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Record Page: Tabs

Organize fields and sections into customizable tabs for improved clarity and navigation

Peter Novosel avatar
Written by Peter Novosel
Updated this week

Effortlessly organize complex records and streamline navigation with the new Record Page: Tabs feature. This update empowers users to split record layouts into digestible, logical sections—eliminating excessive scrolling and improving overall usability.


Overview

Managing records with dozens of fields on a single page often leads to navigation fatigue and inefficiencies. Tabs bring clarity and structure to busy record pages:

  • Organize data into focused, tabbed sections directly below the record heading.

  • Only one row of tabs appears per record and applies consistently across all records in a given table.

  • Enables quick and intuitive access to the fields you need—right when you need them.


Key Features

Two Tab Styles to Fit Your Use Case

  • Standard Tab
    Clean and simple: text labels with an underline—following the familiar SmartSuite tab aesthetic.

  • Pipeline Tab
    A visually enhanced style tailored for pipeline workflows (e.g., Opportunity Status), ideal for CRM or sales-driven flows.

Smart Behavior When Enabling Tabs

  • Automatically creates a default tab and migrates your current layout into it.

  • Any existing fields not assigned to a tab ("orphan fields") will automatically appear in the first tab.

One-Click Disable & Merge Back

  • Disable the tabbed interface anytime—SmartSuite intelligently merges all data back into a single-page layout.

  • Maintains the intuitive order of fields as they were originally laid out.

Seamless Compatibility Across Clients

  • Even when tabs are active, a traditional, flat layout is maintained behind the scenes for clients (like mobile apps) that don't yet support tabs.

  • This ensures uninterrupted functionality and user experience across all platforms.


Tab-Based Navigation Logic

Take tab navigation a step further by defining rules that control the default tab when a record is opened.

** Example Use Case:**
When the Status field equals Pending Contact Review, users are taken directly to the Contract Review tab—smoothing workflow transitions and focusing attention where it matters.


How to Use Tabs

Enabling Tabs for a Table

  1. Navigate to the table where you’d like tabs enabled.

  2. Access the layout settings and enable the Tabs option.

  3. Choose between Standard or Pipeline tab styles.

  4. SmartSuite creates a default tab and migrates existing layout content.

  5. Any orphan fields are automatically assigned to the first tab.

Customizing Tabs

  • Add, rename, reorder, or remove tabs to fit your workflow needs.

  • Drag and drop fields between tabs to logically group related data.

  • Use logic-based rules (e.g., based on Status) to control which tab opens first.

Disabling Tabs

  1. Disable the Tabs feature anytime from the layout settings.

  2. The system will merge all fields across tabs back into a unified layout—preserving their original sequence.

  3. No orphaned or missing fields—everything remains accessible via the single-page view.


Suggested Workflows & Use Cases

Scenario

Benefit

Sales CRM

Slice records into tabs like General Info, Contract Review, and Negotiation—with users automatically jumping to the right tab based on status.

HR or Employee Profiles

Use tabs such as Personal Info, Compensation, Performance Reviews—facilitating better navigation of comprehensive records.

Project Tracking

Organize project details into tabs like Summary, Tasks, Budget, and Notes—helping teams focus on one aspect of the project at a time.


Frequently Asked Questions

Will every record in the table show the same tab structure?

Yes—tabs are configured at the table level and apply uniformly across all records.

Can I switch from Pipeline to Standard styles later?

Absolutely. You can switch styles on the fly without losing your layout structure.

What happens to orphan fields when I disable tabs?

They are intelligently merged back into the main layout—no magic formatting or field loss!

Is this backwards-compatible with mobile or legacy clients?

Yes. SmartSuite maintains a traditional layout behind-the-scenes, ensuring seamless compatibility—even if the client doesn’t support tabs.


Best Practices

  • Start Broad, Then Organize
    Enable tabs early, then refine with meaningful names like “General,” “Details,” and “Review.”

  • Leverage Logical Navigation
    Save time by setting rules that open to the appropriate tab based on record status or other key fields.

  • Simplify, Don’t Overcomplicate
    Keep tabs focused—don’t swamp users with too many tabbed sections or duplicative content.

  • Stay Flexible
    Reorder, rename, or turn off tabs as your workflows evolve. SmartSuite’s merge logic keeps your layout tidy and intact.

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