Formula Editor

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Summary

  • Two related surfaces for Calculated Column formulas:
    • Formula Trace - Excel-style popup anchored to a cell
    • Compact Expression Editor - a shortened, moveable Expression Editor
  • Used to inspect how a value is derived and to edit the Expression without opening the full Wizard

The Formula Editor is the Calculated Column counterpart to the full Expression Editor.

It has two parts that work together:

  • the Formula Trace popup - shows the formula for the current cell, with referenced Columns colour-matched to Grid highlights
  • the Compact Expression Editor - a small, moveable and resizable editor opened from that popup

Hint

See Using Calculated Columns for the Wizard, Formula Trace options and a fuller walkthrough

Formula Trace

Formula Trace is an Excel-style popup anchored to a Calculated Column cell.

Open it by:

  • Double-clicking the cell
  • Selecting Show Formula in the cell's Context Menu
  • Calling calculatedColumnApi.showFormulaTrace(columnId, primaryKeyValue)

The popup shows the Column's Expression with every referenced Column in its own colour. AdapTable highlights the same data in the Grid:

  • Standard Calculated Columns - referenced cells in the row are outlined and tinted
  • Aggregated (and other multi-row) Calculated Columns - referenced Column headers are highlighted

Hint

For Standard Calculated Columns the popup also shows each referenced Column's name above its actual cell value for that row, followed by the computed result

Compact Expression Editor

The Formula Trace popup contains an Edit button which opens the Compact Expression Editor.

This is a shortened version of the full Expression Editor: moveable, resizable, and available without opening the Calculated Column Wizard.

It provides:

  • the Functions dropdown listing available Expression Functions
  • live validation — the Compact Editor shows Valid Expression or the error as you type
  • colour-coded Column references (matching the Formula Trace highlights)
  • autocomplete, hover help, Quick Fixes and formatting (Shift+Alt+F) - just as in the full Expression Editor

Edits are applied live as you type - the Calculated Column re-evaluates immediately.

Note

An invalid Expression will show #INVALID in the cells until it is corrected

Hint

Validation is the same engine as the full Expression Editor. The difference is that an invalid formula is applied immediately, so the Grid shows #INVALID until it is fixed.

The Compact Editor also provides:

  • Revert - restores the Expression to how it was when the Editor was opened
  • Open Full Editor - closes the Compact Editor and opens the full Calculated Column Wizard

Hint

The Compact Expression Editor is available for all 6 Calculated Column types: Standard, Aggregated, Cumulative, Quantile, Window and Observable

AdapTableQL Formula Editor
Fork
  • This demo contains a Standard Calculated Column (Total PRs) that adds Open PRs and Closed PRs
  • After a short delay it opens Formula Trace for the first Total PRs cell
Try It Out
  • Wait for the Formula Trace popup, or double-click any Total PRs cell
  • Note how the referenced cells are highlighted in matching colours
  • Click Edit in the popup to open the Compact Expression Editor and change the formula - the Column updates live
Loading demo…

Hint

  • Double-click and the Show Formula Context Menu item can each be turned off - see Configuring Formula Trace
  • A Calculated Column can also show its formula as a cell tooltip - see Cell Tooltip