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## Resource: Add a Data Collections Extension in the App Dashboard

## Article: Add a Data Collections Extension in the App Dashboard

## Article Link: https://dev.wix.com/docs/build-apps/develop-your-app/extensions/backend-extensions/data-collections/add-a-data-collections-extension-in-the-app-dashboard.md

## Article Content:

# Add a Data Collections Extension in the App Dashboard

<blockquote class="caution"> 
This feature is in Developer Preview and is subject to change.
</blockquote>

This article describes how to add a [data collections extension](https://dev.wix.com/docs/build-apps/develop-your-app/extensions/backend-extensions/data-collections/about-data-collections-extensions.md) to your app using the [app dashboard](https://dev.wix.com/docs/build-apps/develop-your-app/app-workspace/about-the-app-dashboard.md).

## Add a data collections extension to your app

Add the extension by doing the following:

1. In the [Custom Apps page](https://manage.wix.com/account/custom-apps), select an app.

1. In the left menu, select **Develop > Extensions**.

1. Click **+ Create Extension** and find the **Data Collections** extension.

1. Click **+ Create**.

1. If you haven't set an [app namespace](https://dev.wix.com/docs/build-apps/develop-your-app/extensions/backend-extensions/about-backend-extensions.md#app-namespace) yet, a popup prompts you to choose a namespace. You can't change your app namespace after you set it.

1. On the **Data Collections** extension configuration page, use the JSON editor to configure your collections. The editor includes a built-in linter and schema documentation to help you write valid JSON. For the complete JSON schema, see the [data collections extension JSON reference](https://dev.wix.com/docs/api-reference/business-solutions/cms/collection-management/data-collections-extension/introduction.md).

1. Optionally, add initial data to populate the collections when they're created. To do this, include an `initialData` array in your configuration. Make sure the initial data you add is structured according to the schema you defined.

1. Click **Save**.

1. [Release a new app version](https://dev.wix.com/docs/build-apps/manage-your-app/versioning/release-a-new-app-version.md) to apply the extension changes.

Your app now has a data collections extension. When your app is installed on a site, the collections are automatically created in the site's CMS with the schemas and initial data you specified.

## Example configuration

The following example shows a data collections extension configuration that creates a "Customer Feedback" collection with a schema and initial data:

```json
{
  "collections": [
    {
      "idSuffix": "customer-feedback",
      "displayName": "Customer Feedback",
      "displayField": "customerName",
      "fields": [
        {
          "key": "customerName",
          "type": "TEXT",
          "displayName": "Customer Name"
        },
        {
          "key": "rating",
          "type": "NUMBER",
          "displayName": "Rating"
        },
        {
          "key": "comments",
          "type": "TEXT",
          "displayName": "Comments"
        },
        {
          "key": "feedbackDate",
          "type": "DATETIME",
          "displayName": "Feedback Date"
        }
      ],
      "dataPermissions": {
        "itemInsert": "CMS_EDITOR",
        "itemUpdate": "CMS_EDITOR",
        "itemRemove": "CMS_EDITOR",
        "itemRead": "ANYONE"
      },
      "initialData": [
        {
          "customerName": "John Doe",
          "rating": 5,
          "comments": "Excellent service!",
          "feedbackDate": { "$date": "2024-01-15T10:30:00.000Z" }
        },
        {
          "customerName": "Jane Smith",
          "rating": 4,
          "comments": "Very satisfied with my purchase.",
          "feedbackDate": { "$date": "2024-01-20T14:45:00.000Z" }
        }
      ]
    }
  ]
}
```

This configuration:

- Creates a collection with ID suffix `customer-feedback`. The full ID in the CMS becomes `@company/app-name/customer-feedback`.
- Defines 4 fields: customer name, rating, comments, and feedback date.
- Sets `displayField` to `customerName`, so the CMS displays this value when referencing items in this collection from other collections.
- Sets permissions so CMS editors can manage data and anyone can read it.
- Includes 2 sample feedback entries as initial data.

## See also

- [About data collections extensions](https://dev.wix.com/docs/build-apps/develop-your-app/extensions/backend-extensions/data-collections/about-data-collections-extensions.md)
- [Data collections extension JSON reference](https://dev.wix.com/docs/api-reference/business-solutions/cms/collection-management/data-collections-extension/introduction.md)
- [About the Wix Data APIs](https://dev.wix.com/docs/rest/business-solutions/cms/introduction.md)
- [Add a data collections extension with the CLI](https://dev.wix.com/docs/wix-cli/guides/extensions/backend-extensions/data-collections/add-a-data-collections-extension-with-the-wix-cli.md)