Standard grids and tree views are plentiful throughout the SystemWeaver swExplorer client because they are a useful and effective way to view data. This article provides a basic overview of interacting with grids so that you understand how you can modify them to suit your needs.
Changing Column Widths
The width of the columns in a grid is statically defined by the grid itself, or the column itself. Sometimes this width is static, and sometimes it adapts to the content of the column.
To set the width of all columns to the current content, click anywhere within the grid, and use the Ctrl + "+" shortcut:
To toggle back to the default setting, use the Ctrl + "-" shortcut.
| Tip: Check out a complete list of shortcuts. |
You can also double-click on the divider bar between column heads in order to autofit the column width to content.
Adding Additional Columns
Using the right-click context menu on the header row of any standard grid, you can add additional item or part information to the grid when you need it. There are optional columns readily available as well as More and Expert menus to add property, attribute, and field code information.
Quick-pick Optional Columns
The first options to display in the right-click menu (above More) are quick-pick, frequently needed columns for the grid view. For a description of these columns, refer to the documentation of the specific view.
To display any of these columns, just click on the menu option. (Clicking toggles the visibility of the column.)
A checkmark to the far left means that the specific column is currently displayed.
More - Properties and Attributes
The More menu includes options for adding properties and/or attributes for various objects that are generally available in grid type views. The dialogs support multi-select.
Add Item Property Column
Add Issue Property Column
Adding Attribute Columns Example
Which of the More menu options you can have use for will depend on the view you have activated.
| Option | Description |
|---|---|
| Add item property column | Valid in views where items are listed, or where item properties are available, like for nodes or parts |
| Add issue property column | Valid in views where issues are listed |
| Add item attribute column | Valid in views where items are listed. Views that list nodes or parts may interpret this as a request to list the attributes of the nodes or the part's DefObj item |
| Add issue attribute column | Valid in views where issues are listed |
| Add part attribute column | Valid in views where nodes or parts are listed |
| Add node attribute column | Valid in views where nodes are listed |
| Add existing item-attributes column | Adds a column for each of the defined default attributes for all the listed parts and items |
Tip: You can multi-select the properties/attributes to quickly add multiple columns when you need them. |
Example
The "Test Case Status" attribute has been added to the structure tree grid using More>Add item attribute column:
Adding Field Codes and Path Queries
The Expert>Add field column option can be used to add additional field codes or path queries.
The Add Field Column dialog will display. You can enter field codes or path queries.
When you click OK, a new column will be added that displays the information accordingly.
Field Codes
Below is a short list of field codes most frequently used.
| Note: In the structure tree, each code should be prefixed with "Item." because the tree is displaying nodes. |
| Handle | Displays the Handle (the unique ID) of a SystemWeaver item. |
| ForeignId | Displays the Foreign ID of the context item. Foreign IDs can be set by an application that imports or creates items in SystemWeaver, like the Import from XML feature in the swExplorer client, and will have format and properties according to that application. |
| HomeLibrary | Displays the name of the Home Library of the context item, i.e., the library where the access rights of the item are defined. |
| SID | Displays the SID of the item's type. |
| VersionInfo | Displays the item's change log. |
A more complete list can be found in the Field Codes Reference section of the application Help.
Example
Two item field code columns (Handle and HomeLibrary) have been added to the Versions view on-the-fly.
Path Query Language
The Path Query language can sometimes be used to display additional information that may not be available via the item field codes. One field code that may be of interest is "Attachments". See How to View If an Item Has Attachments. For compatibility reasons, you currently need to precede a path query with a question mark "?" to identify that the string should be evaluated as a path query rather than a field code.
|
Rearranging Columns
You can change the order of the columns by dragging and then dropping them in the desired location.
Removing Columns
If you open the right-click menu on a specific column, you can remove that column by using the Remove column option.
The option will remove the column that was selected. (The column blinks briefly when you open the menu)
Note: Any change you make to your column display is only active for you, in the specific view. Also, in some views these settings may not save until the next time you log in, or even the next time you select the view. |
Exporting to Excel
For many grid views, there is an option to export to Excel. Right-click anywhere on the header row and, if the option is available, select Export to Excel. The Excel worksheet will include one row per item/part in the order displayed in the view. In the structure tree, parts that are not turned on (i.e., hidden) in the tree will not be included. Your output will include other properties which you can just remove.
| Note: Although it is technically possible to include the Description in a grid, we do not recommend it due to content size. However, if included, note that images and tables do not export to Excel. To have them included in output, a configurable report should be defined. |
Example Export
| Tip: There is also a CSV export option if you prefer to deliminate in some other way. |