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

# Columns

> Learn how to create, customize, and manage columns in Raycaster AI Workspace

## Understanding Columns

Columns in Raycaster organize different types of information about your companies and people. Each column has a specific data type that determines how information is stored, displayed, and edited.

## Column Types

Raycaster offers several column types to handle different kinds of data:

| Column Type            | Description                                | Use Cases                                |
| ---------------------- | ------------------------------------------ | ---------------------------------------- |
| **SINGLE\_LINE\_TEXT** | Short text content limited to one line     | Names, titles, short identifiers         |
| **MULTI\_LINE\_TEXT**  | Plain text content spanning multiple lines | Notes, brief descriptions                |
| **TEXT**               | Rich text content with formatting          | Detailed descriptions, formatted content |
| **NUMBER**             | Numeric values with formatting             | Revenue, headcount, funding amounts      |
| **BOOLEAN**            | True/false values                          | Yes/no flags, verification status        |
| **SINGLE\_SELECT**     | One choice from predefined options         | Status, category, stage                  |
| **MULTI\_SELECT**      | Multiple choices from options              | Tags, features, capabilities             |
| **URL**                | Web links                                  | Websites, social profiles, documents     |
| **EMAIL**              | Email addresses                            | Contact information                      |
| **DATE**               | Date values                                | Founded date, last contact, deadlines    |
| **ACTION**             | Interactive research triggers              | Research actions, data enrichment        |
| **RESEARCH**           | AI-powered research content                | Detailed analysis, insights              |
| **JSON**               | Structured data in JSON format             | Complex data, API responses              |
| **FILE**               | File attachments                           | Documents, presentations, spreadsheets   |
| **IMAGE**              | Image references                           | Logos, diagrams, visual content          |
| **AVATAR**             | Profile pictures                           | Person identifiers, profile images       |

## Adding a New Column

<Steps>
  <Step title="Create New Column">
    Click "Add Enrichment" at the top left of the sheet dashboard
  </Step>

  <Step title="Set Column Properties">
    Configure the basic properties:

    * **Name**: Enter a descriptive column title
    * **Type**: Select the appropriate data type

          <img src="https://mintcdn.com/raycaster/NkwkAu8IAZ9zTAYr/images/addcolumn.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=NkwkAu8IAZ9zTAYr&q=85&s=713def1c6b9eda6c32782cf748523c1e" alt="Column Creation Dialog" class="rounded-lg border border-gray-200 dark:border-gray-700" width="1122" height="842" data-path="images/addcolumn.png" />
  </Step>

  <Step title="Configure Type-Specific Options">
    Depending on the selected type, additional configuration options will appear:

    * For TEXT: Enable/disable rich text formatting
    * For NUMBER: Set prefix, suffix, abbreviation options
    * For SINGLE\_SELECT/MULTI\_SELECT: Define the available choices
    * For DATE: Configure date format
  </Step>

  <Step title="Enable AI Capabilities (Optional)">
    Toggle "AI Capabilities" if you want to enable research for this column

    * Set the research tool type
    * Configure the prompt template
    * Configure formatting
    * Enable/disable web search
    * Choose Run option
      * Save all will just save the column
      * "Run" will run research on the column

    <Note>
      Enabling AI capabilities allows Raycaster to automatically research and populate this column with information.
    </Note>

    <img src="https://mintcdn.com/raycaster/NkwkAu8IAZ9zTAYr/images/ai-option.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=NkwkAu8IAZ9zTAYr&q=85&s=917b44d6bcd47b4f798f4bd83e726605" alt="ai option" class="rounded-lg border border-gray-200 dark:border-gray-700" width="1158" height="1368" data-path="images/ai-option.png" />
  </Step>

  <Step title="Save Column">
    Click "Save" to add the column to your sheet
  </Step>
</Steps>

## Configuring Column Types

Each column type has specific configuration options:

### TEXT Column

* **Rich Text**: Enable for formatting options like bold, italic, lists, and headings
* **Single Line**: Limit to a single line of text without paragraph breaks
* **Character Limit**: Optionally set a maximum character count

### NUMBER Column

* **Prefix**: Add text or symbol before the number (e.g., "\$")
* **Suffix**: Add text after the number (e.g., "%", "M")
* **Decimal Places**: Set number of decimal places to display
* **Abbreviate Large Numbers**: Enable to show 1,000,000 as 1M

### BOOLEAN Column

* **Labels**: Customize display text for true/false values
* **Default**: Set the default state for new entries

### SINGLE\_SELECT Column

* **Options**: Define choices with:
  * Name
  * Color
  * Description (optional)
* **Default**: Optionally select a default value
* Utilize **Formatting** to add selections

### MULTI\_SELECT Column

* **Options**: Define choices with name and color
* **Limit**: Optionally set maximum number of selectable options
* Utilize **Formatting** to add selections

<img src="https://mintcdn.com/raycaster/NkwkAu8IAZ9zTAYr/images/choices.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=NkwkAu8IAZ9zTAYr&q=85&s=eba571d03991d2e6a347ebc1f7db4b47" alt="ai option" class="rounded-lg border border-gray-200 dark:border-gray-700" width="1106" height="488" data-path="images/choices.png" />

### DATE Column

* **Format**: Choose date display format (e.g., MM/DD/YYYY)
* **Include Time**: Toggle to include time component
* **Default to Current Date**: Toggle to use current date for new entries

## Enabling AI Research for a Column

To configure a column for AI-powered research:

<Steps>
  <Step title="Toggle AI Capabilities">
    In the column editor, enable "AI Capabilities"
  </Step>

  <Step title="Select Research Tool">
    Choose from available research tools:

    * ADVANCED: advanced features like web search and location-aware research.
    * STRUCTURED: AI powered research
    * EMAIL FINDER: Find emails for a company/person
    * COMPANY ENRICHMENT: Company specific data
    * PEOPLE ENRICHMENT: People specfiic data
    * And others depending on your sheet type
  </Step>

  <Step title="Configure Prompt">
    Write a research prompt that specifies what information to gather

    * Use variables from other columns utilizing the '@' character
    * Be specific about the information you want

          <img src="https://mintcdn.com/raycaster/dEhs8Du7OeRsZOdB/images/variables.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=dEhs8Du7OeRsZOdB&q=85&s=2305342562e882aeeb122b31952acb28" alt="Research Prompt Configuration" class="rounded-lg border border-gray-200 dark:border-gray-700" width="656" height="612" data-path="images/variables.png" />
  </Step>

  <Step title="Select Input Variables">
    Choose which columns to reference in your prompt
  </Step>

  <Step title="Configure Web Search">
    Toggle web search on/off depending on your needs
  </Step>

  <Step title="Save Configuration">
    Click "Save" to enable research for this column
  </Step>
</Steps>

<div class="p-4 bg-blue-50 dark:bg-blue-900/20 rounded-lg my-4">
  <a href="/research/column-configuration" class="text-blue-600 dark:text-blue-400 flex items-center">
    <span>
      Learn more about research configuration
    </span>

    <svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" class="h-4 w-4 ml-1" viewBox="0 0 20 20" fill="currentColor">
      <path fillRule="evenodd" d="M10.293 5.293a1 1 0 011.414 0l4 4a1 1 0 010 1.414l-4 4a1 1 0 01-1.414-1.414L12.586 11H5a1 1 0 110-2h7.586l-2.293-2.293a1 1 0 010-1.414z" clipRule="evenodd" />
    </svg>
  </a>
</div>

## Managing Existing Columns

### Editing Columns

To modify an existing column:

<Steps>
  <Step title="Access Column Management">
    Click "Manage Columns" in the toolbar

    <img src="https://mintcdn.com/raycaster/7UelhNhIiWBOCuCS/images/manage-columns.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=7UelhNhIiWBOCuCS&q=85&s=7a672b4ad6c36692f8b3cf417a4cf910" alt="Manage Columns Button" class="rounded-lg border border-gray-200 dark:border-gray-700" width="998" height="1622" data-path="images/manage-columns.png" />
  </Step>

  <Step title="Select Column">
    Find the column you want to edit and click the edit (pencil) icon
  </Step>

  <Step title="Modify Properties">
    Change any of the column's properties as needed

    <Warning>
      Changing a column's type may result in data loss if the new type cannot store the existing values. For example, changing from TEXT to NUMBER will remove non-numeric content.
    </Warning>
  </Step>

  <Step title="Save Changes">
    Click "Save" to apply your modifications
  </Step>
</Steps>

### Reordering Columns

To change the order of columns in your sheet:

<Steps>
  <Step title="Access Column Management">
    Click "Manage Columns" in the toolbar
  </Step>

  <Step title="Enable Reordering">
    Toggle "Reorder Mode" to on
  </Step>

  <Step title="Drag Columns">
    Click and drag column cards to new positions

    <img src="https://mintcdn.com/raycaster/NkwkAu8IAZ9zTAYr/images/column-reordering.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=NkwkAu8IAZ9zTAYr&q=85&s=939a99098bef15d1807ecea8628fecd8" alt="Column Reordering" class="rounded-lg border border-gray-200 dark:border-gray-700" width="996" height="1648" data-path="images/column-reordering.png" />
  </Step>

  <Step title="Save New Order">
    Click "Save" to apply the new column order
  </Step>
</Steps>

### Hiding Columns

To hide columns without deleting them:

1. Click "Manage Columns" in the toolbar
2. Find the column you want to hide
3. Toggle the visibility switch to off
4. Click "Save" to apply the changes

<Note>
  Hidden columns still store data but are not visible in the table view. You can make them visible again at any time.
</Note>

### Deleting Columns

To permanently remove a column:

<Warning>
  Deleting a column permanently removes all data stored in that column across all rows. This action cannot be undone.
</Warning>

<Steps>
  <Step title="Access Column Management">
    Click "Manage Columns" in the toolbar, or click on the column name
  </Step>

  <Step title="Select Column">
    Find the column you want to delete
  </Step>

  <Step title="Delete Column">
    Click the delete (trash) icon next to the column name
  </Step>

  <Step title="Confirm Deletion">
    In the confirmation dialog, confirm that you want to delete the column
  </Step>
</Steps>

<img src="https://mintcdn.com/raycaster/NkwkAu8IAZ9zTAYr/images/delete-column.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=NkwkAu8IAZ9zTAYr&q=85&s=692de662767b002640525b406bebe942" alt="Column Deletion" class="rounded-lg border border-gray-200 dark:border-gray-700" width="1022" height="324" data-path="images/delete-column.png" />