The basics of columns

Columns are one of the main building blocks of your board which allow you to display and customize the data from your workflows in any way that you wish! We offer many types of columns so that you can build your board exactly the way you want it to be. 

How to add a column

You can add a new column by taking the following steps:

• Click on the + button on the far right side of the board.
• Select the column you would like to add either from the drop-down menu or the column center. 

You can also add a column directly to the right of another one! Just open an existing column menu and click on "Add column to the right" and then select your column of choice.

To learn more about the different types of columns that we offer, check out this article.

1. Attachment column

In Hoicko, an attachment column is a powerful feature that allows you to add and manage attachments directly within your board's items. It can be used in various ways to enhance collaboration and organization within your team or project management workflows. Here's how an attachment column can help in Hoicko:

1.      Centralized File Storage: The attachment column provides a centralized location to store and access all relevant files and documents related to a specific item or task. This helps prevent information fragmentation and ensures that all team members have easy access to the files they need.

2.       Document Collaboration: Team members can collaborate on documents directly within Hoicko by attaching the latest versions of files. This eliminates the need to switch between different platforms or email attachments back and forth, streamlining the collaboration process.

3.       Version Control: When team members continuously update attachments, the attachment column keeps a record of each version, ensuring you can track changes and refer back to previous versions if needed. This is particularly useful for tracking progress or understanding how a document has evolved over time.

4.       Visual References: Images and visual resources can be attached to items using the attachment column, helping to provide clarity and context for specific tasks or projects.

5.      Quick Sharing: Sharing documents and files becomes straightforward. With the attachment column, team members can easily access and download files as needed, eliminating the need to request files individually via email or other communication channels.

6.      Integrations: Hoicko integrates with various third-party file storage services like Google Drive, Dropbox, and Box. This means that if your files are already stored in one of these services, you can link them directly to your attachment column, making it a seamless experience.

7.      Mobile Access: The attachment column is also available on Hoicko's mobile app. This means that even if you're on the go, you can still access and share important files from your smartphone or tablet.

8.      Documentation and Reference: By attaching relevant documents, you can create a comprehensive record of your project's progress and decisions made along the way. This serves as a valuable reference for future projects or for tracking the history of a specific item.

By using the attachment column in Hoicko, you can improve collaboration, streamline file management, and keep all your project-related resources neatly organized in one place. It's a convenient and efficient way to enhance productivity and communication within your team or organization.

2. Attendance column

In Hoicko, an attendance column is a feature that can be added to a board to track the attendance or presence of team members, employees, or participants in a particular event or activity. The attendance column is primarily used for collaborative and team-oriented work management, providing valuable insights into who is present and engaged in specific tasks, projects, or meetings.

Here's how an attendance column can be helpful in Hoicko:

1.       Monitoring Attendance: The attendance column allows team leaders and managers to easily track the attendance of team members or participants during scheduled meetings, events, or daily activities. This helps ensure that all required individuals are present and accounted for, fostering accountability and improving overall team productivity.

2.       Attendance History: With an attendance column in place, a historical record of attendance is maintained, which can be beneficial for tracking attendance patterns over time. This data can be used for performance evaluations, identifying absenteeism trends, and making informed decisions to optimize team dynamics.

3.       Collaboration Insights: By having visibility into the attendance of team members, collaborators can better understand who was present during key discussions or decision-making processes. This insight can be valuable for future reference or clarifying responsibilities.

4.       Automated Updates: The attendance column can be configured to update automatically based on other activities in the Hoicko workspace. For example, if a team member checks off a task related to the event, their attendance status can be automatically updated to "Attended" or "Completed."

5.       Integration with Other Features: The attendance column can be integrated with other Hoicko features and automations, allowing for seamless workflows and triggering actions based on attendance status. For instance, you can set up notifications to alert team members if someone important hasn't attended a critical meeting.

6.       Time Tracking and Reports: When combined with time-tracking features, the attendance column can provide additional insights into how much time team members are spending on specific activities or projects. This data can be used to generate reports, assess project progress, and identify potential areas for improvement.

7.      Visibility and Transparency: The attendance column enhances transparency within the team, as everyone can easily see who is participating and contributing to various aspects of the project. This promotes a sense of shared responsibility and fosters a collaborative environment.

Overall, the attendance column in Hoicko streamlines attendance tracking, improves team collaboration, and provides useful data for decision-making and performance evaluation, making it a valuable tool for project management and team coordination.

3. Auto increment column

4. Chat column

Based on the general concept of a "chat column” could potentially help in Hoicko:

1.       Real-time Communication: A chat column could allow team members to have real-time conversations within the context of a specific project or task. This could help facilitate quick discussions, updates, or problem-solving without the need to switch to external chat platforms.

2.       Task Discussions: Instead of using comments or updates, a chat column could serve as a dedicated space for discussing specific tasks. It would keep all task-related discussions organized in one place, making it easier for team members to refer back to the relevant conversations.

3.       Team Collaboration: The chat column could foster a sense of collaboration by enabling team members to brainstorm ideas, share files, and provide feedback within the project workspace.

4.       Notifications and Alerts: When integrated with notification systems, the chat column could alert team members to important updates or mentions, ensuring that no critical information is missed.

5.       Documenting Decision-making: Conversations in the chat column could help document the decision-making process, providing a transparent history of why certain choices were made during the project.

6.       Remote Collaboration: Especially useful for remote teams, the chat column can serve as a virtual meeting point, allowing team members in different locations to discuss tasks and projects efficiently.

5. Check box column

In Hoicko, a checkbox column is a type of column that allows users to add a checkbox to each row or item on a board. It serves as a simple way to track and manage tasks, progress, or status updates for various items within a project or workflow. Here's how a checkbox column can help in Hoicko:

1.       Task Management: The checkbox column is commonly used to represent task completion. By adding a checkbox to each row/item, team members can easily mark tasks as completed or unfinished. This provides a quick visual indication of the progress of each task, making it easier to manage and prioritize work.

2.       Status Tracking: Checkbox columns can also be used to track the status of specific items. For example, you can use it to indicate whether an order has been shipped, an issue has been resolved, or a milestone has been achieved. This helps keep everyone on the same page regarding the current status of different items in the project.

3.       Filtering and Sorting: With checkbox columns, you can filter and sort items based on their completion status. This allows you to quickly view all completed tasks, pending items, or items that require attention, making it easier to focus on specific aspects of the project.

4.       Automation: Checkbox columns can trigger automation based on their state. For instance, you can set up automation so that when a checkbox is marked as completed, it automatically moves the item to a different group or updates other columns accordingly. This helps streamline your workflow and reduces manual effort.

5.       Progress Monitoring: When used in combination with other columns, checkbox columns can help track the progress of a project. For instance, you can use the checkbox column to indicate task completion, and other columns like date columns to track due dates and timeline progress.

6.       Collaboration: Checkbox columns encourage collaboration among team members by providing a clear and concise way to communicate the status of tasks or items. Team members can easily see what's completed, what's pending, and what needs attention, fostering a sense of transparency and accountability.

7.       Customization: In Hoicko, you can customize checkbox columns to fit your specific needs. You can rename them to match your preferred terminology (e.g., "Done," "Complete," "Yes," "No," etc.), and you can also add labels or color-coding to further enhance their visual representation.

Overall, the checkbox column in Hoicko is a versatile tool that enhances task and project management, enabling teams to stay organized, track progress efficiently, and collaborate effectively.

6. Checklist column

In Hoicko, a checklist column is a feature that helps users track and manage tasks, subtasks, or items within a specific project or task. It's a useful tool for breaking down complex tasks into smaller, more manageable steps and keeping track of progress. Here's how a checklist column can be helpful in Hoicko:

1.       Task Breakdown: A checklist allows you to break down larger tasks or projects into smaller subtasks. This breakdown helps in organizing and understanding the various components of a project, making it easier to delegate and assign responsibilities.

2.       Clear Progress Tracking: As you complete individual items on the checklist, you can check them off. This provides a clear visual representation of the progress made on a task. It also allows you to quickly see which tasks are completed, pending, or still in progress.

3.       Collaboration and Transparency: Team members can collaborate on the same task by updating the checklist. Everyone involved can view the checklist, which fosters transparency and keeps the entire team informed about the status of each subtask.

4.       Due Date and Reminders: Each item in the checklist can have its due date, enabling better time management and ensuring that deadlines are met. Reminders can be set up to notify team members about approaching due dates.

5.       Recurring Tasks: For tasks that need to be done on a regular basis, you can set up recurring checklists to automate the process. This is helpful for tasks that follow a consistent pattern or need to be repeated periodically.

6.       Templates for Repetitive Work: If you have tasks or projects with similar checklists, you can save time by using templates. Create a checklist template once and apply it to similar projects in the future.

7.       Integrations and Automations: Checklists can be integrated with other features and third-party apps through Hoicko's automation capabilities. For example, you can automatically create checklists when a new task is added or have actions triggered when specific checklist items are completed.

8.       Data and Analytics: Hoicko provides data insights, such as completion rates, time taken to complete tasks, and overall progress. This data helps in analyzing team performance and identifying areas for improvement.

Overall, the checklist column in Hoicko is a versatile tool that enhances task management, streamlines workflows, and improves collaboration within teams. It ensures that nothing falls through the cracks and helps you stay on top of your projects with ease.

7. Comment column

In Hoicko, a comment column plays a crucial role in enhancing collaboration and communication within the platform. The comment column allows users to leave comments and notes related to specific items or tasks in the Hoicko board. Here are some ways a comment column can be helpful:

1.        The comment column allows team members to provide updates, share ideas, and discuss specific tasks or projects directly on the board. This eliminates the need for long email threads or separate communication tools and keeps all discussions in one centralized location.

2.       Clarity and Context: By leaving comments on tasks or items, team members can provide additional context or clarification. This ensures that everyone involved in the project has a clear understanding of the task's requirements and any relevant information.

3.       Collaboration and Feedback: The comment column facilitates collaboration, as team members can ask questions, seek feedback, or offer suggestions on various tasks. This promotes an interactive and open work environment.

4.       Documentation: Comments act as a form of documentation, capturing important discussions and decisions made during the project's lifecycle. This can be beneficial for future reference, auditing, or knowledge sharing.

5.       Real-Time Updates: The comment column allows for real-time updates, so team members can stay informed about the latest developments and respond promptly when needed.

6.       Notifications and Mentions: When someone leaves a comment and mentions another team member using "@" followed by their name, that team member receives a notification. This ensures that important messages and requests don't get overlooked.

7.       Client Communication: For agencies or companies working with clients through Hoicko, the comment column provides a platform for clients to provide feedback, ask questions, or review progress on specific tasks or projects.

8.       Threaded Discussions: Comments in Hoicko often support threaded discussions, meaning that you can reply to specific comments, keeping related conversations organized and easy to follow.

9.       Issue Tracking and Resolution: If there are any issues or challenges with a particular task, team members can use the comment column to discuss the problem, propose solutions, and track the status of issue resolution.

Overall, the comment column in Hoicko fosters effective communication, promotes collaboration, and enhances project management by providing a central hub for team discussions and updates related to tasks and projects. It keeps everyone on the same page and streamlines the workflow, making it an indispensable tool for successful project management.

8. Company Code column

9. Connected board column

Here's how the Connected Board column can help in Hoicko:

1.      Centralized Data Management: Connected Boards enable you to centralize and organize data across multiple boards. You can have separate boards for different projects, departments, or clients, and then use the Connected Board column to link relevant items between those boards. This can help prevent duplication of data and ensure that information is consistent and up to date across all boards.

2.       Cross-Board Collaboration: Teams often work on interconnected tasks or projects that span multiple boards. The Connected Board column facilitates collaboration by providing a way to reference and access information from other boards directly within the current board. It helps team members gain insights into related work without having to switch between different boards.

3.       Dependency Tracking: When different tasks or projects depend on each other, the Connected Board column can be used to establish these dependencies visually. By linking items across boards, you can create parent-child relationships or define task dependencies, making it easier to understand how progress in one area affects others.

4.       Data Synchronization: Changes made in one board linked through the Connected Board column can automatically be reflected in the connected board. For instance, if you update the status of a task in one board, that change will be mirrored in the connected board, ensuring that everyone is working with the most current information.

5.       Efficient Workflows: The Connected Board column streamlines workflows by enabling you to access relevant information from other boards without leaving the current context. This can save time and reduce the need to jump between different boards, resulting in a more efficient and focused work environment.

10. Date column

In Hoicko, a date column is a type of column that allows you to add and display dates or date-related information within your boards and items. It is a powerful feature that helps you track and manage time-sensitive tasks, events, and deadlines in your projects. Here are some ways a date column can be beneficial in Hoicko:

1.       Deadline tracking: You can set due dates for tasks and projects using the date column. This helps you and your team stay on top of important deadlines, ensuring that no crucial task gets overlooked.

2.       Scheduling: The date column allows you to schedule events, appointments, or meetings. You can easily see upcoming events and plan your team's workload accordingly.

3.       Time-sensitive data organization: If you have time-sensitive information, such as the date of purchase, expected delivery date, or project start date, the date column can help you organize and filter this data efficiently.

4.       Dependency management: You can use dates in conjunction with other columns to create dependencies between tasks. For example, you can set up an automation that triggers an action when a task's due date approaches.

5.       Date-based notifications: With Hoicko's automation feature, you can set up custom notifications based on date-related events. For instance, you can receive reminders when a due date is approaching or when a task is overdue.

6.       Date calculations: Hoicko allows you to perform calculations with date columns, which can be handy for determining the duration between two dates or calculating milestone deadlines.

7.       Filtering and sorting: You can easily filter and sort your data based on date columns, making it effortless to find relevant information and prioritize tasks based on their due dates.

8.       Time tracking: If you're using Hoicko to track hours worked on tasks or projects, you can use the date column in conjunction with other columns like a numbers column to log time entries.

9.       Activity and progress monitoring: The date column helps you track the history of when changes were made to an item, providing an audit trail and helping you monitor progress over time.

Overall, the date column is a versatile and essential tool for managing projects, tasks, and data that have time-related aspects in Hoicko, ensuring that you and your team stay organized and meet important deadlines efficiently.