Workly lets you add custom columns to any project so you can track exactly the data your team needs. Beyond the built-in fields like status, priority, assignee, and due date, you can create your own fields with different data types.
Available field types
- Text — Free-form text for notes, links, or descriptions
- Number — Numeric values for budgets, estimates, or scores
- Single Select — A dropdown with predefined options (e.g. Department, Sprint)
- Multi Select — Multiple options can be selected at once (e.g. Tags, Labels)
- Date — Date picker for milestones, deadlines, or start dates
- People — Assign additional people beyond the main assignee (e.g. Reviewer, QA Lead)
Add a custom column
- Open a project in List view
- Click the + icon at the end of the column headers
- Select the field type you want
- Enter a field name
- For Select and Multi Select types, add your options with custom colours
- Click Create
The new column appears immediately in your List view, and the field is also available in the task detail panel.
Configure select options
For Single Select and Multi Select fields, you can customise each option:
- Add as many options as you need
- Assign a colour to each option using the colour picker
- Edit option names and colours after creation
- Delete options you no longer need
Coloured options appear as chips in both List view and the task detail panel, making it easy to scan your task list at a glance.
Edit a custom column
Click the column header to access edit options:
- Rename — Change the column name
- Edit options — Modify select/multi-select options and colours
- Delete — Remove the column and all its data
Show or hide columns
Not every team member needs to see every column. Use the Attribute Visibility dialog to toggle columns on or off:
- Open the project settings or column visibility menu
- Toggle each column’s visibility switch
- Hidden columns retain their data — they’re just not displayed
Custom fields in task details
Custom fields also appear in the task detail panel when you click on a task. You can view and edit all custom field values alongside the built-in fields like status, priority, and due date.
Reserved column names
The following names are reserved for built-in fields and cannot be used for custom columns: status, priority, assignee, due date, task name, created at, updated at, and created by.
Frequently asked questions
How do I add a custom column to a Workly project?
Open your project in List view, click the + icon at the end of the column headers, select a field type (text, number, select, multi-select, date, or people), enter a name, and click Create.
Can I add coloured labels to tasks?
Yes, create a Single Select or Multi Select custom field and assign colours to each option. The coloured options appear as chips in your task list, making it easy to visually categorise tasks.
Can I hide custom columns I don’t need?
Yes, use the Attribute Visibility dialog to toggle columns on or off. Hidden columns retain their data — they’re just not displayed in the list view.
