Creating new columns and associated statuses on Kanban board

[Louise Holden]

Hi I am setting up a kanban board for my product mgmt team so that we can manage our workflow and refine all the candidate items of work before they hit our backlog. I have managed to add my own custom columns but I can't work out how to add either custom statuses. I am happy to use the standard Jira statuses also but I have 6 columns and there are only four statuses and this is blocking me from continuing on. I'd really appreciate some direction please on how to add new statuses. 

[Bastian Stehmann · Accepted solution]

Hi @Louise Holden,

welcome to this community.

To get new statues, you will have to edit your workflow. But there is probably a permission issue.

In Jira exists something that is called Jira Simplified Workflow. If you use that, Jira will create automatically new Statuses with new columns. If the new statuses were not created together with the columns, it seems that you are not using the Simplified Workflow. Right above the columns should be an information, that says if you can switch to Simplified Workflow or not.

If you can not use that, you will have to edit your workflow directly. If you have the Extended Projekt Administrator Permission (you can check in the permission scheme if the checkbox is checked in the Projekt Administrator Permission) and if your workflow is only used in your project, you can edit it yourself. But with this permission, you can only add already existing statuses to your workflow.

If you do not have that permission, if your workflow is used in more than one project or if you need a complete new status, you will need Jira Administrator Permission to edit the workflow.

[Yogesh Mude · Accepted solution]

HI @Louise Holden

Welcome to the Community!

To add a column for Kanban board please select the board and then click on a top right side  ... dots you will find their Board Setting.

Once you have done this, it will redirect you to a new page and there you will find the columns option at left side panel.

[Andrew_Jennings]

I don't want to use a workflow. I just want a new column. Why is it so hard. I have been trying to get a new column for the past half hour. It is too hard to do.  I think I will just use trello.

[Bastian Stehmann]

Hi Andrew,

columns are only representations of status, so if you want a new column, you need a new status.

If you do not want to use a workflow, you can configure your workflow in the way, that every status can transition to all status.