toeverything/AFFiNE · error · BlockSuiteError

DatabaseBlockError

DatabaseBlockError

Error message

no groupable column found

What it means

The Kanban view model's defaultData (view-presets/kanban/define.ts:36-43) calls resolveKanbanGroupBy(dataSource). That helper keeps a still-groupable column, else picks one via pickKanbanGroupColumn, else auto-adds a 'Status' select column (ensureKanbanGroupColumn). If no existing column is groupable AND the fallback propertyAdd fails (returns undefined, e.g. a read-only data source), groupBy is undefined and creating a Kanban view throws DatabaseBlockError 'no groupable column found'.

Solutions

1. Pre-check with pickKanbanGroupColumn(dataSource)/canGroupable before offering or adding the Kanban view
2. Ensure the data source supports propertyAdd so the Status select fallback column can be auto-created
3. Register kanbanGroup config plus a group-by service for custom column types
4. Catch the error and fall back to adding a Table view, then add a select column and retry

Example fix

// before
viewManager.viewAdd('kanban'); // throws 'no groupable column found'

// after
if (!pickKanbanGroupColumn(dataSource)) {
  dataSource.propertyAdd('end', { type: 'select', name: 'Status' });
}
viewManager.viewAdd('kanban');

import { pickKanbanGroupColumn, canGroupable } from '../../view-presets/kanban/group-by-utils.js';

const columnId = pickKanbanGroupColumn(dataSource);
if (!columnId) {
  // ensure a Status select column can be added, else keep table view
  const added = dataSource.propertyAdd('end', { type: 'select', name: 'Status' });
  if (!added) return; // do not add kanban view
}
viewManager.viewAdd('kanban');

const canCreateKanbanView = (dataSource: DataSource): boolean =>
  !!pickKanbanGroupColumn(dataSource) ||
  !!dataSource.propertyAdd('end', { type: 'select', name: 'Status' });

try {
  viewManager.viewAdd('kanban');
} catch (e) {
  if (e instanceof BlockSuiteError && e.code === BlockSuiteError.ErrorCode.DatabaseBlockError) {
    toast('Add a select column before creating a Kanban view');
    return;
  }
  throw e;
}

When it happens

Trigger: Adding a Kanban view to a database where every column type has kanbanGroup disabled or lacks a group-by service match, while the data source cannot add properties; custom column types registered without kanbanGroup config or group-by matcher support.

Common situations: Kanban view offered in a context where the data source is read-only (card/detail panels); databases whose columns are all title/rich-text (not groupable); custom property types missing group-by registration.

Related errors

• DatabaseBlockError
• DatabaseBlockError
• DatabaseBlockError
• DatabaseBlockError

AI-assisted analysis of toeverything/AFFiNE@b4c8548c09 (2026-08-18). Data as JSON: /api/errors/7487e1b90dbf90aa. Report an issue: GitHub.

Appendix: source

Thrown at blocksuite/affine/data-view/src/view-presets/kanban/define.ts:39

  sort?: Sort;
  header: {
    titleColumn?: string;
    iconColumn?: string;
    coverColumn?: string;
  };
  groupProperties: GroupProperty[];
};
export type KanbanViewData = BasicViewDataType<
  typeof kanbanViewType.type,
  DataType
>;
export const kanbanViewModel = kanbanViewType.createModel<KanbanViewData>({
  defaultName: 'Kanban View',
  dataViewManager: KanbanSingleView,
  defaultData: viewManager => {
    const groupBy = resolveKanbanGroupBy(viewManager.dataSource);
    if (!groupBy) {
      throw new BlockSuiteError(
        ErrorCode.DatabaseBlockError,
        'no groupable column found'
      );
    }

    const columns = viewManager.dataSource.properties$.value;

    return {
      columns: columns.map(id => ({
        id: id,
      })),
      filter: {
        type: 'group',
        op: 'and',
        conditions: [],
      },
      groupBy,
      header: {

View on GitHub (pinned to b4c8548c09)