Column will not display without content

[Jim Stewart]

My instance of Jira allows me to create columns which show up on the board regardless of whether or not they have content. My customer's board - as you can see in the screenshot - will not. Is there a setting that enables or disables this?

[John Funk · Accepted solution]

Hi Jim

All boards will only show the column if there is a status in the column. So you can create the column and put a status in it it regardless of whether there is any issues in that status. But the status must be in the column for the column to show on the board. 

[Jim Stewart]

[Jim Stewart]

If that's true, then why is 'New Column' showing up here with zero content? I literally just created it. 

[John Funk]

Don't confuse "zero content" with no status being in the column. That column has a status mapped to it even if there is no current issue in that status. 

[Jim Stewart]

Yeah, I give up. Your software is perenially far too complex to do one simple thing. Modifiying the workflow? Adding status? My client can't figure it out and I don't have the 10,000 hours to spend fixing it. All I do is go around in circles with lousy documentation. I'll tell them to open a ticket and let Atlassian support jump on and do it. 

[John Funk]

It's not my software - I am a user just like you. You are failing to listen to what I am saying - that's not your client's fault. 

In order for a column to show on the board, it must be mapped to a status. Period. 

And if a status is linked to a column, then the column shows on the board - whether there are issues in that status or not. 

You showed two different examples - apples and oranges. One with no status mapped to the column and therefore the column did not show. The other board had a column mapped to it and therefore showed on the board. 

Tell them that - they should be able to follow it.