisations, such as authors, directors or contacts.

![Step 1 of the Create Module Wizard](https://datacrow.org/wp-content/uploads/mcp-claude-in-chrome-blob-1794426294841-nlkyzx.jpg)
Step 1: choose the type of module.

## Step 2: the basics

- **Description:** a few words about the module. Optional.
- **Name:** the name of the module, as people see it in the module menu, such as *Stamps*. Every module needs its own name.
- **Item name:** what one item is called, such as *Stamp*.
- **Item name (plural):** what several items are called, such as *Stamps*.

For a Media Module or an Other Module you can also tick:

- **Items can be assigned to a container.** Adds a container field, for example to say in which box an item is stored.
- **Items represent actual files.** Adds extra file fields to the module, for a collection of files on your computer.
- **Items can be lent to other people.** Switches on lending. Then the module gets the loan features of Data Crow.

Finally you can choose an **Icon**. Click **Select a file** and pick any image on your computer. You see a preview next to the button. If you do not choose one, Data Crow uses its standard icon.

Click **Next**. If something is missing, such as the name, you are told.

![Step 2 of the Create Module Wizard](https://datacrow.org/wp-content/uploads/mcp-claude-in-chrome-blob-1794426306556-7e0h07.jpg)
Step 2: the basics of the module.

## Step 3: the fields

The last step is where you define what you want to know about every item. For a Media Module you first see the **Predefined Fields**. These are there already, you do not have to add them. Below that are the **New Field**, the ones you add.

1. Click **Add Field**.
2. A window called **Defined Field** opens. Type a **Name** for the field, such as *Country of origin*.
3. Choose the **Field Type**: what kind of information goes into the field. See the table below.
4. Set the options (see below).
5. Click **Ok**. The field is added to the list.

Repeat this for every field. In the list you can move a field up or down with the arrows, to change the order in which the fields are shown, change a field with the pencil, or remove it with the trash can.

![Step 3 of the Create Module Wizard](https://datacrow.org/wp-content/uploads/mcp-claude-in-chrome-blob-1794426314492-mc3v24.jpg)
Step 3: the fields of the module. The predefined fields are listed; you add your own below.

![The Defined Field window](https://datacrow.org/wp-content/uploads/mcp-claude-in-chrome-blob-1794426321790-2g6y0n.jpg)
The window in which you define a field.

### Which field type do I choose?

- **Text Field, Single-line:** a short text, such as a name or a code.
- **Text Field, Multi-line:** a longer text, such as a description or your own notes.
- **Number Field:** a whole number, such as a year or an amount.
- **Decimal Field:** a number with decimals, such as a price.
- **Date Field:** a date, such as the day you bought something.
- **Checkbox:** yes or no.
- **Rating Field:** a rating with stars.
- **URL Field:** a link to a website.
- **File Field** and **File Launcher Field:** a file on your computer, which you can open from Data Crow.
- **Reference Field, Dropdown:** choose *one* value from a list, such as the country.
- **Reference Field, Multi-select:** choose *several* values from a list, such as all the genres which apply.

There is no field type for pictures: every item can have pictures already, in its Pictures section.

### The options of a field

- **Referenced Module:** shown for the two reference fields. Choose the list the field gets its values from. This is usually a Property Module, such as Country. Modules you have defined earlier in the same wizard session are in the list too.
- **Maximum text length:** shown for text fields. How many characters can be typed at most.
- **Can be searched?** Tick this if you want to be able to search on this field.
- **Required:** tick this if the field always has to be filled before an item can be saved.
- **Descriptive?** Tick this if the field describes the item. In most cases that is the name or the title of the item. Make sure at least one field has this option.
- **Is key field:** used to check whether an item is unique, so you do not add the same item twice. Tick this for more than one field to check on a combination of values, for example name and year.
- **Item form tab:** the tab of the item form where the field is shown: Summary, Information or Technical Information.

Not every option is shown for every type of field.

## Finishing: Add & New or Send to Server

At the bottom of step 3 you have two buttons:

- **Send to Server:** creates the module, and every module you defined before it (see below). A message tells you that the change has been made.
- **Add & New:** keeps this module, and starts the wizard for another module. Nothing has been created yet. Use this when modules belong together.

The modules which are waiting are shown at the top of the wizard as **Modules to create**. A button next to them removes the last one. **Cancel** throws everything away which has not been sent; Data Crow asks you to confirm. **Back** goes one step back.

### Example: a module for wines with a list of grapes

Wines have a grape (or several), and you want to pick them from a list instead of typing them each time. So you need two modules: the list (a Property Module) and the wine module which uses it.

1. Click **Create Module Wizard** and choose **Property Module**. Name it *Grape*, with the item name *Grape* and the plural *Grapes*. Click **Next** and then **Add & New**.
2. The wizard starts again. Choose **Media Module** and name it *Wine*, with the item names *Wine* and *Wines*. Click **Next**.
3. Add a field *Grape* of the type **Reference Field, Multi-select**, with **Referenced Module** set to Grape. This module is in the list, because you defined it a moment ago.
4. Add the other fields you want, such as *Year* (a Number Field) and *Notes* (a Text Field, Multi-line).
5. Click **Send to Server**. Both modules are created together: either both are made, or none.

Your own web client shows the new modules right away. Other users see them the next time they log in. If a new module does not appear, check whether it is switched on under **Enabled modules**.

# Changing a module you made

The wizards are meant for the modules you created yourself.

1. In the overview, find the module and click **Edit**.
2. In step 1 you can change the description, the options and the icon. The name cannot be changed here.
3. In step 2 you see the fields of the module. Click **Add Field** for a new field, the pencil to change a field, or the trash can to remove one.
4. Click **Save**.

A few things to know:

- Some settings of a field which exists already cannot be changed, such as the module it refers to. A field can only be changed into some other types of field, and not every field can be changed.
- Some fields cannot be removed, because the module needs them.
- **Removing a field removes what was stored in it from all your items.** Data Crow asks you to confirm. The server makes a backup first, but think twice.
- While the server makes the change, nobody else can use Data Crow. It does not take long.

# Copying a module

Want a module which looks a lot like one you already have? Copy it, and change what is different.

1. Click **Copy Module Wizard**.
2. Choose the module you want to use as a template, and click **Next**.
3. The wizard opens with the settings and the fields of that module already filled in. Give the new module its own name and item names, change what you like and add or remove fields.
4. Click **Send to Server**.

# Relating modules: parent and child

Some items belong inside other items. The tracks of a music album belong to the album, and the episodes of a series belong to the series. With **Relate Module Wizard** you connect two modules like that: the items of the child module become the child items of the items of the parent module.

1. Click **Relate Module Wizard**.
2. Choose the **parent module**, the one which contains the items of the other module (the album).
3. Choose the **child module**, the one whose items belong inside (the tracks).
4. A warning shows what is going to happen. Read it carefully.
5. Click **Finish** and confirm.

**Be careful: this cannot be undone.** The modules are changed right away, and the only way back is to restore a backup. Both modules have to exist already.

# Good to know

- Start small. You can add fields to a module later, but removing them removes the information in them.
- Make a backup first if your collection is important to you. See [Administration](https://datacrow.org/docs/web-client-administration/#backup).
- After you have created a module you can still change how the fields work for everybody, such as their labels and which are required, in [Administration](https://datacrow.org/docs/web-client-administration/#field-settings).