How To: Paste data into a grid
Table Of Contents
Warning: Pasting data into a grid is an Advanced User feature.Incorrect use can result in data corruption and may be difficult or impossible to reverse. Only use this functionality if you fully understand the impact of the changes being made.
Users with the Print/Export Grid permission, including administrators, can paste data from the Windows clipboard directly into supported Khaos Control grids.
Before using this feature, ensure you have a suitable database backup available.
Before You Start
Back Up Your Database
Always create a database backup before pasting data into a grid.
If data is pasted incorrectly, restoring from a backup may be the only way to recover the original information.
For more information, see Backup Overview.
Check Your Permissions
You must have the Print/Export Grid user permission to use clipboard paste functionality.
For more information, see Print/Export Grid Permission.
Paste Data into a Grid
- Open the grid you want to update.
- Ensure the grid is in Edit Mode.
- Select and copy data from the grid using Ctrl+C.
- Paste the copied data into a text editor such as Notepad.
Note: Khaos Control recommends using plain-text editors when preparing data. Avoid using word processing applications such as Microsoft Word, as formatting can introduce unexpected characters.
- Edit the data as required.
- Copy the updated data back to the Windows clipboard.
Important: A maximum of 100 rows can be pasted at one time.
- Click the cell where you want the first row of data to be inserted.
Important: Before pasting, ensure the grid has not been sorted, filtered or rearranged since the data was originally copied.
- Paste the data into the grid using Ctrl+V.
The selected cells will be updated with the pasted data.
Limitations
When using clipboard paste functionality, be aware of the following restrictions:
Grid Compatibility
Not all Khaos Control grids support pasting from the clipboard.
Maximum Rows
A maximum of 100 rows can be pasted in a single operation.
Row Order Must Remain Unchanged
The row positions in the grid must remain exactly the same between:
- Copying the original data.
- Pasting the updated data back into the grid.
If rows are sorted, filtered or moved, data may be pasted into the wrong records.
Special Characters
Although Khaos Control may allow extended character sets and symbols to be pasted into some grids, this is not recommended.
Examples include:
- Unusual Unicode characters
- Special symbols
- Characters imported from external applications
These can cause issues elsewhere in the system.
Example: Unsupported characters included in stock descriptions may prevent XML files from being processed correctly when integrating with websites or third-party systems.
Best Practice Recommendations
To minimise risk when using clipboard paste:
- Always create a database backup first.
- Test the process on a small number of records before updating large datasets.
- Use Notepad or another plain-text editor when making changes.
- Avoid sorting or filtering the grid after copying data.
- Verify the first few updated records before continuing with further changes.
- Limit updates to the minimum number of rows required.
Additional Information
Clipboard pasting can be a powerful tool when used carefully, particularly for bulk updates that would otherwise require repetitive manual editing. However, because the system applies pasted data directly to grid records, mistakes can affect multiple records simultaneously.
For this reason, clipboard pasting should only be performed by experienced users who understand both the data being updated and the consequences of bulk changes.