MyViews
Written by Anthony Hodge
Updated at August 11th, 2025
Record a sequence of query, columns, filter, sort, crunch and chart settings into an action grid View. The saved settings may then be re-applied instantly by selecting the MyView code from the MyViews console or by clicking a View button on the Preferences tab. Selected Views can also be invoked automatically within action grids that are launched via OneClicks and MyFavorites on the main Menu Page.
HighViews provide several ways for you to transform what you retrieve from the database into something more manageable for your work. Depending on your requirements, you may need to change the data displayed on your action grid using a combination of settings ...
Query criteria, to indicate which records are to be retrieved from the database,
Columns, adjusted to show only the data you need for your work,
Filters, to further refine the display of records,
Sorts, to sequence records based on the contents of one or more columns,
Crunch / Chart analysis, for instant measurement of quantitative data in numeric and/or pictorial form,
... all of which might be difficult to reproduce to return the same results consistently every time you need them.
Fortunately, VL is equipped with MyViews, user-defined mechanisms that let you record your settings for future use. Access MyViews (and associated View buttons) via Preferences on the action grid Tab Bar.
MyViews functionality saves you the trouble of having to rebuild your settings from scratch. Each View represents a fusion of previously-recorded settings/sequences that are invoked instantly to produce instant results. You can share Views with other operators who may need the same settings for their work. Of course, Views are a key ingredient in OneClick controls, which can be added to MyFavorites on the main Menu Page. The primary focus for this design initiative is to facilitate the user's ability to record and automate complex functionality so that it can be re-invoked quickly and consistently every time from a single menu command (and greatly reduce the potential for human error).
The MyViews Console
To access the MyViews console, open the Preferences tab, then click .png)
. The MyViews console lists all of the currently available Views. It also provides the functionality for creating, modifying, and rearranging Views and View buttons (click to enlarge):
|
|
|
.jpg)
.png){kind=small}
.png){kind=small}
The functionality associated with MyViews and View buttons is described in more detail in the sections that follow.
Applying an Existing View
Even if you haven't created your own Views yet, most action grids will start off with a set of "generic" View codes that have been included with the system or have been shared by other users in your organization.
To apply an existing View, simply open the Preferences tab, then click on one of the View buttons listed on the right. Another way to invoke a View is to select one of the View listed in the MyViews console (click to enlarge):
.jpg)
Clicking 
invokes the selected View code. The action grid will be refreshed from the database and then be reloaded using the settings recorded under the selected View. The label next to the MyViews control indicates the name of the View that was most recently applied:
Different Types of Views
There are different types of Views depending on where they were created and on the settings being applied.
- The Type indicator associated with a View code provides a quick clue to the settings that will be applied once it is invoked. AG indicates that it will display changes to the action grid only. CR indicates that is will invoke action grid settings as well as a saved Crunch. CH indicates that is will invoke action grid settings as well as a saved Crunch and Chart.
- View codes that are prefixed with an * asterisk are considered user specific and can only be accessed from the current login. Since these codes were created by you, you have the option to change or delete them.
- View codes that do not have an asterisk are being shared with you. They were set as "shared" when they were created (by other users) and are available to all operators on the system.
-
BASE Views are created automatically at the time of installation and cannot be edited or deleted by the user. Clicking
.png)
via the Settings Table will always return the action grid to the View named BASE (factory default). Certain action grids may include other "system" View codes that are named using the BASE prefix. These represent a set of generic presets that cannot be changed by the user.
Setting a Default View
To set a specific View to be applied by default upon the launch of your action grid, click .png)
then select a View code from the list and click 
. This changes the DEF listing for the selected View from "N" to "Y". Settings associated with the default View will be applied automatically the next time you launch the action grid. Click 
to exit the MyViews console.
Creating a New View
When you create a new View you are saving all of the settings used to define the currently-displayed Action Grid, Crunch, or Chart. What you see at the time you create a new View will determine what you see the next time it is invoked, including its Type:
Action Grid. To save all basic action grid settings, open the Preferences tab, then click .png)
. Click the 
button in the MyViews console. This creates a View based on all query, filter, and/or sort settings in the source action grid. The View Type will be listed as an AG in the MyViews console.
Crunch. To save settings after a Crunch analysis click the .png)
button at the bottom of the Crunch window. This creates a View based on all query, filter, and/or sort settings in the source action grid as well as those used to define the currently-displayed Crunch action grid. The View Type will be listed as a CRin the MyViews console.
Chart. To save settings after displaying a Chart, click the .png)
button at the bottom of the Chart window. This creates a View based on all query, filter, and/or sort settings in the source action grid, the source Crunch, as well as those used to define the currently-displayed Chart. The View Type will be listed as a CH in the MyViews console.
Creating a View (for any of these types) invokes the Create View panel:
|
View CodeType in the name for the View. The
View DescriptionType in the description/purpose of the View. Share View?Select Yes to allow other operators to access this View. Select No if you wish to use this View under your User ID only. Shared Views are prefixed with an * asterisk in the MyViews console.
|
Click to accept the changes and exit this panel. The new View will appear as a new button under the Preferences tab as well as in the MyViews console. Click 
to exit without saving current settings.
Modifying a View
Modifying a View is handled in the same way as creating a new View (described in the previous dropdown). After applying settings to define the currently-displayed Action Grid, Crunch, or Chart, you have the option to create a View using the same code as an existing View. The 
button lets you select from the list of existing codes.
This will have the effect of overwriting the settings of that existing View. Note that you cannot modify a View using this method if it was originally created/shared by another operator.
Apply Automatically? (Query Only)
The Create View panel for Query-based action grids also includes the option to enable/disable preset Query criteria. This allows the initial Query to be excluded from the other Filter, Sort, Column, Crunch, and Chart settings in a View:
|
Apply Automatically? Select On to automatically apply Query settings. Select Off if you wish to invoke other settings without starting with Query. The main purpose for this option is to record action grid settings that are not dependant on the data specified by any particular Query. It allows the user to Query the database in one step, and then select from their choice of "query-less" Views after the data is loaded. For example, you can keep certain Views that are just for changing the columns and/or filters regardless of the records loaded from the database. Note that the Off option will not invoke a Query when the View is used in a OneClick control. Instead, you will still need to request data first (via the Query console) before the other action grid settings are applied. |
Click .png)
to accept the changes and exit this panel. The new View will appear as a new button under the Preferences tab as well as in the MyViews console. Click 
to exit without saving current settings.
A View that has been set to Off (disable preset query criteria) will be listed as "N" in the Apply column of the MyViews console:
Showing, Hiding, and Rearranging View Buttons
The MyViews console determines the order of the View buttons that are displayed on the Preferences tab. To change the order, simply drag and drop selected Views up or down the list. The new arrangement for the buttons will appear upon exiting the MyViews console.
By default, all Views are displayed as View buttons automatically as soon they are created. However, if you decide that certain buttons are no longer applicable to your work (but you do not wish to delete them completely) you have the option to hide them from the menu. Just select the View in the MyViews console, then click 
.
A View button that has been toggled to the Hide setting will be listed as "N" in the Show column of the MyViews console:
.png)
If you wish to show a button that is currently hidden, select the View in the MyViews console then click again. This will to toggle the "N" back to "Y" in the Showcolumn.
Order Rules for Settings
A View is created using your currently-applied settings based on the order rules: Query , Columns, Filters, Sorts, then Crunch / Chart . When you are preparing settings be sure to enter them in the correct sequence. Otherwise, some earlier settings may need to be reapplied before you save them to a View. Be especially careful not to prepare any Filter criteria until after your Query and Column settings are in place.
Renaming a View - Changing the Description
Users have the option to rename and/or change the description of a View, provided the View code selected has not been set to Default or is currently not being applied to the action grid. To rename or change the description associated with a View code, open the Preferences tab, then click .png)
. Select a View code from the list then click 
. This invokes the Rename View panel:
|
 |
 View Code
|
Click .png)
to accept the changes and exit this panel. Click .png)
to exit without saving current settings. To change the settings associated with a View, see Modifying a View.
Deleting a View
To permanently remove a View, open the Preferences tab, then click . Select the View that you want to delete from the list, then click .png)
.
If you have authority to delete the selected View, this will launch a dialogue which asks you to confirm the action.
Merging Legacy Rendition and Persistent Views
MyViews consolidates and replaces Renditions and Persistent &Transient Views as of VL 13.010. Customer sites that have upgraded from an earlier version of VL have the option to create a new View in MyViews by merging their previously saved Renditions and Persistent View settings. To use this feature, open the Preferences tab, then click . Click the button in the MyViews console.
|
 |
View Code
|
Click to accept the changes and exit this panel. The new View will appear as a new button under the Preferences tab as well as in the MyViews console. Click to exit without saving current settings.
|
|
Screen Shot Instructions |
.png){kind=small}
Note: MyViews consolidates and replaces Renditions and Persistent &Transient Views as of VL 13.010.