How to Render a Subgrid as an Editable Inline Grid in Dataverse Form Model-Driven Apps

Sanjaya Pradhan dataverse June 18, 2025 | 0

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In Dataverse model-driven apps, subgrids are commonly used to display related records on a form. However, by default, they appear in a read-only mode. If you want users to edit records directly from the subgrid without opening each record individually, you can render the subgrid as an editable grid (also known as editable inline subgrid). This blog walks you through the steps to enable and configure this feature.

✅ What Is an Editable Grid?

An editable grid allows users to:

Modify field values directly in the grid
Use keyboard navigation to move between cells
Perform in-place updates without opening individual records

It enhances productivity for users who need to update multiple records quickly.

🎯 Use Case

You have a form, e.g., Account, and want to let users edit related Contacts inline in the Contacts subgrid shown on the Account form.

🧱 Prerequisites

Power Apps license with permission to customize forms
Appropriate security roles to update the entity you want to make editable
Editable grid control must be supported for that entity

🛠 Steps to Enable Editable Subgrid

1. Open the Form in Power Apps

Go to make.powerapps.com
Select your environment > Tables > Choose the parent table (e.g., Contact)
Click Forms and open the Main form

2. Add or Select the Subgrid

If not already present, add a subgrid to display related records (e.g., Appointments)
Set the relationship and view (e.g., All Appointments)

3. Enable Editable Grid Control

Select the subgrid
In the properties pane, go to the Controls tab
Click Add Control and choose Editable Grid
Select Web, and optionally Phone/ Tablet, for the editable grid control
Click OK

4. Configure the Editable Grid (Optional)

You can set column behaviors, like read-only fields
Enable inline lookup editing if applicable

5. Save and Publish

Click Save and then Publish the form
Open the model-driven app and test the subgrid — it should now be editable inline

🚧 Known Limitations

Not all field types support inline editing (e.g., composite fields like full name)
Business rules or plugins might affect the behavior during updates
Editable grid does not support nested subgrids

💡 Tips

Use editable grids where bulk editing is needed
Consider adding custom JavaScript validation for complex scenarios
Audit changes if data integrity is critical

🧪 Bonus: Use JavaScript on Editable Grids

You can hook into events like OnRecordSelect, OnChange, and OnSave for more control.

Example:

javascriptCopyEditfunction onFieldChange(executionContext) {
    var row = executionContext.getFormContext().data.entity;
    var changedAttr = executionContext.getEventSource().getName();
    // Custom logic
}

📌 Conclusion

Editable subgrids are a powerful feature in model-driven apps that significantly improve user experience. With just a few clicks, you can empower users to make inline changes, saving time and simplifying workflows.

How to Render a Subgrid as an Editable Inline Grid in Dataverse Form Model-Driven Apps