Configuring panels and columns

Everything in this chapter happens in Project settings → Apps → SmartLists for Jira, and is done by a project administrator.

The landing page lists the panels already configured for the project, showing each panel's name, its work types and its columns. From here, you can create a panel, edit one, or delete one.

Creating a panel

Select Create Panel.

Field

Required

What it does

Panel Name

Yes

The name shown at the top of the SmartList on a work item, and in the panel picker

Work Types

No

Restricts this panel to the selected work types. Leave blank, and the panel can be applied to any work type in the project.

Columns

At least one

The structure of the table

If you try to save without a name, you will see "Please provide a name for the panel". If you try to save without any columns, you will see "No columns have been created for this panel".

Add columns with Add Column, then select Create. Once the panel is saved, the Templates tab appears - see Templates and auto-population.

Switching tabs does not save. A banner warns you when you have unsaved changes: "You have unsaved changes. Ensure these are saved before leaving or switching to the Templates tab." Save before you move.

Adding a column

Add Column opens the Create Column dialog. Three fields are always present:

Field

Notes

Column Name

Required. Appears as the table header on the work item, and is how the column is referenced in a calculation formula

Column Type

Required. One of nine types, below

Column Required?

A toggle. When on, users cannot save the SmartList until this column has a value in every row

Depending on the type you pick, extra settings appear below.

The nine column types

Type

What the user sees

Extra settings

Footer options

Text

A free-text box

-

-

Date

A date picker

-

-

Number

A numeric box that accepts whole numbers only

-

Average, Min, Max, Sum

Decimal

A numeric box that accepts decimals

-

Average, Min, Max, Sum

Select

A single-select dropdown

Options list (Display Label + Value)

-

Checkbox

A group of checkboxes; more than one can be ticked

Options list (Display Label only)

Percentage Checked, Percentage Unchecked

User

A multi-select people picker

-

-

File

A multi-select list of files already attached to the work item

-

-

Calculation

A read-only computed value

Formula, Decimal Places

Average, Min, Max, Sum

Select columns

Add each option with a Display Label and a Value, then select Add Option. The label is what users see in the dropdown; the value is what gets stored - which matters if you plan to read the data from automation or a script.

By default, the value mirrors the label as you type it, so you only need to change the value if you want them to differ.

Duplicate labels are not blocked. The app will let you add two options with the same label, and users will not be able to tell them apart. Check your list before saving.

Checkbox columns

Checkbox columns take a list of labels only - no separate value field. Users can tick more than one option per row.

Use the footer to show the percentage of rows in which options are checked or unchecked.

Number and Decimal columns

Use these for anything you want to total or feed into a calculation.

Number accepts whole numbers only. If users need decimals, choose Decimal.

User columns

A User column is always multi-select. Users pick one or more people from Jira's standard people picker.

File columns

A File column lets a user associate files with a row. The files must already be attached to the work item - the column offers a list of the work item's existing attachments; it does not upload anything. Once saved, the entries become clickable links that open the file.

File columns cannot be filled in from the template editor, only on a real work item. In the template editor the column shows "This column can only be set on a work item".

Calculation columns

Calculation columns compute a value from the other numeric columns in the same row. They are always read-only for users.

Configure them with a formula and a Decimal Places value (default 2). The formula must be validated before the column can be saved. See Calculations and totals for the full formula reference.

Column footers

Number, Decimal, Calculation and Checkbox columns can show a total beneath the table. Choose one from the Footer type dropdown under Column Footer Configuration:

  • Number, Decimal, Calculation - No Footer, Average, Min, Max, Sum

  • Checkbox - No Footer, Percentage Checked, Percentage Unchecked

The default is No Footer. See Calculations and totals for exactly how each is displayed.

Reordering columns

The columns table has a Ranking column with up and down arrows. Use them to set the left-to-right order of the columns on the work item.

Reordering saves immediately - there is no separate save step for a rank change.

Editing and deleting

Each column row has edit and delete buttons. Deleting asks you to confirm: "Delete Column: {name}?"

Each panel in the panel list has the same. Deleting a panel warns, "Are you sure you want to delete panel {name}? This action cannot be undone."

Deleting a panel does not remove SmartLists already on work items - but with the panel gone there is no longer anything to render them. Export first if the data matters.

Remember that changing a panel's columns does not change SmartLists that already exist on work items. See Overview.