Basic Fields
Basic fields are the most commonly used column types in Copera Boards. They handle straightforward data entry --- from short text labels to formatted numbers and date pickers. Nearly every board you create will rely on one or more of these field types.
Text
The Text field stores a single line of plain text. Use it for item names, short descriptions, identifiers, or any content that fits comfortably on one line.
- Value type: String
- Default behavior: An empty text input that accepts any characters.
- Typical uses: Task names, product titles, short notes, reference codes.
Text fields are the default type assigned to the first column of every new table. You can change the text alignment to left, center, or right through the column settings.
Paragraph
The Paragraph field provides a rich text editor for longer-form content. Unlike the single-line Text field, Paragraph supports formatting such as bold, italic, lists, and links.
- Value type: String (rich text stored internally)
- Default behavior: Opens an expandable rich text editor when clicked.
- Typical uses: Detailed descriptions, meeting notes, requirements, feedback comments.
Because Paragraph content can be lengthy, the cell in the board view shows a truncated preview. Click or expand the cell to see and edit the full content.
Number
The Number field stores numeric values and provides extensive formatting options to display them exactly the way you need.
- Value type: Number
- Default behavior: Accepts numeric input with optional decimal places.
- Typical uses: Quantities, scores, percentages, measurements, order counts.
Configuration Options
| Option | Description |
|---|---|
| Decimal places | Set the number of digits shown after the decimal point (0, 1, 2, etc.) |
| Thousands separator | Choose between no separator, space, period, or comma as the thousands grouping character |
| Prefix | Add a string before the number (e.g., "#" or "Qty:") |
| Suffix | Add a string after the number (e.g., "%", "kg", "units") |
| Allow negative | Enable or disable negative values |
| Abbreviation | Abbreviate large numbers with K (thousands), M (millions), or B (billions) |
| Progress bar | Display a visual progress bar based on the value |
Separator Formats
Copera supports multiple number formatting conventions to match your region:
| Format | Example |
|---|---|
| None | 1234567.89 |
| Space + comma | 1 234 567,89 |
| Space + period | 1 234 567.89 |
| Period + comma | 1.234.567,89 |
| Comma + period | 1,234,567.89 |
Checkbox
The Checkbox field provides a simple boolean toggle --- checked or unchecked.
- Value type: Boolean
- Default behavior: An unchecked box that can be toggled with a single click.
- Typical uses: Completion status, approval flags, yes/no attributes, feature toggles.
Checkboxes are one of the fastest fields to interact with: just click the cell to toggle the state. In Kanban view, checked items can be grouped or filtered to separate completed work from pending work.
Date
The Date field lets you capture dates and optionally times, with a built-in date picker and configurable display formats.
- Value type: Date
- Default behavior: Opens a date picker calendar when clicked.
- Typical uses: Due dates, start dates, event dates, milestones, deadlines.
Display Formats
You can choose from multiple date and date-time formats:
| Category | Examples |
|---|---|
| Date only | MM/dd/yyyy (US), dd/MM/yyyy (EU), yyyy-MM-dd (ISO) |
| Date + time (12h) | MM/dd/yyyy h:mm a, dd/MM/yyyy h:mm a, yyyy-MM-dd h:mm a |
| Date + time (24h) | MM/dd/yyyy HH:mm, dd/MM/yyyy HH:mm, yyyy-MM-dd HH:mm |
Select the format that matches your team's regional preference or the precision you need. Date fields are also used by the Calendar, Gantt, and Timeline board views to position items on the time axis.
Duration
The Duration field stores time-based values, making it ideal for tracking how long tasks, activities, or processes take.
- Value type: Number (stored in a base time unit)
- Default behavior: Accepts numeric input representing a duration.
- Typical uses: Time spent on tasks, estimated effort, billing hours, production cycles.
Duration Display Formats
Durations can be displayed in several formats:
| Format | Example |
|---|---|
| h:mm | 3:45 |
| h:mm:ss | 3:45:30 |
| h:mm:ss.s | 3:45:30.5 |
| h:mm:ss.ss | 3:45:30.50 |
| h:mm:ss.sss | 3:45:30.500 |
| d h | 2d 5h |
| d h m | 2d 5h 30m |
| d h:mm | 2d 5:30 |
| d h:mm:ss | 2d 5:30:00 |
| d h m s | 2d 5h 30m 15s |
Choose the level of precision that makes sense for your workflow. For sprint-level planning, d h or d h m are common. For time-tracking or billing, h:mm or h:mm:ss are typically preferred.
Next Steps
- Selection Fields --- Categorize items with status, dropdown, and label fields.
- People & Relations --- Assign team members and link rows across tables.
- Field Types Overview --- Return to the full list of all 29 field types.