Tri-state action items: open, in-progress, done.
Short answer
A tri-state action item is a task that can exist in one of three distinct states: open (not started), in-progress (actively being worked on), and done (complete). BoardSnap generates tri-state action items automatically from whiteboard photos, giving you a more accurate status picture than a binary checked/unchecked list.
## Why two states aren't enough
A standard checkbox has two states: not done and done. That works for grocery lists. It doesn't work for team task management, because there's a real and important gap between "no one has started this" and "we've shipped it."
Work lives in that middle state. Tasks get picked up, partially completed, blocked, handed off. A checkbox that can only be checked or unchecked forces you to lie about reality — either the item is done (it's not) or it's not started (it is).
## The three states
Open — The task exists and no one has started it. The default state for everything BoardSnap AI identifies from the board.
In-progress — Someone is actively working on this. Tap once to move from open to in-progress. This is the state that matters most for standups, check-ins, and async status.
Done — Complete. Tap again to mark it done. The item stays visible in the list (so you have a record) but is visually distinguished from open and in-progress items.
## How BoardSnap generates them
When you snap a whiteboard, BoardSnap AI reads the board and identifies action items — tasks, next steps, owner assignments, decisions that need follow-up. Every identified item starts as Open by default.
You can move any item to in-progress or done immediately. If the board shows work that was already in flight, you might mark several items in-progress before you even leave the meeting room.
## Subtasks inherit the same model
Auto-generated subtasks are also tri-state. A complex item like "Launch campaign" might have subtasks at different stages — one done, one in-progress, one not started yet. The parent item reflects the aggregate state.
## The alternative
Binary to-do lists force constant cleanup — items marked done that shouldn't be, or items left unchecked even though work has started. Tri-state action items match how work actually moves.
Frequently asked
Can I go backwards — from done back to in-progress?
Yes. States are not locked. Tap any item to cycle through or select a specific state. Done doesn't mean permanent.
Do subtasks have tri-state too?
Yes. Every subtask has the same three states as parent action items. Each can be tracked independently.
See it work in ten seconds.
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