Manage Columns (DBE SQL)
Description
Cause
Resolution

You can hide columns from view

To hide columns:

  • Select one or more columns.
  • Right-click one of the selected column headers, and then click Hide Column from the shortcut menu.

Show Hidden Columns

To show hidden columns:

  • Select a header in the column to the left or in the column to the right of the hidden columns.
  • Right-click the column header, and then select Show hidden columns.

Lock and Unlock Columns

You can lock columns so that they always appear as you scroll the width of the table. When you lock a column, you lock that column and all columns to the left. Database Editor changes the right border of the right-most locked column to a wider separator. If you drag an unlocked column into a locked region, the column you dragged becomes locked.

To lock columns:

Move the vertical dividing bar to the right-hand side of column you want to lock. All columns to the left of the vertical dividing bar are locked.

To unlock all columns

Move the vertical divider bar back to the row header (the far left). You can also move it to any column to the left of the column or columns that you want to unlock.

Rename Columns

You can name columns whatever you want (up to 58 characters).

To rename a column:

Right-click the column header, and then select Rename Column.

Type a name in the Column Name box.

Tip: Press [Enter] in the Column Name box to create a column name with multiple lines.

Click [OK] to save your changes or click [Cancel] to exit without renaming the column.

Resize Columns

To resize a column:

Drag the right boundary of the column header until the column is the size you want.

Set a Column Width to Best Fit

You can size columns so that their width fits the content of the longest cell.

To size a single column to best fit:

Double-click the right border of a column header.


Moving columns

You can easily drag and drop selected columns to a different position. For example, you can drag one or more columns from the beginning to the end of a layout in one smooth process.

To move columns, select one or more columns, click one of the selected column headers, and then drag the mouse right or left.

If you drag the mouse to left or right margins, the display scrolls so that you can extend the display beyond the initial set of columns. Drop the columns at the column divider where you want to relocate the selected columns. The relocated columns remain selected after you drop them.

Sorting columns in the grid

Note: You must hold down the Alt key while sorting on a column. (If you do not hold down the Alt key, you simply select columns.)

  • To sort on a single column in ascending order, hold down the Alt key while you click the header of an unsorted column.
  • To sort in descending order, hold down the Alt key while you click the header again.
  • To undo sorting on a column, hold down the Alt key while you click the header one more time.
  • To sort on multiple columns:
  • Sort the first column in the range of columns.
  • Press the Alt and Shift keys while you click the header of the next column in the sort range.
  • Add more columns to the range in the same manner.

Notes:

  • You reverse the sort order by holding down the Alt and Shift keys while you click the header a second time.
  • To remove a column from the sort group, hold down the Alt and Shift keys while you click the header a third time.

Undo Changes

Undo reverses changes to the standard database and to the column layout. Database Editor remembers the last 100 changes you made.

To undo changes:

Press Ctrl+ Z or click Undo from the Clipboard group of the Home tab.

Under what circumstances am I unable to undo changes?

Database Editor keeps one "undo" buffer for all windows, allowing you to undo certain actions.

Some actions force Database Editor to clear the undo buffer. You cannot undo changes after you:

  • Change layouts (select a layout from the list or create a new layout).
  • Change filters (select a filter from the list or create a new filter).
  • Open a new standard database or save changes to an existing database.
Steps to duplicate
Related Solutions

Getting Started with Database Editor (DBE SQL)