Column Name is not shown when an inline action button is added

[M_Felix]

Hello Community,

I am trying to have an action column.

Sample

Actual

I followed the steps I read here.

Button action for displaying inline items from a view Questions

Yes, I have many of these/ They are Inline Actions that you attach to a column. The Edit and Delete icons in the rows below are Inline Actions i created [Screen Shot 2019-12-16 at 12.16.49 PM] I have been using them by adding a Virtual Column specifically for attaching the Inline Action and then include/exclude that Inline Action column as needed. Here are the steps I follow. Create a Virtual Column (VC) in your data table and name appropriately e.g.“Pay Action”. Define the column typ…

I have a column named Action

I have 3 actions which are set as inline

My current problem is column name is not appearing. Is this a normal behavior?

Another question Is it also possible to display a button but it is disabled or grayed out if the action is not for the user who is logged in. Right now, I am using the show-if that’s why the other buttons are hidden.

Regards,

[scott_robinson]

Check to see whether that column is shown first. There is a tick box for that in the editor.

Also then check whether that column is available to you if you’ve used a slice for your table. You may be using Custom fields rather than all in your slice definition and have not included your ACTION field.

[M_Felix]

Hi @Scott_Robinson

Yes, the column is shown. I am not using a slice.

[scott_robinson]

Brilliant! Ok, so the next thing to do is check if your individual actions are being shown.

For each action, check the behaviour section and see if you have any formulas set that would show or hide the action based on values in that row.

[M_Felix]

Hi @Scott_Robinson

Each action will show based on the role of the user logged in.
All 3 actions are showing properly.

Level 1 = Endorser

Level 2 = Approver

Level 3 = Final Approver

The problem is the “Action” column name is not showing.
It is confusing for new users what is that right-most part for if there is no column name to tell them that it is the “Action”.

[scott_robinson · Accepted solution]

Oh!!

Well, that’s by design!

The column name doesn’t show if actions are attached to it. It’s for space saving I believe.

Sorry for the confusion here!

By the way, I’d possibly place the actions on the left of the row. There’s some serious messing about with the width of tables at the moment on detail views where appsheet will not allow the use of any width bigger than an iPad in portrait mode. Consequently it placed a horizontal scrollbar and in my experience actions get hidden by the width problems.

[M_Felix]

Thanks for the confirmation @Scott_Robinson and @Steve.

Since it is the design, I just changed the way I display the action to display prominently. Anyway the action button is hidden as long the needed condition is not met.

[Steve]

M_Felix:

My current problem is column name is not appearing. Is this a normal behavior?

I believe so, yes. Typically, a column has only one inline action attached to it. In that case, the column name would likely be much wider than the action button, so would result in a lot of wasted space. There is no way to force the display of the header.

M_Felix:

Another question Is it also possible to display a button but it is disabled or grayed out if the action is not for the user who is logged in.

It’s been awhile since I tinkered with the idea. As I recall, you have to apply a format rule to the action. You’ll also want the action to actually do nothing when it’s “disabled”, which requires specific action configuration.

See also:

help.appsheet.com

Format Rules: The Essentials

Learn how to change the way information is displayed throughout your app.

[M_Felix]

Thanks for the info. I will look into the formatting if ever I need to try the grayed out action button.