--- title: "Automatically added system fields to content types (tt_content)" manual: "TCA Reference" version: "13.4" permalink: "https://docs.typo3.org/permalink/t3tca:types-content@13.4" source: "Types/TtContent.rst" rendered: "2026-09-26T10:26:37+00:00" --- # Automatically added system fields to content types (`tt_content`) {#types-content} Creating content elements has been simplified by removing the need to define the system fields for each element again and again. This shrinks down a content element's showitem to just the element specific fields. See also Migration. Added with Feature: #104814. The following tabs / palettes are added automatically to the [showitem](https://docs.typo3.org/permalink/t3tca:confval-types-showitem@13.4) property of table `tt_content`: - The **General** tab with the `general` palette at the very beginning - The **Language** tab with the `language` palette after custom fields - The **Access** tab with the `hidden` and `access` palettes - The **Notes** tab with the `rowDescription` field ![The edit form of a slider with its tabs. The above mentioned ones are underlined.](../Images/ManualScreenshots/tt_content_automatic_tabs.png) See [Extended content element with custom fields](https://docs.typo3.org/permalink/t3tca:types-content-examples-extended@13.4) for an example. > [!NOTE] > The fields are added to the [showitem](https://docs.typo3.org/permalink/t3tca:confval-types-showitem@13.4) through their corresponding > [palettes](https://docs.typo3.org/permalink/t3tca:palettes@13.4). In case such palette has been changed > by extensions, the required system fields are added individually to corresponding tabs. In case one of those palettes has been changed to no longer include the corresponding system fields, those fields are added individually depending on their definition in the [ctrl](https://docs.typo3.org/permalink/t3tca:ctrl@13.4) section. By default, all custom fields - the ones still defined in [showitem](https://docs.typo3.org/permalink/t3tca:confval-types-showitem@13.4) \- are added after the `general` palette and are therefore added to the **General** tab, unless a custom tab (for example **Plugin**, or **Categories**) is defined in between. It's also possible to start with a custom tab by defining a `--div--` as the first item in the [showitem](https://docs.typo3.org/permalink/t3tca:confval-types-showitem@13.4). In this case, the **General** tab will be omitted. All those system fields, which are added based on the `ctrl` section are also automatically removed from any custom palette and from the customized type's [showitem](https://docs.typo3.org/permalink/t3tca:confval-types-showitem@13.4) definition. If the content element defines the **Extended** tab, it will be inserted at the end, including all fields added to the type via API methods, without specifying a position, via `\TYPO3\CMS\Core\Utility\ExtensionManagementUtility::addToAllTcaTypes()`. See [Extended content element with custom fields](https://docs.typo3.org/permalink/t3tca:types-content-examples-extended@13.4) for an example. ## Examples for the `showitems` TCA section in content elements {#types-content-examples} ### Basic custom content element with header and bodytext {#types-content-examples-basic} **EXT:my_extension/Configuration/TCA/Overrides/tt_content.php** ```php 'My extension basic text element', 'value' => 'my_extension_basic_text', ], ); // Add the predefined fields to the "General" tab $GLOBALS['TCA']['tt_content']['types']['my_extension_basic_text']['showitem'] = '--palette--;;headers,bodytext,'; ``` The following tabs are shown, the header palette and bodytext field are shown in palette general: ![Screenshot of the content element form created by the code](../Images/ManualScreenshots/tt_content_basic.png) ### Extended content element with custom fields {#types-content-examples-extended} **EXT:my_extension/Configuration/TCA/Overrides/tt_content.php** ```php 'My extension custom text element with links', 'value' => 'my_extension_extended-text', 'icon' => 'my-extension-content-text', 'group' => 'default', 'description' => 'Some descripton', ], 'textmedia', 'after', ); // Define some custom columns $additionalColumns = [ 'my_extension_link' => [ 'label' => 'My link', 'config' => [ 'type' => 'link', ], ], 'my_extension_link_text' => [ 'label' => 'My link text', 'config' => [ 'type' => 'input', ], ], 'my_extension_extra_text' => [ 'label' => 'My extra text', 'config' => [ 'type' => 'input', ], ], ]; // Add the custom columns to the TCA of tt_content ExtensionManagementUtility::addTCAcolumns('tt_content', $additionalColumns); // Add predefined and custom fields to the "General tab" and introduce a tab called "Extended" $GLOBALS['TCA']['tt_content']['types']['my_extension_extended-text']['showitem'] = ' --palette--;;headers, bodytext, --div--;My tab, my_extension_link, my_extension_link_text, --div--;LLL:EXT:core/Resources/Private/Language/Form/locallang_tabs.xlf:extended,'; // This field will be added in tab "Extended" ExtensionManagementUtility::addToAllTCAtypes( 'tt_content', 'my_extension_extra_text', 'my_extension_extended-text' ); ``` The following tabs are shown: ![Screenshot of the content element form created by the code](../Images/ManualScreenshots/tt_content_extended.png) Additional fields that are subsequently added to the end of the table using `\TYPO3\CMS\Core\Utility\ExtensionManagementUtility::addToAllTcaTypes()` will appear in the tab **Extended**. ## Migration: Remove system fields from showitems on dropping TYPO3 v12.4 support {#types-content-migration} It is sufficient to apply changes to the [showitem](https://docs.typo3.org/permalink/t3tca:confval-types-showitem@13.4) section of content types once dropping TYPO3 v12.4 support in extensions. In site packages or extensions only supporting TYPO3 v13.3 or above you can migrate the [showitem](https://docs.typo3.org/permalink/t3tca:confval-types-showitem@13.4) right away: **EXT:my_extension/Configuration/TCA/Overrides/tt_content.php (diff)** ```diff 'slider' => [ 'showitem' => ' - --div--;LLL:EXT:core/Resources/Private/Language/Form/locallang_tabs.xlf:general, - --palette--;;general, --palette--;;headers, slider_elements, bodytext;LLL:EXT:awesome_slider/Resources/Private/Language/locallang_ttc.xlf:bodytext.ALT.slider_description, --div--;LLL:EXT:core/Resources/Private/Language/Form/locallang_tabs.xlf:appearance, --palette--;;frames, --palette--;;appearanceLinks, - --div--;LLL:EXT:core/Resources/Private/Language/Form/locallang_tabs.xlf:language, - --palette--;;language, - --div--;LLL:EXT:core/Resources/Private/Language/Form/locallang_tabs.xlf:access, - --palette--;;hidden, - --palette--;;access, --div--;LLL:EXT:core/Resources/Private/Language/Form/locallang_tabs.xlf:categories, categories, - --div--;LLL:EXT:core/Resources/Private/Language/Form/locallang_tabs.xlf:notes, - rowDescription, --div--;LLL:EXT:core/Resources/Private/Language/Form/locallang_tabs.xlf:extended, ', ], ``` So the tabs **General**, **Language**, **Access** and **Notes** are now added automatically together with the corresponding system fields.