# Working with Shared Fields

Vault allows you to reuse fields across multiple document types by creating shared fields, which exist outside the context of a document type. You can create shared fields or convert an existing field into a shared field. If a shared field is only used in one document type, you can also convert it to a non-shared field.

## Accessing Shared Document Fields

Shared fields appear in **Admin** > **Configuration** > **Document Fields** under **Shared Fields** and under any linked document types. However, you can only edit a shared field if you click into its details page from **Shared Fields**. The **Shared Field** icon helps distinguish shared from non-shared fields.

## How To Create New Shared Fields

To create a new shared field:

  1. From the **Field Location** list, click **Shared Fields**.
  2. Click **Create**.
  3. Select a field type and enter a label. The label appears as the field name for end users.
  4. Set the <a href="/en/gr/592/#attributes">field options</a>
. The options vary between field types.
  5. Click **Save**.

## How To Convert Non-Shared Fields

To create a shared field from an existing non-shared field:

  1. From the **Document Fields** page, select the field you wish to share.
  2. Click **Convert To Shared Field**. If the field is already shared, you can click **Convert to Non-Shared** to change it back.
  3. The newly shared field is available under **Shared Fields** in the document type tree.

## How To Use a Shared Field in a Document Type {#use-shared-field}

To assign a shared field to a document type:

  1. From the **Document Fields** page, select the document type to which you want to add the shared field.
  2. Click **Add** and select **Existing Shared Field**.
  3. Select the shared field you wish to assign.
  4. Click **OK**.