diff --git a/docs/customizing_dashboards.md b/docs/customizing_dashboards.md
index 6d4d839d49..e5ea877ffc 100644
--- a/docs/customizing_dashboards.md
+++ b/docs/customizing_dashboards.md
@@ -436,3 +436,133 @@ en:
 ```
 
 If not defined (see `SHOW_PAGE_ATTRIBUTES` above), Administrate will default to the given strings.
+
+## Virtual Attributes
+
+For all field types, you can use the `getter` option to change where the data is retrieved from or to set the data directly.
+
+By using this, you can define an attribute in `ATTRIBUTE_TYPES` that doesn’t exist in the model, and use it for various purposes.
+
+### Attribute Aliases
+
+You can create an alias for an attribute. For example:
+
+```ruby
+  ATTRIBUTE_TYPES = {
+    shipped_at: Field::DateTime,
+    shipped_on: Field::Date.with_options(
+      getter: :shipped_at
+    )
+  }
+  COLLECTION_ATTRIBUTES = [
+    :shipped_on
+  }
+  SHOW_PAGE_ATTRIBUTES = [
+    :shipped_at
+  }
+```
+
+In this example, a virtual attribute `shipped_on` based on the value of `shipped_at` is defined as a `Date` type and used for display on the index page (this can help save table cell space).
+
+### Decorated Attributes
+
+You can also use this to decorate data. For example:
+
+```ruby
+  ATTRIBUTE_TYPES = {
+    price: Field::Number,
+    price_including_tax: Field::Number.with_options(
+      getter: -> (field) {
+        field.resource.price * 1.1 if field.resource.price.present?
+      }
+    )
+  }
+```
+
+### Composite Attributes
+
+You can dynamically create a virtual attribute by combining multiple attributes for display. For example:
+
+```ruby
+  ATTRIBUTE_TYPES = {
+    first_name: Field::String,
+    last_name: Field::String,
+    full_name: Field::String.with_options(
+      getter: -> (field) {
+        [
+          field.resource.first_name,
+          field.resource.last_name
+        ].compact_blank.join(' ')
+      }
+    )
+  }
+```
+
+## Virtual Fields
+
+Custom fields can also be defined using virtual fields.
+
+```ruby
+  ATTRIBUTE_TYPES = {
+    id: Field::Number,
+    receipt: Field::ReceiptLink
+  }
+```
+
+```ruby
+module Administrate
+  module Field
+    class ReceiptLink < Base
+      def data
+        resource.id
+      end
+
+      def filename
+        "receipt-#{data}.pdf"
+      end
+
+      def url
+        "/files/receipts/#{filename}"
+      end
+    end
+  end
+end
+```
+
+```erb
+<%= link_to field.filename, field.url %>
+```
+
+### Custom Actions via Virtual Field
+
+By creating custom fields that are not dependent on specific attributes, you can insert custom views into any screen.
+For example, you can add custom buttons like this:
+
+```ruby
+  ATTRIBUTE_TYPES = {
+    id: Field::Number,
+    custom_index_actions: Field::CustomActionButtons,
+    custom_show_actions: Field::CustomActionButtons,
+  }
+```
+
+```ruby
+module Administrate
+  module Field
+    class CustomActionButtons < Base
+      def data
+        resource.id
+      end
+    end
+  end
+end
+```
+
+```erb
+<%# app/views/fields/custom_action_buttons/_index.html.erb %>
+<% if field.data.present? %>
+  <%= button_to "some action 1", [:some_action_1, namespace, field.resource] %>
+  <%= button_to "some action 2", [:some_action_2, namespace, field.resource] %>
+  <%= button_to "some action 3", [:some_action_3, namespace, field.resource] %>
+<% end %>
+```
diff --git a/lib/administrate/field/base.rb b/lib/administrate/field/base.rb
index c086603afb..65121587c9 100644
--- a/lib/administrate/field/base.rb
+++ b/lib/administrate/field/base.rb
@@ -34,10 +34,10 @@ def self.permitted_attribute(attr, _options = nil)
 
       def initialize(attribute, data, page, options = {})
         @attribute = attribute
-        @data = data
         @page = page
         @resource = options.delete(:resource)
         @options = options
+        @data = read_value(data)
       end
 
       def html_class
@@ -52,6 +52,20 @@ def name
         attribute.to_s
       end
 
+      def read_value(data)
+        if options.key?(:getter)
+          if options[:getter].respond_to?(:call)
+            options[:getter].call(self)
+          else
+            resource.try(options[:getter])
+          end
+        elsif data.nil?
+          resource.try(attribute)
+        else
+          data
+        end
+      end
+
       def to_partial_path
         "/fields/#{self.class.field_type}/#{page}"
       end
diff --git a/lib/administrate/field/deferred.rb b/lib/administrate/field/deferred.rb
index 10609735af..ae3a79e851 100644
--- a/lib/administrate/field/deferred.rb
+++ b/lib/administrate/field/deferred.rb
@@ -21,6 +21,10 @@ def ==(other)
           options == other.options
       end
 
+      def getter
+        options.fetch(:getter, nil)
+      end
+
       def associative?
         deferred_class.associative?
       end
@@ -30,7 +34,11 @@ def eager_load?
       end
 
       def searchable?
-        options.fetch(:searchable, deferred_class.searchable?)
+        if options.key?(:getter)
+          false
+        else
+          options.fetch(:searchable, deferred_class.searchable?)
+        end
       end
 
       def searchable_field
diff --git a/lib/administrate/page/base.rb b/lib/administrate/page/base.rb
index 78fbf1a6bd..56c61892d3 100644
--- a/lib/administrate/page/base.rb
+++ b/lib/administrate/page/base.rb
@@ -30,13 +30,8 @@ def item_associations
       private
 
       def attribute_field(dashboard, resource, attribute_name, page)
-        value = get_attribute_value(resource, attribute_name)
         field = dashboard.attribute_type_for(attribute_name)
-        field.new(attribute_name, value, page, resource: resource)
-      end
-
-      def get_attribute_value(resource, attribute_name)
-        resource.public_send(attribute_name)
+        field.new(attribute_name, nil, page, resource: resource)
       end
 
       attr_reader :dashboard, :options
diff --git a/spec/example_app/app/controllers/files_controller.rb b/spec/example_app/app/controllers/files_controller.rb
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..e6f6b2ea15
--- /dev/null
+++ b/spec/example_app/app/controllers/files_controller.rb
@@ -0,0 +1,12 @@
+class FilesController < ApplicationController
+  def download
+    filename = params[:filename]
+    match = %r{receipt-(\d+)}.match(filename)
+    if match
+      payment_id = match[1]
+      send_data("This is the receipt for payment ##{payment_id}", filename: "#{filename}.txt")
+    else
+      render status: 404, layout: false, file: Rails.root.join("public/404.html")
+    end
+  end
+end
diff --git a/spec/example_app/app/dashboards/order_dashboard.rb b/spec/example_app/app/dashboards/order_dashboard.rb
index 1e1407b52d..631572e217 100644
--- a/spec/example_app/app/dashboards/order_dashboard.rb
+++ b/spec/example_app/app/dashboards/order_dashboard.rb
@@ -10,6 +10,18 @@ class OrderDashboard < Administrate::BaseDashboard
     address_city: Field::String,
     address_state: Field::String,
     address_zip: Field::String,
+    full_address: Field::String.with_options(
+      getter: ->(field) {
+        r = field.resource
+        [
+          r.address_line_one,
+          r.address_line_two,
+          r.address_city,
+          r.address_state,
+          r.address_zip
+        ].compact.join("\n")
+      }
+    ),
     customer: Field::BelongsTo.with_options(order: "name"),
     line_items: Field::HasMany.with_options(
       collection_attributes: %i[product quantity unit_price total_price]
@@ -29,7 +41,7 @@ class OrderDashboard < Administrate::BaseDashboard
   COLLECTION_ATTRIBUTES = [
     :id,
     :customer,
-    :address_state,
+    :full_address,
     :total_price,
     :line_items,
     :shipped_at
@@ -50,8 +62,11 @@ class OrderDashboard < Administrate::BaseDashboard
       address_zip
     ]
   }.freeze
-  SHOW_PAGE_ATTRIBUTES = FORM_ATTRIBUTES.merge(
-    "" => %i[customer created_at updated_at],
-    "details" => %i[line_items total_price shipped_at payments]
-  ).freeze
+  SHOW_PAGE_ATTRIBUTES = FORM_ATTRIBUTES
+    .except("address")
+    .merge(
+      "" => %i[customer full_address created_at updated_at],
+      "details" => %i[line_items total_price shipped_at payments]
+    )
+    .freeze
 end
diff --git a/spec/example_app/app/dashboards/payment_dashboard.rb b/spec/example_app/app/dashboards/payment_dashboard.rb
index 2460311de2..a7ede659be 100644
--- a/spec/example_app/app/dashboards/payment_dashboard.rb
+++ b/spec/example_app/app/dashboards/payment_dashboard.rb
@@ -1,15 +1,18 @@
+require "administrate/field/receipt_link"
 require "administrate/base_dashboard"
 
 class PaymentDashboard < Administrate::BaseDashboard
   ATTRIBUTE_TYPES = {
     id: Field::Number,
+    receipt: Field::ReceiptLink,
     created_at: Field::DateTime,
     updated_at: Field::DateTime,
     order: Field::BelongsTo
   }
 
   COLLECTION_ATTRIBUTES = [
-    :id
+    :id,
+    :receipt
   ]
 
   SHOW_PAGE_ATTRIBUTES = ATTRIBUTE_TYPES.keys
diff --git a/spec/example_app/app/views/fields/receipt_link/_index.html.erb b/spec/example_app/app/views/fields/receipt_link/_index.html.erb
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..9f755667e8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/spec/example_app/app/views/fields/receipt_link/_index.html.erb
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+<%= link_to field.filename, field.data %>
diff --git a/spec/example_app/app/views/fields/receipt_link/_show.html.erb b/spec/example_app/app/views/fields/receipt_link/_show.html.erb
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..9f755667e8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/spec/example_app/app/views/fields/receipt_link/_show.html.erb
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+<%= link_to field.filename, field.data %>
diff --git a/spec/example_app/config/routes.rb b/spec/example_app/config/routes.rb
index f8fc984e8b..53ce954aec 100644
--- a/spec/example_app/config/routes.rb
+++ b/spec/example_app/config/routes.rb
@@ -24,6 +24,8 @@
     root to: "customers#index"
   end
 
+  get "/files/receipts/*filename.txt", to: "files#download"
+
   get "/*page", to: "docs#show", constraints: ->(request) { !request.path.start_with?("/rails/") }
   root to: "docs#index"
 end
diff --git a/spec/example_app/lib/administrate/field/receipt_link.rb b/spec/example_app/lib/administrate/field/receipt_link.rb
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..bbe7192109
--- /dev/null
+++ b/spec/example_app/lib/administrate/field/receipt_link.rb
@@ -0,0 +1,15 @@
+require "administrate/field/base"
+
+module Administrate
+  module Field
+    class ReceiptLink < Base
+      def data
+        "/files/receipts/#{filename}"
+      end
+
+      def filename
+        "receipt-#{resource.id}.txt"
+      end
+    end
+  end
+end
diff --git a/spec/features/payments_index_spec.rb b/spec/features/payments_index_spec.rb
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..3b21ce23b4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/spec/features/payments_index_spec.rb
@@ -0,0 +1,33 @@
+require "rails_helper"
+
+RSpec.describe "payment index page" do
+  it "displays payments' id and receipt link" do
+    payment = create(:payment)
+
+    visit admin_payments_path
+
+    expect(page).to have_header("Payments")
+    expect(page).to have_content(payment.id)
+    expect(page).to have_content("receipt-#{payment.id}.txt")
+  end
+
+  it "allows downloading the receipt" do
+    payment = create(:payment)
+
+    visit admin_payments_path
+    click_on("receipt-#{payment.id}.txt")
+
+    expect(page.body).to eq("This is the receipt for payment ##{payment.id}")
+    expect(response_headers["Content-Disposition"]).to match(%r{^attachment; filename=})
+  end
+
+  it "links to the payment show page", :js do
+    payment = create(:payment)
+
+    visit admin_payments_path
+    click_row_for(payment)
+
+    expect(page).to have_content(payment.id)
+    expect(page).to have_current_path(admin_payment_path(payment))
+  end
+end
diff --git a/spec/lib/fields/base_spec.rb b/spec/lib/fields/base_spec.rb
index 43b71efc50..44af91340e 100644
--- a/spec/lib/fields/base_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/lib/fields/base_spec.rb
@@ -167,4 +167,48 @@
       expect(field.required?).to eq(false)
     end
   end
+
+  describe "#data" do
+    context "when given nil data" do
+      it "reads the value from the resource" do
+        resource = double(attribute: "resource value")
+        field = field_class.new(:attribute, nil, :page, resource: resource)
+
+        expect(field.data).to eq("resource value")
+      end
+    end
+
+    context "when given non-nil data" do
+      it "uses the given data" do
+        resource = double(attribute: "resource value")
+        field = field_class.new(:attribute, "given value", :page, resource: resource)
+
+        expect(field.data).to eq("given value")
+      end
+    end
+
+    context "when given a :getter value" do
+      it "reads the attribute with the name of the value" do
+        resource = double(custom_getter: "custom value")
+        field = field_class.new(:attribute, :date, :page, resource: resource, getter: :custom_getter)
+
+        expect(field.data).to eq("custom value")
+      end
+    end
+
+    context "when given a :getter block" do
+      it "uses it to produce a value" do
+        resource = double("Model", custom_getter: "custom value")
+        field = field_class.new(:attribute, :date, :page, resource: resource, getter: ->(f) { f.resource.custom_getter + " from block" })
+
+        expect(field.data).to eq("custom value from block")
+      end
+
+      it "returns nil if the resource is nil" do
+        field = field_class.new(:attribute, nil, :page, resource: nil)
+
+        expect(field.data).to eq(nil)
+      end
+    end
+  end
 end