AddThisFeature

Table Column Chooser

Let users choose which columns matter instead of forcing one table layout on everyone.

moderate Data & Content

What it adds

A control for showing, hiding, and reordering table columns, driven by a column definition rather than markup.

What your agent is told to do

5
  1. 1

    Derive the chooser from a single column definition that also drives the table itself. Two lists will drift apart.

  2. 2

    Filter the offered columns by permission before rendering. A column the user cannot read must not appear in the chooser at all, not even greyed out — its presence leaks the shape of the data.

  3. 3

    Mark identity and action columns as required so they cannot be hidden. A table with no way to tell rows apart or act on them is broken, not customised.

  4. 4

    Provide a reset to the default column set, always reachable, including when the user has hidden almost everything.

  5. 5

    Storage, scoping to device or account or workspace, and applying the saved choice before first paint are owned by Persistent View Preferences; use that mechanism rather than inventing a second one.

Edge cases it handles

6
  • A saved choice referencing a renamed or deleted column must be migrated or dropped silently, never crash the table.
  • A newly added column needs a defined default: visible for everyone, or hidden until chosen. Decide, and state it.
  • Hiding a column that is currently the sort key must either clear the sort or keep sorting by it with an explanation.
  • Hiding a column must not remove it from exports unless the user asked for that — say which behaviour applies.
  • The chooser must be usable with a keyboard, and reordering must have a keyboard path, not drag only.
  • With many columns the chooser needs its own search and grouping, or it becomes a wall of checkboxes.

Definition of done

8
  • The chooser and the table are generated from one column definition.
  • Columns the user cannot view never appear in the chooser.
  • Required identity and action columns cannot be hidden.
  • Saved choices survive column renames and removals without error.
  • A reset to defaults is always available.
  • Persistence is delegated to Persistent View Preferences.
  • The feature matches the existing design system.
  • No existing functionality is broken.

Related features

How it works

  1. 1

    Copy the link

    Grab the Markdown instruction URL for this feature.

  2. 2

    Give it to your AI

    Paste it into Claude Code, Cursor, v0, Lovable — whatever you build with.

  3. 3

    It inspects, then implements

    Your agent reads your existing app first, then adds the feature to fit it.

Works with your stack

These instructions are written to adapt. They tell the agent to detect your framework, match your existing design system, and reuse what you already have — rather than assuming a particular stack.

Need it tighter than that? Customize the feature and tell it exactly what you're running.