# Column gripper You can use the column gripper context menu to quickly sort or show/hide fields or insert a new field. Let's look at the various options in detail. #### 1. Sort You can use the *Sort* option to sort your data in ascending/descending order or apply an absolute sort. For hierarchical datasets, sorting is applied to the child rows for each level of the hierarchy.

In the example, the Jan > Profit measure has been sorted in ascending order.

#### 2. Insert The *Insert* option can be used for the following operations: * **Copy as data input** - Create a new data input field. The values will be copied from the selected measure. * **New data input** - Create a new empty data input field * **Insert formula** - Create a new field using a built-in formula Learn more about [data input](/working-with-inforiver/4.-adding-business-logic-and-formulae/insert-manual-input-rows/insert-manual-input-rows.md) and [formula measures](/working-with-inforiver/4.-adding-business-logic-and-formulae/insert-calculated-columns.md).

#### 3. Change to visual column When you assign measures or dimensions to the AC/PY/PL/FC/Others parameters, the native measures and dimensions are displayed for each column dimension category. You can display them as visual columns by selecting the **Change to visual column** option.

Notice how the Profit measure has been converted into a visual column.

Native measure converted into a visual column

#### 4. Pin column The pin column option allows you to tag important columns right at the beginning of your report - saving you the effort required to scroll back and forth.

In the example, the Dec>Profits and Apr>Sales have been pinned to the beginning of the report.

You can also choose to unpin a particular field or unpin all fields.

#### 5. Freeze column Navigating large reports with numerous rows and columns can make data comparison cumbersome with a significant amount of scrolling. With Inforiver Matrix, you can freeze selected rows and columns to keep key metrics in view - making analysis faster and more efficient. For example, to use the key metrics for 2024-Q1 as a benchmark, you can freeze those specific columns as shown in the image.

You can freeze both rows and columns. To analyze the Gross Profit and Net Revenue based on US Central metrics, we can freeze the selected rows and columns from the row/column grippers. [Learn more about freezing rows](https://docs.inforiver.com/working-with-inforiver/3.-basic-interactions/context-menus/pages/2OukKHu6EL51cpZuZEGC#id-5.4.-freeze-row).

Frozen rows are columns are retained in Excel and PDF exports.

Frozen rows and columns in Excel export

#### 6. Ignore measure in null suppression If your report has non-numeric data along with measures, and all the measure values are null for certain rows, you may want to suppress such rows as they do not add value to the report. Notice the row highlighted in the report below; all Sales values are null. You can suppress these rows with the **Ignore Measure in Null Suppression** option. {% hint style="info" %} The Hide Blanks option under Hierarchy settings should be set to **Visible Values**. {% endhint %} Notice how the highlighted row with null measure values is suppressed after selecting the option.

#### 7. Stick Measure to Last In some cases, using field measures can cause an automatic re-ordering of columns in the report. You may want a particular field, for instance, a field with an embedded chart, to always retain its position at the end of the report. You can use the *Stick Measures to Last* option to assign one designated measure to the last position. The last position will be retained even if new fields are added to the visual.

#### 8. Hide Column You can use the *Hide Column* option to mask a particular column in your report. In the animation below, notice how the Profit measure has been hidden in the report. {% hint style="info" %} You can use the *Show All Columns* option to display hidden columns again. {% endhint %}

#### 8. Aggregation Using this option, you can directly set the aggregation method used to calculate the totals and subtotals for a particular column. Learn more about [managing aggregation](/working-with-inforiver/manage-aggregations.md).

Measure aggregation for totals and subtotals

#### 9. Select Measure You may need to perform operations such as applying uniform formatting for a measure. Rather than selecting each measure and applying formatting, you can use this option to select a particular measure across the entire report and apply formatting in a single shot. In the animation below, notice how the Discount measure has been selected for all months.

#### 10. Select header Use the Select Header option to apply custom formatting to the measure header.

#### 11. Number formatting You can use this option to directly set a custom scaling factor for a particular measure.

#### 12. Semantic formatting Display negative values in parentheses or choose to place the negative sign after the number with **Semantic formatting** options.

#### 13. Multi select rows This option enables checkboxes to quickly select multiple rows. Click on the column gripper for the row dimension header to access the **Multi Select Rows** option.

Multi select checkboxes enabled:

Multi-row selection can now filter the records in another Inforiver Matrix visual. You'll see that the product names in the first visual are automatically filtered when we make category selections in the second visual.

Inter visual filtering with multi row selection

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