> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://support.caleido.io/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Set up report columns

> Choose a column preset for a report, add columns and set their data source, cadence, date offset, formatting and names, then save the setup as a preset.

Columns define which data appears on a report and how each column is named and formatted. The quickest way to get started is a ready-made column preset. When you need more, open the column settings and build the columns yourself.

Caleido's best practice report templates make use of column presets. Learn more in [Use the report library](https://support.caleido.io/guides/reporting/report-library.md).

## Quick guide

The video below walks you through the basic column settings. It was recorded in an earlier version of Caleido, so the way you open the settings looks different. The settings themselves work the same way.

[Loom video player](https://www.loom.com/embed/d748e45802d540a798bff41fd9c4cf2b)

## Choose a column preset

1. In the report's top bar, click the **Columns:** dropdown. It shows the preset in use, or **Select preset** if the columns have been set by hand.
2. Pick a preset. The tabs group them:
   * **All**: every preset
   * **Shared**: presets saved in your organization
   * **Favorites**: presets you have starred
   * **Library**: Caleido's ready-made presets
3. The report updates right away.

## Open the column settings

Open the **Columns** settings in either of these ways:

* Click the **Columns:** dropdown and then **Column settings** at the bottom of the list
* Click **Actions**, then **Configure** > **Columns…**. In a workbook, the **Actions** button is at the top right of the page

The settings open with one card per column group. A report always has two default column groups, one for actuals and one for budget, marked **DEFAULT**. You can't remove them, but you can switch them off.

![Columns settings with the default actuals and budget column cards and a forecast column card](https://mintcdn.com/caleidooy/caA11WUmXFaOwYwX/images/open-columns-modal.png?fit=max\&auto=format\&n=caA11WUmXFaOwYwX\&q=85\&s=43af80d247006dbc8ee88df6bb110d85)

## Add and arrange columns

* Click **Add column** to add one or more columns. Columns are grouped by type, for example **Ledger**, **Variance** and **Change**
* Use the switch on each card to show or hide that column group
* Drag a card by its handle to change the column order
* Use the copy icon to **Duplicate** a card, or the cross to **Remove** it
* **Collapse all** and **Expand all** at the bottom left close or open all sections on the cards

## Column card settings

Each card has collapsible sections. Which sections you see depends on the column type.

### Data

* **Start date** and **End date** set the column's date range. They work like the report date picker, see [Set the report date range](https://support.caleido.io/guides/reporting/date-range.md)
* **Ledger** defines where the column's data comes from, for example **Actuals** or **Budget**. You can't change the ledger of the default columns
* **Budget** defines which budget a budget column shows. The default **Selected budget** follows the budget selected for the report. Choosing another budget overrides it

![Budget dropdown on a column card, set to Selected budget](https://mintcdn.com/caleidooy/caA11WUmXFaOwYwX/images/budget-column-selected-dropdown.png?fit=max\&auto=format\&n=caA11WUmXFaOwYwX\&q=85\&s=85cab3ce452d5009810a59ab7e50e5d8)

### Columns

* **Display**: switch **Series** (one column per period) and **Total** (one total column) on or off. At least one must stay on
* **Series layout**: how the series of several column groups is laid out, **Consecutive** or **Side-by-side**
* **Break down by**: split the column by a dimension, for example one column per cost center
* **Opening balances**: include opening balances in balance sheet columns

### Cadence & time offset

* **Cadence** is the length of each period in the series: **Week**, **Month**, **Quarter**, **Half-year** or **Year**
* **Cadence source** makes the column follow the cadence of the actuals (**ACT**) or budget (**BUD**) columns instead
* **Date offset** shifts the column's dates. When you switch it on, choose the **Date offset unit** (for example **Months**) and the **Offset**, for example -12 to show the same period last year

![Cadence & time offset section with Date offset switched on, unit Months and offset -12](https://mintcdn.com/caleidooy/caA11WUmXFaOwYwX/images/columns-date-offset.png?fit=max\&auto=format\&n=caA11WUmXFaOwYwX\&q=85\&s=d79e6dd4ba4c8fe33561ea331a5cac4e)

### Format

* **Bold**: show the numbers in bold
* **Border**: add a border line on the **Left**, **Right** or **Both** sides
* **Background** and **Total background**: pick a color for the series and total columns. **Reset** removes the color
* **Fill header** and **Color only in header**: control how the color is applied to the column header

Comparison columns also have **Conditional formatting**, which colors numbers or backgrounds by direction and can show an up/down indicator. Total columns can show a **Sparkline**, a small trend chart in the cell.

### Naming

* **Column name**: choose the column header from the preset names or type your own with **Custom**
* **Total label**: the name of the total column
* **Ledger name**: for example **ACT**, **Act** or **Actuals**

![Naming section on a column card with preset names and a custom name option](https://mintcdn.com/caleidooy/caA11WUmXFaOwYwX/images/column-naming.png?fit=max\&auto=format\&n=caA11WUmXFaOwYwX\&q=85\&s=3017a619db3043badb55e48acc7ce6ff)

## Apply the columns

Click **Apply** at the bottom of the settings. The columns update on the report.

## Save the columns as a preset

Use the buttons next to the preset dropdown at the top of the settings:

* **Save as new** saves the current columns as a new preset. Give it a name and confirm
* **Save changes** updates the selected preset, if you have changed it and have permission to edit it
* **Create new** starts a new preset from the default columns

Saved presets appear on the **Shared** tab of the **Columns:** dropdown, and everyone in your organization can use them on any report. Hover over a preset in the list to rename, duplicate, delete or favorite it.

![Save as new button next to the preset dropdown, with the Shared tab of presets open](https://mintcdn.com/caleidooy/caA11WUmXFaOwYwX/images/column-save-as-new.png?fit=max\&auto=format\&n=caA11WUmXFaOwYwX\&q=85\&s=cb85b99cbd2dfad91750a5425de8df75)


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