Working with Search, Filters and Grouping

Overview

Varibill grids include tools for searching, filtering, sorting, grouping, and adjusting how data is displayed.

A useful way to work with a large set of records is to:

1. Use Search to find the relevant records.
2. Use column filters to narrow those results further.
3. Sort or group the results to make them easier to review.

This article explains the most useful ways to find and organize data in Varibill.

Search for Records

The search box appears in the toolbar above supported grids.

To search:

1. Enter a search term.
2. Press Enter or click the search icon.

Matching terms are highlighted in the returned records, making it easier to see why a result was included.

Search with Multiple Terms

Separate search terms with a comma to make a search more specific.

For example:

cloud, backup

uses the terms together to narrow the returned results.

This is useful when a single search term returns too many records.

Search for an Exact Phrase

Use quotation marks when you want to search for a specific phrase.

For example:

"Acme Corp"

returns records matching that phrase rather than treating Acme and Corp as separate search terms.

Clear a Search

To return to the full dataset:

1. Click the X in the search box to remove the search text.
2. Press Enter or click the search icon.

Search First, Then Filter

Search and column filters perform different jobs.

Search determines which records are returned from the underlying data.

Column filters then narrow the records already returned to the grid.

For example, you could:

1. Search for a customer or product using the toolbar search.
2. Apply a column filter to show only records with a particular status, value, or other field.

Active search criteria and filters are displayed below the grid so that you can see what is affecting the current results.

Filter Results

Column filters allow you to narrow results using the values in a specific field.

Filter a Column

There are two common ways to filter a column:

• Enter or select a value in the filter row below the column heading.
• Click the filter icon in the column heading and select one or more values.

Applied filters are shown below the grid.

Clear Filters

Active filters are displayed below the grid.

Click the X on an active filter to remove it.

Sort Results

Sorting changes the order in which records are displayed without removing records from the results.

Sort by One Column

Click a column heading to sort by that column.

Click it again to change between ascending and descending order.

Sort by Multiple Columns

To apply more than one sort:

1. Right-click a column heading.
2. Select Sort Ascending or Sort Descending.
3. Repeat this on additional columns as required.

Additional sorts are applied after the first sort.

To remove sorting from a column, right-click the heading and select Clear Sorting.

Group Results

Grouping organizes records into collapsible sections based on the values in a column.

Group by a Column

To group records:

1. Drag the column heading into the group panel above the grid.

Alternatively, right-click the column heading and select Group By This Column.

Records with the same value are grouped together.

Each group heading shows the number of records in that group.

Expand or Collapse Groups

Click the arrow next to a group heading to expand or collapse that group.

To expand or collapse all groups, right-click the group panel and select Expand All or Collapse All.

Remove Grouping

To remove a grouped column, right-click it in the group panel and select Ungroup.

To remove all grouping, select Clear Grouping.

Customize the Grid

Grid layouts can be adjusted to show the information most useful for the task you are performing.

Show or Hide Columns

To change which columns are displayed:

1. Click Grid Layout.
2. Select Column Chooser.
3. Show or hide columns as required.

You can also open the Column Chooser by right-clicking a column heading.

Reorder and Resize Columns

Drag a column heading to change its position.

To resize a column, drag the edge of the column heading.

Use Grid Layout > Auto Fit to resize the displayed columns based on their content.

Reset the Layout

Varibill remembers grid layout settings in your browser.

To restore the default grid layout, select Grid Layout > Reset Layout.