# Customize Your Setup

Daylite comes with sensible defaults, but every business works a little differently. Now that you've been through the basics, it's a good time to adjust things so Daylite fits how you actually work.

### Change Your General Settings

1. Go to **Daylite** > **Settings** > **General** to adjust the basics:
   1. Change the Appearance and Text Side
   2. Set your **Quick Task Entry Shortcut** — a global keyboard shortcut that lets you capture a Task instantly, even when Daylite isn't in the foreground.

<div align="left"><figure><img src="/files/OnBay4WQmI7kmgs5GQvb" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure></div>

2. Adjust your notification preferences so alerts work the way you want them to.

<figure><img src="/files/XaleSiVAwLEw9IU3Hwjk" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

This is also a good time to explore **Daylite** > **Settings** > **Calendar** to set your work days and display density and **Daylite** > **Settings** > **Mail** to manage your email account preferences.

### Use the Contextual Menu

Right-click on any record in Daylite — a Contact, Task, Opportunity, anything — and you'll see a contextual menu with quick actions: link items, create new related records, add to a Group, and more. It's a faster way to do many of the things you've been learning.

<div align="left"><figure><img src="/files/7wEUPceOsLtGQndxpo7w" alt="" width="349"><figcaption></figcaption></figure></div>

If you don't see an option you want, select **Customize This Contextual Menu** at the bottom to add or remove actions. Tailor it to the things you do most often.

<div align="left"><figure><img src="/files/psl1ND8uxKkyTMNyXy1N" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure></div>

### Set Default Values

If you find yourself choosing the same Category, permission setting, or due date every time you create something, you can save time by setting defaults.

1. Go to **Daylite** > **Settings** > **Default Values**. From here you can set defaults for Tasks, Appointments, Emails, Opportunities, Projects, and more. <br>

   For example:

   1. Automatically set a due date on every new Task so nothing is created without a deadline.
   2. Assign a default Category to new Emails so they're organized the moment they're saved.

<figure><img src="/files/8oaW5UkjythiADROn0I4" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

Start with one or two defaults that match your most common patterns. You can always add more as your workflow becomes clearer.

### Add Custom Fields

Daylite’s built-in fields cover most needs, but if your business tracks a small piece of information that applies to every record of that type, you can add your own Custom Fields.

<figure><img src="/files/jvlggqvUvxqp5tb9xjBz" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

Go to **Daylite > Settings > Custom Fields**. You can rename text and date fields to People, Companies, Opportunities, Projects, Groups, and Products / Services.

Custom Fields work best for details you expect to use consistently across that type of record, such as:

* A client ID on every Company
* A renewal date on every Opportunity
* A region or territory on every Contact
* A contract end date on every Project

{% hint style="info" icon="lightbulb" %}
Use Custom Fields for key details you want to see at a glance. Use Forms when you need a more complete, structured way to collect information.
{% endhint %}

### Use Forms to Capture More Detailed Information

Custom Fields are ideal for key details you want visible on every record at a glance. For structured, situation-specific information — intake questionnaires, discovery notes, project requirements, onboarding checklists — use Forms instead. Forms let you capture that detail only when it's needed, without cluttering every record.

{% embed url="<https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nv9JZRCb8Fk>" %}

**Learn more:** [Mac Fundamentals](https://docs.daylite.app/help/mac-fundamentals/) — the complete reference for Daylite settings and customization.


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