The aim of this article is to look at some of the uses for grids found in different sections of the platform.
In particular, we'll look at how to customize the grid display and how to save your own grid display templates.
A video explaining the same concept is also available by clicking on this link.
Here's an example of a grid with fictitious data, in the alerts page.
We can customize the grid display according to the following parameters:
1- By selecting the type of general view required (map and/or grid display),
2- By adding and removing columns,3- By applying filters to the data,4- By choosing the number of lines per page in a grid (then consulting the following pages),5- By creating and reusing grid models created for our needs.
Add or remove columns
Click on the 3 small dots at the top right, then select "Choose columns".This will bring up a small box (which can be resized and moved around the page).Depending on your current display, columns may be added from the box. To do this, simply drag the name of a label to the desired position in the grid, and the column will be added.Conversely, to remove a column from the grid, simply drag the column name and "drop" it into the box.
These manipulations in no way affect the data; nothing disappears. Nor does it affect the display of other users. It's all yours, and can be modified at any time.
Move or resize columns
To move a column, click on its header and drag it to the desired position. Column widths can be resized in a similar way to Excel.
Apply filters to data displayed in the grid
For certain columns, we can apply filters. In the following example, I've applied a filter to show only "Pothole" reports. You can see that this has modified the data displayed in the grid, as well as on the map. You can also see that the small funnel in this column has turned dark grey (A), indicating that a filter is currently in operation on this column.
The large red funnel on the right (B) in the upper right is brightly colored when a filter has been applied to the data. Sometimes, the dark gray funnel at the top of each column isn't always enough to tell us that a filter has being previously applied to a column.
You can remove ALL applied filters by clicking on the dark red funnel (B). It will then turn pale again.
To create grid templates:1- Click on the Grid Manager button,
2- Give your new grid template a name,
3- Click on the "+" to save.It is possible to make subsequent changes to the grid, and return to save over an existing grid template.
You can also load a previously saved template, customize it for a similar need, then save it as a new grid template.
Switch from one grid model to anotherSimply open the grid manager (the applied template will be marked with a check mark), click on the name of the template you wish to apply, and finally click on "Apply".The system may ask us to confirm whether we want to "alter" the visible data, since templates often modify the displayed data to the desired effect.
As mentioned earlier, these manipulations don't affect the data in any way; nothing disappears. Nor does it affect the display of other users. It's all up to you, and can be modified at any time.
Sharing templates between users
A very practical aspect of using grid templates is that, once created, they are available to all users in your organization.One person can create one for his or her team, and simply explain to others how to apply it to see data displayed according to specific operational needs.
Example of how to use a grid model
(Spreading rates and materials - live)During a snow removal operation, a foreman wants to ensure that all operators have selected the right spreading materials, and that spreading is carried out at the right rate.
In the grid on the Vehicles - Live page, here are the parameters to be applied to create a model covering this requirement:
- Display the Vehicle column,
- Display the Operator column (if your vehicles are equipped with tablets or chip readers for operator authentication),
- Make sure you have the Spreader Status column (and ideally filter on statuses: Auto, Burst, Manual, Unload, to have only vehicles that spread,
- Display the Spreading Rate column,
- Display the column for Spreader Equipment,
- Show Ignition column and filter on "Ignited", to see only active vehicles,
- (Once you've applied this filter, you can hide the Ignition column, since you'll only see vehicles whose ignition is ON, so the column is no longer needed).
- The last step would be to save the customized grid as a template, so that you can quickly see at a glance the state of spreading by active vehicle.