6. Attribute tables

An attribute table is one section of the file as a grid, with the section's typed columns, editable in place. Open one with View → Attribute Table… (for the selected object's section, or the last section shown), the Table button in the Project tab, or the map's context menu.

The window title is <SECTION> (n); a grid exists for every section with a typed column layout (the list is in chapter 17).

6.1 Reading

• Sort by clicking a column heading; click again to reverse. The arrow marks the sort column. Numbers sort as numbers.
• Filter with the box above the grid; rows whose name contains the text stay. × clears. The count reads n of m rows · k selected.
• Columns… chooses which columns show.
• Units are in the headings (Elevation (ft)) and follow FLOW_UNITS like the sheet.
• Rows are addressed by line, so a multi-row section — [VERTICES], [TIMESERIES], [CURVES], [POLYGONS] — shows every row, one per line of the file, and editing one edits that line.

6.2 Selection

Row selection and map selection are the same selection, both ways: click a row and the object highlights on the map; select on the map and the row highlights. Zoom to centres the map on the selected row; Properties shows the sheet for it.

6.3 Editing

Click a cell and type. The commit is the same command the sheet issues, one undo step per cell (Set Roughness of C3), with the same widgets: dropdowns for keywords and references, checkboxes for flags. A name cell renames with every reference following.

6.4 Replace in column

The bulk edit people otherwise script. Choose a column, enter a value, and click Set all to write it to every filtered row, or to the selected rows when there is a selection. One undo step, labelled Set <column> on <n> rows.

or scale by multiplies instead: choose a column, enter a factor, click Scale. Non-numeric cells are left alone; a factor that is not a number is refused. Scaled <column> on <n> rows is one undo step.

Filter first, then replace. To set Manning's n on every conduit whose name starts with C1: filter C1, column Roughness, value 0.013, Set all.

6.5 Copy, export, import

• Copy as TSV puts the visible rows (headings first, tabs between cells) on the clipboard, ready for a spreadsheet.
• Export CSV… writes the same as a file, quoting cells that need it.
• Import CSV… reads a CSV or TSV whose first line names the columns. The Name column (or the first column) picks the row; every other named column that the row's layout has is set. Rows the file names but the section does not have are ignored, and so are columns the section does not have. One undo step: Updated n rows from <file>.

Round trip: Export CSV, edit in a spreadsheet, Import CSV. Keep the Name column and do not rename objects in the spreadsheet — rename in the table so references follow.