How to add and arrange columns using the cog icon?

This article covers how to use the cog icon in iplicit to add, hide and reorder columns. The cog icon appears on finders (list views), documents and enquiries. It controls which columns are visible on screen - it is not a data filter. To filter the data within a column, use the filter/sorting fields inside the column header instead.

How the cog icon works

The cog icon sits in the top right corner of most screens in iplicit, including finders such as the Purchase Invoices list, documents such as individual invoices and purchase orders, and enquiries such as the Trial Balance.

Think of it like choosing which columns to show in a spreadsheet. Every screen has a fixed set of available columns - the cog icon lets you decide which ones are visible and in what order. Selecting a column adds it to your view; deselecting it removes it. The underlying data does not change.

Adding and removing columns using the cog icon on a finder or document

Finders and documents work the same way. A finder is a list view - for example, the Purchase Invoices screen that shows all your invoices in a list. A document is an individual record - for example, an open purchase invoice and the lines within it.

To add or remove a column on a finder or document:

1. Open the finder or document you want to configure
2. Select the cog icon in the top right corner of the screen - a list of available columns appears
3. Columns with a tick next to them are already visible
4. Select any unticked column to add it - it appears in the next available slot on the screen
5. Select any ticked column to remove it - it disappears from the view
6. Select the cog icon again or click away to close the list

To reorder columns on a finder or document:

1. Click and hold the header of the column you want to move
2. Drag it left or right to the position you want
3. Release to drop it in place

Adding and arranging columns on an enquiry

Enquiries in iplicit - such as the Trial Balance enquiry or transaction-level reports - use the same cog icon but offer more control. As well as choosing which fields to show, you can decide whether a field appears as a row, a column or a data value.

Think of it like building a pivot table in a spreadsheet. You choose what goes across the top (columns), what goes down the side (rows) and what value sits in the middle (data - usually an amount).

To add and arrange fields on an enquiry:

1. Open the enquiry you want to configure
2. Select the cog icon to open the field and layout panel
3. A list of available fields appears on the left
4. Select a field to add it - it appears in the layout area on the right
5. In the layout area, drag the field into the correct section: 'Rows', 'Columns' or 'Data'
6. To reorder fields within a section, drag them up or down
7. The enquiry updates automatically to reflect your changes

If you are unsure where a field belongs: fields you want to group by (such as account or department) go in 'Rows'; fields you want to compare across (such as financial year or period) go in 'Columns'; the value you want to see (such as amount) goes in 'Data'.