Layouts
Reading time: 11 minutes
Last updated
Reading time: 11 minutes
Last updated
In short: Layouts allow you to customize how data is organized and displayed based on your needs. Different layouts like Board, List, Table, Calendar, and others help you manage work effectively, depending on the phase of your project. You can switch between layouts for various objects and optimize your workflow, selecting the best view for your work or timelines. Each layout is tailored for specific use cases to ensure clarity and productivity.
In Timebook, layouts are customizable tools to organize and display different types of data. Whether working with Work Items, Goals, or other key objects, layouts allow you to present information in a format that best suits your workflow. They enable you to shift between different perspectives, making it easier to focus on the details or get a high-level overview depending on your needs.
Each layout is tailored to offer specific advantages. For instance, some layouts might provide a structured, detailed breakdown of tasks, while others are better suited for visualizing progress over time or organizing related data. The flexibility of layouts helps you find the most effective way to work with your data, whether you’re strategizing, conducting discovery work, or executing tasks.
Layouts can be found in most Timebook modules and are always accessible via the [Manage view] button, typically located in the top-right corner of the module’s working area. By clicking this button and selecting one of the available layouts, you can instantly see how your data presentation changes. Remember that not all layouts are available in every module—only the ones that are most practical for the specific context.
Once you apply a particular layout and adjust the data using filtering or grouping options, you can save this customized view for later use.
We have a dedicated article on creating and editing such views, both private and public. For more information, see Views
The Board layout organizes items into columns, each representing a value of the parameter you select in the [Group by] dropdown, such as Status or Priority. It’s an intuitive way to track progress and manage items as they move through different stages of your workflow.
The Board layout also offers the [Slice by] feature, which lets you further refine your data by applying a secondary grouping within the primary columns, helping you break down data into more detailed categories. For more information, see Managing data
Sample scenario #1: This layout is useful when managing tasks in a Kanban-style workflow, with columns like “To do,” “In progress,” and “Done,” allowing you to easily visualize the status of each task.
Sample scenario #2: This layout is also great for team collaboration, where tasks can be grouped by assignee. This makes it easy for team members to see their responsibilities and track what’s ready for the next phase.
The List layout presents your data in a simple, linear format, showing each item as a row. This layout is perfect for when you need a clear, straightforward overview of your items, allowing you to focus on specific details without distraction.
Sample scenario #1: This layout is ideal when you need to review a large number of items at once. For example, you might use it to go through a backlog of tasks, enabling you to easily scan and prioritize work.
Sample scenario #2: This layout is also useful when applying detailed filtering or sorting options to your data. By organizing information in a list, you can quickly apply criteria such as due dates or assignees to find exactly what you’re looking for.
The Table layout presents your data in a grid, with rows representing individual items and columns displaying key properties such as Status, Assignee, or Priority. It’s ideal for when you need to view and compare multiple details of your items at a glance, providing a structured way to work with large sets of data.
While using the Table layout, you can customize which properties are displayed as columns by selecting options in the [Fields to show] section. You can choose from various properties to adjust the layout to your specific needs. This ensures that you always have the data that matters most in view.
Sample scenario #1: This layout is perfect for managing items with multiple properties. For example, you might use it to compare task statuses, priorities, and assignees side-by-side, making it easier to identify bottlenecks or overdue work.
Sample scenario #2: This layout is also useful when tracking fast-changing items. For instance, you can monitor various properties, such as statuses, due dates, and assignees, all in one view—making it easier to ensure that everything stays on track.
The Calendar layout displays your scheduled items on a calendar grid, making it perfect for visualizing how your work is distributed over time and for identifying any unscheduled tasks. Each item is represented by a line that spans the days it is scheduled for, giving you a clear view of when work is set to begin and end.
On the right side of the working area, you’ll find the [Unscheduled] drawer, which lists all items that still need to be scheduled. This layout is ideal for managing timelines and ensuring tasks are allocated properly across your calendar.
You can use several work-management features in the Calendar layout:
Drag and drop items from the [Unscheduled] drawer onto the calendar to schedule them for specific days.
Reschedule items easily by dragging them to a different day on the calendar grid.
Schedule your work for more than one day by dragging the edges of the line representing your item to extend its scheduled period.
Click on any item in the calendar to view its full details and make necessary adjustments.
Sample scenario #1: This layout is perfect for project planning. You can use it to schedule tasks across weeks or months, ensuring that work is balanced and no important tasks are overlooked.
Sample scenario #2: This layout is also helpful for managing timelines in fast-paced environments. By getting a clear view of upcoming tasks and their durations, you can prioritize effectively and make adjustments as needed to keep projects on track.
The Timeline layout provides a visual representation of your work along a chronological axis, offering a complete overview of how tasks progress over time. This layout is particularly useful for tracking the start and end dates of your items and understanding how they align in the broader scope.
Although the Timeline and Calendar layouts may seem similar, they serve different purposes. While the Calendar layout is focused on when work is scheduled, the Timeline layout emphasizes comparing start and end times, making it ideal for managing projects with complex sequences or dependencies.
You can use several work-management features in the Timeline layout:
Toggle between [Day/Week/Month/Quarter] views to adjust your perspective and focus on different timescales based on your needs.
Click anywhere on the grid to schedule your work. In the [Day] view, this will set both the start and end dates to the selected day.
Extend or shorten a scheduled period by dragging the edges of the horizontal line that represents your item to adjust its start or end dates.
Move scheduled items to different time slots without altering their duration by clicking and dragging the entire line to a new position on the grid.
Sample scenario #1: This layout is perfect for managing projects with multiple tasks that depend on each other. You can easily track when tasks begin and end, ensuring there are no overlaps or gaps that might affect the sequence.
Sample scenario #2: This layout is useful for managing long-term projects that span weeks or months. Zooming out to view your project over an extended period helps you visualize progress and adjust schedules as needed.
The Tree layout is ideal for visualizing and managing hierarchical relationships between items. If you need to view and organize parent-child structures, this layout is the best choice. It allows you to see how tasks and sub-tasks are connected, providing a clear view of dependencies and relationships.
A key feature of the Tree layout is the ability to easily adjust the hierarchy using drag-and-drop. In this layout, you can:
Promote an item by dragging it to the top row of the hierarchy.
Create sub-items by dragging and dropping one item onto another, turning it into a child item.
Reorder items within the same row by dragging them sideways to adjust their position.
To add new items in the Tree layout, simply press the [+] icon below an existing item to create a su-item directly beneath it.
The Tree layout functions like a canvas, offering zoom and scroll options to help you focus on different parts of your hierarchy. You can zoom in and out to adjust your view or scroll through your items to explore different branches of the task structure.
Sample scenario #1: This layout is perfect for managing projects where items have multiple layers of sub-items. For example, you can easily track how stories or features break down into specific tasks, with each item clearly organized under its parent.
Sample scenario #2: This layout is also helpful when creating and adjusting workflows that involve dependencies. By visualizing the hierarchy, you can ensure that sub-items are aligned properly and quickly adjust the relationships between items as the project evolves.
The Column layout displays all your items in a single, organized column on the left, with the details of a selected item shown in the working area on the right. This layout is perfect for quickly scanning through a list, then focusing on a specific item when needed.
The Column layout is particularly useful for getting an overview of your work, allowing you to quickly browse through items and immediately dive into their details without losing focus. It keeps your workspace clean, making it easier to manage items one by one.
Sample scenario #1: This layout is great when you need to go through a long list of tasks and quickly check the details of each without losing context. You can easily switch between tasks to get key information in just a few clicks.
Sample scenario #2: This layout is also practical when reviewing and updating task properties. For instance, if you’re managing a backlog, you can easily click through tasks to update their Status or Priority—all without leaving the same workspace.
The Story Map layout helps you manage work by highlighting high-level items, called Epics, and showing how lower-level items, such as Tasks, Stories, and Bugs, relate to them. If your data pool doesn’t include any items of the type Epic, this layout may not be the most effective option, as it is designed to provide a clear visual overview of how work is structured around these key items.
This layout also includes Releases, which are time frames for completing work displayed as horizontal rows. With intuitive drag-and-drop capabilities, Story Maps are a powerful tool for visualizing your team’s Epic progress and future plans.
You can use the following features in the Story Map layout:
Use the [Parking lot] section at the bottom to add or rearrange upcoming work. This area serves as a holding place for work that hasn’t yet been assigned to any of the Releases above. The [+ Work Item] button allows you to create additional items that can later be moved across the Story Map.
Open the [...] menu in the top-left corner of the [Parking lot] to add a new Release to your Story Map. Releases appear as horizontal blocks running across all Epic items. You can set date ranges for each Release and move items between them to plan work and track progress.
Promote regular items to Epics by dragging them to the top row with the other Epics. Likewise, you can convert Epics back into regular items by dragging them into one of the Releases.
You can also create Epics directly in the top row using the dedicated [+] button.
Sample scenario #1: This layout is perfect for planning and tracking product development. You can organize Epics as major features and see how they break down into tasks, stories, or bugs, ensuring that all necessary work is covered.
Sample scenario #2: This layout is useful when you’re preparing for a release. By organizing work into Epics and arranging them within time frames (Releases), you can easily visualize which tasks are critical and adjust priorities or schedules to stay on track.
The 2D Chart layout helps you visualize items in a matrix format by plotting them across two axes. The values for each axis are determined by the properties you select in the [X-axis] and [Y-axis] dropdowns.
This layout is ideal for analyzing how items are distributed across various properties, such as Project, Status, or Priority. With this layout, you can quickly identify patterns, such as which projects have the most work in progress or which team members are assigned the most high-priority tasks.
Each circle on the grid represents a set of items, with the number inside indicating how many items fall into that category. Clicking on a circle instantly highlights all related items in the left pane, making it easy to review the tasks associated with that group. Similarly, clicking on any item in the left pane highlights the corresponding circle on the grid, allowing you to quickly locate where it fits within the overall matrix.
Sample scenario #1: This layout is great for workload distribution analysis. For example, by selecting Assignee on the X-axis and Status on the Y-axis, you can easily spot which team members have too many tasks in progress or are overloaded with upcoming tasks.
Sample scenario #2: This layout is also helpful for project managers who want to compare task distribution across different projects. Selecting Project on one axis and Priority on the other allows you to assess which areas have the most critical tasks that need attention.