Editable Grid Customization - Rishan Solutions

Editable grids are powerful tools that transform how users interact with data in business applications. Rather than navigating through separate forms or pop-ups, editable grids allow users to view and modify records directly in-line, saving time, improving accuracy, and enhancing productivity.

Customizing editable grids takes their usefulness to the next level by tailoring how data is presented, validated, and interacted with—based on user roles, business logic, or industry needs.

This article provides a comprehensive guide to Editable Grid Customization, diving into its benefits, implementation, platform-specific examples, and best practices.

1. What Is an Editable Grid?

An editable grid is a data table (or view) where users can edit fields directly within the grid, without needing to open individual records or switch to a different form.

Key Features:

Inline editing of fields (e.g., text, picklists, dates, checkboxes)
Sorting and filtering
Bulk editing
Keyboard navigation
Integration with business rules or validations

Editable grids are especially common in:

CRM and ERP systems (e.g., Dynamics 365, Salesforce)
Data tables in web apps
Inventory, finance, and HR management systems

2. Why Customize Editable Grids?

While default editable grids offer standard functionality, customization allows you to:

Adapt to business processes
Restrict or validate inputs
Apply conditional formatting
Change layout or column behavior
Enhance user experience (UX)

In short, customization bridges the gap between generic data entry and real-world business workflows.

3. Editable Grid vs. Read-Only Grid

Feature	Editable Grid	Read-Only Grid
Data modification	Inline editing available	View-only
User efficiency	Higher (fewer clicks)	Lower (requires separate forms)
Customization	High (business rules, formatting)	Moderate
Validation support	Can enforce real-time rules	Typically no data input
Use cases	CRM, order management, time tracking	Reporting, dashboards, analytics

4. Editable Grids in Microsoft Dynamics 365

Dynamics 365 offers editable grids as a control for entities (tables), allowing both read and write operations in views and subgrids.

4.1 Enabling Editable Grids

Steps:

Navigate to Settings > Customizations > Customize the System.
Select an entity (e.g., Contact, Opportunity).
Click on Controls tab.
Add the Editable Grid control.
Set it as default for Web, Phone, and Tablet.
Publish changes.

4.2 Supported Fields

Editable grids support:

Text
Lookup
Option sets
Numbers
Currency
Dates

4.3 Not Supported:

Two-option fields (sometimes)
Composite fields (e.g., full address)
Fields from related entities (indirect lookups)

5. Editable Grid Customization Options in Dynamics 365

5.1 JavaScript Event Handlers

You can write custom JavaScript for:

OnCellChange
OnRecordSelect
OnSave

Example: Prevent Editing for Specific Rows

function preventEditingForClosedRecords(context) {
  let row = context.getFormContext();
  let status = row.getAttribute("statuscode").getValue();

  if (status === 2) { // Assuming 2 = Closed
    row.getControl("subject").setDisabled(true);
  }
}

5.2 Business Rules

Apply logic without code:

Lock fields based on values.
Show error messages.
Set default values.

5.3 Conditional Formatting (via PCF or custom controls)

Using Power Apps Component Framework (PCF) or third-party libraries, you can:

Highlight rows with overdue dates.
Change colors based on picklist values.
Embed icons or progress bars.

6. Editable Grids in Web Applications

Outside CRM platforms, editable grids are often built using:

HTML/CSS/JavaScript
Frameworks: React, Angular, Vue
Libraries: DataTables, AG Grid, Handsontable

6.1 Example: Simple Editable Grid (Vanilla JavaScript)

<table id="grid">
  <tr>
    <th>Name</th>
    <th>Email</th>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td contenteditable="true">John Doe</td>
    <td contenteditable="true">john@example.com</td>
  </tr>
</table>

You can hook into blur or input events to handle validation or data sync.

7. Advanced Grid Customization with JavaScript Libraries

7.1 AG Grid (Highly customizable)

const gridOptions = {
  columnDefs: [
    { field: 'name', editable: true },
    { field: 'email', editable: true },
    { field: 'status', cellStyle: params => {
        return params.value === 'Inactive' ? { color: 'red' } : null;
      }
    }
  ],
  rowData: myData,
  onCellValueChanged: handleValueChange
};

Features:

Row-level validation
Conditional formatting
Grouping and pivoting
Cell editing with dropdowns, checkboxes

7.2 Handsontable

Great for Excel-like experiences:

Spreadsheet features
Formulas
Nested headers
Cell merging

8. Editable Grid Use Cases by Industry

8.1 Sales and CRM

Inline editing of contact information
Quick updates to opportunity stages
Mass editing of lead scores

8.2 Inventory and Logistics

Update quantities, SKUs, and warehouse locations
Real-time tracking of shipments
Auto-calculation of total values

8.3 HR and Finance

Time sheet entry
Budget adjustment per department
Payroll approval status updates

9. Best Practices for Editable Grid Customization

9.1 Limit Editable Fields

Avoid overwhelming users with too many editable columns. Focus on what’s relevant and safe to edit.

9.2 Validate Inputs

Use input constraints (length, type, format) and real-time validation to prevent errors.

9.3 Respect Security Roles

Ensure edit permissions align with user roles. Use role-based visibility and field-level security.

9.4 Auto-save vs Manual Save

Be clear whether changes are saved automatically or need to be confirmed. Provide visual cues (e.g., save icons, toasts).

9.5 Audit and Track Changes

Log what was edited, when, and by whom. This is crucial for compliance in regulated industries.

10. Limitations and Considerations

10.1 Performance

Grids with hundreds of rows and many editable columns can affect performance. Use pagination, virtual scrolling, or lazy loading.

10.2 Mobile Usability

Editable grids are harder to use on small screens. Consider switching to form-based inputs on mobile devices.

10.3 Integration with Workflows

Ensure that changes made in editable grids trigger appropriate workflows, alerts, or automations.

11. Alternatives to Editable Grids

Quick Edit Forms: Lightweight forms pop up on demand.
Bulk Edit Mode: Select multiple records to update fields.
Inline Editing in Cards: For Kanban boards or dashboards.

Each method has its place depending on the complexity of the task and the UX goals.

12. Real-World Example: Editable Grid in Dynamics for Sales Pipeline

A sales team uses an editable grid to:

Update opportunity stages
Adjust estimated revenue
Assign new owners

Customizations:

Color-coded stages
Dropdown for sales phases
On-change triggers update KPIs on the dashboard

Outcome:

Reduced clicks by 60%
Real-time data accuracy improved
Users reported a better overall experience

13. Future of Editable Grids

With advances in low-code/no-code platforms and AI integration, editable grids are evolving to support:

Predictive editing (AI suggestions for inputs)
Real-time collaboration (multi-user editing)
Voice and touch input support
Dynamic grid behaviors based on user interaction