Make grids (lists) editable in Dynamics 365 using the Editable Grid custom control

 

Applies To: Dynamics 365 (online), Dynamics 365 (on-premises)

In previous releases of Dynamics CRM, users couldn’t enter data directly in grids (sometimes called lists) or subgrids on forms. They had to click the record in the grid to open a form, edit the data, and then save, which required multiple clicks. With editable grids in Dynamics 365, users can do rich in-line editing directly from grids and sub-grids whether they’re using a web app, tablet, or phone.

Editable grid examples

When editable grids are enabled through the Editable Grids custom control, users can edit most types of fields, including basic Lookup fields and option sets.

Note

The following data types aren’t editable in editable grids: Customer and Partylist Lookup fields; Composite (address) fields; State/Status fields; Lookup entity-related fields (for example, the Account entity includes a contact lookup, where the Contact field is editable but the EmailAdress(Contact) field is not editable).

Editable grids support:

  • In-line editing of records at the entity or subgrid level (includes custom entities)

  • System views and personal views

  • Web and mobile clients

  • Navigation with a keyboard or mouse

  • Grouping and sorting (you can group by/sort by any column in the current view)

  • Filtering

  • Moving and resizing columns

  • Pagination

  • Saving changes from one session to another for grouping, sorting, filtering, pagination, and moving and resizing columns

  • Lookup configuration

  • Calculated fields and rollup fields

  • Business rules (Show error message, Set field value, Set business required, Set default value, Lock or unlock field)

  • JavaScript events

  • Enabling or disabling of cells based on security role

  • Users can continue to use search and charts, and can access the action bar as with read-only grids

Make main grids editable

  1. Go to Settings>Customization>Customize the System.

  2. In the Entities list, double-click the appropriate entity, click the Controls tab, and then click Add Control.

    Add Editable Grids custom control

  3. In the Add Control dialog box, click Editable Grid, and then click Add.

  4. In the Editable Grid row that’s added, select the form factor(s) you want to apply the grid to.

    Editable Grid row with form factor selection

    This makes the editable grid control the default control for the selected form factor(s).

    Note

    At runtime, users can toggle between editable grids and read-only grids.

  5. To add a lookup, in the Editable Grid option group, click Add Lookup, and then in the Configure Property “Add Lookup” dialog box:

    1. In the Available Views list, select the view to add the lookup to (for example, select My Active Accounts).

    2. In the Available Columns list, select the lookup column to add (for example, select Primary Contact).

    3. In the Default View list, select the data source for the lookup field.

    4. If you want to limit the records displayed, select the Only show records where check box, and then select your criteria from the list.

      Add lookup in Editable Grid control

    5. Click OK.

  6. If you have a nested grid, click the pencil button for Nested grid view, and then select the entity and view for the nested grid. For the Nested grid parent ID select the relationship for the entities. For example, the ParentAccountID field connects the Account and Contact entities.

    Note

    Nested grids are only available for phones and tablets, not the web.

  7. If you don’t want to allow the user to group data by any column in the view (you want to save space, for example), in the Group by Column row, click the pencil button, and then in the Configure Property “Group by Column” dialog box, select Disabled, and then click OK.

    Tip

    This is mostly useful for subgrids on forms.

  8. If you want to add JavaScript events, click the Events tab, and then select the appropriate entities, fields, and events. More information: Editable grid objects and methods (client-side reference)

    Add events in Editable Grid control

  9. To save your work, click Save on the action bar.

  10. When you’re ready to make changes available to your team, click Publish on the action bar.

  11. To test your changes, go to the view you specified in step 5, and then make some in-line editing changes.

Make a subgrid on a form editable

  1. Go to Settings>Customization>Customize the System.

  2. Open the form that contains the subgrid.

  3. Select the appropriate control, and then click Change Properties on the ribbon.

  4. In the Set Properties dialog box, click Controls, click Add Control, and then follow the same steps listed above.

Supported out-of-the-box entities

Web/tablet/phone

Tablet/phone only

Web only

Account

Appointment

Bookable Resource

Bookable Resource Booking

Bookable Resource Booking Header

Bookable Resource Category

Bookable Resource Category Assn

Bookable Resource Characteristic

Bookable Resource Group

Booking Status

Case

Category

Characteristic

Competitor

Contact

Email

Entitlement

Feedback

Invoice

Knowledge Article

Knowledge Article Views

Knowledge Base Record

Lead

Opportunity

Order

Phone Call

Price List

Product

Queue

Quote

Rating Model

Rating Value

SLA KPI Instance

Social Activity

Social Profile

Sync Error

Task

Team

User

Activity

Attachment

Channel Access Profile Rule Item

Competitor Address

Connection

Connection Role

Email Signature

Email Template

Expired Process

Invoice Product

Knowledge Article Incident

Lead To Opportunity Sales

Process

Mailbox

New Process

Note

Opportunity Product

Opportunity Sales Process

Order Product

Organization

Phone to Case Process

Price List Item

Queue Item

Quote Product

Sharepoint Document

Translation Process

Campaign

Campaign Activity

Campaign Response

Channel Access Profile

Channel Access Profile Rule

Contract

Entitlement Template

External Party

Fax

Letter

Marketing List

Position

Quick Campaign

Recurring Appointment

Sales Literature

SLA

See Also

Use keyboard shortcuts in editable grids
Create and edit views
Create a business rule or business recommendation
Editable grid objects and methods (client-side reference)
Customize Dynamics 365 for phones and tablets