Add link/URL field to tasks

[kitikonti]

Description

Add the ability to attach links (URLs) to tasks. This enables referencing external resources like tickets, documents, or websites directly from the Gantt chart.

Open Questions

• Adding links: How should users add/edit links? Options include:
  • A dedicated "Link" column in the task table (editable inline)
  • A field in a future task detail dialog
  • Context menu action "Add link"
• Displaying links: How should links be shown?
  • Link icon in a column cell (clickable to open)
  • Tooltip on hover showing the URL
  • Dedicated column with truncated URL text
• Opening links: Click behavior — open in new browser tab (window.open)
• Multiple links per task?: Single URL field vs. list of links
• Validation: URL format validation on input

Design Considerations

• Should integrate with the existing column system (src/config/tableColumns.ts)
• Links must be persisted in .ownchart file format (extend ViewSettings / task data model)
• Undo/redo support for link add/edit/remove
• Copy/paste should include link data
• Export (PNG/PDF/SVG): decide whether links are shown or omitted

Acceptance Criteria

• Users can add a URL to a task
• Users can open the link (opens in new browser tab)
• Links are persisted in .ownchart file format
• Undo/redo support
• Detail concept approved before implementation

[kitikonti]

Hi @kitikonti, thanks for this well-thought-out feature request! The detail you put into the open questions and design considerations is really appreciated.

After evaluating this against OwnChart's current roadmap, we've decided to defer this feature for now rather than implement it immediately. Here's the reasoning:

OwnChart's philosophy is to stay lean and focused as a Gantt chart tool. Adding a dedicated link column right now would expand the task data model and touch many systems (columns, file format, undo/redo, export, copy/paste) — which is significant scope for what's essentially metadata.

Where this fits long-term: We have a Task Detail Dialog planned for a future phase. This would be the natural home for links/URLs alongside other extended task properties (notes, attachments, custom fields, etc.). A detail dialog approach also elegantly answers several of your open questions — it avoids cluttering the table with another column, supports multiple links per task, and provides space for proper URL display and editing.

We're keeping this issue open and tagged for future consideration. When we get to the Task Detail Dialog work, this will be one of the first things we revisit.

Thanks again for contributing — suggestions like these help shape OwnChart's direction! 🙏