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Datagrids

Overview

Datagrids are simply tables of data. The system presents such tables whenever you request information that is best presented as a list of common objects; that is, where a data table most clearly represents the data. A datagrid looks like this:

Datagrid example: Control Equipment

Datagrid Example: Control Equipment

The data in a datagrid is a series of rows, or records, each presenting summary data for one of whatever objects the data represents, for example control equipment (as shown above), permit applications, emissions reports, etc. The objects shown, in this case control equipment, are those associated with your facility.

Each row provides information for one such object or entity, each column providing one data item about the object. Usually, the data in at least one field or column in the datagrid appears as a selectable link or hyperlink. Often (but not always) this is first column or the field that uniquely identifies each object (called the 'key' field); sometimes it is a numeric identifier such as Permit Number. In the case illustrated above, it is the Company ID for the equipment. Clicking on any of these links takes you to a detail data page for the specific object described in that row. The detail data page contains different information depending upon the object or entity the data describes.

Regardless of what data is in the table, ALL datagrids in the system provide the following capabilities:

which are described in more detail below.

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Paging within Datagrids

If an operation produces more records than fit easily on a page without scrolling up and down, the system provides paging. At the top of the table, aligned with the table's right margin, the system indicates which records in the sequence of returned records are currently showing in the table. It provides controls with which you can move among all the records (whether you can see them initially or not). You can use the Previous # and Next # links at the top or the bottom of the table, or you can click on the down arrow on the field that shows which set of records you are currently viewing (Drop Down Arrow) at the top or the bottom of the datagrid, and select the set of records you wish to see. There is no search capability on datagrids in this system.

Datagrid paging controls
Datagrid Paging Controls
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Sorting Datagrids

Datagrids have a default sort order. Often, but not always, the data will be sorted by default in ascending numerical order on the value of the key field. However, you can easily change the sort order by clicking on the column header for the data you wish to sort on. The datagrids below show the data sorted first in ascending alphabetical order on the ''Manufacturer'' value, and then in descending alphabetical order on the same value.

Datagrid sorted, first in 
Ascending, then Descending 'County' order

Ascending and Descending Sort Order

The order of the sort is indicated in  the column header of the column on which you sort the data.  For example:
Icons Indicating direction of sort 
order

When the column on which you sort contains numbers, rather than alpha-numeric character strings, then the sort will be in ascending or descending numerical order.

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Printing Datagrids

Every datagrid offers a Printable View button button below the visible rows in the grid. When you click on this button, the system opens a new browser window and shows you a printable table containing all the data in the datagrid (not just the rows that you currently see). The illustration below shows an example of such a table, based on the data presented in the Overview section:

Table Produced by the Datagrid's 
'Printable view' Button

Table Produced by the Datagrid's Printable View button Button

You may then use your browser print capability to print the table. Depending on your browser, you may also be able to change the orientation of the data table, change the margins on the page, control the header and footer (e.g., print a title, page number(s), date, etc.) and change the overall size of the table (which impacts column width), using File --> Print Preview --> Page Setup.

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Exporting Datagrids to Excel

Every datagrid offers an Export to excel Buttonbutton below the visible rows in the grid. When you select this button operation, the system gives you an option of opening the Excel file it generates, or saving it. In either case, you will see an Excel file like the one illustrated below

Table Produced by the Datagrid's 
'Export to Excel' Button

Table Produced by the Datagrid's Export to excel ButtonButton

Note that the generated or saved file contains rows for every row in the datagrid you exported, not just the rows that are visible on the screen when you selected the Export to excel Button button.

After you have generated and/or saved this file, you can use any of the capabilities of Excel to manipulate and format the data. You may also, of course, print the file in Excel's normal manner (File --> Print)

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