Fill an Idea Board by pasting JSON

The output of a brainstorm is a list, and an Idea Board is a canvas, so getting one into the other usually means retyping every idea onto a card. Importing does the placing for you: describe the columns and what belongs in each, and the board is created with them laid out, ready to drag.

There are two ways in:

• On Idea Boards, Import a board from JSON creates a new one.
• On a board, More and then Import JSON in the top bar adds the document's columns and cards in a new row under everything already on the canvas, starting at its left edge. Nothing already there is moved or removed.

Use Copy the prompt in either import box to get this format plus the instructions an assistant needs, then describe what you are thinking through and paste back what it gives you.

You describe grouping, not positions. Cards are placed in their column, and belong to it, so moving the column moves them with it.

When an import finishes, a message will say how many columns, cards and notes were added. Adding to a board will also move the view to the new cards and select them, so they can be dragged or deleted together.

The whole document is checked before anything is saved. If any part of it does not fit the format below, nothing will be saved: no board will be created, and nothing will be added to an open one. The message under the box will name the exact part that caused it. Correct the document, or give the message to the assistant you used.

The document

{
  "title": "Spring range",
  "columns": [],
  "notes": []
}

A document needs at least one column or one note.

Columns

{ "title": "Worth trying", "items": [] }

• title (string, required): up to 255 characters.
• items (array, optional): the cards in this column, top to bottom.

A column has only these two fields. Anything else that belongs with a column goes on a card in its items.

Cards

A card is one of three kinds. Give it only the fields its own kind uses.

type defaults to note, so a column of plain thoughts only needs text on each card.

{ "type": "note", "text": "Ask the mill about shorter runs." }
{ "type": "todo", "title": "Before the trade show", "tasks": ["Book the stand", "Print the look book"] }
{ "type": "link", "url": "https://example.com/fabric", "title": "Fabric supplier", "description": "Minimum order 40m." }

A url must be a full web address. Checklist tasks arrive unticked.

A complete example

{
  "title": "Spring range",
  "columns": [
    {
      "title": "Worth trying",
      "items": [
        { "text": "A shorter run in two colourways rather than one long run." },
        { "text": "Sell the offcuts as a seconds bundle." },
        { "type": "link", "url": "https://example.com/fabric", "title": "Fabric supplier", "description": "Minimum order 40m." }
      ]
    },
    {
      "title": "Decided against",
      "items": [
        { "text": "Third colourway: too much stock risk for a first season." }
      ]
    },
    {
      "title": "Next",
      "items": [
        { "type": "todo", "title": "Before the trade show", "tasks": ["Book the stand", "Print the look book", "Confirm the mill"] }
      ]
    }
  ],
  "notes": ["Budget is fixed until March.", "Ask Priya what sold out first last year."]
}

If an import is rejected for a reason you can't work out, Contact support.