Softimage SDK Programmer's Guide > Script Development > Working with Arrays (and Other Collections) in Softimage > Using the GridData Object >

# Using a GridData Object in a Custom Property Set

If you would like to see or manipulate the values of a 2-dimensional array using a user-friendly interface you can create a property set with a GridData parameter that will display the information in a property page.

The basic workflow is as follows:

- Set up a custom property set (AddCustomProperty (SceneItem)).

- Add a grid parameter to it (AddGridParameter (CustomProperty)).

- Get the GridData object from the grid parameter value (Value (Parameter) *).

Once you have the GridData object, you can set its values either a cell at a time or a whole column or row at once (see Example: Setting an entire column of values on a GridData object). You can also set the entire grid in one shot by assigning an existing 2-dimensional array as its data (see Example: Storing an existing array in a GridData object).

## Example: Setting an entire column of values on a GridData object

You can use the SetCell (GridData) * or SetRowValues (GridData) * methods to populate the grid. These are convenience methods that allow you to set an entire row or column using a 1-dimensional array instead of having to iterate over every cell in the grid (using the SetCell (GridData) * method).

    /*
       This example demonstrates how to create 2 JScript arrays (columns) and
       then store them in a GridData object. It also shows how to set columns
       without using pre-existing arryas and then displays the new grid in a
       property page.
    */
    var aCol1, aCol2;

    // The top left cell is A1 and the bottom right cell is D3:
    aCol1 = new Array( "A1", "A2", "A3" );
    aCol4 = new Array( "D1", "D2", "D3" );

    // Now create a GridData object and save the arrays in it as columns
    var oPSet = ActiveSceneRoot.AddCustomProperty( "MyTableDemo" );
    var oGridParam = oPSet.AddGridParameter( "MyTable" );

    // This just tweaks the formatting (it will still appear without this)
    var oLayout = oPSet.PPGLayout
    var oGridCtrl = oLayout.AddItem( "MyTable", "My 2D Array" );
    oGridCtrl.SetAttribute( siUIGridHideColumnHeader, true );
    oGridCtrl.SetAttribute( siUIGridHideRowHeader, true );
    oGridCtrl.SetAttribute( siUIGridColumnWidths, "50" );

    // The GridData object itself is in the Value property of the parameter
    var oGrid = oGridParam.Value;

    // Before setting any values you need to set the dimensions of the grid
    oGrid.ColumnCount = 4;
    oGrid.RowCount = 3;

    // You can use the GridData.SetColumnValues() method to set each array
    oGrid.SetColumnValues( 0, aCol1 );
    oGrid.SetColumnValues( 3, aCol4 );

    // Or you can use it without pre-existing arrays
    oGrid.SetColumnValues( 1, new Array( "B1", "B2", "B3" ) );
    oGrid.SetColumnValues( 2, new Array( "C1", "C2", "C3" ) );

    // You can still change individual values. For example, you can target
    // just one cell of the grid (here the middle row, last column):
    oGrid.SetCell( 3, 1, "N/A" );

    // Display the GridData table on a property page. While you are looking at
    // the property page, change the 'N/A' value.
    InspectObj( oPSet, null, null, siModal, false );

    // Users can change the values in the 2D array through the property
    // page: the underlying Grid object is automatically refreshed.
    Application.LogMessage( oGrid.GetCell(3,1) );	// <= this will reflect your 'N/A' change

## Example: Storing an existing array in a GridData object

One way to use the GridData object is to store an existing 2-dimensional array in it and then display the grid in a property page. Of course, this only works with languages that support 2-dimensional arrays, such as VBScript:

    ' This example demonstrates how to create a 2D array (3 columns and
    ' 2 rows) and then store it in a GridData object to display in a
    ' property page

    Dim aTbl()
    ReDim aTbl(2,1)

    ' The top left cell is A1 and the bottom right cell is C2:
    aTbl(0,0) = "A1"
    aTbl(2,1) = "C2"

    ' Fill in the rest:
    aTbl(1,0) = "B1"
    aTbl(2,0) = "C1"

    aTbl(0,1) = "A2"
    aTbl(1,1) = "B2"

    ' Now create a GridData object and save the 2D array in it
    set oPSet = ActiveSceneRoot.AddCustomProperty( "MyTableDemo" )
    set oGridParam = oPSet.AddGridParameter( "MyTable" )

    ' This just tweaks the formatting (it will still appear without this)
    set oLayout = oPSet.PPGLayout
    set oGridCtrl = oLayout.AddItem( "MyTable", "My 2D Array" )
    oGridCtrl.SetAttribute siUIGridHideColumnHeader, true
    oGridCtrl.SetAttribute siUIGridHideRowHeader, true
    oGridCtrl.SetAttribute siUIGridColumnWidths, "100"

    ' The GridData object itself is in the Value property of the parameter
    set oGrid = oGridParam.Value

    ' The Data property of the GridData object allows you to store an
    ' existing array in one shot (instead of iterating over the array
    ' and setting up the GridData manually)
    oGrid.Data = aTbl

    ' You can still change individual values. For example, you can target
    ' just one cell of the grid (here the middle column, top row):
    oGrid.SetCell 1, 0, "N/A"

    ' Display the GridData table on a property page. While you are looking at
    ' the property page, change the 'N/A' value.
    InspectObj oPSet, , , siModal, false

    ' Users can change the values in the 2D array through the property
    ' page: the underlying Grid object is automatically refreshed.
    Application.LogMessage oGrid.GetCell( 1, 0 )' <= this will reflect your 'N/A' change

    ' But there is no longer any relationship with the original 2D array
    Application.LogMessage aTbl( 1, 0 )' <= this still says "B1"