Blocks are fundamental components when building a Pigment Application—and the Block Explorer is where you have access to all the Blocks in your model. Here you can create, filter and customize them, as well as organize, move, delete or duplicate them. This article walks you through the essential steps of working with Pigment Blocks using the Block Explorer.
Open Block Explorer
Open the required Application, and in the sidebar select All Blocks.
Choose from the tabs to view the four different types of Blocks:
Transactions. For more information, see Understand Dimension and Transaction Lists.
Dimensions. For more information, see Understand Dimension and Transaction Lists.
Metrics. For more information, see Measure Data with Metrics.
Tables. For more information, see Work with Tables to Summarize Information.
Create a List or a Metric
In Pigment there are two different ways to create a Dimension List, Transaction List, or Metric.
1. Create from the left sidebar
Hover over the Blocks section in the left sidebar until a plus sign (+) appears.
Select the plus sign (+) to create a new Dimension List, Transaction List, Metric or Table.
2. Create from the Block Explorer
Open All Blocks from the Sidebar.
Select the + New Block button to create a new Dimension List, Transaction List, Metric or Table.
Create a Table
A Table is a group of Metrics that can be analyzed and compared together. You can create a Table like you create a List or Metric. However, when you’re creating a Table using multiple Metrics, using All Blocks gives you a clearer and more organized View.
Select All Blocks.
Choose all the Metrics you want to include in your Table.
Select Create Table.
Delete and duplicate Blocks
Delete a Block
⚠️ Important
Before deleting a Block, check the Sharing & Usages section in its settings to ensure it's not being used by another Block. Deleting a Block permanently removes any associated data.
Select the three-dot menu at the end of the row for the Block you want to edit.
Select Delete from the options on the left, then Delete list.
Select Delete to confirm and complete.
Duplicate a Block
Select the three-dot menu at the end of the row for the Block you want to duplicate.
Select Duplicate from the options on the left, then enter a new name for your duplicate Block.
(Optional) In Duplicate options, toggle off any elements you don't want to include in the Block duplication.
By default, duplicating a Block includes its structure, formulas, data, configurations and views.Select Duplicate to confirm and complete.
Organize your Blocks with folders
As your Application gets bigger, you may find yourself with an increasing number of Blocks. To maintain a clean and efficient Workspace, organize your Blocks into folders and sub-folders as you’re building your Application.
🎓 Resources
For more best practices in Pigment, take a look at our Become a Pigment Pro section.
Here are some considerations to bear in mind before you start organizing your Blocks:
You cannot delete a folder that contains sub-folders. You first need to delete its subfolders, and then the parent folder.
A subfolder can have the same name as its parent folder. However, you cannot create two subfolders with identical names within the same parent folder.
When you view a subfolder, it appears as Parent Folder / Subfolder in the folder menu. For example, a Travel Expenses subfolder nested under the Expenses folder is displayed as Expenses / Travel Expenses.
Folders cannot be moved from one parent folder to another. However, you can use All Blocks to select multiple Blocks—whether from a specific folder or elsewhere—and bulk move them into a new folder.
Create a new folder
Hover over either the Boards or Blocks section in the sidebar until a plus sign (+) appears.
Select the plus sign (+) and then New folder.
Enter a folder name.
Give it a clear name that reflects its purpose.Select Create.
Create a subfolder
Hover over either the Boards or Blocks section in the sidebar until a plus sign (+) appears.
Select the plus sign (+) and then New folder.
Enter a clear name that reflects the folder’s purpose.
Select the required parent folder from the Parent Folder menu.
Select Create. The subfolder automatically nests under the parent folder.
Rename or delete a folder
Hover over the folder you want to rename or delete in the Sidebar until the three-dot menu appears.
Select the three-dot menu and then either Rename or Delete.
Move Blocks into a folder
Organizing your Blocks by folder keeps your Workspace neat and ensures you can find and manage Blocks later. You can organize them by going to the sidebar, and to drag and drop Blocks into the appropriate folder. However if you need to move multiple Blocks into a folder, using the Block Explorer gives you a clearer and more organized View.
Select All Blocks.
Check the boxes by all the Metrics you want to move.
Select Move to folder.
Search for and filter specific Blocks
Open the required Application.
In the sidebar, select All Blocks.
Choose from the tabs to view the four different types of Blocks:
Transactions
Dimensions
Metrics
Tables
(Optional) Use the search bar to quickly find any existing Blocks within your Application.
(Optional) Select the Filter icon on the right side to activate your filters.
Filter all Block types by Shared Status and Views Library.
Filter Metrics by Data type, Formula status, and Dimensions.
Filter Tables by Metrics within them.
Perform bulk actions on Blocks
After filtering as above, you can perform bulk actions as follows:
In the row below the activated filters, select the checkbox to the left of Name in the main pane. The bulk action toolbar appears.
Make further selections of Blocks as necessary, using their checkboxes.
Select your desired bulk action from the bulk action toolbar.
ℹ️ Note
Now that you know the basics, see Work with Block Information in Block Explorer for information on how to customize the information displayed in Block Explorer.