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Cell Types

This guide explains the different cell types available in Enjade for storing, displaying, and editing property values. Understanding cell types helps you configure properties correctly and work efficiently with element data.

Overview

Each property in Enjade has two important characteristics:

  1. Data Type - How the value is stored in the database
  2. Edit Control - How you interact with the value when editing

These work together to provide the best experience for each kind of data.

Data Types

Data types define what kind of value a property can hold.

Text (String)

Description: Stores text values of any length.

Use For:

  • Names, labels, descriptions
  • Addresses, notes, comments
  • Serial numbers, codes
  • Any free-form text

Example Values: "Door A-101", "Main entrance", "Red oak veneer"

Number

Description: Stores decimal (floating-point) numbers with precision.

Use For:

  • Measurements with decimals (widths, heights, areas)
  • Prices, costs, percentages
  • Quantities that may have fractions

Example Values: 12.5, 1250.00, 0.85

Units

Numbers can have a unit suffix (m, mm, m², €, etc.) configured on the property definition. The unit is displayed but not stored with the value.

Integer

Description: Stores whole numbers only (no decimals).

Use For:

  • Counts and quantities
  • Floor numbers, story levels
  • Rankings, priorities
  • Any whole-number value

Example Values: 5, 100, -2

Boolean

Description: Stores true/false (yes/no) values.

Use For:

  • Status flags (active/inactive)
  • Feature indicators (has ventilation, fire rated)
  • Checkbox-style properties
  • Any yes/no question

Display: Shown as a checkbox or Yes/No badge in the grid.

Date

Description: Stores a date without time information.

Use For:

  • Project milestones
  • Installation dates
  • Deadlines
  • Birth dates, anniversaries

Format: Displays in your locale's date format (e.g., 03.02.2026 or 02/03/2026).

Date & Time (Datetime)

Description: Stores both date and time with timezone awareness.

Use For:

  • Timestamps (created, modified)
  • Scheduled events
  • Audit logs
  • Any time-sensitive information

Format: Displays in your locale's datetime format (e.g., 03.02.2026 14:30).

Enum (Dropdown)

Description: Stores a value from a predefined list of options.

Use For:

  • Status values (Draft, In Review, Approved)
  • Categories (Structural, MEP, Architectural)
  • Fixed classifications
  • Any value that must be one of several choices

Configuration: Options are defined in the property definition.

Multi-Select (Array)

Description: Stores multiple values from a predefined list.

Use For:

  • Tags and labels
  • Multiple categories
  • Feature lists
  • Any property that can have several values at once

Display: Values shown as chips/tags or comma-separated list.

Element Reference (UUID)

Description: Stores a reference to another element in the system.

Use For:

  • Linking related elements
  • Parent-child relationships
  • Assembly references
  • Cross-referencing elements

Display: Shows the referenced element's name with a link icon.

JSON

Description: Stores structured data as a JSON object.

Use For:

  • Complex configurations
  • Nested data structures
  • Custom metadata
  • Integration data

Display: Shows a preview of the JSON structure. Click to view/edit the full object.

Advanced Feature

JSON properties are typically used for system integrations and advanced configurations. Most users won't need to edit JSON directly.

Edit Controls

Edit controls define the user interface for editing property values.

Text Input

Appearance: Single-line text field

How to Use:

  1. Click the cell to activate
  2. Type your text
  3. Press Enter to save or Escape to cancel

Keyboard Shortcuts:

  • Enter - Save and move down
  • Tab - Save and move right
  • Escape - Cancel editing

Text Area

Appearance: Multi-line text field with expansion

How to Use:

  1. Click the cell to open the editor
  2. Type multi-line text
  3. Click outside or press Ctrl+Enter to save

Best For: Long descriptions, notes, comments.

Number Input

Appearance: Numeric input with increment/decrement buttons

How to Use:

  1. Click to activate
  2. Type a number or use arrows to adjust
  3. Press Enter to save

Features:

  • Validates numeric input
  • Respects min/max constraints if configured
  • Supports decimal precision

Checkbox

Appearance: Toggle checkbox

How to Use:

  • Click once to toggle between checked (true) and unchecked (false)
  • No need to enter edit mode

Display Variations:

  • Checkbox icon
  • Yes/No text badge
  • Check/Cross icons

Date Picker

Appearance: Calendar popup

How to Use:

  1. Click the cell to open the calendar
  2. Navigate months/years with arrows
  3. Click a date to select
  4. The calendar closes and saves automatically

Shortcuts:

  • Click "Today" for current date
  • Clear button to remove the value

Date & Time Picker

Appearance: Calendar with time selector

How to Use:

  1. Click to open the picker
  2. Select the date from the calendar
  3. Adjust the time using hour/minute spinners
  4. Click "Apply" or outside to save

Appearance: Single-selection dropdown list

How to Use:

  1. Click the cell to open the dropdown
  2. Scroll or type to search options
  3. Click an option to select
  4. Selection saves immediately

Keyboard Navigation:

  • Arrow keys - Navigate options
  • Enter - Select highlighted option
  • Type to filter options

Multi-Select

Appearance: Dropdown with checkboxes

How to Use:

  1. Click the cell to open the multi-select panel
  2. Check/uncheck options as needed
  3. Click outside to close and save

Display: Selected values appear as chips/tags.

Color Picker

Appearance: Color swatch with picker popup

How to Use:

  1. Click the cell to open the color picker
  2. Choose a color from the palette or enter a hex code
  3. Click "Apply" or outside to save

Format: Colors stored as hex values (e.g., #FF5733).

URL Input

Appearance: Text field with link icon

How to Use:

  1. Click to edit
  2. Enter a valid URL
  3. Press Enter to save

Features:

  • Validates URL format
  • Click the link icon to open in new tab
  • Displays as clickable link in view mode

Email Input

Appearance: Text field with email icon

How to Use:

  1. Click to edit
  2. Enter an email address
  3. Press Enter to save

Features:

  • Validates email format
  • Click to open default mail client in view mode

Element Picker

Appearance: Search field with element browser

How to Use:

  1. Click the cell to open the element picker
  2. Search by name or browse the element list
  3. Click an element to select it
  4. The selection saves immediately

Display: Shows element name with a navigation icon.

JSON Editor

Appearance: Code editor with syntax highlighting

How to Use:

  1. Click to open the JSON editor panel
  2. Edit the JSON structure
  3. The editor validates JSON syntax
  4. Click "Save" to apply changes

Features:

  • Syntax highlighting
  • Format/prettify button
  • Validation before save

Warning

Invalid JSON cannot be saved. Fix syntax errors before saving.

Display Formats

The grid uses specialized display templates to show data clearly:

Type Display
Boolean Checkbox, Yes/No badge, or check/cross icon
Date Localized date format
DateTime Localized date and time, or "2 days ago" relative format
Number Formatted with thousands separator and unit
Currency Formatted as currency (€, $, etc.)
Percentage Number with % suffix
URL Clickable link
Email Clickable mailto link
Color Color swatch with hex code
Enum Value with optional colored badge
Multi-Select Comma-separated or as tags
Element Ref Element name with link icon
JSON Compact preview

Visual Indicators

Cells may show special visual indicators:

Change Highlighting

Cells with recent changes are highlighted to show catchup status (what changed since you last viewed).

External Source Indicator

A cloud icon indicates the value comes from an external system (e.g., BIM model) and may be overwritten on sync.

Column Color Bars

Some columns have a colored left border indicating their category or type (e.g., blue for IFC properties, green for calculated values).

Read-Only Cells

Grayed-out cells indicate read-only values that cannot be edited (computed fields, system properties, or inherited values).

Choosing the Right Type

When defining properties, match the data type and edit control to your needs:

Data Recommended Type Edit Control
Short text string text-input
Long text string textarea
Measurements number number-input
Whole counts integer number-input
Yes/No flags boolean checkbox
Dates only date date-picker
Timestamps datetime datetime-picker
Single choice enum select
Multiple choices array multi-select
Web links string url-input
Emails string email-input
Colors string color-picker
Related elements uuid element-picker
Complex data json json-editor