# Step 6: File Maintenance Field Layout

Two-Column Layout |

The Two-Column layout is the standard layout used to define file maintenance panels prior to PxPlus 2024.

With the Two-Column layout, the Layout Grid defaults to two columns referred to as Left Side and Right Side. Instead of treating each side as a true Half, the generated NOMADS panel makes each side as wide as it needs to be to accommodate the widest control on that side. On the other hand, the generated Webster+ HTML page treats each side as Half of the Web page.

Define the layout for the file maintenance Main panel and any folder panels:

- Select the Fields to add to the panel layout
- Add Objects
- Define Folder Options and specify the Folder Location
- Add Dependency Definitions to panel controls
- Select Right-Click Menu options for manipulating the panel layout
- Preview the layout

Example:

This shows the two-column Layout Grid. The right-click popup menu is also displayed:

When creating a new file maintenance panel, the Layout Grid displays Left Side and Right Side columns by default. The maximum is two columns. Individual rows can be changed from Half Row to Full Row by using the right-click menu.

If the Use SmartPhone Layout check box is selected, only a single-column Layout Grid will display.

## Right-Click Menus

Right clicking either on a cell or row in the Layout Grid displays the following menu options:

#### Note:
When right clicking on a Key field, only certain options are available.

Clear Current Cell | Clears the contents of the currently selected cell. This option is not available when the current cell contains a Key field. If the cell contains a data dictionary field, the cleared field will be returned to the Fields list box.
Clear All Cells | Clears the contents of all cells (except Key fields) on the currently selected panel or folder tab. Prior to clearing all cells, a message will display. (The Clear All Cells option was added in PxPlus 2021.)
Insert Cell Above | Inserts a blank cell above the currently selected cell. If on a Half-row cell, all Half-row cells below (in the same column) will be moved down one row until a Full-row cell is encountered. When a Full-row cell is encountered, if the cell being pushed down is empty, it will be discarded and the insertion ends. If the cell being pushed down into the Full row is not empty, a new row with the contents of the cell being pushed down will be inserted before the Full row, and the last row of the grid will then be deleted. If on a Full-row cell, a new row will be inserted above the current row, and the last row of the grid will be deleted. This will push all subsequent rows down. If using the SmartPhone Layout, inserts a new cell above the currently selected cell, and the last cell of the grid will be deleted. This will push all subsequent cells down. (The Insert Row Above option was changed to Insert Cell Above in PxPlus 2022 Update 1.)
Delete Cell | Deletes the currently selected cell. This option is not available if the current cell contains a Key field. If on a Half-row cell, all Half-row cells below (in the same column) will be moved up one row until a Full-row cell is encountered. When a Full-row cell is encountered, if the row above the Full-row cell is empty (that is, nothing in either column), the row above will be deleted, which effectively moves everything below up one row. A new empty row will be added to the end of the grid. If on a Full-row cell, the current row will be deleted, and an empty row will be added to the end of the grid. This will move all subsequent rows up. If using the SmartPhone Layout, deletes the currently selected cell, and an empty cell will be added to the end of the grid. This will move all subsequent cells up. (The Delete Row option was changed to Delete Cell in PxPlus 2022 Update 1.)
Cut Cell Paste Cell(s) | Cuts the contents of a single cell and then pastes the contents into a destination cell. If multiple cells are to be cut and pasted, first cut each cell one at a time in the order in which they are to be pasted and then use the Paste Cell(s) option to paste them all at once into the destination location. To ensure that all cut cells are successfully pasted, it is recommended to remain in the Step 6: Fields panel until the cut/paste process has been completed. Cells can be cut and pasted within the same panel or between different panels, such as from the Main panel to a folder panel and vice versa. The Cut Cell option is not available if the cell contains a Key field, Horizontal Line, Section Break, Full Section Break or Folder Location. The Paste Cell(s) option is available only when one or more cells have been previously cut. (The Cut Cell and Paste Cell(s) options were added in PxPlus 2021.)
Full Row | Changes the selected Half row (in one column) to a Full row (across both columns) except when a Key field is in the adjoining cell. In that case, a message displays, and the Half row is not changed. This option is not applicable if using the SmartPhone Layout. #### Note: If the adjoining cell contains a data dictionary field (other than a Key field), the field will be cleared from the grid and returned to the Fields list box. If the adjoining cell contains fonted text, the fonted text will be removed. (The checking for Key fields was added in PxPlus 2021.)
Half Row | Changes the selected Full row (across both columns) to a Half row in each column. The Half row in the Right Side column will be blank. This option is not applicable if using the SmartPhone Layout.
Lock/Unlock | Locks or unlocks a data dictionary field. This option is applicable only for data dictionary fields (except for Key fields or fields set as Read Only or Required). When a field is locked, "Locked" displays at the end of the Info Line for that field. When a field with a Query button is locked, the Query button does not display. (The Lock/Unlock option was added in PxPlus 2021.)
HTML Section Size | (Applicable for HTML Pages Only) Sets the width of an HTML section. Possible values are Half, Third, Quarter and Flex. Same as HTML Section Size option when right clicking on a column header. (The HTML Section Size option was added in PxPlus 2022.)
Add HTML Section Break | (Applicable for HTML Pages Only) Adds an HTML section break in the current column only. See Webster+ [section xxx] short code. This option is not available when the current row contains a Key field. A section is a block of data elements or controls that occupies a specified portion of the page width. Sections are placed across the page until the available space is occupied at which point further sections will start below. An HTML section break indicates the end of one section and the beginning of the next section, which becomes apparent when the panel is resized. See HTML Sections. (The Add HTML Section Break option was added in PxPlus 2021.)
Add Full HTML Section Break | (Applicable for HTML Pages Only) Adds a full HTML section break across both columns. See Webster+ [section xxx] short code. This option is not available when the current row contains a Key field. A section is a block of data elements or controls that occupies a specified portion of the page width. Sections are placed across the page until the available space is occupied at which point further sections will start below. An HTML section break indicates the end of one section and the beginning of the next section, which becomes apparent when the panel is resized. See HTML Sections. #### Note: Adding a full HTML section break before a row(s) may be necessary to align subsequent rows vertically in the HTML output. (The Add Full HTML Section Break option was added in PxPlus 2021.)
Add Half Horizontal Line | Adds a half horizontal line. The Layout Grid displays the text * Horizontal Line *. This option is not available when the current row contains a Key field. (The Add Half Horizontal Line option was added in PxPlus 2022.)
Add Full Horizontal Line | Adds a full horizontal line. In a two-column layout, the line extends across both columns. The Layout Grid displays the text * Horizontal Line *. This option is not available when the current cell contains a Key field. #### Note: If the adjoining Half row contains a Key field, a message will display, and the horizontal line will not be added. #### If using the SmartPhone Layout, adds a full horizontal line. The Layout Grid displays the text * Horizontal Line *. (The checking for Key fields was added in PxPlus 2021.)
Folder Location | (Available only when Folder check box is selected) Adds the Folder control to the current row on the Main panel only. See Adding a Folder. The row displays the text * Folder Location *, and the row size changes to a Full section if it was not a Full section before (i.e. Half, Third, Quarter or Flex). If the row contains data dictionary fields, the field(s) will be returned to the Fields list box. If the row contains object controls, a message will display prior to removing the object(s). If Folder Tabs have been defined but no Folder Location has been added, the Folder control will be located at the bottom of the Main panel. This option is not available when the current row contains a Key field, or you are not on the Main panel, or a Folder Location has already been added. (The Folder Location option was added in PxPlus 2023 Update 1.) (Support to automatically format the row as a Full section when specifying the Folder location was added in PxPlus 2025.)
Add Object | Displays a list of objects to add or edit. See Adding Objects. (The Add Object option was added in PxPlus 2021 Update 1.)

Right clicking on a column header in the Layout Grid displays the following menu option:

Menu Option | Description
HTML Section Size | (Applicable for HTML Pages Only) Sets the width of an HTML section. A section is a block of data elements or controls that occupies a specified portion of the page width. Multiple sections can be placed across the page until the available space is occupied at which point further sections will start below. For example, you can have two Half sections, three Third sections, four Quarter sections or one Half and two Quarter sections. Possible values are:
Auto | Default is Auto for the Left side; however, a different value can be set for each side. Auto is the same as a Half section except when nothing is entered in the rows on the Right side in the entire Layout Grid, in which case, Auto makes the Left column a whole section. If using the SmartPhone Layout, the default is Auto.
Half | A half section. Default is Half for the Right side.
Third | A third section.
Quarter | A quarter section.
Flex | A flex section will occupy the width of the largest element inside the section; thus, the number of flex elements that can appear across the page will vary based on contents.
The current setting is indicated with a check mark. HTML Sections When an HTML page is resized, the controls in a section stay together. If the HTML page is resized smaller, a section on the Right side of the Layout Grid will eventually move below a section on the Left side of the Layout Grid. Some section breaks are inserted into the HTML page automatically when it is generated (i.e. when a full line or a line containing two blank cells is encountered). However, at certain times, it may be desirable to control exactly when section breaks occur, especially when using section sizes that result in more than two sections across the page. This can be accomplished by using the right-click menu within the Layout Grid to insert either an HTML Section Break or a Full HTML Section Break.

(The right-click popup menu on a column header was added in PxPlus 2021.)

## See Also

Two-Column Layout Sample Panels
Enhanced Layout