PDXpert PLM Software
On-line Help Guide

This help topic describes the current PDXpert PLM release. Earlier releases may be different. To view your release's version of this topic, open PDXpert and press the F1 key or select the Help menu.

Use the DataGrid

The DataGrid shows the results of a Transforms collection member.

To show a transform's results in the DataGrid, its XML code must use the <Provider>DataGrid</Provider> setting. See the Transforms: <Provider> help topic.

The DataGrid supports about 100,000 data cells (columns × rows). Write the transform with this limit in mind. For larger results or more complex data filtering, export the data using the <Provider>Table2</Provider> transform setting.

Using the DataGrid §

  • Open the DataGrid by running a transform from the Tools menu ➔ Report/Export Wizard... command, or from a context menu.

  • After the DataGrid opens, you can arrange columns and sort rows; filter unwanted data; and copy or export the results.

  • You can have more than one DataGrid open at the same time.

Adjusting the view §

Adjust column width §

  • Adjust a column's width by dragging its border. Double-click the column's right-side border to automatically adjust its width to the text.

 Order column §

  • Change the left-to-right column sequence by selecting the column header, and dragging the header box to the correct location.

    Dragging a column to a new location

    The vertical line ▎ highlights where the column will be inserted.

  • Restore the original left-to-right column sequence by clicking the Reset Order button.

Hide column §

  • Hide a column by opening the column's context menu, and selecting the Hide Column command.

  • Unhide (show) all hidden columns by clicking the Unhide All button.

Sort rows by column §

  • Sort the data rows by one or more columns. Click on a column header once to sort ascending (▲ as 0-9,A-Z). Click again to sort descending (▼ as Z-A,9-0). Click once more to remove your sorting. Sorting is not case-sensitive. The Sort by: text shows the sorting rule.

  • Restore the original sorting by clicking the Clear Sort button. This is confirmed by the Sort by:   Default message.

Filter rows §

  • Show only useful rows by entering text into the Filter by: box. The filter characters are matched character-by-character to the content of any column, and any non-matching rows are filtered out (excluded).

    • Matching is not case-sensitive.

    • Space characters are used to separate filter "tokens": each token must match at least one column in a row.

    • Extra whitespace (like TAB CR NBSP) and control characters (like NUL) are removed from tokens before matching. All other alphanumeric and symbol characters are used for matching. If a table value contains extra whitespace or control characters, these will not be matched.

    • Each token automatically begins and ends with a wildcard: typing the token PART is immediately converted to *part*

    • Text in hidden ("housekeeping") columns is ignored.

  • Clear the filter by clicking on the × at the right end of the Filter by: box. This restores the original set of data rows.

The row filter criteria is similar to:

((columnA has *token1*) OR (columnB has *token1*) OR ... OR (columnN has *token1*))
AND ((columnA has *token2*) OR (columnB has *token2*) OR ... OR (columnN has *token2*))

AND ...

AND ((columnA has *tokenX*) OR (columnB has *tokenX*) OR ... OR (columnN has *tokenX*))

where

  •  the data values in columnA through columnN are shown in the table (excluding links to Open the row's record)

  •  the user has entered token1 through tokenX filter terms, separated by space characters

  •  * is the wildcard (zero or more) character

Selecting rows for exporting and copying §

Filter rows before selecting.

  • Click anywhere on a data row to select it.

  • Select a continuous range of rows: (1) select the first row, (2) hold down the Shift keyboard key, and (3) click on the last row in the range.

  • Select several separated rows: (1) select the first row, (2) hold down the Ctrl keyboard key, and (3) click on any other rows.

  • If most rows should be selected, but a few should not, first select the entire data grid by clicking on the upper left corner.

    Selecting all cells in the grid

    Then, hold down the Ctrl keyboard key and click on any row to unselect it.

  • Clear the selected rows by clicking the Unselect All button.

Exporting data to a file §

Save the data to a file by clicking the Export All or Export Selected button. The file contains what remains after columns are hidden and sequenced, and rows are sorted, filtered and selected.

Copying data to the Windows clipboard §

Copy the data to the Windows clipboard by clicking the Copy All or Copy Selected button. The copied data contains what remains after columns are hidden and sequenced, and rows are sorted, filtered and selected.

Opening a row item §

If a column shows an Open link in some or all rows, clicking the link opens the related document, part, change form or collection member. If the item is already open, its window is brought forward.

When the DataGrid is copied or exported, the Open column is not included in the data.

To learn how to make an Open link, see the Transforms: HK100 column help topic.

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