Kanban Boards & Task Management
Visual project management with drag-and-drop task boards, priority levels, and built-in timers
What You'll Learn
- Navigate the four-column Kanban board
- Drag and drop tasks between columns
- Understand task cards and what they show
- Create and edit tasks manually
- Use priority levels and assignments
- How tasks auto-sync project status
Board Layout
Every project in WorkCentral has a Kanban board with four fixed columns. Tasks created from accepted quotes start in the "To Do" column automatically.
To Do
Not Started
In Progress
In Progress
Review
Review
Done
Completed
Additional Statuses
Two statuses don't have their own columns — they overlay onto existing ones:
- Blocked — Task stays in its current column but displays a red alert banner with the blocking reason.
- •Cancelled — Terminal status. The task is removed from active board view.
Drag and Drop
Move tasks between columns by dragging and dropping their cards. The task's status automatically updates to match the new column.
Grab and move — Click and hold any task card, then drag it to a different column. The task's status updates instantly.
Column ordering — New tasks are added to the bottom of their column. You can reorder tasks within a column by dragging them to a new position.
Moving to "Done"
When you move a task to the Done column, it's automatically marked as complete and the completion timestamp is recorded. Any running timer on the task is stopped and a time entry is created. Moving a task back out of Done reopens it and clears the completion timestamp.
Permission note: You need task management permissions or be the assigned user to move tasks between columns.
Task Card Anatomy
Each card on the board shows key information at a glance so you can manage your work without opening every task.
Task Title
HighDescription preview (first 80 characters)...
What Each Element Shows
Quick actions are available at the bottom of each card: View (opens the detail page), Block/Unblock, and Edit (opens the edit form).
Creating Tasks
You can create tasks manually from the Kanban board or the project page. Tasks created from accepted quotes are generated automatically.
Click "Add Task"
From the Kanban board or project page, click the Add Task button to open the creation form.
Fill in the Required Fields
Every task needs at minimum a project, title, priority, and board column:
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Project | Select from your accessible projects (required) |
| Title | A clear, descriptive name for the task (required) |
| Priority | Low, Medium, High, or Urgent (defaults to Medium) |
| Board Column | Starting column on the board (defaults to To Do) |
Add Optional Details
You can also fill in these optional fields:
- •Description — Detailed notes about the work to be done
- •Estimated Hours — Budget estimate for the task (0–999.99 hours)
- •Hourly Rate — Pre-populated from the project's default rate
- •Due Date — Must be today or in the future
- •Assigned To — Assign a team member from your organization
Pro Tip
Tasks created from accepted quotes already have estimated hours and rates from the quote line items. Manual tasks are best for work that wasn't in the original scope.
Task Detail Page
Click a task's title on the Kanban board to open its full detail page with everything you need to manage the work.
Full Description
The complete task description without truncation.
Time Entries
All time entries logged against this task, both from timers and manual entries.
Timer Controls
Start, pause, resume, and stop the task timer directly from the detail page.
Block / Unblock
Block the task with a reason or unblock it when the blocker is resolved.
Quote Link
If created from a quote, a link back to the originating quote and line item.
Edit & Delete
Modify task details or delete the task (if no time entries are linked).
Priority Levels
Every task has a priority level that appears as a color-coded badge on the card. New tasks default to Medium priority.
Nice-to-have items. No immediate deadline or pressure.
Standard work. This is the default priority for new tasks.
Important work that needs attention soon. Prioritize over medium tasks.
Critical work requiring immediate attention. Address before all other tasks.
Blocking Tasks
When work on a task is stalled — waiting on a client response, a dependency, or external resources — you can block it with a reason.
Block a Task
Click the Block button on a task card and enter a reason (3–500 characters) explaining why work is stalled. The task stays in its current column but displays a red "Blocked" banner.
- •Any running timer is automatically stopped when a task is blocked
- •New timers cannot be started on blocked tasks
- •The description preview is replaced by the blocking reason
Unblock a Task
When the blocker is resolved, click Unblock. The task returns to "In Progress" status, the blocking reason is cleared, and timer controls become available again.
Build landing page
HighProject Status Auto-Sync
As you move tasks between columns, the parent project's status updates automatically to reflect overall progress.
| When Tasks Are... | Project Status Becomes |
|---|---|
| All tasks completed or cancelled | Completed |
| Any task in progress, review, or blocked | In Progress |
| All tasks not started | Not Started |
Automatic Updates
You don't need to manually update project status — it syncs automatically based on your tasks. Focus on moving task cards and the project takes care of itself.
Note: Projects set to On Hold or Cancelled skip auto-updates. They must be manually unlocked before task-based syncing resumes.
You're Ready to Manage Projects Visually
With Kanban boards, you have everything you need to organize, track, and complete your project work:
- Drag and drop tasks across four status columns
- Track time with built-in timers right on the board
- Block and unblock tasks as work progresses
- Let project status update itself automatically