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Functions in the Windows and Web grid

warning

In accordance with our lifecycle policy, the Web GUI is no longer supported. The Thinkwise Platform version 2023.3 is the last version to support the Web GUI. The Universal GUI is the Web GUI's successor. It matches the Web GUI's functionality and more. For more information, see the blog post on the Thinkwise Community.

Introduction​

All functions that appear in the grid part of the screen are dealt with in this chapter. There are a large number of functions in the grid. Some are immediately available on the screen, others via the so called context menu, which appears when the right-hand mouse button is pressed.

On the screen​

A large number of functions in the grid are directly accessible using the mouse.

Select a record​

To select one record click on the record that you want to select. As soon as a record is selected the information can be examined in the detail screen and the sub-categories of the record are available. A selected record can be recognized by the triangle in front of the record and the dotted line on the record. It can also occur that this record changes color, as can be seen in the figure below.

The third record is selected

Select one cell​

To select one cell click on the cell in question. This is particularly useful during a quick search. The cell that is selected gets a dotted line round the cell.

The cell 'Kevin Doyle' is selected within the selected record.

Open a record​

Open a record in the grid section of a hierarchy screen​

Double click on a record to open it.

When a detail must be opened in a new screen, double click on the record in combination with the Ctrl key.

Open a record in a master-detail screen​

Click on a record in the grid to open a record in a master-detail screen. The detail then displays the selected record.

Share a record​

To share a record with another user, right-click in the record and go to menu Extra - Share:

Deep link without a process flow Sharing a record

Now copy the deep link to your clipboard and use it to share it in a way you see fit:

Link to a record

This deep link can be created in both the Web GUI and the Windows GUI (depending on its configuration). However, the link can be opened by another user only in the Web GUI.

Select a value in a column​

If a column contains a domain or lookup column with elements, users can select the values from a control in each cell in the column.

See:

When using the product on the web it will be noticed that a grid is sub-divided into different pages. When the mouse is positioned above a column, this becomes visible with the figure below. These buttons can be used to browse through the pages.

Page layout in the web

Toolbar​

When the grid is selected a large number of functions are available via the 'Start' toolbar. Consider functions such as refresh, edit, search and filter. These functions will be explained one by one.

Toolbar

A function can be started in three different ways. The functions followed by three full stops are always followed by a pop-up and therefore never start immediately. The functions without full stops start immediately, without a pop-up screen. The options with an arrow open a sub-menu with options from which a selection can be made.

Most options are also available in the context menu, which can be called up by clicking on the grid with the right mouse button.

Refresh​

Refreshing is the retrieval of data from the central database, so that the last modifications, possibly done by other users, are visible on the screen. This ensures that the most recent data is always worked with.

Refresh in the toolbar

Refreshing is also useful if several tabs are open and these tabs influence each other, or details of tabs.

Refreshing is especially important if several users are working in the same screen because changes from other users are also processed.

Edit mode​

The 'Edit mode' is used to quickly carry out a large number of modifications in the grid. By enabling this function it is possible to edit data in the grid. Normally speaking it is only possible to modify data in the Form View.

Edit mode in the toolbar

Tasks​

There may be tasks available in the toolbar. A task is a specific assignment to execute a specific activity, calculation or procedure in the program. The task is always company specific and therefore we will not discuss it further here. If there are tasks available then these can be found for each work screen in the toolbar under Tasks. It can also be that this is displayed on the screen as an icon, depending on the set up that has been chosen by the developer.

Tasks in the toolbar

Reports​

As well as tasks available in the toolbar there can also be reports present. When this option is selected the program generates a report on the basis of the data in your program. The reports are always company specific and therefore we will not discuss them further here.

Reports in the toolbar

Examples of reports are a quotation, order confirmation, purchase order, sales invoice or an order picking list.

Resize columns​

When the width of the columns is changed, for instance, by widening a column, then this can be restored again. When this is done once the columns are set exactly so wide that the heading and the visible data are displayed. If 'Resize columns' is clicked on again, the columns are adjusted to only display the visible data. This may mean that the entire heading of the column is not visible, but you do not lose any space through a long heading above a column.

Resize columns in the toolbar

Export​

When it is required to use data from a table in Microsoft Excel then this data can be exported. This is done with the function 'Export'.

When data is exported, the user is guided through a number of selection screens.

It is firstly asked which rows need to be exported. The following options are available:

  • Selected rows

  • All rows in the grid

  • All rows in the grid (ignore maximum number of rows)

The last option is only shown if a maximum number of records is defined. This can be recognized by the symbol   in the heading of the table.

Export options

On the following screen it can be indicated which rows must be exported with the help of check marks.

Which columns to export

It can then be indicated whether the column headings need to be exported and whether the IDs (the values that are in the database) or the translations (values that are displayed) of the column headings need to be exported.

Export ID or translation

Finally the file name must be entered. As default the files are exported as .xlsx files to the user folder. If the file type or the file location must be changed then this is done with the   button next to the field for entering the file name.

Storage location for exporting

Import​

Along with exporting data it is also possible to import data. Just as with exporting data there are a number of steps to go through when importing data.

When the import is started, which can be done via the toolbar, the location of the file to be imported must first be entered or browsed for.

Import

The following screen is then displayed.

File selection during the import

The data that must be imported is selected in this screen. This can be done by dragging the blue border. Furthermore it must be indicated with the check mark that the data includes column names. If this is the case then where the column names are located is indicated with the 'Select column names' button . (In most cases this is at the top and this is automatically correct. It is then indicated whether the columns are translations or IDs. When the required data and options are selected the Next button is clicked on.

In the next window it is indicated with check marks which columns need to be imported and which column from the file corresponds with the column from the existing table. Furthermore the field can be left empty and an Alternative value may be entered in the field next to it (this applies to all the rows that are imported).

Click on Finish to complete the import.

Enter value during import

Update​

Using the Update option large amounts of data can be modified at once. This takes place via the 'Update' function in the toolbar between Import and Export.

The following options become available when Update is clicked on:

  • Selected rows

  • All rows in the grid

  • All rows in the grid (ignore maximum number of rows).

  • Rows from a file

When the last option is chosen you can opt with a check mark to add non-existing rows, which are in the file, but which are not in the table.

After selecting one of the options the Update window is displayed. The value can be entered here for the columns that must be updated.

ℹ This option is not available in the Web version of the application.

Rows can also be updated from an Excel or CSV file. The choice can then be made to add non-existing rows or to only update the current rows.

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