Grids: interact and configure

This guide covers the grids you work in every day: how to resize and fill columns, set row height and how many records fit in the pane, sort, and reorder rows or columns. Settings live with the active grid and are stored in that view’s layout.

Open Grid configuration

1. Click the grid you want to change (make it the active view).
2. Choose Settings → Grid configuration…
3. Or click the gear on a window caption (non-main windows).

Grid configuration window Map of the Grid configuration window: Grid and Field tabs, Appearance, Records, Navigation, Selected fields, and Available fields panes. Grid configuration Settings > Grid configuration… or the gear on a window caption Grid configuration - Samples Grid Field Appearance Row height | Freeze panes Move rows / Move columns Headers | Selection colors Replicated columns Read only Records Which rows this view shows Include current sample Dose names, curve membership… (options depend on the view) Navigation Follow sample selection Follow result selection Update sample selection Update result selection Selected fields Sel Use Fill Title Alt Edit Value Format Use = show in the grid. Fill = relative width. Row order here is column order on the grid. Clear Use to hide a field without removing it. Available fields Sources filter | catalog of unused fields Tick Sel to add a field to Selected fields. Tick Use to add it and show it immediately. Changes apply to the active grid and are stored with that view layout. Window > Reset layout only rearranges the panes of this dialog, not the grid itself. The Field tab configures chart-cell appearance, title, and labels when a chart field is selected. Grid configuration window: Appearance, Records, Navigation, Selected fields, Available fields

The dialog follows the grid you last clicked. Changes apply immediately and stay with that view.

The Field tab is for chart cells (appearance, title, labels). Window → Reset layout only resets this dialog’s panes, not the grid.

Which rows you see is also controlled by the left navigator explorer bar (AcqKey , Sample groups , Analyte groups). Those checkboxes apply to every grid and chart, not only the active view. See Navigator explorer bar.

Anatomy of a grid

Column width

Resize and auto-fit column width Drag a column divider to set width. Double-click the divider to auto-fit. Ctrl+double-click auto-fits all columns. Drag the divider Sample Analyte Compound name CAL-01 Caffeine Caffeine-d9 Width: 150 Hover the column edge until the resize cursor appears, then drag. Select several columns first to give them the same width. Double-click to auto-fit Sample Analyte Compound name CAL-01 Caffeine Caffeine-d9 2x Fits the column to the widest header or cell. Ctrl + double-click auto-fits all columns. Drag a column divider to resize; double-click to auto-fit

Set a width. Hover the vertical line between columns until the resize cursor appears, then drag. A live tip shows Width: n. You can drag in the header or in the body.

Auto-fit one column. Double-click that column’s divider. The column becomes as wide as its header or widest cell.

Auto-fit every column. Ctrl+double-click any column divider.

Same width on several columns. Select those columns first (click their headers; Ctrl or Shift to add more), then drag one of their dividers. All selected columns get the same pixel width.

Equalize without Fill. There is no separate “equalize” command. Multi-select + drag one divider is the way to make columns the same width.

Dragging a column that was using Fill turns it into a fixed-width column.

Column Fill

Column Fill weights Fill is a relative width weight. Zero keeps a fixed width. Positive values share leftover viewport space by weight. Fill shares leftover width In Grid configuration > Selected fields, set Fill. 0 = fixed width. 1, 2, 3… = relative weight. Narrow pane Sample Fill 0 Concentration Fill 2 = 2/3 leftover Status Fill 1 = 1/3 leftover Type Fill 0 Viewport Same layout after the pane is widened Sample Concentration still 2/3 leftover Status Type Sample and Type keep their pixel widths. Concentration and Status grow with the pane, 2 : 1. Dragging a fill column divider sets a fixed width and clears Fill for that column. Fill weights: leftover pane width shared 2:1 between Concentration and Status

Fill is a relative width weight on Selected fields. It is the way to make columns use the leftover pane width.

Example: Sample Fill 0 , Concentration Fill 2 , Status Fill 1 , Type Fill 0. When you widen the pane, Sample and Type stay put. Concentration gets two thirds of the extra space, Status one third.

How to set it

1. Open Grid configuration.
2. In Selected fields , find the column.
3. Set Fill. 0 = fixed; any positive integer = weight.

Leave at least one column on Fill if you want the grid to use the full pane width without a large empty strip on the right.

Row heights and records per viewport

Row height modes Identical row height, variable row height, and fit max visible rows with a records-per-viewport count. Identical row height Comment Short Also short Wrapped text is clipped Same height Same height One height for every row. Drag any row divider to change all rows. Variable row height Comment Short Long comment that wraps onto extra lines Short again Short Each row keeps its own height. Double-click a row divider to auto-fit that row. Fit max visible rows Sample 1 CAL-01 2 CAL-02 3 QC-01 4 UNK-01 5 UNK-02 6 UNK-03 Max visible rows = 6 Rows share the pane height equally. Extra rows scroll. Fewer rows still fill the pane. Drag a row divider to change how many fit. Where to set this Grid configuration > Appearance > Row height. Pick one mode. Max visible rows appears only for Fit max visible rows (1-500). Layouts remember the mode and the last identical-row height you dragged. Three row height modes: identical, variable, and fit max visible rows

In Appearance → Row height , pick one mode:

Identical row height

Every row is the same height. Drag any row divider to change them all. Double-click a divider to auto-fit to the tallest content, then apply that height to every row.

Use this for dense result lists.

Variable row height

Each row keeps its own height. Drag one divider to change only that row (or all selected rows). Double-click a divider to auto-fit that row; Ctrl+double-click auto-fits all rows.

Use this when comments or wrapped text should make some rows taller.

Fit max visible rows (records per viewport)

Rows share the pane height so a chosen count is visible.

1. Select Fit max visible rows.
2. Set Max visible rows (1–500). That is how many records share the viewport.

If the grid has more rows than that number, you scroll. If it has fewer , those rows still fill the pane (no empty band under the last record).

You can also drag a row divider: the count updates from the new row height (pane height ÷ row height). A small drag does not collapse the grid to a single oversized row.

Typical use: details or chromatogram-in-cell views where you always want, for example, six records on screen.

Column sort

Column sort Double-click a column header to cycle unsorted, ascending, descending. Shift+double-click adds another sort column. Double-click a column header to sort Click the header text, not the divider. Each double-click cycles the column. 1. Unsorted Sample UNK-02 CAL-01 QC-01 2. Ascending Sample CAL-01 QC-01 UNK-02 3. Descending Sample UNK-02 QC-01 CAL-01 4. Clear sort Sample UNK-02 CAL-01 QC-01 Multi-column sort Analyte 1 Sample 2 Hold Shift and double-click another header to add it. The number is sort priority. Shift+double-click a descending column to remove it. Double-click header cycles unsorted → ascending → descending → unsorted; Shift adds a second sort column

Sort one column. Double-click the header text (not the divider).

Cycle: unsorted → ascending (▲) → descending (▼) → unsorted.

Sort several columns. Hold Shift and double-click another header. A small number is the sort priority (1 then 2). Shift+double-click a descending column to drop it from the sort.

Natural order. Text sorts in natural order (Q2 before Q10).

Sort blocks row move. Clear the sort (cycle until the triangle is gone) before Move rows will work. Move columns works while a sort is active.

Layouts remember the sort.

Manual order: rows and columns

Manual row and column order Select entire rows or columns from the headers, then drag the header to a new insert position. Move rows Sample Type 1 CAL-01 Cal 2 QC-01 QC 3 QC-02 QC 4 UNK-01 Unk 5 UNK-02 Unk 1. Turn on Move rows in Appearance > Interaction. 2. Click row headers to select whole rows (Shift / Ctrl for more). 3. Drag the selected headers. Drop on the insert line. Move columns Sample Status Type Conc 1 CAL-01 OK Cal 12.4 2 QC-01 OK QC 50.0 3 UNK-01 Flag Unk 18.8 1. Turn on Move columns in Appearance > Interaction. 2. Drag a column header. The vertical line is the drop position. Sort blocks row move only. Clear any sort (double-click the sorted header until the triangle disappears) before you can move rows. You can also change column order by rearranging rows in Selected fields. Select headers then drag to an insert line to reorder rows or columns

Move rows

1. Appearance → Interaction — turn on Move rows.
2. Click row headers so the whole rows are selected (Shift / Ctrl for more).
3. Drag the selected headers. Drop on the horizontal insert line.

Move columns

1. Turn on Move columns.
2. Drag a column header. Drop on the vertical insert line.
3. Shift / Ctrl+click headers first to move several columns together.

Another way to order columns: in Selected fields , the row order is the column order. Drag those rows (when move-rows is available on that grid) or add/remove fields to reshape the layout.

Blocked while sorted (rows only). If a triangle is showing on a header, clear the sort before moving rows. Column drag is not blocked by sort.

Freeze panes

Freeze panes Fixed columns stay on the left and fixed rows stay on top while the rest of the grid scrolls. Freeze panes Appearance > Freeze panes. Counts are body rows from the top and body columns from the left. Sample Analyte RT Area 1 CAL-01 Caffeine 1.02 12040 8 UNK-06 Caffeine 1.04 9810 9 UNK-07 Caffeine 1.03 10022 10 UNK-08 Caffeine 1.05 8870 Fixed columns = 1 Sample stays visible while you scroll sideways through results. Fixed rows = 1 The first data row stays at the top while you scroll the rest. Fixed columns stay left and fixed rows stay top while the rest of the grid scrolls

Appearance → Freeze panes

There is no “pin this column” on the header menu. Change the counts here.

Navigator explorer bar (AcqKey and groups)

The left navigator is the explorer bar. Three panes of checkboxes filter which records grids and charts show:

These are global. Unchecking AcqKey 2 hides that set in the Samples grid, Results, details, Key Review, and charts at once. They stack with Grid configuration → Records (include current sample, curve points, and so on).

Click a box to include or exclude that set or group.

Double-click a box to solo it: only that item stays on. Use this when you want one AcqKey or one group on screen.

All (italic, first in the list) checks or unchecks every item. The glyph is mixed when only some items are on.

Double-click empty space in the pane (not on a box) toggles all on or all off — same as All , without aiming at it.

Colors and labels

• A color halo around the checkbox matches the method color for that AcqKey or group.
• Type categories ((default), Sample, Target, …) are bold.
• An empty acquisition set is listed as (default).

Remembered

• AcqKey and Analyte groups are stored per method.
• Sample groups are stored per batch.
• New items default to on. If a stored layout would leave every item off, Quanto turns them all back on so the grid is not emptied by accident.

View → Reset navigator restores the navigator pane layout (Windows, Layouts, these filter panes). It does not reset which boxes are checked.

Fields: show, hide, title, format

Selected fields is the layout of the active grid.

Add a field: in Available fields , tick Sel (add) or Use (add and show). Use the Sources filter if the catalog is long.

Headers on the grid itself: Appearance → Headers — row headers, column headers, row numbers, toolbar.

Select, copy, edit

Right-click for Cut, Copy, Copy with headers, Copy as image, Paste, Select all, Fill down (Ctrl+D), Increment down (Ctrl+I). Some views add extra items (for example Accept / Reject).

Appearance → Interaction → Read only blocks edits; selection and copy still work.

Appearance → Selection & colors turns selection fill, current-cell rectangle, edit rectangle, inactive-pane hiding, header tints, and alternate row colors on or off.

Keyboard

While editing: Enter commits and moves down; Ctrl+Enter commits and moves up; Tab commits and moves across.

Navigation between views

Navigation → Record navigation

Turn Follow on for a details pane that should track the sample list. Turn Update on for the list that should drive other views.

Other appearance options

Replicated columns (qualifier slots, dose bands, and similar):

• Group by Source — all fields of Q1, then all fields of Q2…
• Group by Property — the same property across instances, then the next property
• Maximum count — how many instances to expand

Settings → Appearance… (theme, Compact / Standard / Spacious density, zoom, language) sets default sizes for new layouts. It does not replace per-grid column widths you already dragged.

Cheatsheet

Analysis setup (bottles, ESTD / ISTD, bracketing, Key Review, reports) is in the user guide index.