Manage columns in a work item list in Azure Boards
Azure DevOps Services | Azure DevOps Server 2022 - Azure DevOps Server 2019
Visual Studio 2019 | Visual Studio 2022
Each column corresponds to a work item field. You can add and remove columns within work item lists to show the fields of interest to you. Or, you can drag a column to a new position. Your settings persist for each page you customize and are only valid for your views.
Specifically, you can do the following actions from the following list views:
Action
Add or remove a column field
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Add or remove the Parent field
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Add or remove a rollup column
Yes
No
No
No
Sort on a column
No
No
Yes
Yes
Tip
Unlike a query result, you can't sort a backlog by a column. However, you can use the Create Query link on each backlog to create a query that you can sort on any field column you choose from the Sorting tab of the Column options dialog. While you may be able to add a field to sort on, not all fields are supported. For example, selection of the Parent, History, Description, or other rich-text field results in the display of an error message as you can't sort on these fields.
You can add most fields listed in the Work item field index. All fields defined within the project collection or organization are available for selection, even those fields that aren't used for your particular project. You can view the list of fields defined for your collection from Organization Settings>Process>Fields
You can add most fields listed in the Work item field index. All fields defined within the project collection or organization are available for selection, even those fields that aren't used for your particular project. If your project uses the Inherited process model, you can view the list of fields defined for your collection from Organization Settings>Process>Fields
About persistence of column options
Once you set the column options for a specific view, your settings persist until you change them. The following notes apply to specific views.
- Column options you set for a backlog apply only to the active team and backlog. Options you set for the product backlog differ from the options you set for a portfolio backlog.
- Column options you set for a Sprint backlog persist for all sprints you select until you change them.
- Column options you set for a query persist when you save the query.
- Column options you set for one of the supported Work items views persists for a specific view only, such as Assigned to me, Following, Mentioned, and so on.
Note
You can't set column options for other members of your team, nor can you set default column options.
Note
You can't set column options for other members of your team. Also, for projects that use the Inheritance process model, you can't set default column options. For projects that use the On-premises XML process model, you can set the default column options for product, portfolio, and sprint backlogs. For more informaion, see Process configuration XML element reference.
Prerequisites
- Project access: Be a project member
- Permissions:
- Be a member of the Contributors or Project Administrators security group.
- To view or modify work items, have your View work items in this node and Edit work items in this node permissions set to Allow. By default, the Contributors group has this permission set to Allow. For more information, see Set work tracking permissions.
- Access levels: To add or modify work items, have at least Basic access. Users with Stakeholder access for public projects have full access to backlog and board features, like users with Basic access. For more information, see Stakeholder access quick reference.
- Defined iterations: To use the Planning pane, ensure your team administrator defined iteration (sprint) paths and configure team iterations.
- Project access: Be a project member
- Permissions:
- Be a member of the Contributors or Project Administrators security group.
- To view or modify work items, have your View work items in this node and Edit work items in this node permissions set to Allow. By default, the Contributors group has this permission set to Allow. For more information, see Set work tracking permissions.
- Access levels: To add or modify work items, have at least Basic access.
- Defined iterations: To use the Planning pane, ensure your team administrator defined iteration (sprint) paths and configure team iterations.
Open the Column options dialog
Start by opening the Column Options dialog. If you don't see the option, choose the … and choose from the options provided.
Add or remove columns
In the Column options dialog, choose Add a column to add a field that isn't shown. To change the order of the fields, drag-and-drop the field where you want it within the set of selected fields. And, to remove a field, choose the 
.
Add or remove rollup columns
Rollup columns can display progress bars or the sum of numeric fields of child items. You can add them to any product or portfolio backlog. For more information, see Display rollup progress or totals.
Sort on a column
You can sort query results and Work items views. From the Column options dialog, choose Sorting. Add or remove a column field and drag and drop it into the order you want. Choose the up or down arrows to choose whether it sorts in ascending or descending order.
Use keyboard shortcuts to change the column order, column width, or sort options
You can change the column order, column size, or sort options by using the following keyboard commands:
- To change the column order, choose the field and drag it to a new location
- To resize a column, choose the column divider to the right of the field and drag to a new location
- For query results:
- Add the field as a column to sort by that field
- To sort by a column, hold down the SHIFT key and select on the field
- To reverse the sort order, SHIFT+click on the field
- To sort by multiple columns, SHIFT+click on each column in the order you want to sort
For other keyboard shortcuts, enter ? to display available shortcuts based on the page you're on.