How can I hide a grid column

[mikew]

Hi,

I've searched the forums and found bits of info but I'm hoping someone can help me to hide a grid column if there is no data in it.

I have a grid with 10 columns of data and there are times when there is only a few colums that actually contain data, depending on the search filters used. I want tidy up the grid by only displaying those colums that actually have some data in and hiding those with no data. I've tried to figure out how to do this with the show / hide function but can't seem to get anywhere.

Can someone point me in the right direction ?

Thanks

[christappan]

Re: How can I hide a grid column

There's a Hide Column field property that will hide the column completely. The Show/Hide will show and hide the data itself in the column. Are you talking about hiding Column headings when there's no data in the rows? That's more complicated and past my know-how, though I'm sure it can be done.

[mikew]

Re: How can I hide a grid column

Hi,

I want to hide the column completely if there is no data but it needs to be dynamic i.e. the column will be displayed if there is data but not if there isn't.

[chadbrown]

Re: How can I hide a grid column

I think you should be able to use in the show/hide properties
I may have the syntax wrong but look it up in wiki if you need to its an xbasic function.

Basically means if the field has 1 or more characters it should show.

len("fieldname")>0

[aburningflame]

Re: How can I hide a grid column

Not sure this makes sense.
You want to hide the COLUMN if any of the rows for that column have empty data? :s


If you hide the column - you wont be able to see the data for that column in any rows that have data for that column.

You can probably use the OnExistingRowsRender to keep track of your vars

dim col1count as N
dim col2count as N
dim col3count as N

if data.col1<>"" then
col1count=col1count+1;
end if


then youd have to store these counts in session.
then you could use the AfterExistingRowsRender to look at the counts and call
e.tmpl.fieldinfo[x].Column.Hide=.t. (or something lik ethat - i forgot)

and then you have to set a certain override variable (take a look at grid overrides) its something like recompileGridAtRunTime...youll have to set this to true

Im not sure theres an easy way to do what you wanna do. If there are lots of null columns in your db - you may want to look at setting the table up as an eav table (entity attribute value) instead of a normal relational table.

e.g In a situation liek the following (clinical data) - it doesnt make sense to have a ton of columns 1 for cancer diagnosis, 1 for rolly polly, 1 for Recommendations, 1 for disease 1-x where x is infinite.

Clinical Data Table
person_id
attribute
value


1, "Cancer Diagnosis", "No signs were found in this particular case"
1, "Rolly Polly Olly Diagnosis", "Signs of minimal infection, cured, patient feeling better"
1, "Recommendations", "Revisit after a week"
2, "Initial Meeting", "Patient complained about chest pain"

[DBM]

Re: How can I hide a grid column

Don't know if this is a good way of approaching this but I have has a go with javascript. This example is for a single column in a dbf grid.

Place the following code in the afterSearchSubmit event:

// Set the variables
var checktest='false';
var ele='';


// Check for any data in search results for the column
for (var i=1; i<={grid.object}._rowsInGrid; i++) {

	ele = $('{grid.componentName}.V.R'+i+'.COLUMN_NAME');

	if ($gvs(ele) !='') {
	checktest='true';
	break;	
	}
}


// Show or Hide the Column
if (checktest=='false') {
	{grid.object}.showGridColumn('COLUMN_NAME',false);
	}
	else {
	{grid.object}.showGridColumn('COLUMN_NAME',true);
	}

Place the following code in the afterSearchClear event:

{grid.object}.showGridColumn('COLUMN_NAME',true);

[The Mage]

Re: How can I hide a grid column

http://www.ajaxvideotutorials.com/V1...deShowHide.swf

[Rich Hartnett]

Re: How can I hide a grid column

That is great, but it only appears to work if the grid layout is in "form" (columnar) mode.

Can this be done if the grid layout is in the tabular mode?

I have a grid in tabular mode and I'd like to have a column show or hide depending on the session variable of a logged in user.

In the attached pic, I want to show/hide the column called "Parking Cit Location."

BTW, I know how to "show/hide" the control itself using the client side javascript genie, but that doesn't remove the column heading. I want to remove both, which I assume is the same thing as show/hiding the entire column, I just don't see an option to do that in the field properties.

[peteconway]

Re: How can I hide a grid column

Much easier to set the security setting (of the logged in user) and let it handle it as a security group issue that's what it really for after all. Why not give that a go - set up a group ViewParking.

[Rich Hartnett]

Re: How can I hide a grid column

Holy cow Pete, that was SUPER easy!!

It's interesting that I've never used that ability to select security groups on individual components in the past because I could never think of a reason to. As such, I plain forgot that option was available.

Man that is great. It works like a charm, and opens up worlds of new options for me in my police records management application.

As always, thanks a bunch Pete.

I couldn't survive without the expert help on this forum!

[peteconway]

Re: How can I hide a grid column

That's OK Rich - the product is so rich with functionality these days it's easy to miss the classic solutions. After all the well worn path in a journey is worn for a reason - you know it will get you there.

[Rich Hartnett]

Re: How can I hide a grid column

Well Pete my elation was short-lived.

While the security group setting per field does work to hide the column from users not selected in the authorized group, it also causes an error whenever data is inserted into one of "other" fields.

The field I have chosen to hide is called "PARKINGCITLOCATION." If it is viewable on the screen (authorized user) everything is fine. But, if it is hidden from the screen because the user was not in the authorized security group, I get the following message upon submitting data in one of the other fields:

Fatal error running a5_ajax_grid(): Property not found grid.grid_part.dropdownboxchoices.PARKINGCITLOCATION subelement not found.

During experimentation, it appears that this only happens if the field uses a drop-down control, which unfortunately is what I need in this situation.

Maybe you could give it a test on one of your grids to see if you experience the same problem? If so, I may have to submit a bug report.

[peteconway]

Re: How can I hide a grid column

Change it to a text box lookup edit combo - i'd say that will work - the error is a bug so you best report it.

[Rich Hartnett]

Re: How can I hide a grid column

Tried that, but it has its own set of problems.

If I use the text box lookup edit combo and then hide it via the security framework, the "submit" button becomes disabled.

The minute I remove the security function, the submit button works again.

Very weird.

Anyway, I will send in a bug report. If they can get it fixed, it will work wonders for my application.

Thanks Pete.

[Rich Hartnett]

Re: How can I hide a grid column

UPDATE -

I sent in a bug report last night, and this afternoon Selwyn had the problem fixed! (Both the regular drop-down and the text box-edit/combo type drop-down)

The fix will be in the next patch, but if anyone needs it earlier, let me know and I can forward it to you.

Rich