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Top 5 tips for managing columns in DataGrids.

5 ways in which columns in DataGrids can be managed, to make your workflow smoother while working in Explore.

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Written by Product Marketing
Updated over a year ago

If you have been a frequent user of Explore and DataGrids, you may have started thinking about how to manage your columns more effectively. If that is the case, you have come to the right place.

We hope, irrespective of your experience levels with Explore and DataGrids, you will take something away that you can use in your daily work. We are looking at a DataGrid with ten columns to work through this example and will be looking at:

  1. Search and Find

  2. Hide/ Show

  3. Drag and Rearrange

  4. Pin Left/ Pin Right

  5. Resizing and Autosizing

1. Search and Find Columns

One of the most underrated features in Explore is the ability to search for and click on a column title to scroll automatically to the column. In addition, you can use any part of the column title to filter down the list of columns in the column search.

The column is highlighted and is brought into view!

2. Hide/ Show Columns

Sticking with the same panel, we look at the eye icon. Clicking on it toggles between hiding and showing the column in the DataGrid. You can use Tip 1 to find the columns and then hide or show them. This is great when you want to keep some columns hidden but continue using them in your Calculations and Charts.

When added to the DataGrid, columns are always added in the visible state.

3. Drag and Rearrange columns

Anytime you hover over the header of a column, you see a context menu (three-line icon). Clicking and dragging the column header using the icon, you can rearrange the columns in the DataGrid.

Example: This is especially useful for logically grouping your columns.

4. Pin Left/ Pin Right

Pinning is a great way to keep columns that are important to you always visible in the DataGrid. Clicking on the context menu allows you to "Pin Column". Columns can be pinned to the left, right or both. You can remove the pinning by selecting No pin in the same sub-menu. Pinned columns have a darker border than unpinned columns.

While it is excellent to have pinned columns, it is crucial to remember that pinned columns do not scroll out of view; instead, they. Instead, they eat into the space available to view all columns. So, if you are using CoolPlanet OS on a low-resolution screen, use it with care.

5. Resize columns

We have found that column widths are subjective, and users set up their widths differently. This is why you have two ways to achieve this.

a. Autosize

You can use Autosize to make the column titles fully visible. Columns can be Autosized individually or across all columns within a DataGrid. The option to Autosize columns is also available from the Actions menu in the GridBar.

b. Manually resize

Drag either edge of the column header to resize manually. All your manual changes can be reset if you go back to defaults.

Do you have other ways in which you manage your columns? We would love to hear about it and improve; let us know.

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