Tables

Tables are the core data containers within a Copera board. Every board starts with at least one table, and you can add as many additional tables as you need. Think of tables like sheets in a spreadsheet --- each one holds its own set of columns and rows, but they all live inside the same board and can be connected through linking columns.

What Is a Table?

A table is a structured collection of columns (fields) and rows (items). Each column has a specific type (text, date, status, number, etc.) that determines what kind of data it stores. Rows represent individual items --- tasks, contacts, orders, or whatever your board tracks.

When you create a new board, Copera automatically creates a first table for you. You can rename it, add columns, and start filling in rows right away.

Working with Multiple Tables

Many projects require more than one category of data. For example, a product launch board might have separate tables for "Tasks", "Milestones", and "Stakeholders". Instead of creating three separate boards, you can keep all of this data organized under one board with multiple tables.

Creating a New Table

To add a table to your board:

1. Look for the + button next to the existing table tabs at the top of the board.
2. Click it to create a new table.
3. Enter a name for the table.

The new table starts with a default set of columns. You can customize it by adding, removing, or reordering columns to fit the data you need to track.

Switching Between Tables

Table tabs appear at the top of the board area. Click on any tab to switch to that table. The currently active table is highlighted. Each table maintains its own set of views, filters, and sort settings, so switching tables shows you the data and layout specific to that table.

Renaming a Table

To rename a table, right-click the table tab or open the table settings menu. Enter the new name and confirm. Table names should be descriptive enough that anyone on the team immediately understands what data the table contains.

Reordering Tables

You can drag and drop table tabs to change their order. This lets you put the most frequently used tables first for quick access.

Table Slices

Table slices are filtered views of a table that appear as separate tabs alongside your regular tables. They provide a way to show a focused subset of a table's data without creating a separate table or duplicating rows.

What Are Table Slices?

A table slice is essentially a saved filter on a table. It shows only the rows that match specific criteria --- for example, "all tasks assigned to me", "overdue items", or "high-priority requests". The underlying data still lives in the original table, but the slice gives you a dedicated tab that always shows just the rows you care about.

Table slices are especially useful when:

• Different team members need different views of the same data. A support team board might have slices for "My Tickets", "Unassigned Tickets", and "Escalated Tickets" --- all pointing at the same table but filtered differently.
• You want quick access to a common filter. Instead of applying the same filter every time you open a table, create a slice that is always one click away.
• You need to share a focused view with stakeholders. Give a client or manager access to a slice that shows only the items relevant to them, without exposing the full table.

How Table Slices Differ from Views

	Table Slices	Views
What they filter	Rows (which items appear)	Layout (how items are displayed)
Appear as	Separate tabs alongside tables	View options within a table
Data source	A specific table's rows, filtered	All rows in the current table
Use case	Show a subset of rows	Change the visual layout (list, kanban, gantt, etc.)

Table slices and views work together. Once you open a slice, you can still switch between different view types (List, Kanban, Gantt, etc.) within that slice. The slice controls which rows you see; the view controls how you see them.

Creating a Table Slice

1. Open the board settings or table configuration menu.
2. Select Create Table Slice.
3. Choose the source table that the slice will filter.
4. Define the filter conditions --- for example, "Status equals In Progress" or "Assignee is me".
5. Give the slice a descriptive name.
6. The slice appears as a new tab alongside your regular tables.

Editing and Deleting Table Slices

You can update a slice's filters or rename it at any time from the slice settings menu. Deleting a slice removes only the filtered view --- no underlying data is affected. The rows remain in the original table.

Connecting Tables with Linking Columns

When you have multiple tables in a board, you can create relationships between them using the Linking column type. A linking column lets you reference rows from one table inside another table. For example, you can link tasks in a "Tasks" table to milestones in a "Milestones" table, creating a clear relationship between individual work items and broader goals.

Once tables are linked, you can use Lookup columns to pull specific field values from linked rows into the current table, and Rollup columns to aggregate data from linked rows (sums, counts, averages, etc.).

Learn more about field types in Field Types.

Best Practices

• Keep related data in the same board. If two categories of data are closely related (tasks and milestones, contacts and companies), put them in separate tables within one board rather than creating separate boards.
• Use descriptive table names. Clear names like "Sprint Tasks", "Client Contacts", or "Inventory Items" help everyone on the team find the right data quickly.
• Use table slices for common filters. If you find yourself applying the same filter repeatedly, save time by creating a slice.
• Link tables to avoid data duplication. Instead of copying data between tables, use linking and lookup columns to keep a single source of truth.