[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":334},["ShallowReactive",2],{"/tutorials/when-to-create-new-object-type":3,"/tutorials/when-to-create-new-object-type-surround":324},{"id":4,"title":5,"body":6,"description":315,"extension":316,"links":317,"meta":318,"navigation":319,"path":320,"seo":321,"stem":322,"__hash__":323},"docs/1.tutorials/when-to-create-new-object-type.md","When to create a new object type",{"type":7,"value":8,"toc":298},"minimark",[9,24,28,33,36,55,58,62,69,74,77,81,113,116,120,123,165,168,175,179,189,193,205,209,224,232,236,239,295],[10,11,12,13,18,19,23],"p",{},"Knowing ",[14,15,17],"a",{"href":16},"/tutorials/custom-content-types","how to create object types"," is one thing, but knowing ",[20,21,22],"strong",{},"when"," to create one is another. This guide walks you through a simple framework of three questions that will help you decide whether a new object type is the right call, or whether you can get by with what you already have.",[25,26],"youtube",{"id":27},"GithPGeFcl4",[29,30,32],"h2",{"id":31},"three-questions-to-ask-yourself","Three questions to ask yourself",[10,34,35],{},"Before creating a new object type, work through these questions in order:",[37,38,39,45,50],"ol",{},[40,41,42],"li",{},[20,43,44],{},"Is it a distinct group of notes?",[40,46,47],{},[20,48,49],{},"Does this group have distinct properties?",[40,51,52],{},[20,53,54],{},"Can queries and/or property visibility help instead?",[10,56,57],{},"If you answer \"yes\" to the first two and \"no\" to the third, a new object type is likely the right choice. But the answer is not always clear-cut. Let's look at two examples to see how the framework plays out in practice.",[29,59,61],{"id":60},"example-people-one-type-or-many","Example: People, one type or many?",[10,63,64,65,68],{},"A common question is whether to have a single ",[20,66,67],{},"Person"," object type, or separate types for friends, family, and colleagues. Let's run through the three questions.",[70,71,73],"h3",{"id":72},"_1-is-it-a-distinct-group","1. Is it a distinct group?",[10,75,76],{},"If you are already thinking about splitting people into friends, family, and colleagues, you likely see them as distinct groups. So yes, this passes the first check.",[70,78,80],{"id":79},"_2-does-this-group-have-distinct-properties","2. Does this group have distinct properties?",[10,82,83,84,88,89,92,93,96,97,100,101,104,105,108,109,112],{},"Consider the ",[14,85,87],{"href":86},"/reference/object-properties","properties"," you would want for each group. Colleagues might need fields like ",[20,90,91],{},"organization",", ",[20,94,95],{},"job title",", and ",[20,98,99],{},"work email",". Friends might benefit from a ",[20,102,103],{},"gift ideas"," property. Family members might need ",[20,106,107],{},"birthday"," or ",[20,110,111],{},"relationship"," fields.",[10,114,115],{},"These groups do have somewhat different properties, which could suggest separate object types. But before jumping to that conclusion, move on to question three.",[70,117,119],{"id":118},"_3-can-queries-and-property-visibility-help","3. Can queries and property visibility help?",[10,121,122],{},"In many cases, the answer is yes. Here's how:",[124,125,126,137,143,154],"ul",{},[40,127,128,131,132,136],{},[20,129,130],{},"Property visibility",": You can add all the properties you might need to a single Person type, then use ",[14,133,135],{"href":134},"/reference/object-properties#property-visibility","visibility settings"," to show only the relevant ones. Properties you rarely use stay tucked away until you need them.",[40,138,139,142],{},[20,140,141],{},"Categories",": Add a category property (e.g. \"Friend\", \"Family\", \"Colleague\") to distinguish between groups without needing separate types.",[40,144,145,148,149,153],{},[20,146,147],{},"Queries",": Set up ",[14,150,152],{"href":151},"/reference/queries","queries"," to filter people by category. For example, create a query showing only colleagues in your marketing team, or only friends and family.",[40,155,156,159,160,164],{},[20,157,158],{},"Templates",": Create ",[14,161,163],{"href":162},"/reference/templates","templates"," for each category (e.g. a \"Friend\" template that pre-fills the category). This gives you the speed of distinct types while keeping everything unified.",[10,166,167],{},"A unified Person type also handles real-life overlap gracefully. When a colleague becomes a friend, or a friend joins your company, you don't need to move objects between types. Just update the category.",[169,170,172],"tip",{"title":171},"Start simple",[10,173,174],{},"A single object type with categories, queries, and templates often covers what you need. You can always split it later if the groups truly diverge.",[29,176,178],{"id":177},"example-a-catch-all-notes-type-that-outgrows-itself","Example: A catch-all notes type that outgrows itself",[10,180,181,182,108,185,188],{},"It's common to start with a general-purpose object type like ",[20,183,184],{},"Notes",[20,186,187],{},"Pages"," and use it for everything. Over time, you may notice certain patterns emerging: some notes are clearly about organizations, others about families, and others about projects.",[70,190,192],{"id":191},"when-to-stay-with-one-type","When to stay with one type",[10,194,195,196,108,200,204],{},"If the groups share mostly the same properties and the only real difference is the topic, you likely don't need separate object types yet. Use ",[14,197,199],{"href":198},"/tutorials/collections","collections",[14,201,203],{"href":202},"/tutorials/tags","tags"," to organize them instead.",[70,206,208],{"id":207},"when-to-split","When to split",[10,210,211,212,215,216,219,220,223],{},"If you find yourself wanting properties that only apply to a subset of your notes, for example ",[20,213,214],{},"industry"," and ",[20,217,218],{},"company size"," for organizations, or ",[20,221,222],{},"family members"," as a linked property for families, it may be time to create dedicated object types.",[10,225,226,227,231],{},"When you do split, you can use the ",[14,228,230],{"href":229},"/reference/content-types#type-conversions","type conversion feature"," to move existing objects into their new types without losing content.",[29,233,235],{"id":234},"summary","Summary",[10,237,238],{},"There is no single right answer, and your approach can evolve over time. Here's a quick decision guide:",[240,241,242,258],"table",{},[243,244,245],"thead",{},[246,247,248,252,255],"tr",{},[249,250,251],"th",{},"Question",[249,253,254],{},"Yes",[249,256,257],{},"No",[259,260,261,273,284],"tbody",{},[246,262,263,267,270],{},[264,265,266],"td",{},"Is it a distinct group?",[264,268,269],{},"Continue to question 2",[264,271,272],{},"Stick with your current type",[246,274,275,278,281],{},[264,276,277],{},"Does it have distinct properties?",[264,279,280],{},"Continue to question 3",[264,282,283],{},"Use collections or tags instead",[246,285,286,289,292],{},[264,287,288],{},"Can queries and visibility solve it?",[264,290,291],{},"Keep one type with categories and queries",[264,293,294],{},"Create a new object type",[10,296,297],{},"Remember: you don't need to get it perfect from the start. Capacities is designed to let you restructure as your needs change. Start with fewer types and split them when you have a clear reason to.",{"title":299,"searchDepth":300,"depth":301,"links":302},"",1,2,[303,304,310,314],{"id":31,"depth":301,"text":32},{"id":60,"depth":301,"text":61,"children":305},[306,308,309],{"id":72,"depth":307,"text":73},3,{"id":79,"depth":307,"text":80},{"id":118,"depth":307,"text":119},{"id":177,"depth":301,"text":178,"children":311},[312,313],{"id":191,"depth":307,"text":192},{"id":207,"depth":307,"text":208},{"id":234,"depth":301,"text":235},"Knowing how to create object types is one thing, but knowing when to create one is another. This guide walks you through a simple framework of three questions that will help you decide whether a new object type is the right call, or whether you can get by with what you already have.","md",null,{},true,"/tutorials/when-to-create-new-object-type",{"title":5,"description":315},"1.tutorials/when-to-create-new-object-type","gJrottgpJbpmqyzMFL47Q_Ctmfa24DNNwFIhsHqtP5o",[325,329],{"title":326,"path":327,"stem":328,"children":-1},"Using the Editor","/tutorials/using-the-editor","1.tutorials/using-the-editor",{"title":330,"path":331,"stem":332,"icon":333,"children":-1},"Reference","/reference","2.reference/index","i-ph-book-open",1775810851583]