Sage 100 Business Insights Explorer: Configuring the secondary grid

Configuring the secondary grid in Sage 100 Business Insights Explorer makes reporting more efficient and customizable. Users can add fields from different tables, create calculated fields like extended costs, and apply color formatting to highlight important data points. These customizations can be saved as defaults for future use, and data can be exported to Excel for easy sharing and further analysis. In this blog, the second in our series on Business Insights Explorer, you’ll learn how to use this tool to turn data into insights and improve decision-making and productivity.

Business Insights Explorer is an integrated tool in Sage 100 designed to simplify data analysis and management. From financial reviews to sales tracking and inventory movement, it offers an intuitive interface to help you organize and interpret your data effortlessly. At its heart are Explorer Views, which enable you to interact with pre-built tables and tailor grids to focus on the data most relevant to your needs. This versatile feature allows you to customize data displays, enhancing workflows and optimizing reporting efficiency. Learn more about Business Insights Explorer.

In Sage 100 Business Insights Explorer, the secondary grid (or preview pane), complements the primary grid by displaying related details. When you select an item in the primary grid, the secondary grid automatically updates to show specific details or associated information for that selection. This interaction allows users to view a high-level summary and quickly dive into detailed data within the same interface.

The secondary grid offers detailed or related information tied to the selected item in the primary grid. For instance, selecting a sales order in the primary grid might reveal its line-item details in the secondary grid. As you navigate through the primary grid, the secondary grid dynamically refreshes to display relevant information for each selection, enabling efficient data exploration and analysis.

• More data visibility: The secondary grid allows you to see detailed data linked to the primary record, so you have a complete picture of transactions and trends.
• Customizable views: You can add fields, rearrange columns, and create calculated metrics to customize the grid to your needs so you always have the information you need at your fingertips.
• Better decision-making: By applying color formatting and grouping data, you can quickly see patterns, outliers, and key insights so you can make faster and better decisions.
• Time-saving features: Custom views can be saved as defaults so you don’t have to set them up again and again, streamlining your workflow.
• Data export: You can export formatted data to Excel so you can share and analyze further, making collaboration easier.

With these benefits, the secondary grid turns data into insights and improves productivity and decision-making across your organization.

Step 1: Navigate to the secondary grid

1. Open Sage 100 and go to Business Insights Explorer
2. Select the Customer History Invoices View

In this view, you’ll see the main invoice headers at the top and the corresponding data in the secondary grid below. As you click on different headers, the data in the secondary grid will update.

Step 2: Add fields to the secondary grid

1. Click on any column header in the secondary grid and select Column Settings

2. From the settings menu, choose the fields you want to add. For example:

• Add the Invoice Date from the main table
• Add the Unit Cost from the detail table

Once added you can rearrange the columns by dragging them to your preferred order. You can also remove unnecessary columns by dragging them off the screen.

Step 3: Create a calculated field

1. Right-click on any column header and select Column Settings

2. Choose the option to create a Calculated Field

3. Name your field (e.g., “Extended Cost”)

4. Use the formula builder to define your calculation

• For example: Multiply Unit Cost by Quantity Shipped to calculate the extended cost

5. Click OK to save your calculated field, which will now appear in the grid

Step 4: Apply color formatting

1. Highlight a column you want to format (e.g., Unit Price
2. Right-click and select Column Level Formatting
3. Set conditions for formatting; for example, displaying negative values in red
4. Choose your preferred colors to make key data points stand out. For example, use red for negative values or blue for specific thresholds

Step 5: Save and set your view as default

1. Once you’ve customized your grid, go to the File menu and select Save Settings
2. Name your view (e.g., “Custom View 2”)
3. To make this view the default, select Set as Default and choose whether it applies to all users or just yourself

Next time you open this view, your custom settings will load automatically.

Step 6: Export to Excel

If you need to share or analyze your data further, export it to Excel

• Note that subtotals won’t be included in the export, but the detailed data will appear exactly as formatted in your grid

Customizing the secondary grid in Sage 100 Business Insights Explorer empowers users to tailor their data views for maximum efficiency and insight. By adding fields, creating calculated metrics, applying color formatting, and saving custom views, you can transform raw data into actionable insights that drive better decision-making and productivity. Partnering with Rand Group ensures you get the most out of your Sage 100 system, with expert guidance to optimize your workflows and support your business growth. Contact us today to learn how to get more from your data.