"instructions" parameters is not applicable when using a textfield/datefield in an editable grid cell.

Question

Hi, 
 Working in an editable grid, when adding an "instructions" parameter, it is not working and not giving any error as well. I mean, we can add "instructions" parameter value but it is not visible just below of that textfield or datefield. Is it like editable grid do not support 'instructions'? please help.

Sanchit Gupta (Xebia) · Answer

Yes, this is the expected behaviour and it is also documented in Appian Docs

Mathieu Drouin · Answer

Yes, this is normal - same goes for the label. 
 If you need labels/instructions and detailed error messages for a field, I would suggest you use a master detail type pattern. 
 docs.appian.com/.../recipe-use-links-in-a-grid-to-show-more-details-and-edit-data.html

Mike Schmitt · Answer

Instructions on an editable grid cell also don't really make sense. What is it that you hope to accomplish? I've personally made a lot of use of Placeholder Text (in applicable fields) when dealing with editable grid inputs, and it's a lot more friendly-looking. Also note that you can add per-column Help Tooltips in any type of grid.

Sanchit Gupta (Xebia) · Answer

Sorry, but it is not possible to provide the similar experience of "instructions" parameter. As far as I can tell, you can either show the formatted date in another column next to it (which is ofc not good looking) or can try this code that I have written for you which displays the formatted date in rich text after user selects in the dateField and shows an edit icon to select the date again. 
 a!localVariables(
 local!date,
 local!showDate: a!isNullOrEmpty(local!date),
 {
 a!gridLayout(
 label: "Editable Grid",
 labelPosition: "ABOVE",
 headerCells: { a!gridLayoutHeaderCell(label: "Date") },
 columnConfigs: {},
 rows: {
 a!gridRowLayout(
 contents: {
 if(
 local!showDate,
 a!dateField(
 value: local!date,
 saveInto: {
 local!date,
 a!save(local!showDate, false)
 }
 ),
 a!richTextDisplayField(
 value: {
 text(local!date, "dd MMM yyyy"),
 " ",
 a!richTextIcon(
 icon: "pencil",
 caption: "Edit",
 link: a!dynamicLink(saveInto: a!save(local!showDate, true)),
 linkStyle: "STANDALONE"
 )
 }
 )
 )
 }
 )
 },
 selectionSaveInto: {},
 validations: {},
 shadeAlternateRows: true
 )
 }
) 
 Hope it helps!

Mike Schmitt · Answer

kiranjorwekar said: Hence, I want to use 'instructions' parameter. if anyone has any round about to achieve this then please help/suggest. 
 Help Tooltips on the column, as I mentioned earlier. This is definitely 100% the way to go about this. 
 Also I'm not sure what you're expecting to happen in your Date Field - they don't support arbitrary formatting after the user inputs the date. My suggestion would be to simply allow the standard Date Picker to do its thing. The only alternative is to force the user to manually type a date in a specified format, which is a nightmare, and IMHO, pretty useless.