Quick Start

Before Starting

Before using the app, you should understand two key concepts unique to Colonnes. They may seem unusual at first, but once mastered, they make Colonnes the fastest and most intuitive task manager available.

Dynamic Columns Instead of a Tree

Colonnes is a hierarchical task manager that lets you create tasks with unlimited sub-levels. Instead of a tree view, Colonnes displays them in dynamic columns: selecting a task opens a new column with its children, recursively for each level.

Contexts

After activating your license, you’ll see a colored badge at the bottom right indicating the current context. Depending on where you are, the available actions and behavior change. The panel above this badge displays context-aware information, including tips, extra details, and links to the documentation.

Once your license is validated, the initial context will be overlayfiles. Other contexts, such as dialog or menu, may also appear depending on what part of the interface you’re using.

The core of the application, however, operates through two main modes: modeselection and modeedit.

In modeselection mode, the task list works similarly to your operating system’s file explorer.

In modeedit mode, Colonnes behaves like a text editor such as Microsoft Word, Google Docs, or Notion.

Getting Started

Now that you understand the core concepts, let’s start using Colonnes.

License Activation

When you first launch Colonnes, a license activation panel will appear. Enter your license key to activate and access the application. You’ll receive this key by email after your purchase.

Files Dialog

After activating your license, you’ll see a files dialog. In this window, you can choose a file to open or create a new file. Since this is your first time using Colonnes, start by clicking the “New File” button and choose where to save your task file in the dialog that opens.

In the bottom right corner, you have contextual help. You can close this help. If you need to reopen it, press .

Understanding the Application

After creating the file, you’ll see the main application window. You’ll have an empty first column displayed. In the header of this first column, you have the main menu on the left (icon with 3 horizontal bars). In this menu, you’ll find the standard options (New File, Open, Settings, etc.).

Creating Your First Task

Click the “Create a new item” button to create a new task. A new task is created and you enter modeedit. You can type the text of your task. Once you’ve entered the title, click outside the text field to save the task. By doing this, you return to modeselection.

Creating a Second Task

You’ll notice a floating menu at the bottom of the column with the main actions. The first element allows you to edit the selected task (entering modeedit). The second allows you to create a task below the currently selected task. The third allows you to create a child task, and finally the last one allows you to delete the selection.

If you click the second button (Create Below), a new task will be created below the first task and you’ll enter modeedit again.

Once you’ve written the text of your second task, you can exit by clicking the first button in the floating menu (or, like the first time, by clicking anywhere except on a task).

Creating a Child Task

Select the task for which you want to create a child task.

If you click the third button (Create Child), you’ll notice that your task moves to the second column. The floating menu repositions itself at the bottom of the second column. Type the text of your task and exit modeedit.

You’ll notice that the parent task’s style has changed. It now has a gray background and a connector links the parent task and the child task. These visual indicators allow you to visualize the path in your tasks.

Important

You can only work on one column at a time. You cannot select tasks from two different columns, only tasks within the current column.

Completing a Task

If you look at the parent task, you’ll see that the checkbox has changed to become a circle.

Now on the child task, complete it by clicking the checkbox. The task will change style, and you’ll also notice that the parent task has changed. It will display either an empty circle if no tasks are completed, a checkmark if all child tasks are completed, or a progress indicator if some tasks are completed.

Note that the percentage calculation is done by level and not on all tasks recursively. (You can change this in the settings)

Going Further

We’ve seen a small part of mouse interactions, but it’s possible (and even recommended) to use the keyboard. Select a task and press to enter modeedit for the selected task. If you press again, you’ll create a new task below without leaving modeedit. Press to exit modeedit.

All the interactions you’d expect from a list-style application are implemented (with the mouse or keyboard). You can therefore:

• Select one or more tasks
• Delete a selection
• Copy/Paste/Cut a selection of tasks
• Move tasks
• Undo/Redo
• …

You can use the mouse or keyboard. You also have a context menu (right-click) or a command menu (press ).