Ctrlk
Smaply websiteFree trial
For the complete documentation index, see llms.txt. This page is also available as Markdown.

How to use planning cards

Pull a live work item from a connected planning tool onto a journey map, so the step shows its real status and updates as the work moves.

A planning card puts a work item from a connected planning tool, like a Linear issue or a Jira ticket, directly onto the step it relates to. The card shows the item's own fields and stays in sync with the source, so the map reflects what's actually happening in delivery.

Prerequisites

A planning tool must already be connected at the account level. To connect one, see Integrations > Planning tools (Jira, Asana, Azure DevOps, Linear, Monday.com, and Trello).

Planning cards are an advanced card type. The Free and Repository plans allow up to 3 advanced cards per map; the Framework and Governance plans remove the cap.

To add one, hover an empty cell and click + Add card, then choose Planning. Planning is the Enter quick-select in a Planning lane and sits under ADVANCED CARDS in the picker in any other lane.

How to add a planning item from a connected tool

Planning cards don't hold their own content. Instead, you search a connected tool and pick a live item to display, so the card becomes a window onto that item.

1

Open the Search planning items modal

Add a planning card. The Search planning items modal opens with a tab for each of your connected tools.

The Search planning items modal open over a journey map. A row of tabs reads Trello (selected), Jira, and Linear. Below is a search field with a blue Search button, an empty state reading Search for planning items, and a greyed-out Select button in the bottom-right.
Search planning items, with a tab per connected tool
2

Pick the tool and search

Click the tab for the tool you want, type a query, and click Search. Only the tools connected to your account appear as tabs, so the set you see depends on what's been set up.

3

Select the item and add it

Choose an item from the results and click Select. The button stays greyed out until a result is selected. The card lands in the slot showing that item's live data.

What a planning card shows

The card displays the source item's own fields, so the layout follows your tool rather than Smaply. A Linear issue, for example, shows its ID, PRIORITY, and STATUS.

A planning card in a lane labelled Planning. The card is titled Connect your tools and lists three fields: ID RET-3, PRIORITY --- No Priority, and STATUS Todo.
A planning card backed by a Linear issue

To open the item in the tool it came from, select the card and click Open Linear on the toolbar (the label names whichever tool backs the card). The same action sits in the card details panel as Open in Linear.

A selected planning card titled Connect your tools with its floating toolbar above. The toolbar starts with an Open Linear button, followed by the card header, fill, show card details, delete, and three-dot icons.
The toolbar opens the item in its source tool

A planning card has no text-formatting controls, because its content comes from the source item rather than from typing on the card.

What happens when the source item changes or is deleted

A planning item isn't stored in Smaply. The card is a live view of the item in the connected tool, so changes flow one way, from the tool into Smaply.

  • When the item changes - Edits in the source tool, such as a new status or priority, appear on the card automatically. Most changes are reflected within about 30 seconds.

  • When the item is deleted - The card can no longer pull its data, because the item it points to no longer exists in the tool. Remove the card from the map to clear it.

There's no Smaply-side copy to edit. To change what the card shows, change the item in the tool.

How the same item can appear on more than one map

Because the item lives in the connected tool and not in Smaply, you can add the same item to as many maps as you like. Each one is a separate card pointing at the same source, and all of them reflect the same upstream status. A status change in the tool updates every card showing that item.

What planning cards share with other cards

Planning cards use the same toolbar tail, card details panel, colour system, and multi-select as every other card type. The card details panel holds the universal Personas, Card tags, and Comments sections.

The card details panel for a planning card. A single Open in Linear button sits at the top, above three collapsed sections: Personas, Card tags, and Comments (0).
The planning card details panel, with Open in [tool] above the shared sections

See How to add and edit cards for the canonical walkthrough of these shared mechanics.

compass

Planning items come from an external tool and stay in sync with it. For pain points, opportunities, and solutions that live inside Smaply, see How to use portfolio item cards.

Related topics

How to add and edit cards

Parent how-to for shared card mechanics: toolbar, details panel, colours, and headers.

How to set up the Jira integration

Connect a planning tool at the account level before adding planning cards.

How to use portfolio item cards

Show pain points, opportunities, and solutions that live inside Smaply.

How to use metric cards

Surface a live metric from a connected data source on a journey map.

How to comment on a card

Add comments and @mention teammates on any card from its details panel.

PreviousMetric cardsNextPortfolio item cards

Last updated