Phials documentation
Developer docs

Properties in a Vial

Every Vial has a set of fields you define, its properties, and each file in the Vial can store a value for every property. This page covers defining properties and filling in values; Boards, saved views, relations, and notes are covered in the linked pages below.

Prerequisites

You must be browsing inside a Vial (the folder that contains .phials/). If you have not created one yet, see Create and manage a Vial.

Property types

TypeWhat it storesWhen to use it
TextSingle-line free textShort labels, names, one-line notes.
NumberNumeric valuesCounts, scores, quantities.
DateOne date, optional start and end range, optional include timeDeadlines, ranges, appointments.
CheckboxOn/off (boolean)Flags such as “done” or “reviewed.” In the type picker this appears as Checkbox.
URLURL string with quick openLinks to tickets, docs, or sites.
Rating0 to 5 starsQuick quality or priority signals.
SelectOne option from a list you manageSingle choice with optional colors and icons.
Multi-selectMany options from a managed listMultiple labels on one file.
TagsMany options from a global tag set shared across VialsCross-Vial tagging; see About Tags (global). Only one Tags property per Vial.
StatusOne option, like Select but styled for workflowPipeline stages (To do, Doing, Done).
RelationLinks to one or more files in another VialCross-folder links; details in Relation properties.

Add a property

Use this when you want a new column or sidebar field without opening the full schema editor.

  1. In the Vial toolbar, click + (add property).
  2. In the Property Type Selector, pick the type you need.
  3. Phials adds the property with a default display name; you can rename it immediately in the toolbar flow.

Edit the schema

To rename, delete, or manage option lists for Select-style properties:

  1. Open the Vial’s gear menu.
  2. Choose Configure properties to open the Schema Editor modal.

In the Schema Editor you can:

  • Add a property (same type selector as the toolbar +).
  • Rename a property in the detail pane header.
  • Delete a property (see Delete a property or option).
  • For Select, Multi-select, Tags, and Status: manage options (next subsection).

Manage options (Select, Multi-select, Tags, Status)

For these types, each option is a choice users can assign to files.

  • Add, rename, and delete options in the Schema Editor.
  • Reorder options for Select, Multi-select, and Tags (drag in the option list).
  • Assign a color from preset swatches so choices are easy to scan in dropdowns and chips.
  • Assign an icon using Iconify; any icon from that set is available.

Tags use the same option UI, but options live in a shared global registry; see About Tags (global).

About Tags (global)

Tags properties draw from one shared tag set across every Vial Phials knows. If you rename, recolor, or delete a tag option while editing any Vial’s Tags property, that change propagates to every other Vial that has a Tags property using that tag.

Each Vial may have at most one Tags property.

Set property values on files

The usual place to edit values is the preview sidebar while a file is selected.

  1. Select a file (or another indexed item) inside the Vial.
  2. In the preview sidebar, open the Properties section (see File Previews for how that pane fits in the window).

You get an inline editor per property type:

  • Text: single-line input.
  • Number: numeric input.
  • Date: date picker, optional second date for a range, and include time when you need a time of day.
  • Checkbox: checkbox.
  • URL: URL field with a way to open the link.
  • Rating: click stars (0 to 5).
  • Select / Status: single-choice dropdown; options can show colors and icons.
  • Multi-select / Tags: chip picker to choose multiple values.
  • Relation: file picker for linked files; see Relation properties.

If the Vial has no properties yet, use Add Property at the bottom of the Properties section (or the + in the Vial toolbar).

Details view also shows property columns for the Vial; you can edit values inline there the same way you would other cells, which helps when you are scanning many files at once.

Boards view groups files by a property you choose (often Select, Status, Multi-select, or Tags). How to pick that property and manage the layout lives in Saved views; this page stays focused on the schema and editors themselves.

Delete a property or option

  • Deleting a property removes that field from the schema and clears its stored values on every file in the Vial.
  • Deleting an option from Select, Multi-select, Tags, or Status unsets that choice on every file that had it.

Phials does not offer an in-app undo for these actions. Export or backup your Vial data before large cleanups if you might need to recover old values.