Skip to tutorial content
Rate module 4.0/5 (1)

Inline List Editing

3 min read
On this page

In this lesson, you will learn:

  • How to change a record right in the list, without opening it
  • How to change many records at once
  • Why some cells can’t be edited

1 Edit without opening

Opening each record just to change one field is slow. With inline list editing, you change a value right in the list, like in a spreadsheet. ✏️

Key term: Inline editing

Changing a field’s value directly in a list cell, without opening the record’s form.

2 Edit one cell

Inline editing in the Incident list. Step 1: double-click the State cell of INC0010002. Step 2: an edit box opens in the cell with a list of choices; pick In Progress. Step 3: press Enter or click the green check to save. A second example shows three Assigned to cells selected together and changed to Riya Sharma in one edit.
Figure 1. Double-click, change, press Enter. Select several cells to change them all at once.
  1. Double-click the cell you want to change.
  2. An edit box opens right in the cell.
  3. Type or pick the new value.
  4. Press Enter (or click the green ✔) to save. Press Esc to cancel.

3 Edit many cells at once

Need to give 5 incidents to the same person? Change them together:

  1. Click the first cell in the Assigned to column.
  2. Hold Shift and click the last cell. (Or hold Ctrl and click cells one by one.)
  3. Double-click one of the selected cells.
  4. Set the new value and press Enter. All selected cells change. 🎉

⚠️ Heads up: Changing many records at once is powerful. Check your selection before you press Enter. There’s no undo button!

4 Why can’t I edit that cell?

Sometimes a double-click does nothing, or the cell is greyed out. That’s on purpose. Common reasons:

Reason Example
Read-only field The Number field can’t be changed
No access Your roles don’t allow you to change that field
List editing turned off An admin turned off list editing for that list
Rules on the form Some fields only make sense to change on the form, where other rules run

📝 Note: Some rules only run on the form, not in lists. For fields with extra rules, it’s safer to open the record and edit it there.

⭐ Remember: Double-click = edit. Enter = save. Esc = cancel.

5 Let’s try it: quick edits

  1. Open Incident > Open.
  2. Double-click the State cell of any incident. Change it to In Progress and press Enter.
  3. Select the Assignment group cells of three incidents with Shift-click.
  4. Double-click one and set them all to SNWR Service Desk.
  5. Try to double-click a Number cell. What happens?

6 Quick recap

  • Double-click a cell to edit it in the list
  • Enter saves, Esc cancels
  • Select several cells with Shift or Ctrl to edit them together
  • Some cells can’t be edited because of read-only fields, access, or list settings

7 Check yourself

Think of your answer first. Then tap to check.

1 How do you start editing a cell in a list? Show answer

Double-click it.

2 You changed a value but want to cancel. Which key do you press? Show answer

Esc.

3 A user can’t edit the Priority cell in a list. Name one possible reason. Show answer

Any of: it’s read-only, their roles don’t allow it, or list editing is turned off for that list.

Nice work! You finished this lesson. 🎉

Was this lesson helpful?

Have a question or doubt?

Ask here and get help from instructors and fellow learners.

0 / 300

Only logged-in learners can post.