Custom columns

Ultrathink's Kanban board starts with four default columns (Backlog, To Do, In Progress, Done), but you can customise the board to match your workflow. Add new columns, rename existing ones, change their colours and icons, reorder them by dragging, or delete columns you no longer need.

All column configuration is done from Settings > Display > Kanban.

Opening column settings

1. Click Settings in the sidebar
2. Select the Display section
3. Scroll down to the Kanban area

You will see a list of your current columns in the order they appear on the board. Each column shows its name, colour, and icon.

Adding a new column

1. In the Kanban settings area, click Add Column
2. A new column appears at the end of the list with a default name
3. Configure the column's properties (see the section below)
4. The new column appears on your Kanban board immediately

You can add as many columns as your workflow requires. Common additions include:

• Review: for tasks waiting on feedback
• Blocked: for tasks that cannot proceed
• QA: for tasks being tested
• Waiting: for tasks dependent on someone else

Configuring column properties

Each column has several properties you can set:

Property	Description	Options
Name	The title shown at the top of the column	Any text
Colour	A colour indicator on the column header	Choose from 20 colours
Icon	An optional emoji next to the column name	Any emoji, or leave blank
Width	How much horizontal space the column takes	Narrow, Medium, Wide

Setting the column name

1. Click on the column's name field in the settings
2. Type the new name
3. Press Enter or click away to save

Column names should be short and descriptive. They appear at the top of the Kanban board, so long names may get truncated depending on the column width.

Choosing a colour

1. Click the colour swatch next to the column name
2. Select from the palette of 20 available colours
3. The colour updates immediately

Colours appear as a strip on the column header. They help you distinguish columns at a glance and can convey meaning (for example, red for blocked tasks, green for completed work).

Adding an icon

1. Click the icon field next to the column name
2. Type or paste an emoji
3. The icon appears beside the column name on the board

Icons are optional. If you do not set one, the column displays its name without any icon.

Adjusting column width

1. Find the width setting for the column
2. Select one of the three options:

Width	Description
Narrow	Takes less horizontal space; good for columns with few tasks
Medium	The default width; suitable for most columns
Wide	Takes more horizontal space; useful for columns with many tasks

Choose widths based on how many tasks you expect in each column. High-traffic columns like In Progress benefit from a wider setting, while Done can often be narrow.

Reordering columns

The order of columns in the settings list matches the order they appear on the Kanban board, from left to right.

To change the order:

1. In the Kanban settings area, find the column you want to move
2. Click and hold the drag handle on the left side of the column row
3. Drag the column up or down to its new position
4. Release to drop it in place

The board updates immediately to reflect the new column order. Most workflows arrange columns left to right in the order tasks move through them (for example, Backlog on the far left, Done on the far right).

Renaming columns

To rename an existing column:

1. Go to Settings > Display > Kanban
2. Click on the column's name field
3. Clear the current name and type the new one
4. Press Enter or click away to save

The board updates immediately. Any tasks in that column remain there; only the column header text changes.

You can also rename the default columns. For example, you might rename "Backlog" to "Ideas" or "To Do" to "Up Next" to better reflect your terminology.

Deleting columns

If you no longer need a column, you can remove it:

1. Go to Settings > Display > Kanban
2. Find the column you want to delete
3. Click the Delete button (or trash icon) next to the column
4. Confirm the deletion

What happens to tasks in a deleted column

When you delete a column, all tasks that were in it are moved to the Backlog column automatically. No tasks are lost or deleted; they are simply relocated.

If you want to reassign tasks before deleting a column:

1. Go to the Kanban board
2. Drag each task from the column you plan to delete into the appropriate column
3. Once the column is empty, delete it from settings

Note: You cannot delete all columns. The board must have at least one column at all times.

Column configuration reference

Here is a summary of all column properties and where to find them:

Property	Location	Default value
Name	Settings > Display > Kanban	"New Column" (for added columns)
Colour	Settings > Display > Kanban	Grey
Icon	Settings > Display > Kanban	None
Width	Settings > Display > Kanban	Medium

Tips for organising columns

• Keep it simple: start with fewer columns and add more only when you find you need them. Too many columns can make the board harder to scan.
• Use colour consistently: assign colours that have meaning in your workflow (for example, blue for planning stages, orange for active work, green for completion).
• Name columns clearly: use short, action-oriented names. "In Review" is clearer than "Waiting for review from the team".
• Review periodically: as your workflow evolves, revisit your column setup. Remove columns that are not being used and add ones that fill gaps.

Next steps

• Kanban board setup: learn about the default board layout and drag and drop
• Task workflows: move tasks through statuses and filter your board
• Due dates and priorities: set deadlines and track upcoming work