How to Format Columns in VDM – BridgeWorks Help Center

Format columns in VDM to make your Data Grid results easier to read. You can change how values display, adjust column headers and visibility, and choose whether to remember a field’s format for use in other Views.

What Is Column Formatting?

Column formatting changes how values appear in the Data Grid without changing the underlying data. Available formats include currency, percent, number, and date. You can also adjust column headers and visibility to improve the layout of your View.

For example, apply a currency format to Total_Sales to display sales amounts with a currency symbol and decimal places.

Why Use Column Formatting?

Display values in a format that matches their meaning, such as currency for sales amounts.
Use descriptive column headers.
Hide columns that are not needed in the displayed results.

Video Tutorial

Step 1: Open and Run the View

Open the View in VDM and run it to display the results in the Data Grid.

Step 2: Right-Click a Value in the Column

Select a value in the column you want to format, then right-click it to open the context menu.

Step 3: Apply or Remove a Column Format

Point to Format Column in the context menu, then select the format you want to apply. Choose a format appropriate for the values in the column, such as currency, percent, number, or date.

To remove an existing format, select Format Column > None.

Step 4: Adjust the Column Name or Visibility (Optional)

Use the column options to rename the displayed header or hide and unhide columns. These changes help you organize the results for the people who will use the View.

Step 5: Choose Whether to Remember the Format

VDM retains the applied formatting for the current View session. When prompted to save the format for future use, choose whether you want VDM to remember it.

Important: A saved format applies whenever that specific field appears in any View. Consider how the field is used in other Views before saving its format.

Verify the Results

Review the grid after applying your changes:

Confirm that the formatted values are readable and appropriate for the column.
Check that the displayed column names and visibility match the layout you need.
If you chose to remember a field’s format, confirm that the format is also appropriate when that field appears in another View.

The examples below illustrate currency and percent formatting. The displayed result depends on the format selected.

Original Value	Formatting Applied	Displayed Value
12345.67	Currency with two decimal places ($)	$12,345.67
0.15	Percent with no decimal places	15%