Overview
Kanban Filtering automatically hides empty columns (0 items) in JobTread's Kanban/grouped views. This gives you a cleaner board that focuses on columns that actually have work in them, reducing visual clutter and horizontal scrolling.
Key Features
- Auto-Hide Empty Columns - Columns with 0 items are hidden automatically
- Real-Time Updates - When a column becomes empty or populated, it updates instantly
- Works With Any Grouping - Status, assignee, priority, or any other grouping field
- Schedule & Tasks Pages - Works on both schedule and to-do Kanban views
- Non-Destructive - Only hides the view, never deletes columns or data
- Automatic Detection - No configuration needed, just enable and go
How It Works
Column Detection
The feature identifies Kanban columns by their structure and styling:
- Detects column containers with Kanban-specific CSS classes
- Reads the item count from column headers
- Monitors for changes when items are added, moved, or removed
Filtering Logic
- Count = 0 → Column is hidden
- Count > 0 → Column is shown
- Re-evaluates whenever the board changes
Real-Time Updates
The filter automatically re-applies when:
- Items are dragged between columns
- Items are created or deleted
- Filters or grouping options change
- Page navigation occurs
Supported Pages
Kanban Filtering works on these JobTread pages when in Kanban/grouped view:
- Schedule - When grouped by status, assignee, etc.
- Tasks - When grouped by any field
- To-Dos - When using Kanban board view
Note
This feature only works when JobTread is displaying a Kanban/column view. In list or Gantt views, there are no columns to filter.
Getting Started
-
Enable the Feature
Open JT Power Tools popup and enable "Kanban Filtering"
-
Navigate to Kanban View
Go to Schedule or Tasks and switch to a grouped/Kanban view
-
See Cleaner Board
Empty columns are automatically hidden
-
Move Items Freely
When you move an item to make a column empty, it hides. When you move items in, it appears.
Visual Behavior
Before Kanban Filtering
- All columns visible including empty ones
- Wide horizontal scroll to see populated columns
- Visual clutter from unused status/category columns
After Kanban Filtering
- Only columns with items are visible
- More compact, focused board
- Less horizontal scrolling needed
- Easier to see where work actually is
Common Use Cases
Status-Based Boards
When grouping by status, you might have statuses like "Not Started", "In Progress", "On Hold", "Complete". If no items are "On Hold", that column hides automatically.
Assignee Boards
When grouping by team member, columns for team members with no assigned tasks are hidden, showing only who has active work.
Task Type Boards
When grouping by task type (Inspection, Material Delivery, Rough-In, etc.), columns for task types with no items are hidden, letting you focus on what's actually scheduled.
Tips & Best Practices
Workflow Benefits
- See at a glance which statuses/categories have active work
- Reduce time scrolling through empty columns
- Focus meetings on columns that matter
- Quickly identify bottlenecks in populated columns
Works Well With
- Auto Collapse Completed - Hide empty columns and collapse finished groups
- Freeze Header - Column headers stay visible while scrolling
- Dark Mode - Clean board in comfortable dark theme
Troubleshooting
Columns Not Hiding?
- Make sure the feature is enabled in the popup
- Verify you're in Kanban/grouped view (not list or Gantt)
- Check that the column count actually shows 0
- Try refreshing the page
Column Flickering?
- This can happen during rapid updates
- The feature uses debouncing to minimize flicker
- Wait a moment for the board to settle
Want to See All Columns?
- Simply disable the feature in the popup
- All columns will show immediately
- Re-enable anytime to hide empty columns again
Technical Details
Performance
- Uses CSS
display: none for efficient hiding
- Debounced updates (150ms) prevent excessive re-processing
- MutationObserver watches for changes efficiently
- Minimal impact on page performance
Compatibility
- Dark Mode - Works with both light and dark themes
- All Grouping Types - Status, assignee, priority, etc.
- Expanded & Collapsed Views - Works with both column states
Related Guides