> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.docbits.com/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://docs.docbits.com/administration-and-setup/settings/global-settings/document-types/table-columns/editing-and-deleting-columns.md).

# Editing and deleting columns

Everything except the title is changed directly in the list; there is no edit dialog.

**Where:** Settings → Global Settings → Document Types → Table Columns

## Switching a flag

Tick or untick the checkbox in the row. The change is saved immediately (*Successfully saved*).

| Flag            | On                                                                                                  | Off                                                                          |
| --------------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **Is Required** | Approval is blocked while the column is empty in any row; the validation screen marks the cell.     | Empty cells are allowed.                                                     |
| **Read Only**   | The value is shown but cannot be typed over. Use it for values that come from a lookup or a script. | Users can edit the cell.                                                     |
| **Hidden**      | The column disappears from the validation screen and from the export. Its data is kept.             | The column is shown and exported.                                            |
| **Use AI**      | The AI table extraction fills this column, also for suppliers that have trained rules.              | The column is filled by the trained rules, or by the AI when no rules exist. |

{% hint style="info" %}
Flags take effect on documents uploaded or restarted **after** the change. Open documents keep their current table until they are restarted.
{% endhint %}

## Renaming the title

Click the translate icon in the *Actions* column (*Update translation key*), enter the new label and confirm. The info icon next to it shows which label is currently in effect and where it comes from. Only the label changes; the technical *Column name* stays the same, so scripts, export mappings and trained rules keep working.

## Changing the type or the table

Not possible. Hide the column (or delete it if it is your own) and add a new one with the right type.

## Deleting a column

The delete action is only offered for columns your organization created. Default columns cannot be deleted, hide them.

1. Open the three-dot menu in the *Actions* column and choose **Delete**. The entry is missing for default columns.
2. Confirm.

What happens:

* The column is removed from the configuration. Documents processed **from now on** no longer have it.
* Documents already extracted keep the column and its values until they are restarted.
* Trained rules that mapped this column keep working for the other columns; the mapping for the deleted column is ignored.
* If the column is referenced in an export mapping or a script, remove that reference; otherwise the export or the script fails with a missing-column error.

## Undoing a deletion

A deleted column cannot be restored from the list. Add it again with the same title: the technical name is derived from the title, so a column created with the same title gets the same *Column name* and existing mappings match again.


---

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