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 use Grid Edit to edit records:
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
when you're in Grid Edit mode by the pencil and spreadsheet icon on
the upper left.
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.
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.
FAQ - When I add a record in grid
edit mode, the report shows additional columns that aren't included in
the report. Why?
When you add records in grid edit mode, the report changes to include columns
for any required fields that are not
included in the report. These columns appear on the right side of
the report.
Selecting cells:
Lots of grid-edit 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 pale green.
Select a column by clicking its heading. Drag across to select
multiple columns. Selected columns turn pale 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 and press the Backspace key.
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.)
At the top of the report, select 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 the grid 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 using 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 discard all your changes, just navigate
away from the 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.
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.
Note: Users with the Basic Access access level
may not create Grid Edit reports.
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 detail 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 or Backspace - Delete.
Deletes the contents of the selected cells.
CTRL+X - Cut
CTRL+C - Copy
CTRL+V - Paste
CTRL+Z - Undo
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Topics