Zenkit

Zenkit has several field types so you can track any information you need and enrich your items with relevant, workable data. For example, you can add a time estimate field, due date, cost field (with currency) or a label field to categorize your items. Some fields allow you to work with other items you've created, even if they're not in the same collection! 

Fields are represented in different ways, depending on the view you're in. In table view, each column represents a field. In other views, fields are shown on the item itself, and can be edited from the detail view. When you add a field, it applies to all of the items in a collection. All fields are completely customizable, and you can add a description to each so every member of your team knows how to use it. 

Here's a quick breakdown of the different field types, what they can do, and how you can customize them:

Text

Text fields can contain any text, numbers or links, and can be displayed as plain text or formatted using HTML or markdown. To choose between these formatting options, click on the expanding arrow icon in the top right-hand corner of an active text field. At the top right-hand corner, you will see 'Plain' and an arrow. Click here to choose a new text editor type. 

You can also enter the default text type when creating or editing the field properties. To open the field properties, click on the name of your text field, then scroll down to click on 'Editor Type', select your text type, and then click 'Save'. All new items will have this text type set as default, but old items will remain unchanged.

Entering data in a text field is as simple as just typing it in - the Enter or Return key will create a new line. When you're done, use Ctrl+Enter to save and close the text field. You can choose to include a default text that will appear in each new item created. For example, if you track support communications in a separate collection, you could create a template of text to be used in various support cases.

Number

Number fields contain numbers only and can be formatted as a Decimal, Integer or Currency. 

If you choose currency, you will be able to select which one from a drop-down menu. You can also choose a default value that will appear in each new item created.

Link

A link field contains a single link. Links will open in a new tab when clicked on from anywhere within Zenkit (any view, or in the detail panel). 

Please take care to leave the 'Default link' section blank if you don't want to add the same link to each new item!

Date

The date field adds a date to an item and will show it in the calendar for the chosen date. You can choose to include a time, end date or duration, or a reminder as well. 

To schedule a date, click on the date field in the detail view, or double-click on the date cell in table view. When the calendar shows up, click on a date to assign it to the item. Scroll down to add times or reminders.

The current date is displayed in light blue, and the date you’ve selected is light blue. To un-schedule an item, click on the assigned date, scroll to the bottom of the menu and click "Clear date". You can also add a time to an item. If you want to add a time, click on the toggle next to "Include time", and select a time in the input.

 For more detailed information on date fields, please read our article on dates and reminders.

Checkbox

A checkbox adds a simple checkbox to each item. Checkboxes are useful if you need a true/false value for an item - for example, 'Has peanut allergy', or 'Has off-planet experience', or simply 'Done' or 'Read'. 

As with other fields, you can choose a default action - in this case having it checked or not by default.

Files

The files field lets you attach multiple images, drawings, documents, or videos to an item. A file field can be added manually, or it will be created automatically if you drag a file or image onto an item. You can even add a picture to an open item by using the Ctrl+V (or Cmd+V for Mac) shortcut! Click on 'Add a file...' under the file field name, then paste it in the add file menu. 

The uploader lets you select files from your computer (via browse or drag & drop), or from other apps such as Google Drive, Dropbox, and Box. You can also upload a file directly from a URL. If you choose "Drawing", a canvas will open that allows you to draw anything you like. 

Please note that you won't be able to drag & drop files onto items if another field is active (eg. when your text field is being edited). File fields can be renamed, but there are no further options available. 

The attached files can be displayed in different ways. Click on the view menu to the top right and click 'Edit' next to the name of your view to open the view options. Click on 'Image position' then click to choose how to display thumbnail images in the current view.

In case you have multiple attachments, the last image to be attached is the one displayed in the thumbnail. You can change the order of attached files by dragging and dropping them from the expanded item view. To download a file, click on the small down-facing arrow that appears above the file thumbnail. To delete a file, click the X icon.

You can also download, expand, get a link to, or delete an attached file by clicking on the thumbnail to open it. You'll see a variety of options displayed at the top.

To change the order of files, simply drag and drop them around the file field! The last file shown will be used as the image thumbnail on items. Lastly, you can rename files just by clicking on the file name and typing!

Members

The Members field allows you to add one or more members to an item. You can choose whether users can add multiple members or not. 

The member field can also be used as a list header in Kanban view. 

 Learn more about how to assign members to items.

Labels

The labels field is one of the most useful and flexible fields in Zenkit. When you create a new label field, you can add new labels and assign each label a color. You can choose whether or not users can select multiple labels, and also whether they’re able to create new labels on the fly. You can also select a label to be used by default when a new item is created, as well as pick which color each label in the field should be. Label fields are used as list headers in Kanban view. 

For example, in a project collection, you have two separate label fields to track ‘Progress’ and ‘Priority’, each of which allows only one label to be selected and doesn’t allow users to create new labels. Each new task is assigned the ‘To Do’ label in the progress field by default, but you assign priority manually.

Subitems

The subitems field allows you to add subtasks, hierarchical structure and more to your collection. The subitem field is automatically created when you create a mind map or hierarchy view. There may only be one subitem field per collection. You can learn more about subitems here.

Checklist

A checklist is the only field that applies only to the item you’re working on, instead of the whole collection. You can learn more about checklists here.

Formula, Reference and Aggregation fields

Formula, Reference and Aggregation fields are fields that allow you to work with two or more fields or items in combination. Read the guide to formulas and aggregations to learn how to calculate using items and references. Or read the guide to reference fields to find out how to connect items in Zenkit.

Dependencies

This field is used when creating a Gantt chart and will be automatically created when adding a Gantt view to the collection. The dependency field dictates whether a task is dependent upon the start or finish of a connected task. You can learn more about dependencies in the guide to Gantt view.