What is essential for a snapshot field to operate correctly?

For a snapshot field to operate correctly, it is essential that the source is a text or numeric field. A snapshot field captures a value from a specified field at a particular time, which typically means it needs to store information that can be represented in a straightforward way, such as text or numeric data.

When the source is a text or numeric field, it ensures that the snapshot can accurately reflect the current state of that value. If the source were a different type, such as a date or a non-numeric formula that does not resolve to a clear, unambiguous text or number, it may lead to complications or inconsistencies in the data captured by the snapshot field.

This characteristic streamlines the data storage and retrieval process, allowing for efficient tracking and reporting based on the values that were present when the snapshot was taken. Therefore, choosing a text or numeric field as the source is crucial for the effective functioning of snapshot fields in Quickbase applications.