Cards

Introduction to cards

Cards are the core element of . They represent what you want to manage and this may be activities, issues, changes, practically anything.

To edit or change cards, you need to have the requested privilege. See Boards privileges for more information on privileges management.

Below is a short video tutorial to learn basic operations with cards.

Video tutorial on basic cards management.

Cards management

Create cards

To add a card, just press the + icon or use the lane context menu (...) in the lane where you want create the card.

Remember that the card is not created until it is saved.

Move cards

Moving card can be done visually by clicking and dragging a card. Release mouse button in the position where you want to place the card. The target location shall be in the same board.

Alternatively, cards can be moved with the card context menu. To activate the menu, click the left mouse button when your mouse cursor is on the card. Move to Lane and Move to Board menu items allow to move the card to a target destination. This works on multiple cards too.

When using the move menu commands, cards are placed left top in the target lane.

Delete cards

Cards can be removed or archived. Removing deletes definitively the cards without any possibility to restore them. Archiving moves cards in a repository from where they can be later restored.

Deleting can be simply done by selecting one or more cards and pressing the Del key. Alternatively, cards can be deleted with the card context menu. To activate the menu, click the left mouse button when your mouse cursor is on the card, then choose Remove. This works on multiple cards too.

Archiving is performed with the card context menu. To activate the menu, click the left mouse button when your mouse cursor is on the card, then choose Archive. This works on multiple cards too.

Select multiple cards

To select more cards, click on the cards you want to select while holding down the Ctrl key or select a continuous range of cards holding down the Shift key while clicking on the first and the last of the range.

Selecting multiple cards works only for those placed in the same lane.

Cards details and settings

Remember that the card is not created until it is saved. Additionally, the changes done are lost if the card is not saved.

The card contains several fields that can be edited, organized in different forms: General, Appearance, Assignment, Attachments, History, Statistics, Component Cards, Estimation, Planning Pocker, Successors/Predecessors and Chat.

The following table, explains the available settings for General.

Setting	Use
Title	This allows to set the title of the card, appearing visually in the card.
Description	This field contains the detailed description of the card.
Priority	This allows to define the priority of the card. Priority levels and labels can be customized. See Settings for more details.
Assigned Resources	This field is read only and shows the resources (among board members) to whom the card is assigned. Resources are assigned in the Assignment form.
Due Date	This field is composed of two parts. In the first a date can fit, while in the second a time. These define the due date and time for the completion of the card. A visual sign is displayed on the card in the board to show a due date assignment.
Planned Start	This field is composed of two parts. In the first a date can fit, while in the second a time. These define the date and time by which the card is planned to start.
Planned Finish	This field is composed of two parts. In the first a date can fit, while in the second a time. These define the date and time by which the card is planned to finish. A visual sign is displayed on the card in the board to show a planned finish assignment.
External Link	This field is composed of two parts. The first one, starting with "http://", allows to insert an hyperlink to an external document or site. The second, starting with "Text", allow to enter a text to provide details about the link.
Lane	This is a read only field, displaying the name of the lane where the card is positioned.

The following table, explains the available settings for Appearance.

Setting	Use
Color	It enables to modify the background colour of the card. Note that this setting overwrite the background colour deriving from the Priority settings.

The following table, explains the available settings for Assignment.

Settings	Use
Resources	This setting allows to assign resources to a card (e.g. to ask them to perform the task). All the resources invited to the board are listed in the Unassigned column unless already assigned. Move resources to the Assigned column to assign them to the card. A notification is sent to the resource when assigned (see Notifications) and a visual sign is added to the card to show the assignment.

Attachments form allows to add file attachments to the card. To add an attachment, use either one of the following methods:

• drag & drop files in the upper dotted area of the form;
• use Select files... command to select the files with the OS file explorer.

After the files are placed, they are not attached yet. To achieve this result, use the Upload & Save command. The loading process status is shown in the File area of the form. The presence of attachments in a card is shown with a visual sign on it in the board.

History form reports the tracking of all the changes performed on the card. Author, date and time and message (explaining the change) are displayed in the form. Changes of board, lane position and to fields are logged.

Statistics form includes fields that are used in reporting.

Settings	Use
Commitment Point	This stores the date and time when the card was committed to be worked.
Work in Progress	This stores the date and time when the card start to be worked.
Delivery Point	This stores the date and time when the work for the card was completed.
Working Time %	This field contains the percentage of the time the card was worked while it remained in working status. This is a corrective factor.
Defective	This field is used to categorize the card as a defect.

These information are read-only unless the user has board layout privilege, see Boards privileges for more information on privileges management. To save changes, use the Save command.

Component Cards form allows to define cards related to the one edited that can act as a higher level grouping card. The functionality allows to add existing (+ icon) or create new cards. The related cards are independent from the one edited and can be edited, moved and managed independently. However, the relationship is highlighted in two ways:

• a grouping card has a different shape showing multiple overlaid cards;
• a card part of another, has an icon showing the relationship on it.

Estimation form includes fields that are used for information or in reporting.

Settings	Use
Story Points	This allow to assign a complexity rating for the card among one of the values listed. Possible values are set in board settings. It will be soon possible to define the estimation value collaboratively using planning poker feature soon (to be released yet).
Forecast Effort (hrs)	This field allows to enter the estimated number of hours needed to complete the task. The effort is not split per assigned resource but total.
Actual Effort (hrs)	This field allows to enter the actual number of hours used to complete the task. The effort is not split per assigned resource but total.

Planning Poker form allows to set the story point estimations in a collaborative way, using the approach known as "planning poker". Participants to a "planning poker session" can be all those invited to the board with the needed privileges (see Boards privileges for more information on privileges management).

Users with 'Edit Poker' privilege have the following commands to manage a "planning poker" session.

Planning poker session.

Settings	Use
Start New Session	This starts a "planning poker" session. When started, user can select the time available to vote (in seconds).
Stop Voting	This stops the "planning poker" session before the time set as available.
Cancel Session	This cancel a "planning poker" session. All votes are lost.

After a "planning poker" is ended (either because the voting time is elapsed, or because the session is stopped or because all participant voted) the system calculates shows the average vote based on those submitted. The session coordinator (the one who started the session) can now set the estimation by using the Apply Session command.

Planning poker results.

This opens a new box where the suggested estimation can be edited and a comment added (see figure below). By pressing the Apply command, the estimation is finally set in the Story Point value of the 'card'.

Successors/Predecessors form allows to define cards related to the one edited that can act as a Pivot Card . The functionality allows to add existing (+ icon) or create new cards. The related cards are independent from the one edited and can be edited, moved and managed independently. However, the relationship is highlighted in two ways:

• a sequencing order.  ;
• a card part of relations, has an Arrow icon showing the relationship on it. The central card (Pivot Card) shows two Arrows.

Chat form enables to chat about the card. Only members of the board with collaboration privilege can view the form and chat. See Boards privileges for more information on privileges management and Chat for more information on chat tool.

Cards commands

The availability of the commands described below depends on the privileges of the user. Only members with edit content privilege have access to those commands that allow to change the card.

Commands available from the General form of the card.

Settings	Use
Block / Unblock	It allows to warn about the corresponding status for the card. The blocked status is shown with a visual sign on the card in the board. To set the card blocked and later unblocked, the system prompts to enter a text that should contain the explanation of the action. This text is displayed on the board when passing with the mouse on the blocked sign.
Copy Card	This command copies a card in memory. The copied card can be pasted in a lane by using the lane context menu (see Lane commands).
Copy Card Link	This command copies a hyperlink to the card. The hyperlink can be pasted as text in mails, chats or any other object and allows to open EasyBoards® specifically focusing on the card.
Notify	This command allows to subscribe for notifications for the card. Accordingly, email notifications are sent to the subscribers when changes occur to the card. For more information on notifications, read Notifications.
Save	It allows to save the card content.
Save & Exit	It allows to save the card content and exit returning to the board.
Close	This command closes the card without saving changes.

Other cards commands are available from the context menu activated from the board, clicking the right mouse button when pointing the card.

Settings	Use
Open	It simply opens the card. The same occurs by double clicking with the left mouse button on the card from the board.
Copy	This command copies a card in memory. The copied card can be pasted in a lane by using the lane context menu (see Lane commands).
Copy Card Link	This command copies a hyperlink to the card. The hyperlink can be pasted as text in mails, chats or any other object and allows to open EasyBoards® specifically focusing on the card.
Edit	It opens the card for editing. The same occurs by double clicking with the left mouse button on the card from the board..
Priority	This allows to set Priority for the selected cards (one or more).
Appearance	This command allows to set the background colour for the selected cards (one or more).
Assign	This command allows to assign resources (board members) to the selected cards (one or more).
Attachments	This opens the card focused on the Attachments form where the user can add and remove file attachments for the card.
Create Component Card	This command allows to create a new card that will be linked as component of the one the command was launched from.
Locate Parent Card	If the card is a child and therefore has a parent card, this command is active and allows to open the parent card.
Chat	It allows to view and use the chatroom dedicated to the card. For more information on chat tool, read Chat).
Move to Lane	This moves the selected cards (one or more) to another lane in the same board.
Move to Board	This moves the selected cards (one or more) to another board and lane.
Archive	This moves the selected cards (one or more) in the archive repository from which they can be later restored.
Remove	This removes (deletes) the selected cards (one or more). Removed cards cannot be restored.
Block / Unblock	It allows to warn about the corresponding status for the card. The blocked status is shown with a visual sign on the card in the board. To set the card blocked and later unblocked, the system prompts to enter a text that should contain the explanation of the action. This text is displayed on the board when passing with the mouse on the blocked sign.
Mark as Read	This allows to mark as unread and therefore switch off the unread visual sign on the card.
Mark as Unread	This allows to mark as read and therefore force to switch on the unread visual sign on the card.
Notify	This command allows to subscribe for notifications for the card. Accordingly, email notifications are sent to the subscribers when changes occur to the card. For more information on notifications, read Notifications.
Stop Notifications	This command stops the subscription for notifications for the selected cards (one or more). For more information on notifications, read Notifications.

Cards visual signs

Visual signs are placed in boards on the cards to immediately visualize key information. The management of these signs (icons and position) is mostly automatic. However, it is possible to sort the preferred order of the sign categories in the board (see Boards settings management).

Available signs are the following:

Sign	Behaviour
Assigned resources	Shows the resources assigned to the card (initials). By passing with the mouse on the sign, the full name of the resource is displayed. By pressing on the sign, the form to manage resource assignment is opened (according to user privileges).
Blocked status	This sign shows if the card is logically 'blocked'. By passing the mouse on it, the reason for the blocking status is reported (if a comment was entered at blocking time). Clicking on the sign opens the unblock form (according to user privileges).
Card hierarchy	Actually, there are two slightly different signs, one shown for the parent "cards" (cards having component cards) and one for the child cards (cards being component of other cards). By passing with the mouse over the sign of a child card the name of the parent card is highlighted. By pressing the sign on parent or child card the system highlights the related cards by greying all the others in the board.
Defective card	This sign shows if a card has a defect (the Defective field of the card set). By clicking on the sign the Statistics form of the card is opened according to user privileges.
Due date or planned finish date	The signs warns if Due Date and/or Planned Start date and or Planned Finish date are set for the card. By passing with the mouse over the sign, the dates set are shown, without opening the card.
Progress report	This sign is shown only for parent cards with components. By clicking on it, the progress report for the card is opened (see see Progress View report).
Presence of attachments	This signs shows if one or more assignments are attached for the card. By passing over the sign with the mouse, the number of assignments is shown. By clicking, the download of files is started if the attachment is one only. Otherwise the attachment management form of the card is opened, according to user privileges.
Presence of hyperlinks	This signs shows if an hyperlink is present for the card (field External Link).
Subscription for notifications to the card	This sign shows if notifications are activated for the card. By clicking on the sign, notifications are switched off. Read Notifications for card changes for more information.
Card Unread	This sign shows if a card is new or updated by another user.