Data Editing and Presentation

Embedded Cell Editors

• Over 50 editors (both data-aware and non data-aware editions) from the ExpressEditors Library (included with the ExpressQuantumGrid Suite) can be used within any view to display and edit data. You can also create custom editors by deriving from those that ship with the ExpressQuantumGrid Suite.
• Editors are optimized to be used within container controls. Container controls can create fully functional editors and accept all the necessary editor settings that are managed via separate classes known as repository items. This, in turn, allows you to reuse the same editor settings across all the editors within your application - both in-place and standalone - thus guaranteeing the highest possible design-time productivity. For more information on the synergies between the ExpressQuantumGrid and ExpressEditors Library, please visit the following web page: ExpressEditors Library.
• With the ExpressQuantumGrid Suite, you are not limited to assigning editors to columns or card rows - editors can be assigned to individual cells rather than entire columns/card rows (called the MultiEditors feature), which in turn allows you to create rotated grid layouts.
• The ExpressEditors Library offers unmatched data input capabilities including masked input support and ultimate usability options - full keyboard support, auto-completion where possible, value scrolling where possible, etc.

Input Validation

Many of the errors encountered during data input can be addressed via the use of cell editors. By using masks and other editor capabilities - such as limiting the length of string input, specifying maximum and minimum allowed values, etc - you can control how end-users manipulate data. But editors cannot solve all the potential problems associated with data entry, since often, the values contained within a dataset depend upon one another. In such instances, the ExpressQuantumGrid provides you with flexible editor validation mechanisms.

• Editor validation can be implemented at the data editor or grid level. The latter option allows you to examine values in other columns within the same row for maximum accuracy. The grid gives you two methods to validate values - validating individual cells when their values are modified (for instance, when an end-user presses a key) or the cells are about to lose focus.
• Events offer you multiple validation scenarios - you can ignore the invalid value and reset it or raise an exception.

Integrated UI for Adding, Deleting, and Navigating Records

Views offer an out-of-the-box solution for adding and deleting records without having to write a single line of code - natively.

• If the grid's view navigator is enabled, your end-users can add and delete records via a single mouse click. The View Navigator is available within all the Views (except for the Chart View) in your grid control so you never need to introduce multiple space-consuming controls to simply manipulate or navigate records for each level in the master-detail hierarchy.
• Record deletion when initiated via the View Navigator can optionally prompt end-users for confirmation.

End-User Productivity Options

Entering a lot of records might well be a terrible ordeal for your end-users. However, this is not the case with the ExpressQuantumGrid which gives you a set of options that you can use to greatly increase end-user productivity.

• If your end-users must frequently insert records, you can enable the ExpressQuantumGrid's New Item Row feature. This row is located above all other rows; emulating MS Outlook's task list. The New Item Row can also be placed within each detail View so end-users can add records with ease even in highly complex master/detail relationships.
• You can enable full keyboard support for record manipulation. From standard record insertion and deletion operations using the Ins and Del keys to appending records when moving from the last grid row by pressing the Enter, Down arrow or Tab keys.

Display Value Formatting

Display value formatting can make any grid's data more readable and thus allow end-users to be more productive. The ExpressQuantumGrid includes comprehensive support for formatting the display by allowing you to format any data displayed within it:

• Cell values
• Group row values
• Summary values (When formatting summary values you can surround the formatted value with text to help indicate the aggregate function being used.)

Regardless of the grid value that you need to format, we provide you with maximum formatting flexibility. You can use any of the following options when formatting data.

• Standard Format Strings
  The easiest formatting option and one that addresses most formatting requirements.
• Custom Format Strings
  This option gives you greater control and lets you construct the formatted value's pattern from the available primitives - digit placeholders, literal characters, date and time value segments, etc.
• Manual Formatting
  You can write code to transform values to their textual representation manually. This formatting option has unlimited application possibilities - from providing human-readable text representation for custom objects to converting decimal numbers into binaries... and so much more.