Support:
One of the great features of Adagio is the ability to change the columns displayed in a grid (a "grid" refers to a screen where there are rows and columns such as the Customer list or GL Account list). The columns can be changed by double-clicking on the grey bar containing column titles. That brings up the Column Editor. But one of my frustrations over the years is how often users either never grasp that technique or forget it after learning it.

But looking at the grid with a fresh set of eyes, it's not obvious that capability exists. Could it be made more obvious? Could a right-click anywhere on the grid produce a menu with the option "Change columns"? Or perhaps a small button somewhere that brings up the Column Editor?

Hi Bruce,

Do you think a right button is more obvious? It's often used to select the sort sequence of a Grid.

I'm all for changes that make it easier to "discover" the features in Adagio. Another way would be to just improve the default columns that the program chooses when it first gets started. I'm not sure where we could tuck a small button on the grid titles.

Other suggestions?

Hi Andrew:
A right-click might not be obvious to everyone but it's a standard Windows technique that users are familiar with in the Office environment. Most grids already support the right-click menu. I agree that there's no obvious place for a button, though I think it's the most visible approach. How about a tool-tip if the mouse hovers over the column headers?

Good idea Bruce.

In my experience:
<> The sort column of a Grid is indicated with a symbol that also shows the direction of the sort
<> A Left-click selects the sort column and if already selected, changes the direction of the sort
<> A Right-click brings up a context sensitive menu (windows standard) and as Bruce suggested would be a logical place for the "Column settings ..." option. As is already done, this should apply to right-clicking anywhere in the grid, not just the column headings

While improving the default columns is possible, I believe that's an area where the scope is too great and you'll never please everyone. Also, beware of removing a column to make way for an "improved" default ... someone is sure to miss the one that used to be there. Better to focus on making them aware that it can be customised with a "Tool-tip" as Bruce suggested or a note in the Adagio Status Bar's left hand panel.

Pete

Unfortunately, the right button context menu is built specifically for EVERY grid in Adagio (the menu choices change depending on the buttons displayed). Also, not all Grids have a right button context menu at all.

Adding a choice to this menu requires visiting every form with a Grid and adding code. Not a pleasant task (mechanical as it might be.)

Different Grids behave differently, and our is no different in that regard! Double clicking on a column sorts a list of files in Explorer, but doesn't sort a column of numbers in Excel (but does in GridView).

Our Grid control is an original feature of Adagio, dating back to 1998, when customized columns were very rare. It has undergone significant improvements over the decade, and I'm sure that there is room for more.

However, we're looking for a way that can be made once to the Control that will then propagate through all the applications as they are released.

Oh yes, and I'm sure that whatever approach we might decide to take, you wouldn't want the indicator if the user does not have rights to change the Grid columns - right?

Naturally, what would remain critical is that if a person does not have the rights to edit the grid - they can't. There are instances where it would be better that no rights meant no "indicator" - I don't see this as one, but some might argue the point.

What might be more desirable is that no rights would mean that the "indicator" is visible, thereby still indicating the functionality, but de-highlighted, thereby indicating that this functionality is not for the likes of mere mortals such as you

Pete