diff -ur mantisbt-1.2.4-orig/admin/schema.php mantisbt-1.2.4/admin/schema.php
--- mantisbt-1.2.4-orig/admin/schema.php	2010-12-15 03:26:31.000000000 +0100
+++ mantisbt-1.2.4/admin/schema.php	2010-12-15 17:22:24.000000000 +0100
@@ -608,3 +608,7 @@
 $upgrade[] = Array( 'CreateIndexSQL', Array( 'idx_bug_tag_tag_id', db_get_table( 'mantis_bug_tag_table' ), 'tag_id' ) );
 $upgrade[] = Array( 'CreateIndexSQL', Array( 'idx_email_id', db_get_table( 'mantis_email_table' ), 'email_id', array( 'DROP' ) ), Array( 'db_index_exists', Array( db_get_table( 'mantis_email_table' ), 'idx_email_id') ) );
 $upgrade[] = Array( 'UpdateFunction', 'correct_multiselect_custom_fields_db_format' );
+
++ /* Patch to add textareas as custom fields */
++ $upgrade[] = Array( 'AddColumnSQL', Array( db_get_table( 'custom_field_string' ), "
++ 	text		XL  			NULL DEFAULT NULL " ) );
diff -ur mantisbt-1.2.4-orig/config_defaults_inc.php mantisbt-1.2.4/config_defaults_inc.php
--- mantisbt-1.2.4-orig/config_defaults_inc.php	2010-12-15 03:26:31.000000000 +0100
+++ mantisbt-1.2.4/config_defaults_inc.php	2010-12-15 16:54:20.000000000 +0100
@@ -2985,7 +2985,7 @@
 	 *
 	 * @global string $g_custom_field_type_enum_string
 	 */
-	$g_custom_field_type_enum_string    = '0:string,1:numeric,2:float,3:enum,4:email,5:checkbox,6:list,7:multiselection list,8:date,9:radio';
+  $g_custom_field_type_enum_string    = '0:string,1:numeric,2:float,3:enum,4:email,5:checkbox,6:list,7:multiselection list,8:date,9:radio,10:textarea';
 
 	/*********************************
 	 * MantisBT Javascript Variables *
diff -ur mantisbt-1.2.4-orig/core/cfdefs/cfdef_standard.php mantisbt-1.2.4/core/cfdefs/cfdef_standard.php
--- mantisbt-1.2.4-orig/core/cfdefs/cfdef_standard.php	2010-12-15 03:26:31.000000000 +0100
+++ mantisbt-1.2.4/core/cfdefs/cfdef_standard.php	2010-12-15 16:54:20.000000000 +0100
@@ -31,6 +31,20 @@
 	'#function_string_value_for_email' => null,
 );
 
+$g_custom_field_type_definition[ CUSTOM_FIELD_TYPE_TEXTAREA] = array (
+	'#display_possible_values' => TRUE,
+	'#display_valid_regexp' => TRUE,
+	'#display_length_min' => TRUE,
+	'#display_length_max' => TRUE,
+	'#display_default_value' => TRUE,
+	'#function_return_distinct_values' => null,
+	'#function_value_to_database' => null,
+	'#function_database_to_value' => null,
+	'#function_print_input' => 'cfdef_input_textarea',
+	'#function_string_value' => null,
+	'#function_string_value_for_email' => null,
+);
+
 $g_custom_field_type_definition[ CUSTOM_FIELD_TYPE_NUMERIC ] = array (
 	'#display_possible_values' => TRUE,
 	'#display_valid_regexp' => TRUE,
@@ -300,6 +314,16 @@
 	echo ' value="' . string_attribute( $t_custom_field_value ) .'"></input>';
 }
 
+function cfdef_input_textarea($p_field_def, $t_custom_field_value) {
+	echo '<textarea ', helper_get_tab_index(), ' name="custom_field_' . $p_field_def['id'] . '"';
+	if( 0 < $p_field_def['length_max'] ) {
+		echo ' maxlength="' . $p_field_def['length_max'] . '"';
+	} else {
+		echo ' maxlength="255"';
+	}
+	echo 'cols="70" rows="8">' . $t_custom_field_value .'</textarea>';
+}
+
 /**
  * Prints the controls for the date selector.
  *
diff -ur mantisbt-1.2.4-orig/core/constant_inc.php mantisbt-1.2.4/core/constant_inc.php
--- mantisbt-1.2.4-orig/core/constant_inc.php	2010-12-15 03:26:31.000000000 +0100
+++ mantisbt-1.2.4/core/constant_inc.php	2010-12-15 16:54:20.000000000 +0100
@@ -414,6 +414,7 @@
 define( 'CUSTOM_FIELD_TYPE_MULTILIST', 7 );
 define( 'CUSTOM_FIELD_TYPE_DATE', 8 );
 define( 'CUSTOM_FIELD_TYPE_RADIO', 9 );
+define( 'CUSTOM_FIELD_TYPE_TEXTAREA', 10 );
 
 # Meta filter values
 define( 'META_FILTER_MYSELF', -1 );
diff -ur mantisbt-1.2.4-orig/core/custom_field_api.php mantisbt-1.2.4/core/custom_field_api.php
--- mantisbt-1.2.4-orig/core/custom_field_api.php	2010-12-15 03:26:31.000000000 +0100
+++ mantisbt-1.2.4/core/custom_field_api.php	2010-12-15 16:54:20.000000000 +0100
@@ -45,6 +45,7 @@
 # *******************************************
 
 $g_custom_field_types[CUSTOM_FIELD_TYPE_STRING] = 'standard';
+$g_custom_field_types[CUSTOM_FIELD_TYPE_TEXTAREA] = 'standard';
 $g_custom_field_types[CUSTOM_FIELD_TYPE_NUMERIC] = 'standard';
 $g_custom_field_types[CUSTOM_FIELD_TYPE_FLOAT] = 'standard';
 $g_custom_field_types[CUSTOM_FIELD_TYPE_ENUM] = 'standard';
@@ -991,8 +992,10 @@
 		return false;
 	}
 
+  $t_value_field = ( $row['type'] == CUSTOM_FIELD_TYPE_TEXTAREA ? 'text' : 'value' );
 	$t_custom_field_string_table = db_get_table( 'mantis_custom_field_string_table' );
-	$query = "SELECT value
+
+	$query = "SELECT $t_value_field
 				  FROM $t_custom_field_string_table
 				  WHERE bug_id=" . db_param() . " AND
 				  		field_id=" . db_param();
@@ -1334,8 +1337,10 @@
 	$t_type = custom_field_get_field( $p_field_id, 'type' );
 	$t_custom_field_string_table = db_get_table( 'mantis_custom_field_string_table' );
 
+	$t_value_field = ( $t_type == CUSTOM_FIELD_TYPE_TEXTAREA ) ? 'text' : 'value';
+
 	# Determine whether an existing value needs to be updated or a new value inserted
-	$query = "SELECT value
+	$query = "SELECT $t_value_field
 				  FROM $t_custom_field_string_table
 				  WHERE field_id=" . db_param() . " AND
 				  		bug_id=" . db_param();
@@ -1343,16 +1348,16 @@
 
 	if( db_num_rows( $result ) > 0 ) {
 		$query = "UPDATE $t_custom_field_string_table
-					  SET value=" . db_param() . "
+					  SET $t_value_field=" . db_param() . "
 					  WHERE field_id=" . db_param() . " AND
 					  		bug_id=" . db_param();
 		db_query_bound( $query, Array( custom_field_value_to_database( $p_value, $t_type ), $c_field_id, $c_bug_id ) );
 
 		$row = db_fetch_array( $result );
-		history_log_event_direct( $c_bug_id, $t_name, custom_field_database_to_value( $row['value'], $t_type ), $p_value );
+		history_log_event_direct( $c_bug_id, $t_name, custom_field_database_to_value( $row[$t_value_field], $t_type ), $p_value );
 	} else {
 		$query = "INSERT INTO $t_custom_field_string_table
-						( field_id, bug_id, value )
+						( field_id, bug_id, $t_value_field )
 					  VALUES
 						( " . db_param() . ', ' . db_param() . ', ' . db_param() . ')';
 		db_query_bound( $query, Array( $c_field_id, $c_bug_id, custom_field_value_to_database( $p_value, $t_type ) ) );
diff -ur mantisbt-1.2.4-orig/core/filter_api.php mantisbt-1.2.4/core/filter_api.php
--- mantisbt-1.2.4-orig/core/filter_api.php	2010-12-15 03:26:31.000000000 +0100
+++ mantisbt-1.2.4/core/filter_api.php	2010-12-15 16:55:37.000000000 +0100
@@ -916,10 +916,11 @@
 			if( strpos( $c_sort, 'custom_' ) === 0 ) {
 				$t_custom_field = utf8_substr( $c_sort, utf8_strlen( 'custom_' ) );
 				$t_custom_field_id = custom_field_get_id_from_name( $t_custom_field );
-
+				$t_def = custom_field_get_definition( $t_custom_field_id );
+				$t_value_field = ( $t_def['type'] == CUSTOM_FIELD_TYPE_TEXTAREA ? 'text' : 'value' );
 				$c_cf_alias = str_replace( ' ', '_', $t_custom_field );
 				$t_cf_table_alias = $t_custom_field_string_table . '_' . $t_custom_field_id;
-				$t_cf_select = "$t_cf_table_alias.value $c_cf_alias";
+				$t_cf_select = "$t_cf_table_alias.$t_value_field $c_cf_alias";
 
 				# check to be sure this field wasn't already added to the query.
 				if( !in_array( $t_cf_select, $p_query_clauses['select'] ) ) {
@@ -1902,6 +1903,10 @@
 								$t_where_params[] = '%|' . $t_filter_member . '|%';
 								array_push( $t_filter_array, db_helper_like( "$t_table_name.value" ) );
 								break;
+							case CUSTOM_FIELD_TYPE_TEXTAREA:
+								$t_where_params[] = '%' . $t_filter_member . '%';
+								array_push( $t_filter_array, db_helper_like( "$t_table_name.text" ) );
+								break;
 							default:
 								array_push( $t_filter_array, "$t_table_name.value = '" . db_prepare_string( $t_filter_member ) . "'" );
 						}
@@ -4014,6 +4021,8 @@
 	} else if( isset( $t_accessible_custom_fields_names[$j] ) ) {
 		if( $t_accessible_custom_fields_types[$j] == CUSTOM_FIELD_TYPE_DATE ) {
 			print_filter_custom_field_date( $j, $p_field_id );
+		} else if( $t_accessible_custom_fields_types[$j] == CUSTOM_FIELD_TYPE_TEXTAREA ) {
+			echo '<input type="text" name="custom_field_', $p_field_id, '" size="10" value="" />';
 		} else {
 			echo '<select ' . $t_select_modifier . ' name="custom_field_' . $p_field_id . '[]">';
 			echo '<option value="' . META_FILTER_ANY . '" ';
diff -ur mantisbt-1.2.4-orig/lang/strings_english.txt mantisbt-1.2.4/lang/strings_english.txt
--- mantisbt-1.2.4-orig/lang/strings_english.txt	2010-12-15 03:26:31.000000000 +0100
+++ mantisbt-1.2.4/lang/strings_english.txt	2010-12-15 16:54:20.000000000 +0100
@@ -1300,7 +1300,7 @@
 $s_linked_projects = 'Linked Projects';
 
 $s_custom_field_sequence = 'Sequence';
-$s_custom_field_type_enum_string = '0:String,1:Numeric,2:Float,3:Enumeration,4:E-mail,5:Checkbox,6:List,7:Multiselection list,8:Date,9:Radio';
+$s_custom_field_type_enum_string = '0:String,1:Numeric,2:Float,3:Enumeration,4:E-mail,5:Checkbox,6:List,7:Multiselection list,8:Date,9:Radio,10:Textarea';
 
 $s_confirm_used_custom_field_deletion = 'This field is currently linked to at least one project. If you continue all values for this field will be permanently deleted. This action cannot be undone. If you do not want to delete this field, hit the Back button in your browser. To proceed, click the button below';
 $s_confirm_custom_field_deletion = 'Are you sure you want to delete this custom field and all associated values?';
diff -ur mantisbt-1.2.4-orig/lang/strings_french.txt mantisbt-1.2.4/lang/strings_french.txt
--- mantisbt-1.2.4-orig/lang/strings_french.txt	2010-12-15 03:26:31.000000000 +0100
+++ mantisbt-1.2.4/lang/strings_french.txt	2010-12-15 17:00:48.000000000 +0100
@@ -1021,7 +1021,7 @@
 $s_link_custom_field_to_project_button = 'Lier champ personnalisé';
 $s_linked_projects = 'Projets liés';
 $s_custom_field_sequence = 'Suite';
-$s_custom_field_type_enum_string = '0:Chaîne de caractères,1:Nombre entier,2:Nombre réel,3:Énumération,4:Courriel,5:Case à cocher,6:Liste,7:Liste à sélection multiple,8:Date,9:Bouton radio';
+$s_custom_field_type_enum_string = '0:Chaîne de caractères,1:Nombre entier,2:Nombre réel,3:Énumération,4:Courriel,5:Case à cocher,6:Liste,7:Liste à sélection multiple,8:Date,9:Bouton radio,10:Zone de texte';
 $s_confirm_used_custom_field_deletion = 'Ce champ est actuellement lié à au moins un projet.  Si vous continuez, toutes les valeurs de ce champ seront supprimées.  Cette action ne peut être annulée.  Si vous ne voulez pas supprimer ce champ, cliquer sur le bouton Retour de votre navigateur.  Sinon pour supprimer ce champ, cliquer sur le bouton ci dessous';
 $s_confirm_custom_field_deletion = 'Êtes vous sûr de vouloir supprimer ce champ personnalisé et toutes les valeurs associées ?';
 $s_field_delete_button = 'Supprimer le champ';