Grouping is a unique feature in the FlexPivotGrid control that enables users to organize data in groups based on a specific set of criteria. The FlexPivotGrid control allows a user to group the data by any field value. Further, grouping also allows you to summarize and analyze large chunks of data.

The user can perform data range grouping in C1FlexPivotGrid at runtime using the Format tab in the Field Settings Dialog. The options in the Format tab will vary depending upon the type of data field. The Format tab will show different options for strings, numbers and date fields.

You can also perform range grouping via code. For this, FlexPivotGrid provides Range property of the PivotField class, which defines the type of grouping used. The RangeType enum provides the same set of values for different grouping criteria just like the Format tab.

Refer the following table for different types of options provided by the RangeType enum:

The data range grouping feature by string, number, format and fiscal year at run-time and by code is elaborated in the following sections.

String Grouping

You can perform range grouping by string fields at run-time as well as through code.

Range Grouping by String at Run-Time

For string fields, the Format tab of the Field Settings dialog shows two options, Group by First Letter and Ignore Case. The first option allows the user to group the data by the first alphabet/letter of the string, while the second option lets the user group by first alphabet/letter of the string but ignoring the case. You can select any option based on your requirement.

Complete the following steps to implement grouping by string fields in FlexPivotcontrol.

1. Drag-and-drop two ProductName fields in the Rows list, OrderDate fields in Columns list and UnitPrice in the Values list.
2. Rename the ProductName fields in Caption from the Display tab of Field Settings Dialog, one as 'Product' and the other as 'Product: Group by first letter' and click OK.
3. Right-click the 'Product: Group by first letter' field from the Rows list and select Field Settings option from the context menu.
4. Select the box against Group by First Letter and Ignore Case in the Format tab.
   
   The data after grouping by string fields appears similar to the image given below.
   
   

Range Grouping by String with Code

The code given below shows how you can group string values in FlexPivotGrid using the AlphabeticalIgnoreCase grouping of RangeType enum.

'Nested groups: By Alphabet, then by Product
flexPivotPage.PivotEngine.RowFields.Add("ProductName")
flexPivotPage.PivotEngine.RowFields.Add("ProductName")
flexPivotPage.PivotEngine.ColumnFields.Add("OrderDate")
flexPivotPage.PivotEngine.ValueFields.Add("UnitPrice")
flexPivotPage.PivotEngine.RowFields(0).Caption = "Product: Group by first letter"
flexPivotPage.PivotEngine.RowFields(0).Range.RangeType = RangeType.AlphabeticalIgnoreCase
flexPivotPage.PivotEngine.RowFields(1).Caption = "Product"

//Nested groups: By Alphabet, then by Product
flexPivotPage.PivotEngine.RowFields.Add("ProductName");
flexPivotPage.PivotEngine.RowFields.Add("ProductName");
flexPivotPage.PivotEngine.ColumnFields.Add("OrderDate");
flexPivotPage.PivotEngine.ValueFields.Add("UnitPrice");
flexPivotPage.PivotEngine.RowFields[0].Caption = "Product: Group by first letter";
flexPivotPage.PivotEngine.RowFields[0].Range.RangeType = RangeType.AlphabeticalIgnoreCase;
flexPivotPage.PivotEngine.RowFields[1].Caption = "Product";

Numeric Grouping

You can perform range grouping by numeric fields at run-time as well as through code.

Range Grouping by Numbers at Run-Time

For numeric fields, the Format tab of the Field Settings dialog shows five options, Number, Currency, Percentage, Scientific and Custom. You can select an option based on your requirement.

Complete the following steps to implement grouping by numeric fields in C1FlexPivotGrid control.

1. Drag-and-drop two UnitPrice fields, one in the Rows list, and the other in the Values list. Drag and drop the Country field into the Columns list.
2. Rename the UnitPrice field in Caption from the Display tab of Field Settings Dialog as 'Price Group' and click OK.
3. Right-click the 'Price Group' field from the Rows list and select Field Settings option from the context menu.
4. Select Number option from the Format tab.
5. Select the box against Group by and click the dropdown arrow to choose a specific range value.
   
   The data after grouping by numeric range appears similar to the image given below.
   
   

Range Grouping by Numbers with Code

The code given below shows how you can group string values in FlexPivotGrid using the Numeric grouping of RangeType enum. You can also specify ranges in small numbers with the NumericStep property of the RangeInfo class.

'Grouping by numeric range
flexPivotPage.PivotEngine.RowFields.Add("UnitPrice")
flexPivotPage.PivotEngine.ValueFields.Add("UnitPrice")
flexPivotPage.PivotEngine.RowFields(0).Caption = "Price group"
flexPivotPage.PivotEngine.RowFields(0).Range.RangeType = RangeType.Numeric
flexPivotPage.PivotEngine.RowFields(0).Range.NumericStep = 50
flexPivotPage.PivotEngine.ColumnFields.Add("Country")

//Grouping by numeric range
flexPivotPage.PivotEngine.RowFields.Add("UnitPrice");
flexPivotPage.PivotEngine.ValueFields.Add("UnitPrice");
flexPivotPage.PivotEngine.RowFields[0].Caption = "Price group";
flexPivotPage.PivotEngine.RowFields[0].Range.RangeType = RangeType.Numeric;
flexPivotPage.PivotEngine.RowFields[0].Range.NumericStep = 50;
flexPivotPage.PivotEngine.ColumnFields.Add("Country");

Date Grouping

You can perform range grouping by date fields at run-time as well as through code.

Range Grouping by Date at Run-Time

For date fields, the Format tab of the Field Settings dialog box shows many options. They are basically different date formats for days, months, years, quarter, week, Fiscal year, Fiscal week, Fiscal Quarter, Fiscal month and Custom date. You can select a suitable option based on your requirement.

Complete the following steps to implement grouping by date fields in the C1FlexPivotGrid control.

1. Drag and drop OrderDate field in the Rows list, the Country field into the Columns list and OrderID in the Values list.
2. Right-click the 'OrderDate' field from the Rows list and select Field Settings option from the context menu.
3. Rename the OrderDate field in Caption from the Display tab of Field Settings Dialog as 'Year' and click OK.
4. Select a date format for Year field from the Format tab. Here we have selected yyyy.
   
   
   The data after grouping by date range appears similar to the image given below.
   
   

Range Grouping by Date with Code

The code given below shows how you can group date values in FlexPivotGrid using the Format grouping of RangeType enum. You can specify the specific format of the year using the Format property of PivotField class.

'By format: group by year, month or day
flexPivotPage.PivotEngine.RowFields.Add("OrderDate")
flexPivotPage.PivotEngine.RowFields(0).Caption = "Year"
flexPivotPage.PivotEngine.RowFields(0).Range.RangeType = RangeType.Format
flexPivotPage.PivotEngine.RowFields(0).Format = "yyyy"
flexPivotPage.PivotEngine.ColumnFields.Add("Country")
flexPivotPage.PivotEngine.ValueFields.Add("OrderID")

//By format: group by year, month or day
flexPivotPage.PivotEngine.RowFields.Add("OrderDate");
flexPivotPage.PivotEngine.RowFields[0].Caption = "Year";
flexPivotPage.PivotEngine.RowFields[0].Range.RangeType = RangeType.Format;
flexPivotPage.PivotEngine.RowFields[0].Format = "yyyy";
flexPivotPage.PivotEngine.ColumnFields.Add("Country");
flexPivotPage.PivotEngine.ValueFields.Add("OrderID");

Fiscal Year Grouping

You can perform range grouping by Fiscal Year at run-time as well as through code.

Range Grouping by Fiscal Year at Run-Time

Grouping by Fiscal Year at run-time can be done only with date fields, For this, you can use the Custom option in the Format tab and enter a suitable custom format for the Fiscal Year.

Complete the following steps to implement grouping by Fiscal Year in C1FlexPivotGrid control.

1. Drag and drop OrderDate field in the Rows list, the Country field into the Columns list and OrderID in the Values list.
2. Rename the OrderDate field in Caption from the Display tab of Field Settings Dialog as 'Fiscal Year' and click OK.
3. Right-click the 'Fiscal Year' field from the Rows list and select Field Settings option from the context menu.
4. Add a Custom Format for Fiscal Year from the Format tab. For instance, here the custom format is 'FY' yyyy.
      
   The data after grouping by Fiscal Year range appears similar to the image given below.
   

Range Grouping by Fiscal Year with Code

The code given below shows how you can group date values in FlexPivotGrid using the FiscalYear grouping of RangeType enum. You can set the number of first month of the fiscal year using the FiscalYearFirstMonth property of RangeInfo class.

'Range Grouping by Fiscal year
flexPivotPage.PivotEngine.RowFields.Add("OrderDate")
flexPivotPage.PivotEngine.ColumnFields.Add("Country")
flexPivotPage.PivotEngine.ValueFields.Add("OrderID")
flexPivotPage.PivotEngine.RowFields(0).Range.RangeType = RangeType.FiscalYear
flexPivotPage.PivotEngine.RowFields(0).Range.FiscalYearFirstMonth = 4
flexPivotPage.PivotEngine.RowFields(0).Format = "FY {yyyy}"
flexPivotPage.PivotEngine.RowFields(0).Caption = "Fiscal Year"

//Range Grouping by Fiscal year
flexPivotPage.PivotEngine.RowFields.Add("OrderDate");
flexPivotPage.PivotEngine.ColumnFields.Add("Country");
flexPivotPage.PivotEngine.ValueFields.Add("OrderID");
flexPivotPage.PivotEngine.RowFields[0].Range.RangeType = RangeType.FiscalYear;
flexPivotPage.PivotEngine.RowFields[0].Range.FiscalYearFirstMonth = 4;
flexPivotPage.PivotEngine.RowFields[0].Format = "'FY' yyyy";
flexPivotPage.PivotEngine.RowFields[0].Caption = "Fiscal Year";