Arranging fields using Grid and Fixed controls
By default, page fields are arranged automatically in two columns. For more information, see Field Arrangement on FastTabs. You can use a Grid control or a Fixed control to arrange fields in rows and columns on a page and design it to look like a grid-like format. This article outlines the differences between the two controls to help you determine which control to use.
> [!NOTE]
> Due to restrictions on design capabilities in the web client, it's currently not possible to customize or personalize the controls within the grid
and fixed
syntax. It applies to all design modes.|
Important
Arranging fields in rows only works in the Dynamics NAV Client connected to Business Central. In the Web client, fields can only be arranged in columns.
Comparing Grid and Fixed controls
The Grid control is a new control and is the preferred method because it gives you more layout options. The following table outlines the Grid and Fixed control characteristics and their differences.
Characteristics | Grid Control | Fixed Control |
---|---|---|
General usage and field layout | Places fields in a uniform grid. When setting up a grid control, you can decide to set up fields in a row-by-row or column-by-column basis. | Places fields in a table or matrix-like configuration that has a row and column headings. You can only set up fields on a column-by-column basis. You typically use the Fixed control to display statistical data in a FastTab or information in the details section of a Worksheet page. If you're using the CRONUS International Ltd. demonstration database, then you can see examples of these uses in page 151, Customer Statistics, and page 40, Item Journal. |
Field captions | Shows or hides captions above each field. Place captions before or above the field. |
Shows captions as a heading to the rows and columns. You can't specify a heading for each field. |
Row and column spanning | Can span rows and columns. | Can't span rows and columns. |
Field appearance | Shaded with a border. | No shading or border. |
Supported structure for using the Grid and Fixed controls
The following table shows the supported structure to get the layout results that you expect. The page layout of the page object determines what the page looks like. You must specify the structure in the layout
section.
Type | SubType |
---|---|
Container | area(content) |
Control | group |
Control | grid or fixed |
Control | group |
Control | field |
The Grid and the Fixed control must be placed in the group
control in a area(content)
subtype. The Group control doesn't have to be the first group
under the area(content)
.
Important
If the Grid or Fixed control is not placed in a Group control, it will inherit properties as if it were a typical Group control and none of the Grid or Fixed properties will apply to it.
The Grid or Fixed control must have Group controls as direct children and Field controls as children of those Group controls.
Supported control types for using a Grid control
The Grid control is supported on all page types and for a selected range of control types. The following table lists the types of controls that can be nested in a Grid control.
Tip
Although nesting groups such as Group, Fixed, and Grid is possible, we do not recommend it because of lower UI performance and less optimal layout.
Control Type | Control Subtype |
---|---|
Fields | |
Groups | Group |
Repeater | |
CueGroups | |
Fixed | |
Grid | |
Part | Page |
The following table lists the types of controls that aren't supported in a Grid control.
Control Type | Control Subtype |
---|---|
Add-Ins | |
Parts | Chart Parts |
System Parts |
For more information on how to use the Grid control, see Arranging Fields in Rows and Columns Using the Grid Control. For more information on how to use the Fixed control, see Arranging Fields in Rows and Columns Using the Fixed Control.
See also
Arranging Fields on a FastTab
Pages Overview
GridLayout Property