Plan Availability | All plan types |
Permissions | Solution Managers and Administrators: Manage page layout settings. |
Related Reading |
Understanding Record Page Layouts in SmartSuite
Page layouts define how information is presented on a record’s detail page. The placement of fields, organization of sections, and choice of layout directly influence how easily users can navigate and interact with data.
SmartSuite now provides a consistent, unified experience across all layout types — ensuring your field organization stays intact, no matter which layout you choose.
Unified Layout Experience
SmartSuite has introduced a major improvement to how record page layouts behave.
All layout types — One Column, 50/50, and 70/30 — now share the same set of Sections, delivering a consistent and predictable experience when designing record pages.
Key Highlights
Unified Section Structure:
All layouts now share a single, unified set of Sections. Switching between layouts no longer duplicates or rearranges content.Simplified 70/30 Layout:
The 70/30 layout no longer maintains its own separate Section set. It now behaves consistently with the One Column and 50/50 layouts.No Field Restrictions:
Any field type can now be placed in the 70 column. The previous limitation requiring “wide” field types for the larger column has been removed.Preserved Field Order:
When switching layouts, SmartSuite automatically preserves field order and placement across all configurations.Adaptive Conditional Settings:
Conditional Tabs and Sections now automatically adapt to the unified Section structure — no additional setup required.
This update simplifies record design for Solution Managers and ensures layout changes never affect your field organization.
How It Works
When changing layouts, SmartSuite automatically reconfigures how Sections appear:
Switching to 70/30 Layout:
All existing Sections appear in the 70% column by default, leaving the 30% column available for optional customization.Switching from 70/30 Layout:
Sections previously in the smaller (30%) column are displayed first, followed by those from the larger (70%) column — maintaining a logical reading order.Flexible Columns:
The 70% column now behaves as a fully flexible space — any field type can be placed there without restriction.
This consistent behavior ensures your record pages look and function predictably across all layout types.
Setting the Page Layout
You can change the record page layout in Page Settings:
Open any record (Solution Managers and Admins only).
Click the “...” menu in the top-right corner.
Select Page Settings → Page Layout.
Choose from:
Single Column – Ideal for lightweight tables with a few fields.
Two Column 50/50 – Default option; great for balanced, data-rich records.
Two Column 70/30 – Best for tables containing many large field types (e.g., Text Area, SmartDoc, Files & Images, Sub Items).
When to Use Each Layout
Layout | Description | Best For |
Single Column | Displays all fields in a single vertical column. | “Quick hit” tables or simple data capture (e.g., Sales CRM Lite interactions). |
Two Column 50/50 | Splits the record into two equal columns for versatile organization. | General-purpose tables with mixed field types. |
Two Column 70/30 | Provides more space for content-heavy fields. | Use when you have many Text Area, Linked Record, Checklist, or Sub Items fields (e.g., HR Handbook Solution). |
Why It Matters
This enhancement improves layout consistency and usability while reducing setup time for Solution Managers.
You can now confidently switch between layouts knowing that:
Sections remain consistent.
Field placement is preserved.
All layouts behave uniformly.
It also prepares SmartSuite for future capabilities, including conditional and dynamic permissions and advanced layout controls.
Note: SmartSuite determines which fields display in the 70 column and which are displayed in the 30% portion of the 70/30 view. Shorter, single-column field types such as Date, Status, Single Select fields display on the right, while the Text Area, Checklist, Files & Images, Sub Items and SmartDoc fields are presented in the larger 70% column to the left.
Application of Page Layout
The layout you choose is applied at the Table level.
The edit record interface and layout settings apply to all records in the table, regardless of the View they are accessed from.
SmartSuite automatically arranges fields when switching between page layout options.
Fields can be organized using drag & drop to adapt to your use case or individual preferences.
Page layout use cases
1. Two Column 50/50 Default
The Two Column 50/50 layout is the default for new tables. It’s best for general tables with a mix of field types.
2. Use Two Column 70/30 for “Heavy” Field Types
We like using the 70/30 split for tables with numerous Text Area, SmartDoc, Checklist, Linked Record (Expanded Display enabled) and Sub Items field types. These particular fields span two columns by default in 50/50 view for good reason – that’s how they’re best displayed.
Switching to 70/30 displays all current Sections in the 70 column, leaving the 30 column empty for optional customization.
Switching from 70/30 reorders Sections so those from the 30 column appear first, followed by those from the 70 column.
The 70 column now behaves as a single, flexible column — any field can be placed there without restriction.
Conditional Tabs and Sections automatically adapt to the unified Section structure across layouts.
All layouts now behave consistently, simplifying record page design and reducing setup time for Solution Managers.
This update improves layout consistency, simplifies page design, and prepares SmartSuite for future enhancements like conditional and dynamic permissions.
The HR Handbook solution is available in the Solution Library and largely contains policies, procedures and content related to HR processes. It’s a great example of when to use 70/30 view.
3. Single Column for “Quick Hit" Tables
For example, our Sales CRM Lite solution available in the Solution Library utilizes the Single Column. It includes Interaction records designed to capture casual and formal actions that may generate leads or sales opportunities.