A grid View can be created two different ways, either directly through the Grid or using the View Builder. This article will focus on building a new View through the View Builder. The View Builder will allow you to easily setup all the aspects of a View without load time of your data.
The View Builder will be automatically launched for any grid where you have not yet created a default View. It can also be launched by clicking on the three-dot menu next to any existing View and clicking “Open Builder.” There are also similar options under the Filter and Sort Menus.
The View Builder is broken down in three steps: Select Columns, Apply Filters, and Choose Sort Order. These are all the options available for the customization of your grid within a View. On the left-hand side of the builder, you will find a side bar containing a list of your current Views. Clicking on a View will open selections in the builder to allow you to edit those selections. You will have the option to save your changes with the existing View name or create a brand-new View.
Step 1
The first step is “Select Columns” where you can select which columns are shown or hidden within your view as well as what order they should appear in. The left-hand column called, “Available Columns,” will show all the Field Columns not currently assigned to your grid while the right-hand column called, “Selected Column,” will show all the Field Columns currently assigned to your grid. Both lists of Field Columns allow you to Search for your desired Field Column and allow you to move those Field Column from one to the other.
To select the Field Columns to include in your view single click on the column and it will be highlighted. If you wish to select multiple Field Columns that are all listed adjacent to each other, click the first Field Column, and then hold down the “Shift” key, and then click on the last Field Column you would like to include. All the Field Columns between your first and last selection will then be highlighted. You can also select multiple Field Columns in random order. After highlighting your first Field Column, hold down “Ctrl” or “Command” key, and then click on your additional Field Column selections. Each of the Field Columns you select will be highlighted.
Once your desired Field Columns have been selected, click on the arrow icons between the two columns. This action will move your selections from the Available Columns over to the Selected Columns. You will also find “Add All” and “Remove All” buttons at the top of the Available Columns and Selected Columns in case you need the batch action.
To remove a Field Column from the Selected Columns list, use the same process to click on the Field Column (or columns), then click the arrow icons to move it back to the Available Columns list. A Field Column that is moved back to the Available Column list will appear at the bottom of that list.
You can also change the order your Field Columns will appear in. Each Field Column has three lines on the right side of its box. Once the Field Column is selected, click on the three lines, and then drag and drop that column to the desired location. The higher you place the column on the list, the farther to the left it appears on the grid when looking at that View. Those placed towards the bottom of the list will appear farther to the right on the grid.
Along with the name of the Field Column and the three lines to help with positioning, you will see different icons to the left of the name. Each Fields Columns will have a Lock icon which will display as unlocked or locked. Clicking on the Lock icon will freeze that column in a set position to the left of the grid. Clicking on the Lock icon again will unfreeze that column.
Once you are satisfied with the Field Columns and order you have selected for your view, you can click the “Save” button or dropdown the Save Menu to select, “Save View As”. Selecting “Save View As” will allow you to input a name for the new View. “Save” will overwrite the currently selected View.
Step 2
The second step is “Apply Filters.” Here you will be able to apply Filters to the Field Columns selected on the previous step for your custom View. Before applying your filters, consider the outcome you are trying to produce. The filters work in hierarchical order. The first filter selected will determine what data is available for the next filter applied.
To insert the first Filter, click “Add Filter.” In the first dropdown field you can select which Field Column you wish to filter first. In the second dropdown field you can input the type of filter you wish to apply and in the third field you can input the value you wish to filter for. Additional Filters can be added by clicking “Add Filter” again and then inputting the desired values. Along with entering in the additional Filter values you can also select “And” or “Or” for how your Filters should interact with the data being filtered. Selecting “And” means the data must meet both criteria to be included in the list. Using “Or” means it can meet either criterion to be included in the list.
To remove a Filter, you can click on the “x” at the end of that filter’s row. Once your Filters are selected, you can choose to “Save” or “Save View As.” When you are finished making changes, you can return to the grid by clicking on the “x” in upper right-hand corner of the Builder. If you haven’t saved your changes, you will be prompted to do so, and those changes will be applied to the grid.
Step 3
The final step is “Choose Sort Order.” Here you can input which Field Columns should be sorted on the grid to determine the order the data is displayed. To insert a new Sort through this menu, click “Add Sort”. In the first dropdown field you able to select which field or column you wish to Sort. In the second dropdown field you can choose whether it will be sorted in ascending or descending order. If you wish to add an additional Field Column to be sorted, you can click the “Add Sort” button again. Like the Filter step, the Sorts have a hierarchal order, and the software will apply each sort to the data in the order they are listed.
To remove a Sort, you can click the “x” next to Field Column row you are sorting. Once your setup of Sorts is complete you can again choose to “Save” or “Save View As.” You can return to the grid by clicking on the “x” in the upper right-hand corner of the Builder. If you haven’t saved your changes, you will be prompted to do so, and those changes will be applied to the grid.
