Schema Studio
A schema is the list of fields Merchaint looks for in a kind of document. Schema Studio is where those lists live. It's the one part of reading documents that you actually set up. This is an admin page — most people never need to open it.
- A walkthrough video, then why schemas exist and how the library helps
- Use cases, and which option to reach for
- How to install or open a schema, and the expected result
- Troubleshooting notes, then FAQ
01 · Video
Feature walkthrough
02 · Why
Why do we have this?
Merchaint can't read a field it doesn't know to look for. The schema is that list. It's also what makes an invoice from one supplier comparable with an invoice from another.
Why are schemas separate from modules?
Because the same shape gets used more than once, and because a starting library means most teams never write one from scratch. There are 134 ready-made schemas across 18 categories you can install.
03 · Use cases
Look in Library first. Between accounts payable, procurement, banking and the rest, the shape you need probably already exists.
If one field is blank across lots of documents, the schema may be describing it wrongly. Open it and check the field’s name and type.
A schema is a shape; a module holds records of that shape. New Module on a schema card makes one already linked to it.
Which option do I want?
| Option | Use it when |
|---|---|
Install from Library | A standard document type. Quickest and safest — start here. |
Create Schema | Nothing in the library fits. |
| Edit an existing one | It's nearly right but missing or mis-describing a field. |
Auto-generate from a document | You have an example document and want a starting point from it. |
04 · How
- Open
Schema Studiofrom the Configuration group in the sidebar. - Look in
Libraryfirst. Filter by category or use the search box, then pressUse Thisto add one to your workspace. - Open a schema to change it. Each field has a name, a key, a type — Text, Date, Currency or List — and a required or optional marker.
- Make a module with
New Modulewhen you want records of that shape.
05 · Expected result
Schemas lists what’s in your workspace, each with a description, a field count and when it last changed. Library shows the 134 ready-made ones grouped by category, each with a Use This button. Opening a schema shows its fields with their types and whether each is required.
06 · Troubleshooting / notes
| What you see | Why | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| A field is always blank | It may not match how the document writes that value | Check the field’s type, and compare with a similar library schema |
| Documents get the wrong schema | Two schemas are too alike | Make the descriptions more distinct, then reprocess and pick explicitly |
| Deleting warns about usage | Modules or documents depend on it | Read the warning — deleting affects everything linked to it |
| Line items aren’t picked up | Line items need a field of type List | Check the schema has one |
07 · FAQ
Do I need to build a schema before I can upload anything?
No. Merchaint works out document types and applies a matching schema on its own. Schema Studio is for when you need something specific.
What's the library?
134 ready-made schemas across 18 categories — accounts payable, procurement, HR and payroll, banking and more. Use This copies one into your workspace.
Common questions
A schema is the shape. A module is where records of that shape are kept. One schema can back a module you make from it.