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# Manage columns as hierarchies
> Manage columns as hierarchies in Sigma. The Manage hierarchies popover is deprecated and must be replaced by Hierarchy columns after September 15, 2026.
Creating hierarchies in the **Manage hierarchies** popover is deprecated. Starting September 15, 2026, you will no longer be able to create new hierarchies in the **Manage hierarchies** popover, or edit existing hierarchies created from the popover. Instead, migrate to [hierarchy columns](/docs/hierarchies#create-a-hierarchy). See [Create a hierarchy](/docs/hierarchies#create-a-hierarchy) for more details.
Creating a hierarchy of columns that worked like a structured folder from the **Manage hierarchies** option is now deprecated. [Creating hierarchy columns](/docs/hierarchies#create-a-hierarchy) instead enables filtering and formatting hierarchical data, as well as visualizing ragged and rolled up hierarchical data.
This document describes how to use the **Manage hierarchies** option to create a hierarchy of columns.
## Create a hierarchy with **Manage hierarchies**
To create a hierarchy using the **Manage hierarchy** popover:
Create a hierarchy using a hierarchy column instead. See [Create a hierarchy](/docs/hierarchies#create-a-hierarchy).
1. Open a workbook for editing.
2. Select the element for which you want to create a hierarchy. You can create a hierarchy in a table or in a pivot table, but you can only use hierarchies in pivot tables.
3. In the **Columns** menu, click **+**, then choose **Manage hierarchies**.
4. In the **Manage hierarchies** popover, click **+ New hierarchy** and define the properties of your hierarchy:
1. For **Hierarchy name**, enter a name to identify the hierarchy.
2. For **Columns in hierarchy**, click 
**Add column** to add a column to the hierarchy.
When you add a column to a hierarchy, the column is labeled with a 
hierarchy icon in column list. Hover over the icon to view the hierarchy details:
5. To create additional hierarchies, click **+ New hierarchy** in the **Manage hierarchies** popover, then repeat step 4.
### Manage a hierarchy of columns
You can rename a hierarchy, reorder columns, add new columns, remove existing columns, or delete a hierarchy altogether.
Manage a hierarchy as a hierarchy column instead. See [Create a hierarchy](/docs/hierarchies#create-a-hierarchy).
1. In the **Manage hierarchies** popover, select the hierarchy you want to update.
* To rename the hierarchy, edit the **Hierarchy name** field.
* To reorder columns, go to the **Columns in hierarchy** section, then drag and drop column names as needed.
* To add a new column, go to the **Columns in hierarchy** section and click **Add column**.
* To remove a column from the hierarchy, locate the column name in the **Columns in hierarchy** section and click 
**Remove column**.
* To delete the hierarchy, locate the hierarchy name in the left panel and click **Delete hierarchy**.
### How hierarchies of columns are inherited
If a hierarchy is defined in **Manage hierarchies**, child elements inherit all hierarchies defined in a parent element, but inherited hierarchies cannot be removed or modified from child elements.
A hierarchy column is inherited by child elements, but because it is a column, it can also be removed from a child element. A hierarchy column can only be modified where it is created.
When a hierarchy is selected in the **Manage hierarchies** modal, Sigma indicates whether it is inherited from the parent element.
### Use a hierarchy of columns in a pivot table
To use a hierarchy of columns defined in **Manage hierarchies** in a pivot table, do the following:
1. To create a pivot row with hierarchies, go to the **Pivot rows** property and click **Add column...**, then select a hierarchy.
2. To apply a hierarchy to the pivot values, go to the **Values** property and click **Add column...**, then select a hierarchy.
The resulting pivot table demonstrates the configured hierarchies.
