Skip to main content

Edition Grid Mode

Grid mode is the data entry interface for repeating-row sections. When a section has multiple rows (a risk register, action log, lookahead list, or quantity sheet), grid mode displays the section as an inline spreadsheet with one row per record and one column per field.

Report Forge edition grid

When to use grid mode​

Section typeWhy grid mode helps
Risk and issue registerEach row has owner, probability, impact, response status, and due date.
Action logTracks action description, owner, target date, priority, and closure status.
Decision logRecords decision text, date, approver, and supporting notes.
Lookahead itemsUpcoming work grouped by package, area, or discipline with planned dates.
Quantity sheetRows of items with planned and actual quantities, units, and variances.
Activity progressOne row per activity with progress percent, status, and dates.
Commercial breakdownLine items with claimed, certified, and variance columns.

For single-record sections (executive summary, overall RAG status, narrative commentary), use Edition Form Mode instead.

Grid anatomy​

When you open a repeating-row section in grid mode, you see:

  • Column headers — one column per field defined in the section. Required columns are marked with *.
  • Data rows — each row is one record in the section.
  • Row toolbar — appears on hover: duplicate, move up/down, delete.
  • Add row button — at the bottom of the grid.
  • Validation panel — right-side panel showing rows with issues.
  • Section toolbar — top: filter, sort, import, export, column visibility toggles.

Adding rows​

Manual entry​

  1. Click + Add row at the bottom of the grid.
  2. A new empty row is added.
  3. Click a cell to start editing — the cell opens an inline editor.
  4. Tab through cells to fill the row from left to right.
  5. Press Enter to confirm an entry and move to the next row.

Duplicate a row​

Right-click a row (or use the row toolbar) → Duplicate. Useful for similar records that share most values.

Drag to reorder​

Click and hold the drag handle (⠿) on the left of any row to reorder. Row order is preserved in outputs.

Cell editors by field type​

Field typeGrid cell editor
TextInline text input — type and Tab to confirm.
TextareaInline text input — press Enter to add line breaks; Shift+Enter to confirm.
Rich textNot inline — click the cell to open a full editor overlay.
Number / Currency / PercentInline numeric input — accepts keyboard entry.
Date / DatetimeInline date picker — also accepts typed dates.
SelectInline dropdown — type to filter, click to select.
Multi-selectInline chip selector — click to toggle options.
ToggleCheckbox — click to toggle.
RAGColoured chip picker — R / A / G buttons in a popover.
RatingStar picker in a popover.
ImageThumbnail with upload on click.
FileAttachment count badge — click to manage attachments.
URL / EmailInline text input with format validation.
ComputedRead-only cell — value calculated from row data.
LookupRead-only cell — value resolved from source blueprint.

Paste from Excel or CSV​

Grid mode supports bulk row input via paste:

  1. Copy rows from Excel, Google Sheets, or another grid source.
  2. Click the first cell in the target row.
  3. Press Ctrl+V (or Cmd+V on Mac).
  4. Rows are pasted in order, matching columns left-to-right.

Important: Column order in the paste source must match the column order in the grid. Use the Column visibility toggle to show/hide columns and match the expected paste order. Pasting shows a preview before confirming — review and click Accept.

Import rows from CSV​

For large imports:

  1. Click the Import button in the section toolbar.
  2. Download the CSV template — the template has the correct column headers.
  3. Fill the template with your data.
  4. Upload the completed CSV.
  5. Review the import preview — rows with validation errors are highlighted.
  6. Click Import rows to confirm.

Column operations​

Sort​

Click any column header to sort ascending / descending. Multi-column sort: hold Shift and click additional columns.

Filter​

  1. Click the Filter icon in the section toolbar.
  2. Add a filter: choose a column, operator, and value.
  3. Multiple filters are combined with AND logic.
  4. Filters are local to your view and do not affect what other contributors see.

Show / hide columns​

Click Columns in the section toolbar to toggle which columns are visible. Hidden columns are still saved — they are just not shown in your current view. Contributors and reviewers can independently show/hide columns.

Resize columns​

Drag the column divider in the header to resize. Resize settings persist per user per section.

Row validation​

Required fields in each row are validated on save. Rows with validation errors show a red indicator on the row number. The Validation panel (right side) lists all rows with issues:

  • Click a row in the validation panel to jump to it.
  • Cells with errors are highlighted in red.
  • Fix the issue and the error clears on the next save or field blur.

Export grid data​

Click Export in the section toolbar to export the current section's rows:

FormatUse
CSVFor further analysis in Excel or other tools.
ExcelFormatted workbook with column headers and autofit.

Exported data reflects the current filter and sort settings (only visible rows are exported when a filter is active).

Grid mode vs form mode toggle​

Some sections support both modes. Use the mode toggle at the top of the section to switch:

  • Grid mode — best for bulk entry of multiple rows.
  • Form mode — best when a single row has many fields and needs more vertical space (e.g. a detailed risk record with a rich-text mitigation field).

In form mode for a repeating-row section, you navigate one row at a time using Previous/Next controls.

Review comments in grid mode​

Reviewers can add comments to individual cells or entire rows:

  • A comment badge appears on the cell or row number.
  • Click the badge to view and reply to the comment thread.
  • Resolve comments after making the requested change.