Add Action Buttons to Grid Headers

Add Action buttons to grid headers to guide Members through workflows by linking grid Items to Boards or Sequences while preserving relevant context from the source View.

These buttons let Members quickly dive into specific parts of a process while staying in context. For example, link from a list of employees to a Board filtered to one person, or from a project grid to a Sequence for entering budget details. This article describes how to create and manage Action buttons in grids.

Before you begin

Keep the following in mind when using Action buttons in grid headers:

• Anyone can create and add Action buttons, but only those with the Configure Public Views permission can save a public View.

• Action buttons can only be added to Metric and Table Views.

• Action buttons can only be added to Dimensions in Rows or Columns in the Pivot panel, with one button allowed per Dimension. They cannot be added to Scenario headers in the grid or Pivot panel.

• For nested Dimensions, use Navigation context to choose whether the Action button carries only the selected Dimension Item or also its parent Dimension Items on the same axis. Dimension Items from the opposite axis aren't carried to the destination.

• Action buttons in grid headers can only link to Boards or Sequences within the same Application.

• Modelers are responsible for ensuring links are valid and that Members have the necessary access. The link directs Members to the target Board or Sequence regardless of their access rights. If they do not have access, the page returns a 404 error.

• When using Test & Deploy, ensure the Board context is correctly set in the target environment. The Board reference linked to the Action button is not automatically deployed and may need to be manually reselected in Production after deployment.

Preserve context in Boards and Sequences

When selected, an Action button directs Members to a target Board or Sequence and carries relevant context from the source View.

Pigment carries the following context to the destination:

• The Dimension Item associated with the selected Action button

• Parent Dimension Items on the same axis when With parents is selected under Navigation context

This means Members don't need to reselect this context when continuing their analysis or workflow in the destination Board or Sequence.

Context from Dimensions on the opposite grid axis isn't carried to the destination. For example, imagine Group Entity and Business Unit are nested in Rows, with Group Entity as the parent of Business Unit, and Period is in Columns. If a Member selects an Action button for a Business Unit, Pigment carries the selected Business Unit to the destination. When With parents is selected under Navigation context, Pigment also carries the parent Dimension Items on the same axis. The Period Dimension Item on the opposite axis isn't carried.

⚠️ Important

When an Action button redirects to the same Board or Sequence, Pigment resets the View as if you navigated to a new page. Board-level selections are preserved, but local widget filters reset to their defaults.

For example, if you filter a chart to show Q1 data and select an Action button that redirects to the same Board with Country = France, the Board reloads with France selected, but the Q1 filter resets.

⚠️ Important

If a Page selection conflicts with the Dimension Item associated with the Action button, the button value takes priority. For example, if the Page is set to France but a Member selects the Action button for Germany, the target Board or Sequence opens with Germany selected.

Create and manage Action buttons

You can add, edit, or remove Action buttons directly from a grid header cell or the Pivot panel.

Add an Action button

To add an Action button from the grid header cell:

1. Hover over the grid header cell.

2. Select the drop-down arrow or right-select the cell.

3. Select Add a button to (Dimension name).

4. Choose Board or Sequence, then select the target Board or Sequence from the drop-down menu.

5. Under Navigation context, use Selected Item to carry only the selected Dimension Item, or With parents to also carry its parent Dimension Items.

6. Add a button label, display icon and icon position.

7. Review your button in the Preview section.

8. Select Apply.

9. Select Save View.

To add an Action button from the pivot panel:

1. Expand the View.

2. Select Pivot.

3. In Rows or Columns, select the three-dot menu on the Dimension you want to add a button to.

4. Select Add Action button and complete steps 4 - 8 above.

5. Select Save View.

Edit an Action button

To edit an Action button in a grid header cell:

1. Right-select the button in the grid header cell.

2. Select Edit button in (Dimension name).

3. Make your edits, then select Apply.

4. Select Save View.

To edit an Action button from the Pivot panel:

1. Expand the View.

2. Select Pivot.

3. In Rows or Columns, select the three-dot menu next to the Action button you want to edit.

4. Select Edit Action button and make your changes.

5. Select Apply.

6. Select Save View.  

Remove an Action button

To remove an Action button from a grid header cell:

1. Right-select the button in the grid header cell.

2. Select Remove button in (Dimension name).

3. Select Save View.

To remove an Action button from the pivot panel:

1. Expand the View.

2. Select Pivot.

3. In Rows or Columns, select the three-dot menu on the Action button you want to remove.

4. Select Remove Action button.

5. Select Save View.