A DataGrid is one of the primary tools for viewing and managing records in PARKS DIRECT. This article explains how to sort, filter, and edit DataGrid results so you can review and update information efficiently. While most DataGrids work the same way across the system, File Maintenance DataGrids include additional options that are covered here.
Info: This article uses the Activity Section Maintenance DataGrid as an example. Depending on the DataGrid you’re working with, some options, such as inline editing, may not be available, and the buttons at the bottom of the DataGrid may vary.
Sorting the Main DataGrid
Nearly every column in a PARKS DIRECT DataGrid can be sorted. To sort a column, click the Filter Header. Clicking the same header cycles through three states: ascending, descending, and no sort. The arrow icon in the header shows the current sort direction.
To sort by multiple columns, hold Shift and click each column in the order you want to apply the sort.
Note: If your DataGrid contains hundreds or thousands of records, column sorting may be restricted until the number of records is reduced by the use of Filters.
The Templates Widget
Templates let you save your preferred DataGrid settings so you can quickly return to a layout you use often. Templates are created and managed under Options > Show Settings.
The Templates widget on the DataGrid provides a drop‑down list of all available templates. Select a template from the list to apply it without opening the Options menu. Time-saver!
Note: Some DataGrids do not display the Templates widget due to system logic. These include Profile Assignments, Profile Management, all Screen Management programs, and a few others.
Inline Editing
Most File Maintenance DataGrids support inline editing, which lets you update certain fields directly in the grid without opening the Change window for each record. This can save time when making small adjustments.
Inline Editing for Individual Rows
To edit a row, click the Stylus icon on the left side of the DataGrid to enter Edit Mode. Editable columns will become active. In the example below, Activity 10106, Section 2 has been selected for inline editing, and the fields that can be changed are highlighted.
Make any needed changes. Press Tab to save your edits and move to the next editable field. When you’re finished, click the Check Mark icon to exit Edit Mode. Repeat as needed for other rows.
Inline Editing for Columns
To edit columns, go to Options > Show Settings. This opens the Module DataGrid – Settings screen.
In the Edit column, select the fields you want to make editable and click Close to return to the DataGrid. The columns you selected will be editable, and pressing the Tab key will move through each open field. In the example below, the Short Description and Status columns are open for editing.
Make changes as needed. When done, return to Options > Show Settings and deselect the Edit Box(es) you chose earlier.
Note: You can edit Rows or Columns; you cannot edit both at the same time.
Common Buttons
Every File Maintenance DataGrid includes a set of action buttons at the bottom of the screen. Depending on the DataGrid, additional buttons may appear.
File Maintenance DataGrid common buttons:
- Add — create a new record
- Change — edit the selected record
- Delete — remove the selected record. Some DataGrids require certain data to be purged before a record can be deleted.
- Bulk Change — update multiple records at once
The DataGrid Options Menu
Selected Rows widget
The Selected Rows widget appears between Options and Refresh and shows how many rows are currently selected. Clicking the widget filters the DataGrid to display only the selected rows.
- In single‑select File Maintenance DataGrids (such as the Activity Section Maintenance DataGrid), this widget will never show more than one selected row.
- In multi‑select DataGrids (such as Installment Billing Household Select or Activity Visit Post), the widget displays the total number of selected records.
Refresh widget
The Refresh widget appears to the right of Selected Rows. Click it to reload the DataGrid and display any recent changes.
Options Menu
The Options widget opens a menu with tools for adjusting how the DataGrid displays and filters information.
- Clear Filters — Resets the DataGrid to your default view.
- Hide Filters / Show Filters — Shows or hides the filter header row at the top of the DataGrid.
- Show Only Selected / Show All Records — Displays only the selected rows or restores all rows.
- Clear Selected — Removes any row selections.
- Select All Rows — Selects all rows.
- In single‑select DataGrids, this selects the top row.
- In multi‑select DataGrids, this selects all rows.
- Turn Off Auto Filtering — Toggles auto‑filtering on or off.
- Auto‑Filtering On — Enter a value in a filter and press Tab or Enter to filter results automatically.
- Auto‑Filtering Off — Enter a value in a filter to display a Filter Results button at the top of the DataGrid. Click the button to apply the filter.
Notes:
- Users can key in multiple field/column filters before clicking Filter Results.
- The Filter Results button only works on DataGrids that have the "DatagridAutoFilter" field parameter turned OFF.
- The Filter Results button hides/shows when filtering is needed and does NOT show when auto filtering is ON.
- The Turn ON/OFF Auto Filtering option does not save to templates.
- The Options menu and the Show Settings menu within the Options menu can be hidden from view if desired.
- Hide "Options" Menu for All DataGrids - This permission determines whether the user will have access to the Options menu on DataGrids in PARKS DIRECT. Refer to the "i" Help icon for a full field description.
- Hide "Show Settings" in Options Menu for All DataGrids - This permission determines whether the user will have access to the Show Settings menu within the Options menu. Refer to the "i" Help icon for a full field description.
- Toggle Groups - Does nothing unless you are using Groups on your DataGrid.
- Open All Groups - Expands all Groups on the DataGrid to display the records.
- Close All Groups - Collapses all Groups.
- Export Comma Delimited - Exports the visible records in the DataGrid in comma-delimited file. By default, the file will open in MS Excel.
- Print Friendly Table - Converts the DataGrid to a HTML table and allows you to print it through your web browser.
- Show Settings - Launches the <Module> DataGrid - Settings screen for the DataGrid with which you're working. As discussed in the Note above, this option can be hidden from view for specific users, if desired.
Load Next (X) Results / Load All Results
Some DataGrids use SearchFirst logic to limit how many records load initially. When this logic is enabled, the DataGrid provides options to load additional results without applying filters.
When you scroll to the bottom of the DataGrid, a Load Next <X> Results button appears at the top of the grid. Clicking this button loads the next set of records (for example, the next 500 results in the Activity Management > Activity Sections DataGrid). Each click adds more records to the current view.
For example, if a DataGrid is set to load 100 records at a time:
- The first load displays 100 records.
- Clicking Load Next 100 Results displays 200 records.
- Clicking it again displays 300 records.
- You can continue loading additional sets until all available records have been retrieved.
You can also click Load All Results to load every record at once.
As always, VSI recommends using column filters to narrow the number of results you need to load.
The DataGrid - Settings Screen
The DataGrid - Settings screen allows you to:
- Adjust column order (left to right)
- Open columns for editing
- Show or hide columns
- Group columns
- Lock columns
- Clear filters and reset the DataGrid to its default view
- Create templates for different default layouts
Adjust Column Settings
The left side of the DataGrid - Settings screen lists all available columns for that DataGrid. When you hover over a column name, the cursor changes to a four‑way arrow, indicating that you can drag and drop the entry.
Drag a column up the list to move it further to the left in the DataGrid. Drag a column down the list to move it further to the right.
Note: Locked columns start at the left-hand side of the DataGrid and move to the right. You cannot drag and drop an unlocked column to the left of a locked column. See Locked Columns below.
Edit and Visible Columns
Columns on your DataGrid that can be edited have an option box in the Edit column on the DataGrid-Settings screen. Enabling an option box opens the column for editing on the DataGrid when you click Close as detailed above.
Columns on your DataGrid that can be hidden/suppressed from view have an option box in the Visible column on the DataGrid-Settings screen. Select or de-select as needed to show or hide a column. Locked columns must be visible.
Grouping Columns
The Group option allows you to change the view of your DataGrid to Groups of the same type as determined by the option you select.
For Example: If opting to Group by Facility Location in the example above, the Activity Section DataGrid would contain an expandable row for each Facility Location at which an Activity is held. Expanding the row would show the Activities housed at that location.
If opting to sort by Group, only one (1) Group option may be enabled at any time.
Locking Columns
Columns on the DataGrid that can be locked have an option box in the Locked column on the DataGrid-Settings screen. To lock a column, enable the corresponding option. The column will move to the left of the DataGrid, following the same top to bottom = left to right formatting discussed above. A non-locked column cannot be moved to the left of a locked column on the DataGrid.
Template Settings
Templates let you save your preferred DataGrid settings so you can quickly return to a layout you use often. The default layout for each DataGrid is determined by your Design.
Set a default template
Highlight a template you use frequently and click Set Default Template. This template will load automatically each time you open the DataGrid.
Load a template
To switch to a different layout, highlight a template in the list and click Load Template.
Create a new template
Adjust the DataGrid as needed, enter a name in the New Template Name field, and click Create New Template. The new template will appear in the Template Settings panel.
Edit an existing template
Highlight a template, make your changes, and click Save Template to update it.
Delete a template
Highlight the template you want to remove and click Delete Template.
Click Close to exit the DataGrid - Setting screen and return to the DataGrid.
This completes the PARKS DIRECT DataGrid overview. If you have further questions regarding the steps outlined here, please contact the Help Desk.