How to set up currency and due date fields
Getting currency and due date fields right is what makes a payables workflow calculable. In Jestor, a currency field standardizes the symbol across every record and, unlike text, can actually be summed by formulas and automations.
Why an amount stored as text breaks everything downstream
Typing an amount into a text field looks fine on screen. The problem appears the first time you try to total the installments: the system is adding strings, not numbers, and the sum either fails or returns nonsense.
The same applies to automations. A rule that routes approvals by amount cannot compare text.
What the right field types enable:
- Totals across installments that actually calculate
- Approval routing based on the value
- Formulas that apply interest or discounts
- Charts that aggregate correctly
- Consistent currency display across records
Why currency rather than plain number
| Field type | Can be calculated | Standardizes the symbol |
|---|---|---|
| Text | No | No |
| Number | Yes | No |
| Currency | Yes | Yes, across every record |
Step by step to configure them
- Add a column and search for the currency field type.
- Name it, typically amount or value.
- Select the currency symbol, which then applies to every record in that column.
- Add a date field for the due date of each installment.
- Add a second date if you also track a forecast or competence date.
- Test a formula summing the amounts to confirm the field type works as expected.
How due dates drive the rest of the workflow
Once due dates are structured data rather than text, everything downstream becomes possible: alerts before the deadline, a calendar view of what is coming, automatic status changes when a date passes, and interest calculations on overdue records.
- One symbol per column: no mixed formatting across records
- Calculable by design: formulas and automations read the value
- Per installment dates: each payment tracked on its own timeline
- Basis for alerts: deadlines can trigger notifications
Frequently Asked Questions
Why not just type the amount as text?
Because formulas and automations cannot calculate on text, so totals and routing break. See jestor.com.
What does the currency field add over a number field?
It standardizes the currency symbol across every record in the column.
Can I track more than one date per record?
Yes. A forecast date and a due date can coexist on the same record.
Video Tutorial: Step by Step
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