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WBS Editor

Applies to: Pro · Enterprise Last updated: 27-Feb-2026

Overview​

The WBS Tree Editor provides a visual, spreadsheet-like interface for managing your Work Breakdown Structure. You can add, rename, move, indent, outdent, and delete WBS nodes. The editor also supports drag-and-drop reparenting, multi-select operations, clipboard cut/copy/paste, and a live search filter.

WBS Structure Editor — add, move, and rename WBS nodesWBS Structure Editor — add, move, and rename WBS nodes

Prerequisites​

  • Active Pro or Enterprise subscription
  • Editor Mode enabled
  • At least one project loaded

Opening the WBS Editor​

Open the WBS Editor from:

  • The Editor Sidebar → WBS Editor button
  • The Editor Context Menu → right-click a WBS group row

Layout​

The editor uses a two-pane layout:

PaneWidthContents
Tree PaneFlexibleWBS tree with expandable rows
Detail Pane340px fixedSelected node properties

Tree Columns​

ColumnWidthDescription
WBS Code280pxMonospace code identifier
WBS NameFlexibleDescriptive name
Activity Count80pxNumber of activities under this node

Each row is 32px tall with expand/collapse indicators: ▾ (expanded), ▸ (collapsed), or · (leaf node).

WBS Operations​

Adding Nodes​

ActionShortcutDescription
Add ChildCtrl+InsCreates a new child under the selected node
Add Sibling—Creates a peer node at the same level

Editing Nodes​

Double-click or press Enter / F2 on a selected node to enter inline editing mode. Edit the WBS Code (80px field) and WBS Name (flexible field) directly in the tree row.

Restructuring​

ActionShortcutDescription
Indent →TabMove the node one level deeper (becomes child of sibling above)
Outdent ←Shift+TabMove the node one level up (becomes sibling of parent)
Drag & Drop—Drag a node to reparent it under a different node

Rules:

  • Indent requires a sibling above to become a child of
  • Outdent requires the parent to not be the project root
  • Drag-and-drop shows a visual indicator at the drop target
  • Moving a node also moves all its child nodes and activities

Deleting Nodes​

Select a node and press Delete or use the trash icon. Deleting a WBS node also removes all activities assigned to it. A confirmation dialog appears for destructive operations.

Multi-Select​

ActionMethod
Single selectClick a node
Toggle selectCtrl+Click
Range selectShift+Click or Shift+Arrow keys

Multi-select enables batch operations: delete, cut, copy, and move.

Clipboard Operations​

ActionShortcutDescription
CutCtrl+XPrepare nodes for move (removed on paste)
CopyCtrl+CDuplicate nodes for paste
PasteCtrl+VInsert clipboard contents under selected node

The clipboard supports two modes:

  • WBS clipboard — cut or copy entire WBS subtrees
  • Activity clipboard — cut activities from one WBS node to paste into another

Keyboard Navigation​

KeyAction
↑ / ↓Move selection up/down
← / →Collapse / expand node
Home / EndJump to first / last node
Enter / F2Start inline editing
EscapeCancel editing
TabIndent node
Shift+TabOutdent node

Type in the search box to filter the WBS tree. The filter uses recursive matching — if a child node matches, its parent nodes remain visible to preserve the hierarchy. Search results update with a 300ms debounce.

Detail Pane​

When a node is selected, the right-hand detail pane shows:

  • WBS Short Name — editable text field
  • WBS Name — editable text field
  • Activity Count — read-only count of direct child activities
  • Total Activity Count — read-only count including all descendant activities

Changes in the detail pane use the RenameWBSCommand for undo/redo support.

Tips & Best Practices​

  • Structure your WBS in 3–5 levels for most projects
  • Use the Construction template as a starting point for EPC projects, then customise
  • Keep WBS codes consistent and meaningful (e.g., 1.2.3 format)
  • Use search to quickly find nodes in large hierarchies