How to save custom expansion levels in the Bold BI Pivot Grid
The Bold BI Pivot Grid widget displays summarized data in a cross-tabular format and supports hierarchical rows and columns. When multiple fields are added to Row(s) or Column(s), Bold BI displays expandable nodes in the header area so users can drill into the hierarchy.
This enables users to navigate from top-level summaries (e.g., Country) down to detailed levels (e.g., State > City) dynamically.
There is no built-in option to auto-expand only to a specific intermediate level (e.g., expand up to Level 3 or State while keeping City collapsed) by default. Expansion is binary all nodes fully expanded or not. Users must manually adjust to achieve intermediate views, then save the state for persistence.
Steps to Configure and Save Custom Expansion Levels in Pivot Grid
Step 1: Open the dashboard in edit mode
- Log in to Bold BI and select the dashboard containing the Pivot Grid widget. Click Edit to switch to design mode.
Step 2: Select the Pivot Grid and review hierarchy configuration
- Select the Pivot Grid widget within the dashboard.
- Click on the settings icon to open the Properties panel.
- In the Properties panel, select Basic Settings to review the available hierarchy‑related options before making changes.
Step 3: Manually Expand the Hierarchy to Your Desired Level.
- In the Pivot Grid row header area, locate the expand (▼) icons.
- Expand only up to the level you need (e.g., expand to level 3 but leave deeper levels collapsed).
- You can also expand specific nodes individually instead of expanding all nodes at once.
Example: If your data has categories like Year > Quarter > Month, expand Year and Quarter but keep Month collapsed.
Step 4: Enable the Save Node State Option.
- With the Pivot Grid widget selected, enable the Save Node State checkbox in the Basic Settings section.
Note: The Save Node State option is displayed only when Expand Nodes by Default is disabled.
If Expand Nodes by Default is enabled, disable it first to access and enable Save Node State.
Step 5: Save the Dashboard
- Click “Preview” or “Publish” the dashboard
- The Pivot Grid will now retain your custom expansion configuration.
Step 6: Test the Configuration
- Exit edit mode and refresh the dashboard.
- The Pivot Grid should load with the exact same expanded view you set.
Example: If you expanded two specific nodes in step 2, those nodes would remain expanded, while others stay collapsed.
Conclusion
- By manually expanding the Pivot Grid hierarchy to the required level and enabling Save Node State, you can persist custom expansion levels across dashboard loads. This approach provides a practical workaround for maintaining intermediate hierarchy views in Bold BI, ensuring a consistent and user‑friendly analysis experience.
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