# ACF starter guide This guide follows the typical process you'll use when working in Accentaute Custom Fields (ACF). Whether you're adding extra product information, customizing content for collections or building structured Metaobjects, here’s how to get started. The tabs under the **App features** section on the **app's dashboard** follow the typical process of creating a Metafield or Metaobject in Accentuate. {% embed url="" %} Steps we’ll cover: 1. **Create your first Metafield or Metaobject definition** 2. **Add data to your Metafield or Metaobject** 3. **Display it on your storefront** {% hint style="success" %} If you’re new to Metafields and Metaobjects, we recommend reading these first: * [Welcome to Accentuate](https://help.accentuate.io/) * [What are Metafields?](/introduction/what-are-metafields.md) * [What are Metaobjects?](/introduction/what-are-metaobjects.md) {% endhint %} Let’s get started. ## Step 1: Create a definition (Templates tab) Go to the **Templates tab** under **App features**. Here, you define **what type of data** you want to store and **how it will be organized**. Think of this step as getting an empty box, labeling it and deciding what will go inside. At this stage, **you are not adding any content yet**. This box is called a Metafield or Metaobject **definition**. Depending on your goal, you’ll create either a Metafield or a Metaobject template. This is the first and most important step before anything can appear on your storefront. By setting up a definition, you're giving Accentuate the instructions it needs to handle your data. ### Instructions for Metafields 1. Go to the **Templates** tab in the **App features** section. 2. Choose **where** you want to apply it by selecting a [**scope**](https://help.accentuate.io/metafield-definitions/scope) (for example, Product)
3. Click **Add new field** and configure: 1. **Label & Name / Key** - internal identifiers you’ll see inside the app to help you stay organized (Shirt material) 2. **Filed applies to** - lets you choose which types of products the Metafield should apply to (You configure this on the product page under **Product organization → Type**)
c. **Field data type** - choose what type of data you want to store (text, image, URL and more)
d. Once you're done, just hit **Save** {% hint style="info" %} **Want a deeper dive?** Check out our [**Create a Metafield definition**](/metafield-definitions/create-a-metafield-definition.md) article for a more in-depth walkthrough, including tips and examples. {% endhint %} ### Instructions for Metaobjects [Metaobjects](https://help.accentuate.io/introduction/what-are-metaobjects) are bundles of connected information - think templates like a Size Guide, FAQ section or Testimonial. Unlike Metafields, Metaobjects are independent. You don’t need to attach them to a specific location right away - they can be connected to any scope later. 1. Click on [**Add metaobject**](https://help.accentuate.io/metaobjects/metaobject-definitions) and give your metaobject a label (FAQ Section) 2. Click on **Add metaobject field** and define the fields that make up your template (Label: “First Question”, Type: Text) Once saved, you’ve created a **reusable template** that you can use every time you need to add an FAQ section. ## Step 2: Add values (Values tab) To start this process, you will move onto the **Values** tab under **App features**. In this step, you’ll fill in data (content) into the boxes you created in the previous step. What you put into these fields, *your customers will be able to see.* This data entry is done inside the **Editor**, which is the main workspace in the app for managing and populating your Metafields or Metaobjects. The Editor dynamically adapts to your field structure, making it easy to input, update or validate content for each item. ### Metafields For Metafields – using the shirt example – go to **Edit values**, find the **“Shirt material” field** and enter your data (silk).
### Metaobjects For Metaobjects – using the FAQ example – go to **Edit metaobjects** and begin filling in your entries (your questions).
### Other tools to explore The Values tab, also, offers an array of possibilities to manage your data: * [**Filter & Group**](https://help.accentuate.io/dashboard/filter-and-group/filter-editor) - quickly find and organize your fields by filtering and grouping based on scope, type, status, naming and more. Use this feature to keep your data manageable * [**Reference Manager**](https://help.accentuate.io/dashboard/reference-manager) - use this tool to connect your reusable content to multiple products, collections or variants all in one place. For example, link the “FAQ section” metaobject to as many products as you want. * [**Import**](https://help.accentuate.io/bulk-import-and-export/import-custom-field-values) & [**Export**](https://help.accentuate.io/bulk-import-and-export/export-custom-field-values) - bulk update or transfer your data using CSV files. ## Step 3: Display on your storefront (Display tab) This is the final step, making your metafields or metaobjects visible on your store. Head to the **Display** tab under **App features**. From here, you’ll choose how and where your content appears on the storefront. Next, go to your **Online store** and pick a place where you want to showcase your Metafied or Metaobject. There are three ways to display your data: ### **Liquid code** Use Shopify’s theme code to place your metafields exactly where you want them. Just copy the Liquid reference for your metafield and paste it into your theme file.
### **Theme extensions** Accentuate offers three built-in, code-free ways to display content: 1. [**Sticky promo bar**](https://help.accentuate.io/theme-extensions/sticky-promo-bar) - use this feature to display attention-grabbing **banners** across your storefront. Whether you're announcing a flash sale, limited-time offer or new product launch, the Sticky promo bar **stays visible** on your site as customers scroll, keeping important messages front and center. 2. [**SEO keywords**](https://help.accentuate.io/theme-extensions/seo-keywords) - add relevant, product-specific keywords to your product pages. These keywords aren’t just for search engines, they help *your customers* quickly understand what the product is about. This improves **product clarity**, helps guide purchase decisions and can reduce bounce rates by giving customers the info they need at a glance. 3. [**Products promotion**](https://help.accentuate.io/theme-extensions/products-promotion) - **highlight** related or complementary **products** on any product page using custom fields for upselling and cross-selling. This helps **increase average order value** by surfacing the right products at the right time - curated by you, not an algorithm. In the video below, we walk you through how to set up and use each of these features step by step. {% embed url="" %} ### **Customization services** *Don’t want to handle the setup yourself?* Our team can do it for you. Just reach out through the chat beacon in the corner and we’ll take care of the implementation. --- # Agent Instructions: Querying This Documentation If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question. Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter: ``` GET https://help.accentuate.io/introduction/acf-starter-guide.md?ask= ``` The question should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language. The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation. Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.