# What inactive column can be used for

Inactive columns are normal columns that can have data source, conditions and cards. They are existing Flexi Kanban object records, that have IDs and other properties - but they are just not rendered in Kanban.

You can use them in all places where you need to act with columns, e.g., in Totals calculations.

E.g., you want to show total revenue amount on all accounts in the top of kanban. There is no way to get this number directly without doing some programmer's magic, but you can get any totals with standard Flexi Kanban function applied to a column that contains ALL records. So:

* Make a [column](https://docs.flexikanban.ai/standard-kanban/configure-column/how-to-sonfigure-column-properties) that has no conditions (that means column include all records) with an Account object as a data source:

<img src="https://3097383375-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FK2dgObBO5ydOH2ZXDJLa%2Fuploads%2Fx9jtfcavAukAnXQHQcyT%2Ffile.excalidraw.svg?alt=media&#x26;token=b182c729-b4d9-49fa-b7cd-f64254733c60" alt="" class="gitbook-drawing">

* Get this column ID [using merge field picker](https://docs.flexikanban.ai/standard-kanban/tools/using-merge-field-picker). Select context object "$Record" > Kanban Column > Id > %Column name%. Copy and save given column id for the future (e.g. at the field "Description" of this column), or in your favorite notes editor.

<img src="https://3097383375-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FK2dgObBO5ydOH2ZXDJLa%2Fuploads%2F930TnAhGk7wSVVAWwrKg%2Ffile.excalidraw.svg?alt=media&#x26;token=c8a7d1cc-f47d-4821-be70-a35032f6450c" alt="" class="gitbook-drawing">

* Add a [cell](https://docs.flexikanban.ai/standard-kanban/tools/configuring-rows-cells-menus-and-buttons) to [Kanban statistics](https://docs.flexikanban.ai/standard-kanban/configure-kanban/how-to-add-kanban-statistics) that will show some total amount, e.g. Total Expected Revenue

<img src="https://3097383375-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FK2dgObBO5ydOH2ZXDJLa%2Fuploads%2FuXXCVgakINpF9EYgucH1%2Ffile.excalidraw.svg?alt=media&#x26;token=d2b6e9cb-e215-4c43-952e-12cbb4fd1751" alt="" class="gitbook-drawing">

* Use this column's ID in a formula with [COLUMNTOTAL() function](https://docs.flexikanban.ai/references/functions/system) that will return a total by "Expected Revenue" field calculated for this hidden column and enter this formula into that cell

<img src="https://3097383375-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FK2dgObBO5ydOH2ZXDJLa%2Fuploads%2Fwb8BLPFhPwi92VzIcBdk%2Ffile.excalidraw.svg?alt=media&#x26;token=8cfd4411-2fe4-40db-86f0-5c65ff878a9b" alt="" class="gitbook-drawing">

* Apply created function and save kanban. Close kanban builder to see the result in the top of kanban:

<img src="https://3097383375-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FK2dgObBO5ydOH2ZXDJLa%2Fuploads%2FAeAywXRVqBd7ZYv6Ex2A%2Ffile.excalidraw.svg?alt=media&#x26;token=39a8455f-be94-4300-b7d0-3c71e242e99b" alt="" class="gitbook-drawing">


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