Customize Data Grid Columns

Customize Data Grid Columns

You can customize your data grids by moving and/or resizing the columns. You can lock a selected number of columns, so they will always be visible on the screen, even if you scroll to the right. You can also change the default column to sort by or change the sort for a single session.

Note: You cannot save changes to system-generated views or views configured by another user via Save View Settings. Instead, right-click in the data grid, select Save As from the menu, and then save the view under a new name.

Sorting Data

How data is sorted in a grid is displayed next to the column heading. A 1 with an up arrow means this is the primary sort in ascending order (A-Z). A down arrow indicates descending order (Z-A). A 2 in a column heading means that is the second sort, and so on.

Note: If you are working with an optimized view, the columns you can use for your primary sort (sort #1) are limited to the primary fields for the type of record you are searching for. Standard primary fields include ID Code, Fund ID, Gift or Grant Number, and Sort Name, among others. If you are working with a full view, you can use any column in the data grid as your primary sort.

Example: Data Grid with Two Sorts

To change how data is sorted in a column, do the following:

Note: When you change the field in the Search By drop-down, any current sorting is removed and the data will automatically be sorted first by the selected field’s data in ascending order.

1. Click on the column heading. If there are no other sorting settings, the first time a column is clicked, it will show a 1 with an ascending order arrow.

2. Click a second time to change to descending order.

3. Click a third time to remove the sort for that column.

Note: This option is only available in Full data grid views. You cannot completely remove the sorting from Optimized data grid views.

4. Click the Reset Sort Order button on the data grid toolbar to remove any current sorting. The data will be resorted in the default sort order for the primary table in the data grid.

Note: The Reset Sort Order button is only available in Full data grid views.

5. If you want to save the sort order for the current view, click the Save View Settings button on the data grid toolbar.

Note: If you have made these changes in a system-generated view or a view configured by another user, you cannot save them via Save View Settings. Instead, right-click in the data grid, select Save As from the menu, and then save the view under a new name.

Resizing Columns

Note: This procedure takes you through the process of resizing columns from within the data grid. You can also change the column widths via the Columns tab in View Settings. Refer to Configuring View Settings for more information.

1. Place your mouse cursor on the divider line to the right of the column header for the column you want to resize.

2. Click and drag the column divider line to the right to increase the size of the column, or to the left to reduce the size of the column.

Tip: The divider line will be visible as you drag, so you can see where it will be placed.

3. When the column is the desired size, release the mouse button.

4. If you want to save the changes, either click the Save View Settings button on the data grid toolbar or right-click on the data grid and select Save View Settings.

Note: If you have made these changes in a system-generated view or a view configured by another user, you cannot save them via Save View Settings. Instead, right-click in the data grid, select Save As from the menu, and then save the view under a new name.

Moving Columns

You can change the location of columns in your data grid by right-clicking and selecting Move Columns in the grid or using the Move Up and Move Down buttons on the Columns tab in View Settings.

Moving Columns from Within the Data Grid

1. Right-click in the data grid and select Move Columns. The Move Columns window opens, displaying all of the columns in the current data grid, in the order they appear, from left to right.

Example: Move Columns Window
2. Click to select the desired column, and then do one of the following:

• Move First: Moves the selected column to the top of the list. This column will now be the first column on the left-hand side of the data grid.
• Move Up: Moves the selected column up one level in the list. This column will now appear one space to the left of its current location in the grid.
• Move Down: Moves the selected column down one level in the list. This column will now appear one space to the right of its current location in the grid.
• Move Last: Moves the selected column to the bottom of the list. This column will now be the last column on the right-hand side of the data grid.

3. Repeat this process for all of the columns that you want to move.

4. When you are finished, click OK.

Moving Columns Via View Settings 

This method is useful when you have many columns in your grid that you want to move, or if you are moving columns from the far right to the far left of the grid. 

1. Click the View Settings button in the data grid view whose columns you want to move.

2. Click the Columns tab.

Example: Columns Tab

3. In the right-hand pane, select the column that you want to move, and then click the Move Up or Move Down button to move the column to the desired location.

4. Select and move any additional columns.

5. When you are finished, click the Save button to save your changes. If you see the updated data grid, click the Generate View button.

Note: If you have made changes to a system-generated view or a view configured by another user, click Save As from the menu, and then save the view under a new name.

Locking Columns

Before you lock columns, make sure that the columns you want to remain visible are on the left-hand side of the data grid. This option locks a number of columns starting on the left-hand side and moving to the right.

Note: These settings can only be changed directly on the data grid – you cannot change them via the View Settings window.

1. Right-click in the data grid and select Lock Columns.

2. On the sub-menu that opens, select the number of columns that you want to lock. When you scroll to the right in the data grid, the number of columns that you selected will remain visible at all times.

Note: Do not count the Tagging column in this number. Only count columns of data. The Tagging column is always visible, even if you lock zero columns.

3. Click the Save View Settings on the data grid toolbar.

Note: If you have made these changes in a system-generated view or a view configured by another user, you cannot save them via Save View Settings. Instead, right-click in the data grid, select Save As from the menu, and then save the view under a new name.