---
title: Creating Categories and subcategories - Canvas Task Boards
description: Tasks can be grouped within Categories to maintain organization and create a clear workflow
---

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July 28, 2025

# Creating Categories and subcategories - Canvas Task Boards

## Tasks can be grouped within Categories to maintain organisation and create a clear workflow

To create a new Category on your Canvas:

1\. Click and drag from the  **CATEGORY** icon situated in the top toolbar, and 'drop' onto the **CANVAS**.  
![Create a new Category on your Ayoa Canvas.](https://support.ayoa.com/hubfs/Knowledge%20Base%20Import/s3.amazonaws.comcdn.freshdesk.comdatahelpdeskattachmentsproduction2043340724578originalwFxxlg6o9kqBPMZrttDZk_vcgqNeY43N9w.gif)

2\. A new window will then appear. You will be asked to give your Category a name as well as a colour.

Categories could be anything from *'Emails'* and *'Phone Calls'* to *'Stage 1'*, *'Marketing'* or *'Logistics'*.

Once you're happy, hit **Add**.

![Choose category name and hit add.](https://support.ayoa.com/hubfs/Knowledge%20Base%20Import/s3.amazonaws.comcdn.freshdesk.comdatahelpdeskattachmentsproduction2043020246245originaluY65PMi4a3PDyGmUo8GSRgUc63NYJrsVvg.png)

 

3\. A large circle will then appear on your canvas, and may be moved and positioned via **drag and drop.**

![A large circle will appear on your Ayoa canvas.](https://support.ayoa.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Knowledge%20Base%20Import/s3.amazonaws.comcdn.freshdesk.comdatahelpdeskattachmentsproduction2043020246247originaltI4LZJTRcofTiYQsd3gEYm13EyxCiAA-NA.png?width=463&name=s3.amazonaws.comcdn.freshdesk.comdatahelpdeskattachmentsproduction2043020246247originaltI4LZJTRcofTiYQsd3gEYm13EyxCiAA-NA.png)

 

4\. By hovering over your Category you will have the choice of three options (edit, move or collapse)

![Hover over your category to see three options.](https://support.ayoa.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Knowledge%20Base%20Import/s3.amazonaws.comcdn.freshdesk.comdatahelpdeskattachmentsproduction2043020246248originalvXAODbQIIwNgjfyiTeh5wWuyk4faSAAvyQ.png?width=460&name=s3.amazonaws.comcdn.freshdesk.comdatahelpdeskattachmentsproduction2043020246248originalvXAODbQIIwNgjfyiTeh5wWuyk4faSAAvyQ.png)

**Edit:** change the theme (colour) of that Category

**Move:** click and hold to drag your Category around the Canvas, or nest this Category within another to make it a subcategory

**Collapse:** close the Category view, provides summary of tasks and subcategories (in Collapse mode, you will be given the option to 'Expand')

 

#### **Create a structured hierarchy for your tasks** by creating **subcategories**

1\. To add a subcategory, first select the Category which you would like to move.

![To add a sub category, first select a main Category.](https://support.ayoa.com/hubfs/Knowledge%20Base%20Import/s3.amazonaws.comcdn.freshdesk.comdatahelpdeskattachmentsproduction2043019018936originals8mKpMK_sIHuZoYH_FF5NIzmA_ie6LhC3A-1.png)

 

2\. To nest your Category with another, select '**MOVE**.'

![Hover over your category to edit, move or collapse it.](https://support.ayoa.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Knowledge%20Base%20Import/s3.amazonaws.comcdn.freshdesk.comdatahelpdeskattachmentsproduction2043019018967originalLpeq7BYck3Hm9QpXV7yMxtvH6gsg6mxMCQ-1.png?width=580&name=s3.amazonaws.comcdn.freshdesk.comdatahelpdeskattachmentsproduction2043019018967originalLpeq7BYck3Hm9QpXV7yMxtvH6gsg6mxMCQ-1.png)

 

3\. By selecting '**MOVE**,' you will be able to drag your Category circle around the Canvas. To nest your Category with another, simply drag and drop your selected Category into another Category on the Canvas.

![Select 'MOVE' to drag your Category circle around the Ayoa Canvas](https://support.ayoa.com/hubfs/Knowledge%20Base%20Import/s3.amazonaws.comcdn.freshdesk.comdatahelpdeskattachmentsproduction2043019019001originaljQZpywqoEmTNVOplZ7lMTU2pKQRi7T5sLA-1.png)

 

4\. Once you have dropped your Category into another Category circle, it will be displayed as a nested Category (subcategory) and will appear inside the larger circle.

![Your category will be displayed as a nested Category and will appear inside the larger circle.](https://support.ayoa.com/hubfs/Knowledge%20Base%20Import/s3.amazonaws.comcdn.freshdesk.comdatahelpdeskattachmentsproduction2043019019042originalHhZczExhDeRjReuhpL2O4zg7lrP0q03E_g-1.png)

 

5\. To locate your subcategory on the Canvas, simply use the Pan and Zoom Category finder situated at the bottom right hand corner of the Canvas. Your nested Category will be listed underneath the parent Category within the list. To learn more able the Pan and Zoom Category finder, please [click here](https://25422755.hs-sites-eu1.com/knowledge/pan-and-zoom-categories?hsLang=en).

![Use the Pan and Zoom Category finder to locate your sub category.](https://support.ayoa.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Knowledge%20Base%20Import/s3.amazonaws.comcdn.freshdesk.comdatahelpdeskattachmentsproduction2043340729729original1Akf8rzcMOOaC69VLUrQpPgFLe0qQaGAXA.png?width=393&name=s3.amazonaws.comcdn.freshdesk.comdatahelpdeskattachmentsproduction2043340729729original1Akf8rzcMOOaC69VLUrQpPgFLe0qQaGAXA.png)

 

6\. Simply click on the Category name from within the list and you'll be taken to your sub category on the Canvas.

![To be taken to your sub category , click the Category name from within the list.](https://support.ayoa.com/hubfs/Knowledge%20Base%20Import/s3.amazonaws.comcdn.freshdesk.comdatahelpdeskattachmentsproduction2043019019104original4PQ5qKmzZF8bN3W_eEqLE-hgklPzOgEa6Q-1.png)

### **Categories in Workflow/Kanban View**

You can easily **switch Task Board views** in AYOA.

 

If you want to view your Canvas Tasks as listed items, simply switch the view on your board from 'Canvas' to 'Workflow':

![](https://support.ayoa.com/hs-fs/hubfs/image-png-Jul-24-2025-08-00-50-0257-AM.png?width=367&height=252&name=image-png-Jul-24-2025-08-00-50-0257-AM.png)

 

In Workflow view Categories are displayed in columns.

![In workflow view categories are displayed in columns.](https://support.ayoa.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Screenshot_3-png-Sep-15-2022-02-28-15-49-PM.png?width=670&name=Screenshot_3-png-Sep-15-2022-02-28-15-49-PM.png)

 

You can create a new Category by clicking on 'Add a new Category'.

![Add a new category.](https://support.ayoa.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Screenshot_1-png-Sep-15-2022-12-16-23-32-PM.png?width=233&name=Screenshot_1-png-Sep-15-2022-12-16-23-32-PM.png)

 

To create sub-categories, first check that you have them enabled in your board options (head to the header menu of your Task Board and select 'Board Options;'.

![Enabled sub categories in your board options.](https://support.ayoa.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Knowledge%20Base%20Import/s3.amazonaws.comcdn.freshdesk.comdatahelpdeskattachmentsproduction2043340730208originalqndCXTxSUGpXCK3CoohYzO5RWnljAElx4Q.png?width=386&name=s3.amazonaws.comcdn.freshdesk.comdatahelpdeskattachmentsproduction2043340730208originalqndCXTxSUGpXCK3CoohYzO5RWnljAElx4Q.png)

 

To create a sub-category, simply drag a category into an existing category.

![Drag a category into an existing category to create sub categories.](https://support.ayoa.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Knowledge%20Base%20Import/s3.amazonaws.comcdn.freshdesk.comdatahelpdeskattachmentsproduction2043340739654originals5PbYBDF5vQPrdq_XoV6HFP93U6MXzBDYQ.gif?width=380&name=s3.amazonaws.comcdn.freshdesk.comdatahelpdeskattachmentsproduction2043340739654originals5PbYBDF5vQPrdq_XoV6HFP93U6MXzBDYQ.gif)

 

#### **Viewing Categories in the Canvas View:**

1\. Click on the **CATEGORIES** button situated in the right hand corner of the menu bar. 

![Click Categories.](https://support.ayoa.com/hubfs/Knowledge%20Base%20Import/s3.amazonaws.comcdn.freshdesk.comdatahelpdeskattachmentsproduction2043340737640original7Flgt6EhinXJuf4G6KWEqC8sqizZYZyMYA.png)

2\. A list of Categories will then appear beside corresponding colored circles. To go to your Category, simply click on the title of the Category that you would like to view.

![Click title of the Category you would like to view.](https://support.ayoa.com/hubfs/Knowledge%20Base%20Import/s3.amazonaws.comcdn.freshdesk.comdatahelpdeskattachmentsproduction2043020246244original-mk8a7I2W_w52QZB_jxzJtFE-WZza2DQ6A.png)

3\. You will then be taken straight to your Category on the Canvas.![You will be taken to your Category on the Ayoa Canvas.](https://support.ayoa.com/hubfs/Knowledge%20Base%20Import/s3.amazonaws.comcdn.freshdesk.comdatahelpdeskattachmentsproduction2043020246249originallqwi4Lf9fgAvHz77CAdQoML8sOmhNc-z1w.png)

 

Now you are ready to add your project Tasks to your Categories for a fun approach to Project Management!

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