NetSuite’s true power lies in its flexibility, and SuiteBuilder is one of the platform’s core tools that enables this flexibility. Whether you’re tailoring entry forms for your sales team, creating custom fields for tracking unique data, or building entirely new record types, SuiteBuilder customization allows you to personalize NetSuite to meet your exact business needs – without writing code.
This article provides a practical, step-by-step guide on how to use SuiteBuilder to create and manage custom forms, fields, and records within NetSuite.
What is SuiteBuilder?
SuiteBuilder is NetSuite’s point-and-click configuration tool that allows administrators to modify the NetSuite user interface and data model. It’s the foundation for no-code customization in NetSuite, giving users the ability to:
- Add custom fields
- Create custom record types
- Modify and create entry forms
- Personalize sublists, tabs, and layouts
- Control visibility by role, department, or subsidiary
Unlike SuiteScript or SuiteFlow, SuiteBuilder customization is ideal for system admins and business analysts who want to make impactful changes without coding.
Benefits of SuiteBuilder Customization
- No coding required: Anyone with admin access can use SuiteBuilder
- Improves user experience: Tailor forms and fields to fit how your teams work
- Ensures data accuracy: Only show relevant fields, enforce mandatory entry
- Extends data model: Add custom records or fields for tracking business-specific information
- Saves time and cost: Reduce reliance on developers for UI-level changes
Custom Fields: Capturing What Matters Most
What Are Custom Fields?
Custom fields let you extend existing NetSuite records (e.g., Customer, Sales Order, Vendor Bill) with your own data points.
Common Field Types:
- Free-Form Text: For short answers or IDs
- Dropdown List (List/Record): Pulls from a custom or standard list
- Checkbox: Simple true/false
- Date / DateTime: For scheduling or deadlines
- Currency / Decimal Number: Useful for financial or calculated values
- Formula Field: Calculates a value based on other fields
How to Create a Custom Field:
1. Navigate to:
Customization > Lists, Records, & Fields > [Record Type] Fields > New
2. Define Properties:
- Field Label
- Field Type
- ID (auto-generates or customizes)
- Store Value (checked if you want to store the result in the database)
3. Set Display Options:
- Subtab location
- Field group (organizes related fields)
- Display type (normal, hidden, inline, etc.)
4. Set Access Permissions:
- Limit visibility by role, department, subsidiary, or conditionally
5. Save and Test:
- Add the field to a custom form if needed
- Test by creating or editing a record to ensure it displays and works as expected
Tip: Use field IDs in SuiteScript or SuiteFlow when referencing your custom fields in automation logic.
Custom Forms: Tailor the Interface to Your Process
Why Use Custom Forms?
Not all users need to see the same fields or layout. Custom forms allow you to show the right information to the right people in a clean and relevant layout.
Types of Forms:
- Entry Forms: Used when creating/editing records (e.g., Sales Order Form)
- Transaction Forms: For sales, purchases, returns, etc.
- Entity Forms: For Customers, Vendors, Employees, etc.
How to Create a Custom Form:
1. Navigate to:
Customization > Forms > [Form Type] > New (or Edit an Existing One)
2. Set Form Properties:
- Name of the form
- Assign to specific roles or departments
- Enable/disable features (e.g., allow printing, hide sublists)
3. Customize Layout:
- Move fields between subtabs
- Reorder fields within field groups
- Make fields mandatory or read-only
- Hide unnecessary tabs or sections
4. Assign the Form to Roles or Users:
- Use role restrictions to show custom forms only to specific teams (e.g., Sales, Finance)
5. Save and Test:
- Ensure the form loads as expected and improves usability
Best Practice: Always clone a standard form before customizing to preserve a clean baseline.
Custom Record Types: Tracking Unique Business Data
What Are Custom Records?
Custom record types allow you to create entirely new objects in NetSuite, complete with their own fields, forms, lists, and permissions. They’re ideal when existing records don’t fit your business model.
Examples of Use:
- Asset management (e.g., Equipment Log)
- Project milestones
- Licensing and certifications
- Maintenance requests
- Vendor agreements
How to Create a Custom Record:
1. Navigate to:
Customization > Lists, Records, & Fields > Record Types > New
2. Set Basic Properties:
- Name and ID
- Description
- Allow Attachments, Notes, and Permissions
- Make Available for Search or Reporting
3. Add Fields to the Record:
- After creating the record, you can add fields just like on standard records
4. Create Entry Forms (Optional):
- Go to the Forms tab within the record type
- Customize form layout and visibility
5. Manage Permissions:
- Control access via roles, departments, or record-level permissions
6. Deploy and Test:
- Create sample records
- Check searchability and reporting functionality
Tip: Custom records can also be used in SuiteFlow and SuiteScript for advanced automation.
SuiteBuilder Customization in Practice: A Use Case
Scenario:
Your company wants to track “Customer Onboarding Status” with the following fields:
- Onboarding Stage (dropdown)
- Assigned Onboarding Manager (employee list)
- Date Started
- Date Completed
- Onboarding Notes
Step-by-Step:
- Create a Custom Field Group named “Onboarding Info.”
- Add custom fields to the Customer record for each data point.
- Modify the Customer Entry Form to:
- Add a new subtab: “Onboarding”
- Place all onboarding fields under this tab
- Add a new subtab: “Onboarding”
- Use field display rules to show onboarding fields only when the “Customer Type” is “New”
- Save and test by creating a new customer
With this SuiteBuilder customization, your customer success team can now manage onboarding directly within NetSuite—no external spreadsheets needed.
Best Practices for SuiteBuilder Customization
- Always use a sandbox to test changes before deploying to production
- Use naming conventions for custom fields (e.g., custentity_onboarding_stage)
- Leverage form roles and restrictions to tailor the experience for each team
- Document your customizations for easier maintenance and future changes
- Avoid clutter: Only add fields and tabs when necessary to keep the UI clean
Final Thoughts
SuiteBuilder customization empowers NetSuite administrators and business users to shape the platform to fit their workflows, without writing a line of code. By mastering how to create and manage custom forms, fields, and records, you can greatly improve user experience, increase data accuracy, and drive process efficiency.
Whether you’re customizing a Sales Order form, creating a custom record to manage assets, or adding strategic data points to customers and vendors, SuiteBuilder is your go-to tool for fast, reliable, and scalable configuration inside NetSuite.