Grid
Edit
Grid Edit transforms any table report into a spreadsheet-style display
that you can edit at will. You can:
Copy and Paste between cells
Fill Down
Directly modify multiple records at a time
Add multiple records at a time
Delete multiple records at a time
Tip: Anyone editing or adding
lots of records usually switches to Grid Edit mode. But, if you're managing
an application, you can actively use Grid Edit to create a smart and efficient
data-entry experience for your end users. Read
how.
To activate Grid Edit:
Display a table
report, such as List All.
On the upper left of the list, click the Grid
Edit link.
The table may not look that different, but magic has occurred (see
image below). QuickBase has made the entire table editable. You can
change any value directly from this report. This feature’s a handy
way to make changes to several records at once or to add or delete
several records at a time.
Note:
If you don't see a Grid Edit
link, your application manager has removed this feature from this
report.
You can always tell you're in Grid Edit mode by the pencil
and spreadsheet icon on the upper left.
Also, options above the report have changed. Read on to learn more
about these buttons.
FAQ -When I switch to grid edit,
QuickBase shows me a different view/set of columns than I expect. How
can I fix this?
Normally, when you click Grid Edit, QuickBase displays
pretty much the same set of columns you saw before you entered grid edit
mode. But, application managers can change that setting. A manager can
set a different layout for grid edit by selecting a custom
form whose field order overrides the current report. In this instance,
the fields in grid edit follow the order of fields on the chosen form.
This grid edit setting can be associated with a role or with specific
reports. Read more.
Editing in Grid Edit:
Double-click in any cell to change its value. Depending upon what type
of field you choose, you see either a text entry area, a dropdown list,
or some other user-interface gadget that is appropriate for changing the
value in that cell. Once you change a value in a cell, the background
of that cell turns pink so that you can see your modifications at a glance.
Immediately after changing a cell, you can undo the change by typing Ctrl-Z
or by right-clicking on the table and selecting Undo.
Cells you've edited are pink prior to saving. You can easily back
out of any change. Read on to learn how.
FAQ - Why is some data colored gray?
Some columns or cells may be grayed out in Grid Edit. This is data that
you cannot edit. You may not have permission to modify a particular record
or a field, for example. If you double-click on the cell, QuickBase will
explain why you can't edit it.
Selecting cells:
Lots of grid-edits nifty features (like adding multiple records at once
or copying a value down all cells in a column) depend upon you selecting
a group of cells.
Select a single cell by clicking on it.
Select a range of cells by clicking and dragging.
Selected cells turn lavender.
Select a row by clicking on the leftmost cell
in the row. Drag down to select multiple rows. Selected rows turn
green.
Select a column by clicking its heading. Drag
across to select multiple columns. Selected columns turn blue.
Tip:
When you have a single cell selected, move from cell to cell using
the arrow keys on your keyboard.
Grid Edit Actions
Once you've selected the cells in question, right-click to access grid-edit's
handiest features. You can:
Copy values.
Select a cell or multiple cells. Right-click and select Copy
from the menu. Select the same number of cells elsewhere in grid edit.
Right-click and select Paste.
Clear values.
Select the cells you want to clear. Right-click and select Clear.
Back out
of select changes. In grid edit, it's not too late to change
your mind until you click save. If you've made some edits you regret,
just select those cells again. Right-click and select Reset
to Original Values.
Fill Down.
As in your favorite spreadsheet program, you can save time completing
or changing fields in the same column, as long as the cells are grouped
together. The value in the top cell will be copied into all selected
cells beneath it (see image below). Select the cells, right-click
and select Fill Down. If you love keyboard shortcuts,
you can press Ctrl-D instead (in Internet Explorer only).
Selecting Fill Down in this instance, will
change all three selected values to Penelope Pease.
Insert/Add
multiple records. Read
how.
Add a single
record. Add a single record in one of two ways:
Scroll to the bottom of the list and
start typing in an empty row. (Grid edit mode always features
four blank lines at the bottom for new records.)
Click the Actions link
at the top of the report and select Add a new Record.
QuickBase jumps your cursor down to the first blank row at
the bottom of the list. Enter the new record in that blank
row
Delete and
undelete records. Read
how.
Undo your
last action. Right-click anywhere in grid-edit and select
Undo to back out of your last action. Undo doesn't
depend on the current selection. It simply undoes the most recent
operation.
FAQ - I've made changes in grid edit,
but I've changed my mind. How do I cancel the whole operation?
You can back out of individual changes using the undo and reset functions
covered in the list above. To abort the entire grid-edit undertaking,
just navigate away from this grid edit page. You can do so by clicking
any link on the page. For example, click the application title on the
upper left of the screen to return the application's dashboard (home page).
QuickBase will ask if you're sure you want to leave the page and, as a
result, cancel your edits. Click OK.
Smart places
to use GRID EDIT in your application
When you're designing a QuickBase application, you can use grid
edit mode to help your users enter data more efficiently.
Create a GRID EDIT report.
Speed data entry tasks by creating reports that automatically display
in Grid Edit mode. These reports let your users enter lots of records
at once. For instance, say they need to enter multiple timecards at
the end of the week. To create a tool like this, create
a new report and make its type Grid Edit.
Grid Edit Timecards Report - As soon as a staffer pulls up
this report,
he can start entering his time for the week without leaving this screen.
Embed a GRID EDIT report on a
form
Often you'll want to add a master record and related details records
all at once. For instance when you create a new project, you'd like
to create tasks for the project at the same time. This ability is
a great feature to offer your end users. Grant this ability by embedding
a report on the master form and then make that report editable. Read how.
Embedded Grid Edit Report - This embedded report shows a list
of tasks related to the T3 Install project. When
you make an embedded report editable, users can edit and add related
records spreadsheet-style.
Keyboard Shortcuts
If you have fast fingers, you may find these keyboard shortcuts useful
in Grid Edit:
CTRL+S - Save. (Internet
Explorer only) Saves the records that have been changed since the last
save.
ALT+Shift+S - Save. (Firefox only) Saves the records that have
been changed since the last save.
CTRL+D - Fill down. (Internet Explorer only) Copies the values
in the topmost cell(s) into the selected cells below.
DEL - Delete. Deletes the contents of the selected cells.
CTRL+X - Cut
CTRL+C - Copy
CTRL+V - Paste
CTRL+Z - Undo
Related
Topics