How to create custom fields (New Group):
In your control panel
Settings---»Custom fields--- » Add Group
Name---» name of your new Group
[Translate] if your site uses multiple languages, type in in the translated  field name 
Label---» label of the group (no spaces or underscores)
Load in---» Display on selected pages
[Submit]

How to create a new field (State)
In your control panel
[Settings]---» under the "Quick jump" menu ---» [Custom fields] ---»[Members] ---»[General] ---»
under the Options menu ---»[add field]
Name---» name of your new field: State
[Translate] if your site uses multiple languages, type in in the translated  field name 
Label---» label of the group (no spaces or underscores) :state
Search label---» leave blank or enter cross search field
Group---» this field belongs to which group
Type---»input type for this field: drop-down list
Required---» [Yes] or [No] ---»indicates field must be filled in
Maximum length--- » if using “text “type”  field max character allowed(example: 26)   
Width--- » Width of field box (example: 160px)
Default value--- » if field is required, the default value
Load in---» [Yes] or [No]---» Display on selected pages
[Submit]

***Special notes***
Type field---»”Text”---» provides a text box
Type field---»”Text area”---» provides a “free-form text area” box 
Type field---» “Checkbox”---» provides a check box that can be selected (allows multiple selections from the list)
Type field---» “Radio button”---» provides a radio button (allows single selection from the list)
Type field---» “drop-down list”---» provides a selection list (allows single selection from the list)
Type field---»“image”---» provides an image upload box

If you create a new field in a “New group” ensure the “New Group”
“Load-in” setting are correct to display the new field

as in if you created your new field in a new group

your new group setting should be
Load in public profile [Yes]
Load in account profile [Yes]

I recommend using the "drop-down list" Type field then adding all 50 States
Official USPS Abbreviations can be found here

Example say you have a field for State.

Person 1: enters---> N.Y.
Person 2: enter---> New york
Person 3 enters---> NY

I perform a search for people in---> New York

which person will be found?
none of the above

Last edited by seeme101 (2010-10-03 14:40:20)