# Table columns and field types

> Add, rename, retype, reorder, resize and delete table columns, and choose field types such as Number, Date, Single select and Related records.

Source: https://plexiidesk.com/help/widget-table-columns
Section: Widgets > Numbers and data
Plans: All plans
Updated: 2026-10-10

Every column in a table has a name and a field type. The type decides what each cell holds and how you fill it in: a tick box for **Checkbox**, a date picker for **Date**, coloured options for **Single select**, and so on. A new Table widget starts with two columns, **Name** (Short text) and **Done** (Checkbox), and you can change both.

## Before you start

- Columns are edited in the **Table** view, where the header row is. If your table shows another view, click **Table** in the row of view buttons at the top. See [Six views of every table](https://plexiidesk.com/help/table-views).
- Column editing works the same on every plan.

## Add a column

1. In the Table view, click the **+** at the right end of the header row (its tooltip says **Add column**).
2. Choose a field type from the list.

The new column appears at the right end of the table, named after its type, such as **Date**. Click its name to rename it, as described below.

### Insert a column in a particular place

1. Right-click the header of the column you want the new one beside.
2. Choose **Insert column left** or **Insert column right**.
3. Pick a field type from the list.

To close the menu without adding a column, press `Esc` or click anywhere else.

> **Tip:**
> You can also have AI suggest the columns a table needs, based on a description of what it is for. See [Build a table with AI](https://plexiidesk.com/help/widget-table-ai).

## Field types

| Type | What a cell holds | How you fill it in |
| --- | --- | --- |
| **Short text** | One line of text, such as a name or a title | Click and type. `Enter` saves. |
| **Long text** | Longer notes | Click and type. |
| **Rich text** | Longer notes; in a table cell you type it as plain text | Click and type. |
| **Number** | A number | Click and type a number. |
| **Checkbox** | Ticked or not | Click the box. |
| **Single select** | One option from a list you set up | Click the cell and choose an option, or **(none)** to clear it. |
| **Multi-select** | Any number of options from a list you set up | Click the cell and tick the options you want. |
| **Date** | A date | Click the cell and pick a date. Clear it to leave the cell empty. |
| **Attachment** | One or more files | Click **attach** and choose files. |
| **Related records** | Links to rows in another table | Click **link** and choose rows. |
| **Office file** | Links to documents in Office | Click **Office file** and choose a document. |

The type also decides what the column can do elsewhere. **Kanban** lanes come from a Single select column, and **Calendar** and **Gantt** use Date columns. See [Six views of every table](https://plexiidesk.com/help/table-views).



## Edit a column

Click a column's name in the header row. Its tooltip says **Click to edit · right-click for more**. A small panel opens with:

- **Column name**: type a new name. The header changes as you type.
- **Type**: choose a different field type.
- **Options**: for Single select and Multi-select columns.
- **Linked table**, **Display column** and **Allow multiple links**: for Related records columns.
- **Delete column**.

Click anywhere outside the panel to close it.

### Change a column's type

1. Click the column's name.
2. Under **Type**, choose the new field type.

The column keeps its name and width. Existing values carry over where they make sense between **Short text**, **Long text**, **Number**, **Date** and **Checkbox**. For example, text that reads as a number becomes that number, and text that reads as a date becomes that date. Changing to or from **Rich text**, **Single select**, **Multi-select**, **Attachment**, **Related records** or **Office file** starts the column empty, so check before you change a column that already has values.

### Add and remove options

Single select and Multi-select columns choose from a list of options that you set up.

1. Click the column's name.
2. Under **Options**, type an option in the **New option…** box.
3. Press `Enter` or click **add**.
4. Repeat for each option.

Each option gets a colour automatically, in turn. The options keep the order you add them in, and Kanban lanes and groups follow that order.

To remove an option, click the **×** on its chip. Cells that used it show as empty.

### Link to another table with Related records

A Related records column links each row to rows in another table, such as linking tasks to the people doing them.

1. Add a **Related records** column, or change a column's type to it.
2. Click the column's name.
3. Under **Linked table**, choose the table to link to. The list shows the other tables in your workspace by name, so give your tables clear names.
4. Optional: under **Display column**, choose which column of the other table names each linked row. **(auto — first text column)** uses its first text column. You can pick a Short text, Long text or Number column.
5. Optional: untick **Allow multiple links** if each cell should link to only one row. It is ticked to start with.

Then, in any cell of the column:

1. Click **link**. A list of the other table's rows opens, headed with that table's name.
2. Click a row to link it. Linked rows appear in the cell as chips.
3. To remove a link, click the **×** on its chip (**Unlink**).

Until you choose a table, the column's cells say **Set target table**. If the other table has no rows yet, the list says **No rows in target table yet.**, and once every row is linked it says **All rows linked.**

### Reference Office files

An Office file column links rows to your Office documents, such as a brief or a budget sheet.

1. In a cell, click **Office file**. The **Reference an office file** window opens.
2. Type in **Search office files** to narrow the list, then click a document.

The document appears in the cell with its name. Click the name to open the document, or click **×** to remove it from the cell. To add another document to the same cell, click the **+** after the last one.

### Attach files

1. In an Attachment cell, click **attach**.
2. Choose one or more files and confirm.

Each file appears in the cell as a chip with its name. If a file cannot be attached, the cell says which one.

> **Note:**
> Attaching a file stores a copy of it in PlexiDesk. Clicking **×** on a chip removes that copy. The original file on your computer is not touched.

## Reorder and resize columns

- **Reorder**: press on the grip of dots at the left of a column's header (**Drag to reorder column**) and drag sideways. A line shows where the column will land. Let go to drop it.
- **Resize**: point at the right edge of a column's header until the pointer changes (**Drag to resize column**), then drag left or right.

The table keeps the new order and widths. The order also decides which column is a row's title in the other views: it is the first Short text column.

## Delete a column

Do one of these:

- Right-click the column's header and choose **Delete column**.
- Click the column's name and click **Delete column** at the bottom of the panel.

The column and its values disappear from the table. Undo does not bring a deleted column back, so check you have the right one first. In the right-click menu, **Delete column** is unavailable when it is the table's only column.

## Common questions

### Why can't I see the column headers?

The header row is in the **Table** view. Click **Table** in the row of view buttons at the top of the table.

### Why does my Single select column show nothing when I click a cell?

The column has no options yet. Click the column's name and add some under **Options**.

### Why do the cells in my Related records column say Set target table?

The column has not been linked to a table yet. Click the column's name and choose a table under **Linked table**.

### Which column is used as the title on cards and in Kanban?

The first Short text column. Drag a column ahead of the others to make it the title.

## Related tasks

- [Table widget](https://plexiidesk.com/help/widget-table)
- [Six views of every table](https://plexiidesk.com/help/table-views)
- [Filter and group table rows](https://plexiidesk.com/help/widget-table-filter-group)
- [Move around a table and copy cells](https://plexiidesk.com/help/widget-table-keyboard)
- [Import CSV, JSON or Excel into a table](https://plexiidesk.com/help/widget-table-import)
- More about this widget