Azure Boards Card Styles

Understanding Card Customization

Azure Boards allows you to customize the fields displayed on work item cards for both Backlogs and Kanban boards. This helps in visualizing important data directly on the card, reducing the need to open each work item individually.

The following card styles can be configured:

• Fields: Select which fields appear on the card.
• Color: Apply conditional coloring based on field values.

Configuring Card Fields

To configure the fields displayed on your cards:

1. Navigate to your Azure Boards project.
2. Go to Boards > Backlogs or Boards > Boards.
3. Click the Column options (gear icon) or Board configuration.
4. Select the Card styles tab.
5. Under the Fields section, click Add field and choose the desired field from the dropdown.
6. You can add up to four custom fields.

Fields displayed on the card are typically limited to a few key identifiers like 'Assigned To', 'Tags', 'Area Path', 'Iteration Path', 'Priority', or custom fields relevant to your team's workflow.

Applying Conditional Coloring

Conditional coloring helps to visually highlight cards based on specific criteria, making it easier to spot urgent items, specific work item types, or items that meet certain conditions.

To add a conditional color rule:

1. Follow steps 1-4 from the "Configuring Card Fields" section.
2. Under the Color settings section, click Add new color rule.
3. Select the Field you want to base the color on (e.g., 'State', 'Priority', 'Work Item Type').
4. Choose the Operator (e.g., 'Equals', 'Contains', 'Is not').
5. Enter the Value that triggers the color.
6. Select the desired Color for the rule.

Commonly used rules include coloring 'Bugs' red, 'Features' blue, or highlighting high-priority items.

Best Practices

• Keep it concise: Don't overload cards with too many fields. Focus on the most critical information.
• Use color sparingly: Overuse of color can be distracting. Reserve it for important status indicators.
• Align with team needs: Customize card styles based on what your team finds most valuable for tracking progress.
• Regularly review: Periodically revisit your card style configurations to ensure they remain relevant to your team's workflow.